The Theatres.

The Theatres .

Bro . Toole ' s theatre , late ihe Tolly , will be rcopened ' next month after almost rebuilding , so extensive have been the alterations . New entrances have been constructed , the stage has been enlarged , and a verandah over the main entrance for a smoking lounge in the summer months . The colouring of the upholstery work is light blue

satin and crimson plush . The refreshment department has not been overlooked either . The drop scene has been painted Mr . W . Glover , and the scene is Loch Katrine with a view of the silver strand and Ben Nevis . Londoners will be glad to welcome back our distinguished brother after his longabsence from London , his theatre always being a popular one .

" Pandora , " it is said , is to be the title of yet another new theatre in Leicester-square , where at present the panorama of " Balaclava Charge " is being exhibited . It has a powerful directorate at its head . M . Marius , of the Avenue Theatre , lias engaged Bro . Henry Bracy for a term of five years , commencing in the opera of " Madame Pavai t . " Bro . Bracy will be greatly

missed at the Royal Comedy , where he sings with much eclat in " The Mascottc " his song , " Love is blind . " M . Marius shows much shrewdness in making this engagement . Mr . II . J . Turner will also join the company . The theatre will he opened , although theSoiith-Eastcrn Railway wish lo buy it to enlarge their station at Charing Cross ; probably this will not be carried out for years .

We understand there is no truth whatever in the report which has gone the round of the papers , that Uro . Kendal has stipulated with provincial managers not to produce Mr . Cair ' s play , " Far from the Maddening Crowd , " until after the St . James ' s Company have visited the large country theatres . * : < * #

" Manola , " which will be played to-night ( Saturday ) , at thc Strand , for the first time in England , is in thc hands of a strong company . Uros . W . J . Hill , Henry Ashley , Moils . Desmond , Miss Irene Verona , Miss . Maud liranscombe , Miss Rose Lee , Miss M . Turner , and Miss Vere Carcw are amongst those taking characters . We shall say more about the opera in a future number of the Freemason .

* *

Bro . H . R . H . tlie Prince of Wales lias presented Bro . J . L . Toole with a scarf pin set in onyx and diamonds , and Mr . G . Loveday with a scarf pin set in turquoise ami pearls , as souvenirs of the recent dramatic performance al S .-indringhani House .

* * * liro . Kdward Terry ' s engagement at thc Gaiety Theatre will terminate at the close of the present season , in July next . Before the end of the year this popular performer will reappear elsewhere in the double capacity of

manager and actor . Fortunately for himself , Uro . lorry , in attaining this commanding position , will be relieved in some degree of thc cares which attend even the most successful of theatrical speculations , a friend having undertaken with this view to build and take upon himself the responsibilities of a new theatre .

X 04 * Mr . Robert Brough , a young comedian , who for sufficient reasons is rapidly rising in public estimation , has been engaged to ajijiear in the neighbourhood of the Strand .

* * « t A noteworthy reform in tlie arrangements of Mr . Wallack ' s recently-erected theatre in New York is the fact that every seat is stated to be numbered , nut excc |) ting even the places in the gallery . A shortsighted notion that in busy times audiences may be packed more closely than is comfortable and thus

made to contribute more to the receipts , is we believe , thc only obstacle to the introduction of this system in I-. ' ngland . ft would , of course , put an end to the custom of gathering in large crowds at the entrances before tin : opening of thc doors , which is always tedious , and in bad weather must be injurious to health . For thc new Wallack's . tickets will be

presumptively sold at an adjacent ofiice , first-comers securing the best p laces . 'Thus there will be no necessity to open the doors till a few minutes before the rise of the curtain , and the humblest visitor , in common with the possessor of a stall , may then go to a theatre knowing lieforehand where he is going to sit . This arrangement seems well worthy of the attention of English managers .

Music.

Music .

