Science, Art, And The Drama.

Science , Art , and the Drama .

A RESUSCITATED INDUSTRY . The establishment of a new industry is rightly regarded as a matter of considerable congratulation ; but the benefits derivable from the revival of an old one can scarcely be said to rank lower in the scale of the commercial life of any community . Bearing this fact in mind , no small importance and interest attach themselves to the vigorous efforts , put forth

of late years , to resuscitate the ancient Irish charcoal iron industries Ireland , in prehistoric times , was noted for the superior quality of its iron , and it has even been suggested that the famons Oriental steel of Phoenician times had its origin in iron , " made in Ireland . " Be this as it may , Irish iron bore a high reputation in Strongbow's times , and portions of an iron work of that date have recently been discovered between Rathdrum and

Aughrim . Turning to more modern times , Chichester reports having found native smiths at work , in Ulster , at the beginning of last century , fashioning steel from native iron . The industry seems to have succumbed through sheer lack of fuel ; the woods were not replaced , and as they disappeared so did the iron furnaces . The iron ore remains in abundance , and the problem has been to find fuel for its reduction . Not unnaturally ,

attention has been paid for a considerable time' to the extensive peat-bogs of Ireland , with a view to their utilisation for iron-smelting purposes , but , until recently , no success has rewarded the efforts made . Hitherto experimenters have worked on the theory that raw peat should be compressed to form a good merchantable article ; and a large number , and a great variety of machines , have been invented and patented to carry out this

idea . Peat , however , is a curious substance , and its tenacity of water , and general indiarubber-like character , have rendered futile all attempts to reduce it by pressure to a solid and dry compact mass , In view of these repeated failures a new process , in which the water is evaporated and thus disposed of , and the by-products distilled , leaving a residuum of " peat charcoal , " which can be formed into blocks , and burns as

an excellent fuel , merits considerable attention . The by-products , which consist of ammoniacal liquor , acetic acid , spirits of naphtha , and volatile oils , are valuable , and command a ready market . In this connection it may be pointed out that peat possesses the great advantage of being entirely free from sulphur , a substance , as is well known , most injurious to the quality of iron . Without unduly entering at length into the minutix of the new

plant , it may brielly be stated that , the apparatus consists of horizontal retorts of steel set in brickwork , with Hues in the form of a triangle . Inside each retort a specially constructed screw propeller is placed , actuated by external gearing . Channels for feeding in the peat and pipes for conveying away the products of distillation are also provided . The retorts are arranged in groups of three , and the peat in its passage through them , under

the process of distillation , yields up its volatile parts , and is finally ejected by the propellers as charcoal . The charcoal powder then passes , automatically , into an improved "briquette" machine , which compresses it into blocks suitable for melting iron ores in the blast furnace . Every effort to economise waste products and utilise all sources of heat will be made , and it is proposed to convey the gases evolved in the blast furnaces during the

smelting of the iron back to the retorts , both for drying the peat and heating the retorts . The various expedients proposed for the development of the use of peat and the icvival of the ancient Irish iron industry have been carefully examined by a number of experts , the whole of whom have presented reports of an entirely favourable nature . Over 1000 acres , estimated lo contain more than S , ci «) . ou <> tons of ironstone , have been

secured on the Creavelea estate , in the Barony of Drumquhair , County Leilrim , where ample water power can be obtained from three lakes , 700 feet above the level of the works , and yielding an abundant supply for the 150 horse-power turbines it is proposed to erect . The peat on the property covers at least 000 acres , varying in depth from six to 12 feet , and bsing a good , heavy black turf , with but little

iibie , and suitable in every way for the purpose to which it is destined . It only remains lo be added that peat is employed on the Continent for the manufacture of iron , and that at Konigsbronn , in Wurtcmberg , both the refining and second fusion of pig-iron , as well as its re-healing for rolling and puddling , are performed solely by peat . The late Sir John Anderson devoted his attention to investigating the quality of iron manufactured by

means of peat , and found it to be in all respects of a very superior kind ; whilst at the Mersey Steel Works peat-smelted iron behaved admirably , under a series of particularly severe trials . It is to be hoped , under new apparatus and fiesh appliances , by the guidance of the metallurgist , the chemist , and the engineer , the efforts made to again establish an important branch of manufacture , which has unhappily lain dormant for many generations , may prove entirely successful .

