The Theatres.

The Theatres .

Bro . Richard Douglass deserves all the praise bestm-cd upon him for the beautiful and elaborate pantomime he has produced at the Standard , for the delight and entertainment of the people of the East , In this he has been assisted by Bro . John Douglass . - 'Sinbad the Sailor" is a tory ever welcome to the young , and we venture to add , judging from the large proportion of adults on the occasion of our visit , also by those who have come to

years of discretion . No expense seems to have been spared , and it may be well vie with the pantomimes of the more aristocratic West . The spirit of the piece is well sustained throughout , bui nowhere more than in the scene " The Ensigns of the Deep " and " 'The Valley of Jewels " In the former we have 1 he deck of a man-o ' -war covered with sailors , waving " the flag that has braved a thousand years the battle and the breeze , " and after the lungs of

the audience are nearly exhausted in their endeavours to show their appre . iation , the stars and stripes of America takes the place of the Union Jack , and then comes clapping , stamping , and shouting . " The Valley of Jewels " is so pretty and so elaborate as almost not to bear description . 'The grand moving panorama speaks of itself of Bro . R . Douglass ' s talent as a painter . Sinbad is acted by Miss Milly Howes , who fulfils all one might expect , and a

great deal more ; for not only is she au fait as a as a step-dancer , but sings very pretty songs , and has an equally pretty face . Miss Rose Lee , who , by the way is married to a " member of the Craft , plays Polly , Sinbad ' s young woman . Her songs are some of the plcasantest in the performance , specially the ducts she sings with Miss Howes and Miss Coward , " Mrs . Spanker , " and a solo from " Princess Toto , " " The bark does roll . " Mr . Glover , (' obtain Sbanhcr , was suffering from a cold

when wc were there , and , therefore , his part suffered too , but Mr . John Birnum , as Cop / icrstick , quite made up for it with his drollery . The concluding portion—the clown and pantaloi n—vas the same as in all pantomimes , though a novelty is introduced in the shape of a comic shadow fiantomine , in itself very simple , yet affording great aughter . A sheet is stretched across tbe stage , between thc audience and the actor-, and by the figures coming close to it they seem giants , and when receding lilipulians . We shall conclude by using Miss Howe ' s own words , " Is ' Sinbad ' a success ! - '' We should certainly say " Yes . "

«* s ** ¦ At the Adelphi , "Taken from Life" is well framed . •'ur contemporaries seem to be all of one mind as to its being another Ad .-lphi triumph . We must join in the congratulations to Mr . Pettitt , the author . It is sensational certainly , but not repulsive . Thc he * ro is Wallet Lee , ani .-irti-t , a good man ( Charles Warner ) , who , whilst on a visit to an acquaintance , John Denbv ( Mr . lidward

Price ) , falls in love with his sister Rate ( Miss Gerard ) , and marries her , without the knowledge of John Drain : The latter , being of bal temper and in gr . at financial dillicu tics , they are afraid just at li st to tell him ; having morgagid his estate to / ' Hip Radley ( Mr . Beveridge ) , a thorough scotindiel , he invites him down to stay . This man falls in love with Rate , but is given the cold shoulder by her , for , besides his character , he is intensely vulgar , ile offers

Denby if he will give him Ins sister * to wipe oft Ihe mortgage , and when he asks lhat Lee may bc sent away from the bouse , ns he sees in him a rival , Denby speaks to Lee in the presence of Kate and of Rattler , and l . ce and Kate proclaim they are man and wife . Radley swears a vow he will yet bring him low and have Kate , l . ce and his wife are thereupon driven from the brother ' s house , ice falls ill and undergoes what many an

artist and born gentleman does—poverty . Vet , for all this , they cling to one another even more . Denby evicts a tenant ( whose wife is dying ) for non-payment of rent , and this man ( Maguirc ) swears if she dies he will have life for life , but Kate had been good to his wife , and he tolls her he hopes he may be able some dav to repay her kindness . Thc woman does die . Maguirc ( Mr . E . II . Brooke ) turns a soria'ist , goes to London and becomes a leader in wickc . l

plots . In the II iu . se of Detention isa Nihilist awaiting Ins trial . Magtiire conceives a scheme for blowing up tl e prison , and goes to Lee , not knowing him , to draw some plans , but when Lee finds there is a mystery in it , he declines to have anything to do with him . Radley has now found out Lee , who by this time is a father , and calls on the wife and urges her to leave this " place of poverty ; " but she , of course , r . obly refuses . She is preparing the

