Science, Art, And The Drama.

Science , Art , and the Drama .

COTTON-SEED OIL . ( Contimted . ) In England , when an attempt was made some years ago to popularise cotton-seed oil , the effort failed , the want of success being largely due , it is said , to the uncleanly methods of a certain class of public caterers , who were by no means slow to recognise the suitability of the new oil for the requirements of their own particular business . There are , in London , and

most provincial towns as well , institutions rejoicing in the suggestive name of " Fried-fish shops , " or " Fried-fish establishments . " The enterprising caterers who thus minister to the requirements of a large section of the lower stratum of society , in the matter of a fried-fish diet , are much addicted to the use of cotton-seed oil as the oleaginous medium in which they fry their fish . Now , the oil itself is wholesome and odourless , and

possesses not a single objectionable property , and is capitally suited for the purpose . Unfortunately , however , the profits attached to the running of a fried-fish establishment are not of the colossal order . Competition , too , in this walk of life is keen , and thus rigorous economy is absolutely necessary . Thus the oil employed is utilised again and again , and hence the combination of " ancient and fish-like smells" which compels the wayfarer to

protect his olfactory nerves from their contact . In spite , however , of the bad odour into which cotton-seed oil has fallen on this account , it is slowly , but surely , gaining popular favour . " Cottolene , " a lard-like preparation from the oil , is stated , by those who have tried it , to be quite equal to the ordinary lard of domestic use . Much of the oil manufactured in the States is exported to the various

Mediterranean ports , more especially to Marseilles , Genoa , and Naples . It is not difficult to tell what becomes of it . Some of it is , of course , used by the poorer classes as a substitute for the dearer olive oil . The bulk of it , however , is sold as that oil , being first of all mixed with the pure product , or else " prepared , " and then sold right out as olive oil . But the inhabitants of the United States do not escape all consequences from the trade fraud ,

which , innocently or otherwise , they are the means of perpetrating upon the citizens of Italy or the countries adjacent . The population of the great North-American Republic , includes many subjects who claim Italy , France , or Spain , as the land of their birth . They are large consumers of olive oil , and that from their fatherland is , of course , the best . Sad , however , to relate , much of the olive oil exported from Marseilles , Genoa , or Naples , to

the United States is just cotton-seed oil , shipped , originally , from North-American ports , doctored a little , perhaps , up the Mediterranean , and then sent back as the product of native olive yards . Much cotton-seed oil is also exported to Antwerp , some of the vessels engaged in carrying it having been specially built much on the lines of a petroleum tanker , to carry the oil in bulk . Dutch and Belgian enterprise has discovered dozens of methods

in which cotton-seed oil may be utilised , and it is an open secret that it enters very largely into the composition of a variety of products , whose principal constituents are , generally , supposed to be animal fat . Regrettable as these frauds may be , they serve to indicate the usefulness of the oil as a food stuff . When the public recognition of this fact increases , cotton-seed oil products will be better able to stand

upon their own merits , and there will no longer be the necessity or temptation to disguise this useful article of food under other names . The future which awaits the oil industry is certainly a great one . It is already an important factor in determining the income of the cotton-planter , and while the staple itself continues at its present price , must be of the greatest importance to him . The mills pay well , and the 27 crushing establishments

situated in South Carolina dealt in 1 S 94 . with no less than 75 000 tons of seed valued at 800 , 000 dollars . From this seed fio . ooo barrels of oil , 26 , 000 tons of cotton-seed meal , 5000 bales of linters—the fine cotton attached to the seed—and 25 000 tons of hoalls were obtained . And yet it is not many years ago that the commercial value of cotton-seed , apart from its use in propagating its kind , was almost entirely unsuspected .

Miniature Painters In The Reign Of Elizabeth.

MINIATURE PAINTERS IN THE REIGN OF ELIZABETH .

( . Continued ) . Lanzi asserts that Guilio Clovio painted portraits in miniature for particular persons ; but that it was not his usual praciice . " Per privati lavoro rittratini in gran numero ( nella quia ! arte e dal Vasari ugualinto a Tiziano ) ed anche qualche quadritto . Questi pero sons rarissimi nelle raciolte . " Whoever has well examined the works of Guilio Clovio will perceive that

he was able to represent giants in miniature , as in his painting of their combat with the gods , from Ovid . There are now in England three specimensof his matchless talent —( 1 ) The Book of Psalms ( dated 15 . 37 ) , which had belonged to Lord Arundel , from whom it passed to the Duchess of Portland , and at her sale was purchased for £ 169 . This same Book of Psalms , at a sale in 1 S 42 , was purchased by the Earl of Waldegrave for

420 guineas . It has thus been described by Horace \\ alpole— " The Book of Psalms , with 21 inimitable illuminations , by Don Julio Clovio , scholar of J ulio Romano . " If anything can excel the figures it is the execution of the borders , which are of the purest antique taste , and unrivalled for the lustre and harmony of the colours , as well as for the preservation , which is allowed to be more perfect than that of any of the few

works of this " extraordinary master . " ( 2 ) An illumination on pecorclla ( abortive vellum ) representing a cardinal sitting before a table with St . Andrew and other tutelar saints , at Kensington . ( 3 ) Several folio sheets ( formerly part of a larger MS . ) upon the same material , containing Scripture history , purchased from the Continent by the late John Townley , Esq . ; not inferior to any of Clovio's known works . Pittitot , whose enamels have

exceeding merit , perhaps owed a little of the beauty of his works to the happy nature of the composition ; we , ourselves , have nobody to put in competition with Oliver , except it be our own Cooper , who , though living in an age of freer pencil and under the auspices of Vandyck , scarce compensated by the boldness of his expression for the truth of nature and delicate fidelity of the older master . Oliver ' s son , Peter , alone approached

to the perfection of his father . Oliver , after studying under Hilliard , had some instruction from Zucchero . Vertue even thought , from the variety of his drawings after the great masters , especially Parmegiano , that he had been in Italy . Among many masterpieces in this country is the portrait of Oliver , painted by himself . This picture alone would justify all that has been said in his praise . The art of the master and the imitation of nature