PRODUCTION OF CASSAVA IN ARGENTINE

Cassava is a native of the Argentine Republic . It has a long , fleshy , tuberous root , often weighing 30 lbs ., and full of a wheyish venomous juice . The stems are white , crooked , brittle , jointed , pithy , usually six or seven feet high , with a smooth , while bark . The United States Consul at Buenos Ayies says that this plant , formeily designated by botanists as the Jtiii - j'hd iiiaiiilmlfurnishes a large amount of food to the inhabitants of illi lllll It lUIIII l Icl ^ lILlllutllll IUWI . Llll . ll ! ll ( ll /! iaill 3 Ul

n , tj ..,, il > A .. ^ ..-,.-., <<> ,, !<> . I I ,,, .. ' 1 ... 0 , \ f inn ,,, > rt / "i Hnmn ^ r . r ciccn rt c ( n rcli J II I I ''II III r 'I , ^ IIL . ^ < ., u . IU .: Soutli America under the . name of mandioca , tapioca , or cassava starch . There are two distinct species of the plant . The root of one is brown externally , not exceeding six ounces in weight , with a sweet taste , and may Le eattn with impunity—it is termed sweet cassava . The root of the other and more common variety is much larger , knotty , and containsami kyand

poisonous juice—ilus is called bitter cassava . Each of these plants furnishes a considerable quantity of starch . Tapioca is prepared from the bitter cassava . The . starch is allowed lo subside in the milky tluid , which passes through and is finally converted into the granular form by drying , the volatile poison being expelled by heat . Tapioca is a very pure starch in the lurm t f grains about the size of a pea , white , tasteless , and inodorous .

PAINTERS IN THE REIGN OF ELIZABETH .

Thc . ' . e des'gns lor which , Sandrat says , Lord Nottingham remunerated Vrcom with i' > o florins , were made for 10 compartments . The whole series with the marginal portraits , was ably engraved by John Pine . We are not to suppose that the portraits of the olli . eis and volunteers engaged in the dt : ( t- ; tl of the Ainiad . i wtu : iniiii ; intiry . but that the brave individuals who fountd a constellation of heroes , were faithfully depicted to complete Vi ( , ( , m's dc- 'gns for ll c tnpislry . Amongst ihem were Sir Francis Drake

Science, Art, And The Drama.

Chas . Howard , Baron of Effingham , the Lord High Admiral , Sir Martin Frobisher , Sir John Hawkins , Sec . Vroom was a marine painter only , and , therefore , these most interesting portraits were supplied by some competent portrait painter of the time ; for we cannot allow , that whilst so many of these heroes were living and employed in the service of their country , Lord Howard of Effingham , who ordered the 10 pictures , would have been

content with imaginary resenblances ot those , who shared with him the honour of the victory . It is pleasing to note that there are two monuments of this sort , and both finely executed , the tapestry in question , and the suit at Blenheim ; monuments of two signal victories , acquired by sea and land , under the auspices of two queens of the same country , and both gained in defence of the liberties of nations , attacked by two of the most powerful

princes , Philip 2 nd of Spain , and Louis 14 th of France . Vroom received 100 pieces of gold for his labour ; the arras , itself , containing 70 S ells , Flemish , at £ 10 . 1 . per ell , cost £ T , \ 15 „ S „ which was paid by the crown to the Earl , in the 14 th year of King James 1 st ; but it was during the Commonwealth , that this noble trophy was placed in a temple worthy of it . The House of Lords , at that time , 1650 , was used for committees of the House of Commons ( these tapestries were burnt in the

fire which destroyed the Houses of Parliament , in 1 S 34 ) . The painter came to England to receive instructions and execute his commissions ; and contracting a friendship with Isaac Oliver , was drawn by him . There is a print from that picture . He returned to his own country and painted a large picture , which was much admired by Prince Maurice , of the seventh day ' s action with the Spanish Armada . Vroom died rich , at Haarlem . He left two sons , Cornells and Frederick ; the former was a

good landscape painter , the latter an historical painter and architect . In the collection of James II . were two sea-pieces , and in that of Sir Peter Lely a landscape , both described to be of old Vroom , whence , we may suppose , he had a son who followed his profession , and his style , too , as in the former catalogue is mentioned a sea-piece , with King Charles I . coming ' rom Spain , said to be by Vroom , without the adjunct of old . No account is found of the son , nor of his being in England . ( To be continued . )

Mr. David Green's Drawings " By Land And Sea."

