Science, Art, And The Drama.

Science , Art , and the Drama .

THE METAL PLATINUM . ( Continued ) . The principal districts which afford platinum are the slopes of the Ural ( Mountains , where it forms an important source of revenue to the Russian Emp ire . It is found also in Brazil , Peru , and Antioguia . Traces of platinum have been discovered in almost all the gold-washing districts of Borneo , Africa , Australia , and America . Along the coast of the South

Sea , and on the western slopes of the Cordilleras de Ios Andes , between [ he 2 nd and 6 th degrees of north latitude , platinum often occurs in the alluvial soils and in the adjacent rocks . The most productive washings appear to be those at Condsto , in the province of Novita , also those of Santa Lucia , and other localities in the same district . In Brazil , in the provinces of Minas Gerals and Matto Grosso , grains of platinum are also

met wilh in the alluvial sands and gravel which produce jrold . Recently minute quantities of platinum have been found in certain rocks , where their presence was quite unexpected , notably in certain syenitic rocks of Hungary , and in the veins of manganese ore , which occur in the weathered or decomposed syenite , near Santa Rosa d'Osos , in Columbia . It is interesting to note that manganese has been discovered in the weathered

syenite . rocks of Hungary , which contain a little platinum and gold . As there are syenite rocks in Scotland , Norway , and other countries , where such stone is sometimes used for paving the streets , it is possible that a discovery of platinum may some day be made nearer home . The precious metal has also been obtained from the valley of the river Jacky , in St . Domingo , and , latterly ,

we have heard of its being extracted from certain copper and nickel ores in British Columbia and some parts of Canada . However , though , perhaps , more widely distributed over the surface of the globe than is generally supposed , often accompanying grains of gold , diamonds , and other precious stones in what are termed by geologists " alluvial formations , " it does not appear lobe anywhere very abundant . From 1 S 24 to the present time platinum

working has been carried on amongst the Ural Mountains , and considerable quantities are annually produced there . The grains are found in alluvial deposits along with grains of several other metals ( iridium , osmium , palladium , gold , and silver ) , and they have also been discovered in the green stone rock and serpentine of thatdistrict . The process by which the crude platinum grains are purified is long and expensive , so much so , that most of

the " platinum ore , as it is termed , whicli is received at St . Petersburgh from the Urals is exported in its crude state to other European ciiies . Pure p latinum has a white colour , approaching to that of silver . It is remarkable by its great weight , being heavier than other metals , gold itself not excepted . It is no less remarkable for its infusibility ; it does not fuse in any of our ordinary furnaces , which soon melt copper , iron , or gold . But at a white

heat it can be welded and fashioned into various shapes . In the new electric furnace , and by means of the oxyhydrogen blow-pipe , it can , however , be melted and even volatilised . It is exceedingly malleable , and can be beaten out into thin plates , and drawn into wires , which are only i-2 ooh of an inch in diameter ; wires even 10 times thiner than this can be made by a special process . Air and moisture have no effect upon platinum , even when

it is heated to a very high temperature ; and it will not dissolve in acids , with _ the exception of aqua-regia , which is a mixture of hydro-chloric and nitric acid . AH these extraordinary properties are quite sufficient to account for the great value of platinum in the industrial arts ; and should it ever be discovered in much larger quantities than has hitherto been the case , its high

price would still be kept up , on account of the numerous circumstances in which it would be demanded . At the present time the call for it is restricted simply by the exceedingly high price of the metal . When all the surface gold—that is , the loose nuggets and grains found in alluvial soil and streams —is exhausted in any country , the metal is sought for in the rock and quartz

reefs are attacked by powerful machinery and stamps . The same will , some day , occur for platinum , in fact , we may say it has already begun . Hitherto , the rocks in which it has been found are syenite , serpentine , and green stone . It will , probably , sooner or later , be found in others . The jiope of making some such discovery lends additional interest to explorations in Central Africa , Australia , and other little known districts of the globe .

Painters In The Reign Of Elizabeth.

PAINTERS IN THE REIGN OF ELIZABETH .

