Science, Art, And The Drama.

Science , Art , and the Drama .

BAMBOO AND ITS USES . iContimied ) . Some of the oldest Chinese books consisted simply of strips of bamboo oared thin , upon which the writing was scratched . And to-day paper is made from the inner part of the stem , beaten into a pulp . From this paper the thick soles of Chinese shoes are made . From the fibre also is manufactured a very light , cool material , which not only the Chinaman , but the

European resident uses for summer clothing , the only difference being in the fashion of the garments . The rain-coats , which in wet weather make the coolies and the jinriska and the sampanmen look like strange , big bedraggled birds , are made simply of dried bamboo leaves . The leaves also serve as bedding for cattle , and the shavings are used to stuff pillows and beds . Ropes and cables are made from the fibre , and masts from the poles . One tor wnetstone

species has so hard a surface tnat it can De used a . un ene busy wharves , where steamers load or discharge , the weight of heavy loads is distributed amongst a dozen or more coolies by an ingenious , but simple , arrangement of bamboo poles . In the same way large blocks of stone are transported as rapidly as one can walk . Burdens light enough for one man are carried suspended from either end of a bamboo across thc shoulder . But a load for two men would be slung from the centre , each man taking an end of the pole on his shoulder . In this way pigs , poultry , and

vegetables go to market , and the hawkers and itinerant restaurateurs transport their stalls about the streets . One of the simplest and , at the same time , prettiest uses of bamboo is probably familiar to every reader—in the form of the ordinary Japanese fan . A piece ot bamboo about a foot long , with a joint in the middle , is taken . One half forms the handle , and the other half split down to the joint into numerous fine strips , which , being spread out , form the framework upon which the paper is pasted , and frequently enough its only decoration will be a simple boldly drawn spray of bamboo . In front of nearly every tombstone

in a Japanese cemetery , may be seen a short length of bambo o , forming a very simple vase , containing a small branch of green leaves , or a few flowers . It would be tedious to do more than enumerate all the miscellaneous articles which bamboo enters into the construction of—such as handles for pens , brushes for agricultural tools ; holders for pens or joss-sticks ; fishing rods , water-pipes , carved tobacco-boxes , mats , sedan-chairs , cages , stoolsflutesshopkeepers' measures of both length and capacity , and a

, , host of other articles , literally loo numerous to mention . Regarding its use as fuel , the following quaint lines from the book of Messer Marco Polo , the Venetian , forms an interesting example of travellers' tales in those days , when travellers were so few , that there was little fear of their meeting with contradiction . He says : " The people cut the green canes , of which there are vast numbers , and set fire to a heap of them at once . After they have

been awhile burning , they burst asunder , and this makes such a loud report , that you mig ht hear it 10 miles off . In fact any one unused to this noise who should hear it unexpectedly , might easily go into a swoon , or die of fright . But those who are used to it , care nothing about it . Hence those who are not used to it , stuff their cars well with cotton , and wrap up their heads and faces with all the clothes they can muster , and so they get along until they have become used to the sound I tell you the truth ,

however , when I say , that the first time you hear it , nothing can be more alarming . " In those climes where the bamboo does not flourish , but where humanity boast of a higher civilisation , the mathematician proves that a cylinder is the strongest form a material can take . He simply recognises in bones , as well as bamboo , that nature combines strength and lightness , which he clumsily endeavours to imitate , in hollow rods , for his clanking machinery .

ITALIAN GRANITE . Italian marble has long been known in this country , and the trade carried on in its import has attained to considerable dimensions ; whilst , curiously enough , thc granite resources of Italy have for some reason been almost entirely overlooked , and Italian granite has remained to the present day almost entirely ignored in the United Kingdom . Under these

circumstances , the attempts now being made to place Italian granite on the British markets , and to render it a commercial and economic success , call forth considerable interest . The most important seat of the granite industry in Italy is the group of quarries in the province of Navaro , situated around Baveno and Abys . Here , not only is the e * uarrying of the granite carried on , but the turning , polishing , and general execution of all work in