The Sacred Harmonic Society's concert of Friday evening last took p lace , as usual , at St . James ' s Hall . Owin" to serious illness—from which , however , we rejoice to say he is recovering—Bro . Sir Michael Costa was unable to conduct the programme . Nevertheless , his place was ably filled by M . Sainton , who , at thc close of the eveningwas rewarded with a special tribute of applause ,

, in testimony of his valuable services as conductor . I he programme consisted of Handel ' s " Coronation " anthem , "Zadok the Priest ; " Gounod ' s " Messe Solennelle ; and Beethoven's " Mount of Olives . " The "Messe which , though comparatively seldom performed before accorded

English audiences , is always a worthy reception , was listened to throug hout with profound attention . Ihe solo artistes , Miss Anna Williams , Mr . Maas , and Mr . Thorndike , and , for thc most part , the orchestra acquitted themselves extremely well , while the other parts of the Programme were equally as well rendered and received .

* * * Bro . Barrett , Mus . Bac , delivered a leclure on Tuesday last on "Old English Country Songs" at the College of Organists .

Thursday evening was fixed for the first concert of the present season—the seventieth—of thc Philharmonic Societ y .

Music.

Thc Tufncll Park Choral Society gave a concert on the evening of the 2 nd inst ., at the Athcnanim , Camdcnroad , _ Hofmann's "Cinderella" being given for the first time in England , while the post of conductor was most ably filled by Mr . W . H . 'Thomas . The performance , notwithwithstanding the difficulties that had to be encountered , went admirably , the solo parts being successfully

interpreted , by Miss Margaret Hoarc , Cinderella ; Miss Philps , Queen ; Mr . James Sauvage , Prince ; and Mr . Grylls . There was no orchestra , but the accompaniments were played on a pianoforte and two harmoniums by Mr . F . L . Thomas , Mr . S . Partridge , and Mr . F . Partridge . It

cannot be otherwise than a most gratifying evidence of the increasing spread of musical taste in this country when we find a novelty performed for the first time in an outlying suburb of London ; and the 'Tufnell Park Choral Society are to be congratulated on the excellence of this performance and the heartiness of the reception it experienced .

Mdllc . Amanda Holmberg , a German vocalist , made her first appearance at the Brighton Aquarium on Saturday last , her contributions including the well known " I Love my Love , " and a selection of German lieder . Madame Rose Kunig played the first movement of Beethoven ' s pianoforte concerto in A , with other moreen nx .

\\ c arc glad to hear that a building , which shall serve as an opera house and theatre is in course of being erected at Bournemouth , the well-known and fashionable watering-plate on the coast of Hampshire . Thc meeting in connection with the proposed establishment of a Royal College of Music has been fixed

by the Prince of Wales for noon on 'Tuesday , the 2 . Sth inst ., and will take place at St . James ' s Palace . Invitalions have been addressed to a larirc number of distinguished persunages , as well as to the Mayors and municipal authorities of the most important places in the United Kingdom . It is said His Royal Highness will personally explain his views at the meeting , and urge on those present the necessity of founding a purely National School of Music .

* e # A scries of German opera performances is announced to take place during the present season at the Theatre Royal , Prury-lane . The lirst performance will he given on 'Thursday , May iSth , and among the ooeras that

will be given must be mentioned " Lohengrin , " " Fidcho , " "Tannhauser , " " Der I'liegende Hollander , " " Die Meistcrsingcr , " " Cosi fan tutti , " " Euryanthe , " and" Tristan and Isolde . " The leadership will be entrusted to Heir Hans Richter .

» * s Mdmc Christine Xillsen , one of the most finished and popular operatic artistes of the day , has recentl y met with a sore affliction . Her husband , M . Rouzeaud , is out of his mind , and but little hope is entertained of his restoration to sanity .

<« * * A new Marguerite , Mddlc . Kraiiss , lias been drawing large audiences and creating quite a sensation at the Grand Opera , Paris , byjher brilliant interpretation of the well-known character in Gounod ' s opera of " Faust . " Her acting is described as highly dramatic , and her singing as most impassioned .

