The Theatres

THE THEATRES

M . Mantis has decidedly gone the way to win popularity in opening the Avenue Theatre with the old ' favourite , " . Madame Favart , " in which Aliss St . John and himself maintain their original characters . On the opening night , when the Prince of Wales and the Princess of Wales honoured the performance , AL Marius was called upon to make a speech ; he said he

would strive to please the public , and would receive with thankfulness any suggestions that might be offered him for the better management of the house . " Madame Favart" has been played for 500 nights at the Strand , but is likely to draw a full house at the Avenue until the production of a new opera in October . This new theatre is an acquisition to the London playhouses . The

main portion of the seats are on the level of the street , and for those above wide staircases arc provided . All the means of egress , open i . utwards , and not on any door is there a lock , only a small bolt , which any person can push back . 'The system of ventilation seems to be perfection . The internal decoration is very line , gilt being chiefly used . The ceiling is divided into twelve compartments , containing portrait

medallions of the most celebrated dramatic authors , such as Shakespeare , Goldsmith , Sheridan , Corneille , Racine , Goethe , and Schiller . All fees are abolished , as they should be everywhere where the management wish to cater for the public . To levy blackmail , as is done in too many even of the first-class theatres , always appears tons "a penny wise and pound foolish " principle . But AL Marius

has even outdone Bros . Irving , Kendal , Hollingshead , and Clayton , for they only provide a plain programme , but at the Avenue one is given a most elaborate and neat one , edged with paper lace . On the back Bro . Charles Alartin has printed the times of the latest trains and buses to most of the suburban and far-distant portions of the metropolis . Bio . Alartin has for so many

years been an acting manager that there is no doubt he will do here as he has done in the past , do everything to please the patrons . There seems to be only one opinion at present , and that is that AL Alarius and Brc . Alartin have made a good start . We are glad to welcome Bro . Henry Bracy , his voice is clear and clean , but he has not so good an opportunity of displaying his sweetest notes as in " The

Alascotte . " His song , "I fear little wife you must go away" was well received , as was Aliss Wadman's" Don't you remember long ago , you dear old dad , something like this happened to you when quite a lad . " This lady is another acquisition to the staff of "Madame Favart . " Never vvas Sitsannc better played . It is almost unnecessary to say a word of Miss St . John , she is always popular , but perhaps especially so in this original character . She has

a natural grace and spontaneous vivacity which wins the hearts of an audience . "The Genius " which precedes the operajhas won much praise , Mr . Ashford , Air . Everard , and Miss Clara Graham , whom we are glad to see back again in a taking character , acquitting themselves in true artistic style . Altogether in the Avenue 'Theatre thercis an air of comfort , of refined luxury , which makes one come away gratified and resolved to go again .

For those who like something sensational , the Globe will just now be an attraction . "Alankind ; or Beggar your Neighbour , " by Paul Alerritt and George Conquest , is sensational enough for any one . If it shows up the worst traits of mankind , it may also—we hope it will—teach a lesson , and that is , that money getting is not all we have to live for . In this piece we have men , and ,

aye , women too , scheming and plotting to enrich themselves , never minding how , so long as they do get rich and beggar other people . But is there happiness in such lives r We should say no . Hours of remorse and reflection must come , and the players must feel misery then . Far better is it to look upon every man as a brother , and nat _ an enemy , who is to be beaten upon every possible occasion .

Would that the . world was more imbued with the spirit of Freemasonry ; 'if it were , much of the evil going on around would not take place . 'There can be no question that " Mankind , " as represented at the Globe , is a very true description , but very sad . Fortunately , in the real world , as in this drama , there are bright and noble characters , who never stoop to what is mean and false . We have not

space to enter into the plot of " . Mankind , " so many characters are introduced , and so many scenes enacted , that we must suggest to our readers who care for such plays , they had better pay a visit on the first opportunity . Mr . George Conquest , Mr . KytTc Bellew , Mr . C .