( Continued . ) Marc Garrard , the son of a painter of the same name , was born at Bruges , in 1561 , and practised history , landscape , architecture , and portraits . He engraved , illuminated , and designed for glass painters . The father of Marc Garrard excelled principally in painting animals , and was the author vi uttrs

ilesstnes fur Marc Cttcrard , 1-, $ <} . Among the Sidney Papers , at lenshurst , was a letter from Sir Robert Sidnev to his lady , about 1597 , desiring her to go to Mr . " Garrals " and pay him lor the picture of her and jhe children , so long done and unpaid . The elder Garrard furnished designs l' » r . h . sop ' s fables . His son made etchings from them . These , with his

> iew ot Bruges , were much esteemed . He came to England not long alter t » e year 1580 , and remained here till his death , which did not happen till ! 0 o . i , having been painter to Oueen Elizabeth , and Anne of Denmark . His works are very numerous . The portraits in the procession to Hunsdon 1 ; , e ' . at Sherborne , in Dorsetshire , in the collection of -art D . gby , taken from life , confirm his reputation . His paint'gs ate not easily known , as he never used any peculiar mark .

' ' genera I , they are neat , the rull ' s and habits still and rich with pearls and ner jewels . His flesh colouis are thin and light , tending to a bluish tint , frn u-u W a P rocessio , ) of the Oueen and Knights of the Garter in 1584 , trait u Ashmo , e took his P late for lhe history of that order . The ports , though small , have great resemblance , with that uncommon fidelity nai 1 , i i , ! np the air - stature . and bulk of thc persons exhibited . Grarrard H-unted both Prince Henry and Prince Charles . Some portraits of ladies

Dilln u- Litchfield ' s , at Ditchley , now inherited by Lord Viscount UiiiT- ' 0 W " picture was engraved by Hollar—An Introduction to the Irard . A ° f l ) iawit 'Si first set out by Marc Garrard , of Bruges , was sale 0 f Q 3 na P ublished in English , quarto , 1674 . This was sold at the Vroom l \ ^ Tollemacne > Esq-i M . P . i for 38 guineas . Henry Cornelius Whoma rf tu" r" I 5 C 6 at Harlaem > where his father was a statuary , of > and of hls father-in-law , a painter of Florence , young Henry learned

Painters In The Reign Of Elizabeth.

to draw . His inclination led him first to paint views of towns ; in that pursuit he went to Rotterdam , and soon after on board a Spanish ship to St . Lucar , and thence to Seville , where he lived a short time with a Dutch performer , a painter of monkeys , called by the Spaniards a Pintemony ; from thence to Florence and Rome , where he fixed for two years , and was employed by Cardinal De Medici , and became acquainted with Paul Brill .

At Venice he stayed a year ; and passing through Milan , Genoa , Turin , and Paris , returned to Harlaem , where he employed himself on devout subjects in little , and having stocked himself with a quantity , again set out for Spain , where he proposed to sell them , but was cast away on a small island near the coast of Portugal . He , and some of the crew , were relieved by monks , that lived among the

rocks , and conducted to Lisbon , where , relating the danger he had escaped , a paltry painter there engaged Vroom to draw the storm he described , in which hi succeeded so happily that it was sold to a nobleman for a considerable price . The Portuguese painter was charmed , and continued to employ Vroom , who improved so much in sea pieces that , having got money , and returning home , he applied himself entirely to that style of

painting . At this period the great Earl of Nottingham , Lord High Admiral of England , whose defeat of the Spanish Armada had established the throne of his mistress , being desirous of preserving the details of that illustrious event , had bespoken a suit of tapestry describing the particulars of each day ' s engagement . Francis Spiering , an eminent maker of tapestry , undertook the work , and engaged Vroom to draw the designs . ( To be continued . )

Vaudeville Theatre.

VAUDEVILLE THEATRE .