connection with the finished product is also performed . The granite of the district is of two distinct classes—red , and white or grey granite . Both varieties have a medium grain , take a fine polish , and whilst admirably suited for ornamental purposes , are eminently serviceable in the arts , owing to their durability and strength . The principal quarries are situated on the western shore of Lago Maggiore , whose scenery is well-known to all

lovers of the picturesque . A feature of interest is the mode of working adopted , which consists in detaching enormous masses of granite by huge blasts . At the Monte Grassi quarry , in 1 SX 5 , a charge of six tons of gunpowder was fired by electricity ; whilst four months later a similar blast , with eight and a half tons of the same explosive , was carried out . It was , however , in the autumn of 18 S 6 that a monster blast was executed , when

17 tons of blasting powder , and half-a-ton of Nobel dynamite , were exploded simultaneously , displacing something like 500 , 000 cubic yards of granite ; while some 20 Or 30 blocks , ranging from 1000 to 6500 cubic yards each , were carried fully 300 yards by the explosion . So much interest attached to these phenomenal blasts that , in the interests of science , the Italian Ministry of War deputed a major of Engineers to be present , and

to fully report thereon . The position of this quarry , on a mountain side , attaining an altitude of about 2000 feet , is particularly advantageous , as the material descends , by the action of gravity , to the finishing and polishing works below , whence it passes to the harbour , adjoining the works , and is shipped to its destination . Another famous quarry in this district is the white quarry of Alzo , situated on the western shore of Lago d'Orta , a

small lake some nine miles in a westerly direction from Lago Maggiore . This granite takes a high polish , is that employed in the construction of the docks at Spezzia , as well as in the famous Mt . Gothard Tunnel . A brief examination of old buildings in the district bears abundant testimony to thc durability of the granite under consideration . No better evidence of thc power of Italian granite to resist the ravages of time can be adduced than b y mentioning thc famous palace on thc " Isola Bella , " which was erected

Science, Art, And The Drama.

in the 16 th century by Cardinal Borromeo with granite from Monte Grassi . This spot forms a favourite resort of tourists in North Italy , and the material of the old palace , though exposed for over three centuries to the great extremes of heat and cold here found , shows no sign of weathering or decay . A feature of interest in connection with the working of Italian granite is the cheap cost of production . Wages are low in Northern Italy , and the wants of the workers being few and the necessaries of life cheap , both skilled and unskilled labour is easily obtainable at lesser rates than in other granite producing countries .

Domestic Architecture Under Henry Vii. And Viii.

DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE UNDER HENRY VII . AND VIII .

Continued . In the reigns of the three preceding sovereigns castellated houses of rich and highly decorated architecture had been erected , and it is curious to observe that during the turbulent times of the last of those princes the great Ministers of his Government had severally built for themselves palatial castles . It appears that Henry VII . confined himself to the expense of

rebuilding the palace of Shene , after a destructive fire in 1500 , when he conferred on it his own name of " Richmond . " It was in the Burgundian style , being the second instance , as the " Plaisance " at Greenwich was the first . It now remains to us only in early and accurate delineations . Henry VIII . is styled by Harrison " the onlie phamix of his time for fine and curious masonrie . " But he is to be considered so rather for the

additions of large apartments and external ornament to the palaces already built , as at Windsor , Whitehall , and Hunsdon . Bridewell , St . James's , and Beaulieu or New Hall , Essex , of an inferior description , were , indeed , entirely built by » him . Nonsuch was begun but not finished . His courtiers vied with each other in the vast expenditure which they employed in erecting sumptuous houses in the provinces

where their influence extended . Wolsey , besides the great progress he had made at the time of his fall in his colleges of Oxford and Ipswich , had completed Hampton Court , and rebuilt the episcopal residences of York House ( afterwards Whitehall ) and Esher , in Surrey . Edward Stafford , Duke of Buckingham , rivalled him in his palace of Thornbury , Gloucestershire , from which , when half finished , he was

