Science, Art, And The Drama.

Science , Evt , anb tbe Drama ,

THE SARGASSO SEA . Twenty years ago the professional explorer had the free run of the vast continent of Africa , which was for the most part entirely unknown . Now we are quite satisfied that we have found out all about Africa that is worth discovering , and we are getting a little tired of the subject . This is hard on the explorer . Especially hard on him is it that very few portions of the globe now remain which offer any

field for his energy . The Arctic and Antarctic Poles , it is true , still preserve their invaluable secrecy , but this is certainly not due to any lack of human enterprise . Outside the polar circles there are very few regions whither the white pioneer has not made his way , or which still remain unexp lored , unexhausted , and unrepresented in the great zoological and | botanical collections of Europe . The Sargasso Sea is , therefore , quite unique . It is

a genuine portion of the globe about which we know little or nothing , and this though it lies in the centre of one of the most frequented waterways of the world . It is not , however , of much use to the explorer , and it is not likely to be taken under the patronage of Messrs . Cook , Sons , and Co ., or any other tourist agents—at least , not within our own time . The Sargasso Sea owes its existence entirely to the movements of the ocean currents , iust

as the deltas , bars , and sandbanks at | the mouths of rivers owe their origin to the agency of those rivers ; and the former may , with great propriety , be described as rivers moving in the midst of the ocean . One of the most important of these marine rivers is that which is known us the " Equatorial Current , " which flows from the south-west coast of Africa , across the South Atlantic towards Brazil . The origin of this current

is attributed by some to the continual action of the trade-winds , driving the surface water in the direction described ; and by others , to the enormous evaporation which is perpetually going on in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico , which appreciably lowers the surface of the sea , and creates a permanent " down-hill " movement of the outer waters , to supply the wash . Probably the two causes work together to produce the effect .

The Equatorial current , however created , is of very considerable breadth , and it strikes the coast of Brazil just where the great easternmost projection , known as Cape San Roque , bulges into the sea . Off this cape the current divides into two branches qf unequal volume , the smaller of the two slipping down the south-east coast of Brazil . The other , which is considerably the larger , turns north along the north-east slope of the South

American coast line , washing through the fringing Archipelago , and sea divergent streams to the east of Cuba and in and out among the larger islands . The main stream keeps on its course to the north west , sweeping round the great hollow curve of the Gulf of Mexico , under the scorching suns of Honduras and Yucutan , to emerge at last into the Northern Atlantic , between the southern extremity of Florida and Bahama Islands .

From this time , it is known to hydrography as the Gulf Stream . The Gulf Stream at the outset , is a broad , deep column of water , which has been so warmed by the intense heat of the Gulf , that its temperature exhibits a marked contrast to that of the sea , on either side of it . It flows north east towards Cape Hatteras and Newfoundland , at a steady rate of two miles an hour . Off the Great Banks , it diverges into a north-easterly direction

across the ocean , towards Europe . In Mid-Atlantic , the current divides again , the northern half continuing its way towards the north of Europe , to warm our own western shores , while the southern trends down towards the Azores and the bulge of Africa , and helps to form the North African currents . Under this new name it follows the line of the African coast down south , until it joins the great Equatorial Current at its source , and is once

more carried across the Atlantic to the opposite coast , thus completing the irregular circle . In the centre of the huge elliptical figure , formed by the course of the current , there lies a wide expanse of smooth water , stretching over a space which is about equal to the size of Continental Europe , and is contained , roughly speaking , between the 20 th and 30 th degrees of north latitude , and the 30 th and 60 th degrees of west longitude . Here there is no trouble from wind or current . ( To be continued . )

Our Early English Architecture.

OUR EARLY ENGLISH ARCHITECTURE .

Continued . But the brightest name in this list is William of Wykeham , temp . Rdward III ., who from being clerk of the works , rose to be Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor , a height which few men have reached , by mere merit in any mechanic science . Wykeham had the sole direction oi the buildings at Windsor and Queenborough Castle—not to mention his

own foundations , He rose by pleasing one of the greatest princes , and deserved his fortune by bestowing it on noble charities . William Rede , Bishop of Chichester in 13 6 9 , reckoned the best mathematician of the age , was a prelate of similar taste , he built the first library at Merton College , Oxford , and the Castle of Amberley . The construction of this castle is upon a geometrical plan , which differs in many respects from the military

architecture and contrivance of that age . It is nearly a parallelogram tliere was a square tower at each angle , which did not project beyond the side walls . In examining the histories of most of our churches , we find few names of artists . With respect to thc builders of Gothic , it is a real loss : there is beauty , genius , and invention enough in their work to make one wish to know the authors . We learn , however , that the great poet

Chaucer was appointed clerk of the works of all the royal palaces , with a salary of two shillings a day—temp . Richard II . From the nature of the grants it is evident that he was paymaster and director only of the work - men , and not that he furnished designs , or , in fact , could be professionally considered as an architect . Still the very minute and correct description oi the various architectural ornaments , of which his imaginary castles and

Our Early English Architecture.

palaces are composed , give a certain degree of evidence that Chaucer was a proficient in the science . The great hall and other additions to Kenilworth Castle and the great gateway at Lancaster , were made by John of Gaunt . Dugdale mentions a warrant from Richard II ., dated in 1392 , directed to Robert dc Skellington , master mason , to impress 20 workmen , carpenters and others . The ruins of this hall show that it nearly resembled ,

both in plan and dimensions , those of Westminster and Eltham . We learn in addition that John Durell and Roger Keys were the architects of All Souls , and W . Orchyerde of Magdalen Colleges , in Oxford . The original contract with the last mentioned is preserved in their muniment room . It appears that he was not only the supervisor , but the architect and designer .