The piece entitled " Self and Lady , " the three act farce now running at the above theatre , is an adaptation from the French of Pierre Decourcelles . _ It is on the usual lines so familiar to us all . Although there is no novelty in the leading idea , there is great ingenuity evinced in the manner in which the changes are rung upon old and well-worn forms of intrigue . There are the two husbands , who are not only errant , but

peccant , the young wife with boundless faith ( at first ) in her spouse ' s fidelity , until his deceit is discovered , the gay old roue , who boasts of having lived a long life of unfaithfulness , which , up to the action of the play , he has successfully concealed from his antiquated better half . Then , of course , there is the butler , who is in love with the lady ' s maid . By theatrical coincidence , the chief characters meet at No . 8 , the private room in a

restaurant of doubtful reputation . It is not difficult to imagine the complications which ensue in this , the second act , to be all satisfactorily cleared up in the third and last . Although , as we have stated , there is no originality in the way of treatment , yet the dialogue is so clever and harmlessly piquant , that we cannot help laughing heartily as the situations occur . The success is doubtless due to the life and spirit in the acting all round . The action of

the piece rushes along in such haste that we have no time lo criticise—were we to do so , we should lose some of the amusing points . Mr . Seymour Hicks and 'Miss Ellaline Terris , as the young married pair , act so well together that the interest is fully maintained . An amusing contrast is given us in Mr . Herbert Standing and Miss Emily Miller , as the elderly couple . As a relief to the domestic troubles , we have Mr . Cosmo Stuart as the

eccentric operatic tenor , and Miss Adrienne Dairolles , as the jealous Spanish wife—these capable artists well sustain their respective parts . Mr . Cairns James is most amusing as the obsequious restaurant keeper , and Miss Florence Lloyd makes a lively lady ' s maid . We think the piece is likely to become a success—we should judge so from the reception it received , A pleasant evening may be spent at the Vaudeville Theatre .

Coronet Theatre.

CORONET THEATRE .

NOTTING HlLL , W . We paid another visit , last week , to this pretty little theatre . Our readers may , perhaps , remember that on some previous occasions we have recorded our impressions as to the pieces produced , and the manner in which they are performed . Ever since the opening of this theatre it has been the general rule , with only an occasional exception , that no piece

should have more than a week ' s run . By this wise plan , constant novelty is ensured . At the same time , every piece is mounted with such good allround talent , that due justice is done to every production offered to the discriminating audience . Last week we had the well-known comic opera , "La Fille du Tambour Major , " of Offenbach , under the English Khaki guise of "The Drum Major . " Though the libretto was different , the

charming music of the hrench composer was given in its entirety . The story is up to date , the scenes being laid in South Africa , at Cape Town , Johannesburg , Pretoria , and the open country . In this new version we have a pretty love episode , and the interesting old tale of the father and daughter , who , after being parted for many years , meet again in a foreign land . Miss Marie Elba , as Elsie , by her splendid singing and

intelligent acting , well sustained the character of the daughter of " The Drum Major . " The old veteran , Mr . Richard Temple , the old Savoy favourite , brings to his part a well-matured baritone voice and a quaint humour . The Baroness Valmar takes the part of the Boy Uiigler , who is on familiar terms with everyone , from the highest to the lowest , with unflagging

spirit ; she is a decided acquisition . Mr . Victor Seymour , as the suldier lover , by his frank , manly bearing , is interesting . Tne music was well rendered ; we would especially notice the unaccompanied quintette . We must not forget the excellent chorus , who rendered valuable aid . In conclusion , we congratulate the people of Notting Hill and the neighbourhood that they have such an admirable theatre in their midst .

General Notes.

GENERAL NOTES .

The directors of the Sunday Afternoon Concerts , which for upwards of three years have proved so successful , at Albert Hall , have engaged the band ol the Royal Artillery , under the able conductor-jiiip ot ' Cavaliere L . Zavertal , for the season .

M . Paderewski will come to England in the spring ( or a tour of tlie provincial towns , commencing at Birmingham on 4 th March next year . The great artist has not yet made any promise regarding a recital in London ; but we trust he will not again depart from our shores without granting his admirers in the Metropolis the opportunity of hearing his marvellous playing ,