* » » A new opera bv M . Ambrose Thomas is in course of reheais . il at Paris , entitled " Franiisra di Rimini , " and is said to promise | a grand success , while the spectacular display is expected to be very gorgeous .

* * » A grand military concert by the combined bands of the Guards is announced , in connection with the grand military assault-at-arms and gymnastic performances which will take place this ( Saturday ) afternoon at the

Royal Albert Hall , South Kensington , in aid of the funds of the Royal Cambridge Asylum for Soldiers' Widows . The performances will commence at half-past two o ' clock , and the Prince ami Princess of Wales , and the other members' of thc Uoya ) l ' amily , it is expected will be present .

* * It was arranged that the same Society ' s concert of yesterday ( Friday ) should be conducted by M . Sainton , the programme to include Mendelssohn ' s " 42 nd Psalm , " a new Te Dcum , by Mr . W . G . Cusins , and Mr . Sullivan ' s " Martyr of Antiocli . "

Science And Art.

Science and Art .

The second of a series of heads of animals in course of being painted by the celebrated French animal painter , Mdllc Rosa Bonheur , has been engraved by Mr . Simmons . The first , which was entitled "An Old Monarch , " and represented the head of a fine old lion , was published by Mr . Lefevre some months ago . This is now followed b y the head of a demure , looking donkey , and is styled " An I tumble Servant . " Mr . Simmons has been very successful in his reproduction of thc original . * J : ; ft

The Mne Art Society has just published a fine mezzotint engraving , by Mr . Herkomer , of Millais ' s , portrait of the late liarl of Beaconsfield . Sir . Herkomcr ' s work is worthy of his reputation , and will doubtless become popular as one of the most pleasing records of the great statesman ' s features . * # «

The question of the earliest record of a London fog having been raised in the pages of the Alhcmcum , Mr . T . Carew Martin writes to that journal , in reference to Mr . Hales ' s mention of Evelyn ' s name in connection with a fog noticed by the latter in 10 S 4 , to the effect that twenty-three years previous to that date the diarist published his " Fumifusrium : or the Inconvenience of the

Air and Smoak of London Dissipated , together with some Remedies humbly proposed , by J . E ., Esq ., " & c , " Published by His Majesty's command , " Mlici . xi . Mr . Martin adds that the warmth of expression used in this little tractate , now very scarce , would certainly point to the long settled existence of the fojj and smoke nuisance in the metropolis ; indeed , the energy of the attack of this

Science And Art.

original Fellow of the Royal Societ y ; his notice of the injury done to the health of the inhabitants ; to the public buildings of London ; and the furniture and movables generally , singularly coincide with the sentiments expressed about us in the present day . He adds that Evelyn in his "Diary" records that "the thickest and darkest fogg on ( he Thames that was ever known in the memory of man " occurred on 15 th December , 1070 .

At a general meeting of thc Roval Academy , held at Biirlinjjton House on Monday ' afternoon , the eminent sculptor , Air . J . li . Bochm , was elected a Royal Academician . B y thc almost total destruction b y fire on Monday night of Ilolton Hall , near llalesworth , Suffolk , the residence of Mr . Charles East in , a collection of valuable pictures by Holbein , Sir Benjamin West , and other dis . tinguishcd artists , has been destroyed .

A medical contemporary mentions the result of certain experiments , th-ee in number , made by a Dr . | . V . Ouimb y , jersey City , I' . S . A ., with a view of jiroving " " the possibility of chloroforming a person in sleep . " In one of three cases , ( he Doctor was experimented upon successfully by a gentlemen of his acquaintance ; the other two cases were those of boys of thirteen and ten years respectivel ;

y the former of whom had refused to lake ether for a minor operation , while the latter was suffering from an abscess . 1 he chloroform was successfully administered Uiboth , andon both the operations were performed without awakening thc patients . From these facts Dr . Ouimby drew the following important inferences : "Minor surgical operations maybe

done with perfect safety , and much more pleasantly than in the ordinary way ; and , secondly , a person somewhat skilled in the use of chloroform may enter a sleeping apartment and administer chloroform with evil intentions while a person is asleep . Hence the use of this drug in the hands of a criminal may become an effective instrument in the accomplishment of his nefarious designs . "