Cruikshanks , Air . Wilton , Aliss Harriet and Aliss Lizzie Claremont , and Aliss Katie Barry ( the last a child ) all sustain their respective parts in an admirable manner . Aliss Litton was not playing when we were there , having not recovered from an accident which happened on the first night .

To say anything iii praise of Bro . Hollingshead '' s management of the " Gaiety is , we feel , almost superfluous . Some theatres , like churches , have an audience peculiarly their own . The people support a pcpular manager as they do a popular preacher . Bro . Hollingshead has a following quite his own , but then he studies them . He does not practically close his house by keeping a piece going for many

months , but every now and then changes the programme , and so keeps together the same audience to a large extent . " Aladdin " and "Oh ! those Giris , " now being played , are no exception to this , though neither are . perhaps so taking as some of the burlesques we have seen there . Bro . Meyer Lutz , W . AL Asaph Lodge , has written the music to " Oh those Girls , " and it is a bright musical sketch . It gives

Aliss Connie Gilchrist an opportunity of doing what she can , of which her dancing is the best . There are several pretty songs and dances by the troupe of young ladies all well rendered . When we say that Bro . Edward Terry , Mr . Squire , Air . Dallas , Miss Farren , and Aliss Kate Vaughan take part in the burlesque of "Aladdin" we have said enough to show it is something good . Having p layed so long together and in similar pieces , it must go well , if there be anything in it

The Theatres

at all . Air . Dallas received a hearty welcome in his song , "In my late husband ' s time , " and Aliss Farren a treble encore in one of her songs . The chorus "Oh dem golden slippers " is one of the finest . But perhaps the song applauded the most was a trio by three children ; they were called for over and over again and afforded much amusement . Bro . Hollingshead may well call the Gaiety the home of the sacred lamp of burlesque , for it has scarcely ever gone out since the opening of the theatre in

1 S 6 S . In these years only sixty nights has it been closed . Our brother docs not go in for extensive advertising ; he considers if a piece is worth it , it will advertise itself , by those who have seen it talking of it , whilst if it is not of the first water , then no amount of advertisement could keep it going . It may not be generally known that Bro . Hollingshead is a contributor to "Punch . " He has also written in " Household Words , " " Good Words , " the " Athen .-eum " and several other contemporaries .

Music.

Music .

Bro . H . R . M . the Duke of Connaught , at the desire of Bro . the AI . W . Grand Afaster , attended a meeting in the Mansion House , called together by Bro . the Lord Alayor , or the leading merchants and bankers of the City of London , with a view to practically taking up the scheme for the foundation of a Royal College of Music . The meeting was

very fully attended . His Royal Highness addressed himself principally to the university aspect of the scheme , and said it is proposed to confer degrees , which will only be granted according to merit and ability , and not be purchased , as is done abroad . Our Royal brother trusted that not only Englishmen , but our countrymen in India ,

Australia , and Canada , will co-operate , and send pupils to the College , who will return to their country and diffuse the knowledge they have received , thus making the London Institution the seat of fife . The movement seems to have been taken up well so far . The Alercers' Company have

just voted a sum of money for it . A vote of thanks to the Duke and Prince Chris ian , vvas passed with acclamation and the proceedings concluded . The Lord Alayor announced that about £ 5000 had been subscribed in the room , thus raising the amount already collected to £ 53 , 000 .