On a plate of brass to the memory of " Eustace Marshal , " in 1567 , in the church of Farnham Royal , Bucks , he is said to have been " clerk of the works to Cardinal Wolsey at the building of St . Frideswides , in Oxford ( Christ Church College ) , and for several years chief clerk of accounts for all the buildings of King Heiiry VIII . within 20 miles of London , " but this may not be considered as a sufficient proof that he was an architect . ( To be continued . ))

Vaudeville Theatre.

VAUDEVILLE THEATRE .

The above theatre has been re-opened with the long promised adaptation of " Les F 6 tards " ( a cant French word signifying " The Roysterers " ) , under the title in the Anglicised version of its heroine , " Kitty Grey . " The adaptor , Mr . J . G . Pigott , has had a difficult task in respect of expurgation ; and while sailing pretty near the wind , has succeeded , fairly well , in eliminating the more objectionable features of the French original . The

story , like most Parisian farces of its kind , dwells with the derelictions of an errant husband , fascinated by an actress , who scarcely sets up to bs a dragon of virtue . To seek the favour of this charmer , Sir John Bin field is induced , by the chilling conduct of his wife , whose undoubted personal attractions are neutralised in their effect by her prudery as a woman , and her hard bigotry as a religionist . The intending sinner is , however , hoist

by his own petard , for his lady , aroused by suspicion to jealousy , secretly follows him from Biarritz to London , and , making herself known there to her unconscious rival , Kitty Grey , enlists her sympathies in a scheme to confound and , as the issue proves , reclaim the roving husband . Through a series of humorous convolutions of intrigue , rendered as clear , by the ingenuity of the action , as they would prove tedious in narrative , the

reclamation is brought about ; at the same time , that Lady Binfield for her part also , takes the lesson to heart , by renouncing bath her prudery and her bigotry , wisely resolving to revive her repentant lord and master ' s love , and win him back to herself , by practising the endearing wiles and allurements which had drawn him to the actress . This , barely outlined , is involved in further complexity by the diverting eccentricities of two other admirers of

Kitty Grey , the King of Uyria and Lord Plantagenet , enacted with amusing extravagance by Mr . Abington and Mr . C . P . Little . The puritanic primness and wifely jealousy of Lady Binfield became in each of these opposite phases more agreeable than repugnant , as expressed with grace and refinement by Miss Ella Jeffreys ; and , in the same way , the part of the actress , Kitty Grey , was divested of its ethical riskiness by the personal charm and delicacy of Miss Miriam Clements . Miss Lily Belmore

broadened alike with her buxom personality and merry humour , the character of a good natured theatrical dresser , and Mr . Herbert Ross , in a true spirit of comedy , exhibiting sly fun under artistic restraint , relieved the character of the errant baronet , of whatever was offensive in his ways , as drawn in the play itself . The recurrent laughter of the audience as ths play proceeded , and their plauditory greeting of the players and adaptor at the close gave evidence of a popular verdict .

General Notes.

GENERAL NOTES .

An interesting instance of the display of maternal affection , under desperate circumstances , is worthy of record . A stable took fire in Paddonwick road , on Sunday , 15 th April , and the two horses standing there were burnt to death . A cat which had some kittens in the building made three or four journeys through the flames , and brought out one of them each time , but was so badly burnt that it was found necessary to put her out of her misery , by killing her a few days afterwards .

Mrs . Rose Mary Crawshaw , writing from BeNagio , Italy , states that it is proposed to place an oil painting of the late Mrs . Lynn Linton , by the Hon . John Collier , in the Museum at Keswick , her native place . Mr . Layard , of Louvaine Cottage , Malvern , will receive subscriptions for this

purpose . Novelist , essayist , and journalist , Mrs . Linto 1 was distinguished in all three directions . Her work was characteristic of the North ; it had both its strength and its tenderness . Cumberland honours her memory . Her name ranks high as one of their celebrities . In . her very earliest days London recognised and endorsed her literary powers .

It was settled that Gounod ' s " Faust , " with Madame Melba , should be the work performed on the opening night of the grand opera season at Covent Garden . During the second week of the season another Australian soprano , Mdlle . Mirando , who has recently won success in Brussels , will make her debut before a London audience . M . Jean de

Reszke has informed the opera directors that he wishes to make his reappearance on 15 th June , with his brother Edward , and hopes to remain until the season closes , at the end of J uly . Recent engagements at Covent Garden are Herr Parr , of New York , who will conduct some of the Germ in operas , including " Tristram and Isolde , " for M . Jean de Reszke .

Early in April , M . Paderewski paid a flying visit to Mexico , where he gave two recitals . The great pianist took 16 , 000 ( Mexican ) dollars for his trouble .

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