hurried to the scaffold . Grimsthorp , in Lincolnshire , was built by Charles Brandon , Duke ot Suffolk . Both the Treasurer , Duke of Norfolk , and his accomplished son , the Earl of Surrey , were magnificent in their ideas of architecture , as the descriptions of their houses at Kenninghall , Norfolk , and Mount Surrey , near Norwich , amply prove . These are said to have had the ornaments subsequently introduced , but not a stone of either now

remains in its former place . There seems to have been a leading idea as to the construction of mansion houses of the first degree , which was generally considered as complete , and therefore adopted in numerous instances . The antiquary who investigates the ground plot of many of these large mansions in their present ruined state , cannot fail to notice this correspondence , particularly at Coudrop , Sussex . ( To be continued . )

Haymarket Theatre.

HAYMARKET THEATRE .

By the courtesy of the management , we were enabled a few evenings ago to witness " The Rivals " at the above theatre . Ill-health prevented our doing so previously . It seems hardly credible that this highly diverting comedy , which was brought out at Covent Garden 17 th January , 1775 , should have failed on its first night . But the circumstance was attributable chiefly to the bad acting of one of the performers , Sir Lucius O'Trigger , we believe . The ( irst night ' s reception was bad enough , but on the second the

popular verdict was that of complete condemnation . The comedy was withdrawn . On 28 th January same year it was again brought forward , reduced in length , with Clinch in the place of Lee as Sir Lucius O'Trigger . From that day until now the comedy has been one of the most popular in the language . In ridicule of the " sentimental muse" Sheridan introduced two very wearisome characters , Julia and Faulkland , and has thereby rendered

his own muse more tedious and absurd than the one he would deride . We have no reason to doubt the assertion that Faulkland is a faint adumbration of some of the phases of the author ' s early life , in connection with Miss Linley , previous to his marriage wilh her . It seems to us quite possible that in representation , the two parts of Julia and Faulkland could be almost , if not entirely suppressed—it would be a boon to a suffering audience . In

accordance with the e-uaint fashion of the age , the names of the chief actors suggest their respective characters , such for instance , as Sir Anthony Absolute , Mrs . Malaprop ( Mai a propos ) , Bob Acres , Sir Lucius O'Trigger , l . ydia Languish . " The derangement of epitaphs" by Mrs Malaprop is most amusing , the more so , as we can easily perceive how her absurd mistakes have arisen . Many of her expressions are adopted in our

ortdinary language , and are often quoted , for instance , " derangement of epitaphs , " " caparisons are odorous , " evidently founded on Shakespeare ' s " comparisons are odorus , " "Allegory on the banks of the Nile , " and many others . Let us now make a few remarks on the present interpretation of the comedy . Place aux dames—Miss Winifred Emery is simply delightful , she must certainly enjoy her own acting , imparting her pleasure

to the audience . Mrs . Malaprop is well sustained by Mrs . Charles Calvert , but surely , there was no necessity she should have been so hideously " made up "—it was not reejuired—it showed great self-denial . Miss Sybil Carlisle did the best for the thankless part of Julia . Miss Beatrice Ferrar , intelligent as the pert Lucy . The male characters had full justice done to them—Sir Anthony Absolute hardly peppery enough

, Mr . Sidney Valentine , his son , well acted by Mr . Paul Arthur . Mr . Harrison made the part of Faulkland less tedious than usual . Acres was given as a ireullenuiu , not a silly buffoon , as Buckstone and others portrayed him . Mr . J . D . Beveridge should have made Sir Lucius more unctuous . The play , strictly correct in its minor accessories , gives us a good idea of of Bath , once so fashionable a resort .

General Notes.

GENERAL NOTES .

Sir Henry Irving and his company will be seen again at the Lyceum on 16 th June next , in a revival of " Olivia . " * •* ¦** * It is probable that Benson and his company will be formed into a limited liability company , after the manner of the Lyceum and other joint stock concerns , except that at present Mr . Benson has no theatre , but he has a considerable and profitable following . A Shakespeare theatre for London i * _ the dream of students and players .