Miniature Painters In The Reign Of Elizabeth.

are so great in it that the largest magnifying glass only calls out new beauties . But the first , at least the best preserved of all his works is the head of Lady Lucy Percy , mother of Venetia , Lady Digby ; she is in black , with a large hat of the same colour and a very large ruff , the whole painted on a lilac ground . This was purchased , with many exquisite pieces , b yjhis son Peter , of whom we shall speak hereafter . ( To be continued . )

Drury Lane Theatre.

DRURY LANE THEATRE .

The piece now playing at the above theatre , entitled , " The Price of Peace , " is a new and original drama of modern life . The author , Cecil Raleigh , has introduced in his production some realistic scenes , which are extremely well arranged and are most effective , such as " The Terrace of the House of Commons , " "Niagara Skating Rink , " "Westminster Abbey " ( the interior ) , " The House of Commons , " in session , this is the best . The

plot for the first two acts is tedious and lacks action . In the third act , however , an episode takes place which is of most thrilling interest , it is introduced in Scene 2 , the attention is arrested , increasing in intensity in Scene 3 , culminating in Scene 4— " The House of Commons . " The climax is here reached—the fourth act continues and concludes the story—this , of course , is necessary , however , we cannot but feel it is an anti-climax . The hero , if he may be so called , is the Earl of Derwent , M . P . The role is

taken by Mr . Henry Neville , v ho , by his admirable well-finished acting , sustains , with appropriate dignity , the important character he assumes ; there is a graceful courtliness in his manner , which is very appropriate ; his last speech in the House of Commons , when he alludes to the fatal necessity of the deed , justifying its commission , shows him to be a consummate master of his art . The other characters are of minor importance

compared with that of the Earl of Derwent . The chief of these are entrusted to Messrs . Chas . C . Allan , Frank Atherley , Chas . M . Lowne , and Alfred Bucklaw , who render full justice to their respective parts ; the gentlemanly villain falls to the lot of Mr . H . Cooper Cliffe , whose urbanity almost tempts us to condone his evil deeds . The lad y artistes have not much opportunity of distinguishing themselves .

We may , however , mention Miss Lettice Fairfax , who looks pretty and unaffected as the hospital nurse , and as Lady Kathleen , in her noble father's mansion , she has , by the way , one or two chances which she does not neglect . Mrs . Raleigh , as the Baroness Manola Blanco , and Miss Vane Featherstone . as Lady St . Azuline , look very handsome in their beautiful dreses . We think all should see the piece for the realistic scenes and the powerfully dramatic third act .

London Photographic Society, Russell-Square, W.C.

LONDON PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY , RUSSELL-SQUARE , W . C .

A lecture was delivered here last week by Mrs . E . Main . The subject , a most interesting one , " Some of the Cities and Sights of Spain "; these were illustrated by limelight views . Having on one or two separate occasions visited the North and South of Spain , we were delighted to renew acquaintance with places we had previously visited . The lady lecturer

drew our attention to the cities of Burgos , Avila , and Tegovia , in the north . The views shown us were photographs taken by Mrs . Main herself . Madrid was also noticed , and allusions made to the chief places , the famed picture gallery , Royal Palace , Puerta del Sol , the Escurial , & c . Then we went to the south , visiting Gibraltar , Cordova , Granada ( the Alhambra ) ,

Seville , Cadiz , & c . Mrs . Main traced the rise and decadence of the various architectural orders , and the important influence they had upon the people generally . Mrs . Main strongly urged tourists to visit Spain ; there would be much that would repay the journey . Mrs . Main has written a guide far tourists , which will be found to be of great practical uti lity ,

General Notes.

GENERAL NOTES .

The Adelphi , under the new management of the syndicate having Mr . T . Davis at its head , is to be constructed anew as regards its auditorium with an entrance to the stalls on the street level . Next Easter , under the name of the New Adelphi , the house will be re-opened with a musical comedy .

Mr . Beerbohm Tree will he the guest of the evening at the inaugural dinner of the new O . P . Club , to be given at the Hotel Cecil in January . The O . Ps . are late members of the Playgoers' Club , prominent among the seceders being Mr . Cecil Raleigh , who , on the iSth instant , is to read a paper to his fellow clubmates on the subject of " The Commercial Drama . "

Madame Sara Bernhardt has received for her 234 performances of " L'Aiglon , " at her own theatre in Paris , , £ 90 , 000 . For her ensuing tour in America the great actress is to receive a nett sum equivalent to £ 300 a day .

Ad01406

flDasonic Cbvistmas ant ) Mew Jl ) eac GREETINGCARDS ( New & Beautifully Executed Designs Now Ready ) . ^ J Selection of 18 Varieties , 6 / - post free . Do . 12 do . 4 / 6 do . O-JESOiBEfcO-E KENNING , 10 & ICA , GUEAT QUEEN STREET , LONDON , W . C .