•* x *¦ II has been resolved to establish an Ail Gallery and Museum for ( he City of Aberdeen , and the funds derived from thc exhibition of the Prince of Wales ' s Indian presents shall be made over for the purpose . * -i *

Messrs . A . Tooth and Sun haw recentl y published a highly finished engraving by Mr . Arthur Turrell , after the picture by Mr . C . I ) . O'Neill , entitled " Tolling the Bell , " and representing two children—boy and girl-engaged In burying a dead canary . The picture , when

exhibited at the Royal Academy , attracted general attention , and the public will appreciate the opportunity now afforded them by the Messrs . Tooth of purchasing engravings of il , the mote so as the engraver lias successfully reproduced the spirit and expression of the original work .

At ihe Society of Arts on Monday , the second of the Cantor Jrrlun-s n » ( ho subject v ! |>) iol » gr . ij >)) y wax delivered by Captain Abney , F . R . S . Having explained some new developers , the lecturer went on to explain the action of various sensitizers . He also exhibited photographs showing the place of maximum sensitiveness in the

case of the four haloid salts , and proved by experiments that in order to arrive at a maximum sensitiveness in a p late a sensitizer must be present that is capable of disposing not only of the iodine , but of the bromine also . He added that the safest light photographers could use for developing their pictures was that which resulted from the use of stained red glass and ruby glass rumhined .

There is an extremel y interesting collection of unique portraits at Mr . Bassano ' s studio , in old Bondstreet . They represent the present and past princes of the reigning Dynasty of Siam . These life-size portraits have been painted very efficiently from photographs and from drawings supplied by unlive artists , and the manner in which they have been built 1111 as it were , upon such

indifferent material , reflects the highest credit upon the studios- in which these works have been executed . We have here a remarkable instance of thc power p hotography is gradually exercising upon art , particularly that p hase of art which appertains to portraiture . It is now quite possible to produce a perfect portrait without calling upon the sitter to go through the labour of reiie .-it ' . 'd sittings , by

simply furnishing the artist with a photograph , with of course the necessary description , such as would lie required in a passport for instance . It has now become the custom amongst the best portrait painters , to call to their aid the powerful assistance which photography is able to render them . Tlie portraits of the Princes of Siam and the Court

Dignatanes of that state , which have been executed at Mr . Bassano ' s studios , present an indisputable proof that photography , with its marvellous truthfulness , will eventually compel portrait painters to submit to its authority , because painted portraiture has now to comjiare with the realism of nature reflected , at it were , in the looking glass .

The regular meeting of the Koyal Geogra phical Society will take place on Monday , when Sir Richard Temple will read a paper on the geography of the birthplace of a cradle of the Mahralta power m Western India . H . R . H . the IVince of Wales wiil take the chair at a meeting- to be held at Willis's Roon-s , St . James ' s , on Monday , the 27 th inst ., with a view to promoting the International Fisheries Exhibition in London in 1 SS 3 .

" A . T . C , " writing to Knowledge , speaks of an enormous worm , which , according to some accounts , is fifty yards long and five broad , and is covered with bones as with a coat of armour . 'This monster , which is named the Minhocao , has its habitation in the bog lands of the southern provinces of Brazil , while there are traditions from time

immemorial of the existence of a similar worm in Vicaraque . 'The Minhocao 111 its burrowings uproots large trees , diverts streams into fresh channels , throws up heaps of earth , and makes trenches about five yards wide . In reading of this we are naturally reminded of the sea-serpent , yet in the case of this worm , the reports , according to " A . T . C , " are pretty well authenticated .