dinner when he comes in . He picks up a potato , and says , " I see you doing this . " She calmly answeis , "A gentleman wouldn't have noticed it , " a remark which fairly brings dewn the house . Whilst she is out , at another time , he has the child carried of , hoping thereby to induce her to go to him , when he tells tell her where thc child is . Denby com .- ; to see l . ce , and reproaches him for taking iiwnv his sister , and points to the disgrace he has

brought her to , but Lee replies there is no disgrace in poverty , another remark well applauded . A struggle lakes place between the two men , on account of Deuby ' s liying a horsewhipping , when in comes Maguirc lo see Lee , but recognising Denby , he remembers his old vow , and stabs him to the heait , the bad Radley looking in at the door , and then swearing he saw Lee do it , Lee is placed in Ihe House of Detention . Magtiire mc . ting Kate , recogni-ei

her . and seeing her troubles , offers now to repay her kindness , and tells her at a given signal her husband can escape , for they are about blowing down thc prison walls . Knowing he is innocent , rale on going to see him , tells him of this , and he feels justified in making use of this method of escape . The exulosion comes , the innocent man Lee gets free , but the * Nihilist does not escpe after all . Lee now seeks for work , and is taken on bv an o-ller to ch an

the harness . In the stable-yard is a boy who is more fond of drawing on a slate than cleaning the boots and looking after the yard , lt is almost unnecessary lo say thai the lad turns out to be Lee ' s son , and that their employer is Radley . Radley has again urged Mrs . Lee to marry him , trying lo persuade her her husband is dead , but she will n . t believe it . He offers to show her her boy . Of cours .,

like a mother , she comes to his bouse for that purpos . She meets her husband , but Radley has also recognised him , and at once sets ihe police on him , but it is ioo late . He nidi's for a few hours . A party is given by Radlev in the evening . Amongst his so-called friends is Titus Knott ( Mr . Fred . Thome ) , who has been used by Radley for all sorts of purposes , and has not been over scrupulous , but

The Theatres.

as Radley has become less liberal to him , he decides to show him up , and gets a warrant for his arrest on the charge of forging th ,- deeds of settlement of Deuby ' s estate . During the party l . c creeps in to see his wile , but is discovered by Rod ' ry . He then confronts thc company , and a police officer is imroduc d . Radley hands Lee a documen . * , imagining it is a warrant for Lee ' s arrest as the murderer of Denby , but l . ce , after reading it , hands it

back to Radley , who sees in it he is charged with forging Ihe deeds of Denby ' - estate ; that it lawfully belongs to Lee ' s son ; and that Maguirc' confessed on Ins death bed that he killed Denby , and Lee had nothing to do with it . So the curtain drops . " Be sure your sin will find you out " might have been a good title for the drama , but still it is really " taken from life . " VVe cannot help feeling it is too real ; there is nothing impossible in the whole story . Of

course there are comic characters—particularly Titus Knott —in it . VVe have only dwelt on the sad side , lt is impossible to speak too highly of Mr . C Warner ' s and Miss Gerard's acting . Mr . Beveridge , who has a very disagreeable piece , plays admirably , though he receives nothing but hisses ; but they are not personal to himself , but to the character he is trade to represent . We are glad to find the lower classes of England have as yet no sympathy

with these diabolical movements , such as Socialism and Nihilism Every good moral was applauded , every vulgarity nnd wicked plot was equally hissed . These movements may be called fraternal , but there is no true brotherhood in them as in our Craft , they might better be called devilry ; their aim is only to uproot law , order and civilization , ancl

for what ? That a few scoundrels—who consider themselves aggrieved—may live on the spoils . Instead of helping a brother as Christianity and Freemasonry do , Socialism and Communism really means every one for himself . We hope manv good lessons may be learned from " Taken from Life . ' "

Music.

Music .

The principal event to bc reco ded tins week is thc opening , on Saturday last , at Her Majesty ' s Theatre , of the ( ail Rosa Opera Company's season . Out remarks of last Saturday as to the success which had attended liro . Carl Rosa in his efforts to secure . 1 strong and effective comnany have been more than justified . The performances mat have been given nightly up to the time of our going to

press have been most satisfactory ; the applause with which each was greeted by an audience that was numerous , and more i h ., n usually appreciative , being most encouragin-. ' , The opera set down for Saturday last was Wagner ' s " Lohengrin , " which was produced in English last season b y this same company , so that its selection for thc opening night of the present may be regarded as most appropriate .