MR . DAVID GREEN'S DRAWINGS " BY LAND AND SEA . "

There is a most interesting and delightful exhibition of Mr . David Green ' s works to be seen now at the above gallery . Compared with others of a like kind , it would be called a small exhibition , but this really constitutes its great charm . The art critic has not the dread of being compelled , by duty , to go through a gallery where there are from 200 to 300 pictures . The modest , unpretentious catalogue records a JittJe over 50 works .

Quantity here we do not find , but far better than that we have quality . At the very first glance we perceive the careful studies of an artWt , who not only feels his work himself , but possesses the magic power of conveying his own impressions to the spectator . As critics , we have in this charming collection " un embarras de richesses , " all is , really , so good that we hesitate at first what pictures we shoulJ select for notice . However ,

a choice must be made . No . 4—The Kingfisher ' s Haunt , a delightful little bit ; No . 7-Even , Portmadoc , good perspective ; No . 18—Moonshine , Rye , delicate work . We may here observe that , in our opinion , Mr . David Green excels in his small pictures . No . 24—Buck's Green , Rudgivick , very good ; No ; . 29 and 43—Fine sea pieces ;

Nos . 19 and 2—the turbulence of the ever restless sea is seen . Then , how delightlul are the varieties of colour in Nos . 27 , 40 , and 45 . There are also some picturesque bits of Rye , one of the quaintest little towns in England , quite foreign in its aspect . We have said enough to awaken the interest of lovers of genuine art ; let visitors go and ju ^ gs lor themselves .

The 45th Annual Exhibition Of The Royal Photographic Society.

THE 45 TH ANNUAL EXHIBITION OF THE ROYAL PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY .

This year ' s Exhibition of the Royal Photographic Society fully maintains its standard of excellence . There is abundant evidence of fine , con . scicntious , artistic work . We well recollect what an outcry there was when Photography supplemented Art Study . It was then unthinkingly said that the mechanical productions of Photography would ultimately supsrsedd and ruin Art in every way . These fears , however , ha \ e proved to be groundless .

Art has neither been superseded nor ruined . Art and Photography now join lovingly together as true sisters in aiding each other ' s work . Enough , however , on this subject ; we shall be carried beyond the object we have in view . We have to notice , very briefly , a few of the important examples of Photographic Art . No . 2—A Study , very clear ; No . 6 -After the Shower , exquisite ; No . S—" The Sunshine is a glorious Birth , " delicate work 1 Xos . in , so , 56 , and 62 are good ; No . 57—Portrait of Miss H ., fine

light ; No . 77—The Church Lane , notice the sun flecks ; No . 78 -Sunset Lake Leman , very good ; Nos . 92 , 109 , and 110—fine work . No . 123 - " Reflections , " trees well produced ; No . 139 -Ely Cathedral , very clear No . 145—A Welsh River , a lovely little bit ; Nos . 152 , 1 S 2 , 192 , 211 , 219 and 229-noticeable for delicate work ; No . 243—Shadows , line tone No . 290— " Golden Sunshine , " bathed in sunlight ; No . 312 -Old College Friends , " remarkable portraits of celebrities .

Duke Of York's Theatre.

DUKE OF YORK'S THEATRE .

Black-mailing is the motif of "The Lackey's Carnival , " from the pen of the well-known experienced playwright , Henry Arthur Jones . We regret we can only give it qualified commendation . In the first place we consider the subject unworthy the attention of so able an author . With his great and well-deserved reputation we were naturally led to expect some production more worthy of hi * pen . It is called a comedy of modem

London life ; the plot , ho . vever , ^ soon degenerates into broad farce . We have always been great admirers of Mr . ri . Arthur Jones ' s talent , and we would suggest that he should give his friends the public a piece wh'cti will not only uphold but increase his reputation . There are in " lne Lackey's Carnival" some bright sparkles of smart , telling repartee ; we iy

wish they were enclosed in a better setting . Of the acting we can s that it is good all round . Mr . Allan Aynesworth proves by the discri " representation of the black-mailing valet , that he has made great advance in his profession . Miss Edith Wynne Matthison , a new earner , " certainly made her mark ; the public will not forget her . Miss ^ ' ;; j Addison , a true comedienne , has , indeed , a thankless part , but she P ^ it well . Mr . Herbert Waring , always so earnest in his work , made part interesting .