The cast was one of very considerable merit , as the reader will judge when he is told that thc character of the'hero l . nhcngr u was inttrpreted by Herr Anton Schott , whose em bodiment of the part was well-consideied and expressive . His pronunciation of our language , though show , ing an improvement since last year , leaves something still to be desired ; and the same remark applies with even

greater fore- to several other artist -s . To Miss Julia Gaylord was assigned the heroine Eha , and it is almost needless to say that in her hands the character lo * t none of its interest . She sang and acted well from first to last , and was deservedly applauded . Equally successful was Miss Josephine Yorke , in the ungracious character of Ortrud , whose -ringing , especially in thc duct with Telramr . mi , was excellent , while her noting , though quiet and unobtrusive , was nn that account all thc more effective . Ilerr Ludwig

was a highly-finished , and at the same time forcible representative of fTelramund ; while the Herald ut Mr . Leslie Crotlic , and the King of Mr . Pope were both of them highly meritorious performances . 'The orchestra and chorus sustained their respective parts effectively ; nor must we pass over the claims to recognition of Heir Ranik-ggcr , to whom is entrusted the baton of conductor , nnd who fulfilled his task lo thc satisfaction of the whole house .

¦ : ; « o On Monday , another of Wagner ' s operas , "The Flying Dutchman , " wa-s performed with even greater success . 'The part of the heroine , Scuta , was played' *> y Mdlle . Alwina Valleria , with a full appreciation of the music , and in a manner that won for her the warm sympathies of a house thai was crov ded in every part . This was Mdlle .

\ nllena ' s nrst appearance with thc Carl Rosa troupe , and , indeed , on thc English stage . ; and with such an accession of strength there ought to bc no doubt of the success of llic present season . Herr Ludwig enacted the rile of llic Dutchman with the same marked success which has distinguished his previous performances , and Mr . 'Turner created a very favourable impression by his rendering of

the fatuous Steersman s song . Mr . Herbert d ligville , who has a fine bass voice , and is also new to the company , impersonated Da and ; Mr . Packard was Eric , and Miss J sephinc Yorke completed thc castas Mary . Thc new scenery and appointments were in consonance with the general performance ; and on Saturday the chorus nnd orchestra very well supported Herr Randcggcr in his able interpretation of Wagner ' s music .

¦ ;* li i > On Tuesday , Vincent Wallace ' s opera of " Maritanaj" was p layed , with Miss Georgina Burns as Maritana , Mr . 'Turner as Dun Ccesarde Kazan , Mi . Leslie Croltie as Don Jose , Mr . Snazelle as Chnrle .: II ., Mr . Brooklyn as the Mari / uis , Miss . Josephine * Yorke as the Marchioness , and a debutante . Miss Lilian La Rue , in the character of

Lacarillo ; Mr . John Pew being the conductor . As on llic previous nights , the performance was a great success , Miss Burns and Mr . Turner being excellent in the characters respectively assigned to them . On Wednesday , " ujlu-ngrin " was repeated , and on Thursday " The Flying Dutchman ; " 'Thomas ' s " Mignon " being set down for last night ( Friday ) , and Balfe's " Bohemian Girl " for to-night (' -aturday ) , iv if Ii an aflernoon performance of

"Lohengrin , " at 2 p . m . Altogether the season has opened most auspiciously , nnd we trust the energy and enterprise of Bro . Rosa will have their full reward . One giatifying fact is noticeable , to wit , thc audience have had the good sense to rererve their applause till the fall of tho curtain at the end of the several acts , theconsequence being that it is possible to form a more correct appreciation of the merits of each performance .

Music.

The outcome of the grand concert at the Royal Albert Hall , South Kensington , is eminently satisfactory . The receipts are said to have realised about ^ S 5 o , while the expenses—chiefly for advertising—Were some j ( , 300 , leaving an amount lor distribution between the Vienna and some English charity of £ 560 .

An afternoon concert , to bc held , by thc kind permission of the Marchioness of Downshire , in Downshire House , Belgrave-square , is announced for Wednesday , the . gth February , at 3 p . m ., in aid of the St . Thomas ' s Mission , 14 , Golden-square , VV . The list of patronesses ir , very strong , among them being H . R . H . the Duchess of Connaught , the Duchesses of Richmond and Hamilton , the

Marchionesses of Exeter , Hertford , Abergavenny , & c ., & c . Among the ladies and gentlemen who have promised ta take part in it are Mrs . L . Moncricff , Lady Florence Duncombe , Miss Wakefield , Lady Charlotte Legge , Lady Octavia Legge , Mr . Charles Wade , Mr . Marzials , Capt . Barrington Foote , and Mr . Morton . The mission is doing most useful work among the poor in the neighbourhoood , and is in every way worthy of the support of the charitable .

v * .. - ,. Mr . Charles Hallo ' s series of p ianoforte recitals will begiven this season at the Grosvenor Gallery , instead of at St . James ' s Hall , and in the evening instead of the afternoon . * •* - ¦ •e

It will be good news for those who delight in good choral music that Mr . Henry Leslie has decided on re-establishing his celebrated choir , and that at least one concert will be given during thc season . The dispersion of so efficient a body of vocalists was deeply regretted at the time , but that feeling will now pass away .

« » < s Mdlle . Marie Krebs , who has been the pianist at the last two Monday " Pops ., " is announced as one of the executants for the one to he held on Monday ncxt , when Spohr ' s pian forte trio in G . minor , Boct ' s Sonata in C minor , foi pianoforte and violin , and Mendelssohn ' s " I . iede oh no Worte" will be given . She will likewise t . Tke a part in to-day ' s ( Saturday ) " Pop , " when the programme will include works by Bennett , Beethoven and Schumann .

i » » * We must remind our leaders that the first of Mr . Sims Reeves ' s series of concerts will take place at S p . m ., on Tuesday , at St . James ' s Hall . Among the artistes will be Madame Maria Rozc , Miss Spencer Jones , Mr . Herbert Reeves , and thc great tenor himself , whose contributions will include " My Pretty Jane , " and " The Bav of Bisc . iv . "

Science.

Science .

At the meeting of the Royal Geographical Society , held on Monday evening under the presidency of Lord Aberdare , Sir John Kirk , ll . B . M . 's Consul at Zanzibar , read a highly interesting paper , by Mr . Joseph Thompson , entitled " Notes nn Ihe Basin of the River Ron una . " Wc gather from Mr , Thompson ' s account that a large trade is carried on surreptitiously at Mikindany , the place whence Livingstone started onhis last journey ; and also

that thc reported existence of coal in thc neighbourhood of the Luji-ndi river was without foundation . ' At Kwamabjanza there was a very fine cataract ; and , on his homeward journey , Mr . Thomas ascended thc isolated mountain of Limpumbiila , which proved to bc a compact mass of granite , rising like a huge broken column from the surrounding plain to a height of 1 S 05 feet above thc sea

level , and 005 feet above that of thc plain . He described the Makonde people , through whose country he travelled , as being remarkably ugly , and tattooed in a most inartistic fashion . 'The women , it seems , wear in tho upper lip a p iece of circular wood , variously carved , and of about two inches in diameter , which suggests the idea of a duck ' s bill . Thc slave trade still exists , but in an altered form , the slaves being more valuable , and taken greater care of

en that account . Ihe most industrious people in East Africa arc thc Wakyas , and next to them the Makuas . Mr . 'Thompson ' s paper was followed by one on " Makualand , between the Rivers Rorruna and Lull , " by thc Rev . Chnuncy Maples , M . A ., and was read by the Rev , VV . II , Penney . Votes of thanks to the authors of the papers and thc Chairman for presiding , brought the proceedings to a close .

I ' lirther progress has been made wilh the arrangements for thc Electric Lighting Exhibition at the Crystal Palace , Mr . Edison ' s section having been most successfull y inaugurated on Tuesday evening , in the Concrrt-roorh . A magnificent lustre , decked with incandescent lamps , has been suspended from thc roof , wilh a chain of lamps extended round the galleries , ornamental candelabra with globes of

great brilliancy and power occurring at intervals , i'hc result must have been very gratifying , those present when the room was illuminated cheering most heartily . Air . Edison's apparatus , with the exception of the motive power , is original in all its parts , his lamps , like those of other inventors , being exhausted of thc air and so offering . 1

certain security against fire , while thc completeness of the control over and sub-division of the electric current was shown by the ease with which separate sections of the chain of lights were turned off and on without affecting the rest . 'The motive power was an ordinary steam-engine of twentyfive horse power , yet thc amount , steadiness , and brilliancy of thc light was most remarkable

» # *} " The Roman and Medi .-uval Court , as well as a portion of the North Nave , are lighted by the Electric LMit and Power Generator Company , 10 which we refcrrctfin our issue of last week , and it is expected the Exhibition will bc sufficiently advanced to allow of-thc appointed deputations and delegates visiting it on and after to-day ( Saturday ) . #

* « liro . the Ri ght Hon . the Lord Mayor will present the medals awarded to the exhibitors at Ihe recent International Wool Exchange , on the evening of Tuesday , the 31 st inst .