A well-known artiste , in the person of Madame Rudersdorff , has recently died at Boston , U . S . A ., whither she migrated from England in 1 S 72 . A novel kind of pianoforte recital , the programme of which was composed entirely of works either for two pianofortes or for four hands on one pianoforte , was given

at St . James ' s Hall by Aliss Agnes Zimmermann and Mdlle . Alarie Krebs . The selection included examples by six composers , among them being three of Schubert's marches , Hummel ' s duet in A ( tat , an impromptu by Herr Reinecke on a theme from Schumann ' s " Alanfred , " Alozarl's sonata in D , Alendelssohn ' s Allegro Brillante in

A , and AL Saint-Sacn s variations on a theme from Beethoven ' s Sonata in E flat . This was unquestionably a wellvaried programme , and was played almost to perfection throughout . Let us hope for a repetition of recitals of this kind , so that the public may become acquainted with many other such compositions , which are rarely , if ever , heard in the

concert-room-An entertainment , consisting of songs , dances , Sec , was given to the inmates of the Strand Union on Friday last , among those who generously gave their services on the occasion being Aliss V . Cameron , Aliss N . Maxwell , Aladame and Alons . Gaillard , Bros . L . Brough , George Buckland , and Waiter Pelham , Mr . J . AlcLean , Air . T . P . Hayes , & c .

On Saturday afternoon a concert was given at the Alansion House by the pupils of the Guildhall School of Alusic . There was a large audience present , and the performances generally reflected great credit on Air . Weist Hill , the conductor , and the gentlemen who had had charge of the pupils' training . Among the best numbers were a

Caprice of Vieuxtemps for violin , which was capitally played by Alaster Leipold , a pupil of Air . Carrodus , and a work for violoncello , which Mr . 13 . L . Johnson played with much tasie . Some fair . examples of composition were included in the programme , notably Air . D . Davies ' s setting cf " It was a lover and his lass , " and Aliss Allitorn ' s song for a single voice , " Stars of the summer night . "

It is announced tbat the entire proceeds of the Symphony Concerts that will be given in May and June by Air . Charles Halle , will be added to the fund now being raised for the Royal College of Alusic The last of Mr . Walter Macfarren's orchestral concerts will take place this ( Saturday ) evening at St . James's Hall . The programme will include Spohr's

Symphony , " I he Power of Sound , Beethoven s Violin Concerto , Schumann ' s Pianoforte Concerto , and the following overtures , namely , Alendelssohn's " Ruy Bias , " and Air . Macfarren ' s " Hero and Leander , " and ( by desire ) " Henry V . " Herr Joachim will play the violin concerto , and Miss Cantelo , her first appearance , Schumann ' s pianoforte concerto .

In consequence of so many of the London houses being closed it has been decided to re-form " Almack's , " where concerts , balls , & c , will be given . A committee has been formed to project this . In it are , amongst many others , Bros , the Duke of Athole , the Earls of Breadalbane , Bective , Dalhousie , and Derby , Sir E . Colebrooke , Bart ., ALP ., and Lord Castlereagh .

Science And Art.

SCIENCE AND ART .

A short time since Mr . Muybridge had the honour of exhibiting before the Prince and Princess of Wales , at the Royal Institution , a series of pictures which , by a recently discovered process , had been photographed in a few hundredths of a second . On Friday last , at the same institution , Captain Abney , R . E ., F . R . S ., threw on

the screen photographs of three spectra in a few millionths of a second . He said he did this , not because it by any means came within the scope of his lecture , but because he was anxious Air . Muybridge , who vvas present , should not return to America with a belief that we were behind the people of the States in the progress of the art of photography .

On Friday last ( lie Mayor of Manchester opened an exhibition of smoke-consuming arjpliances , the principal exhibits being those recently shown at the Smoke Abatement Exhibition at South Kensington . It will remain open for at least a month .

There is apparentl y no end to the number and variety of exhibitions which are organised for the edification of the public . The latest we have seen announced is "A Naval and Submarine Engineering Display , " which will take place at the Agricultural Hall , Islington , from 10 th to 20 th April . Prizes are offered for the best means of saving life in the case of shipwreck , and for the best invention of a humane character in connection with seafaring matters .

According to the Atlienamin , Mr . Markownikoff , of Moscow , who is investigating the so-called "desaggregation of tin , " has discovered that certain tin cans kept in one of the government buildings during cold weather , showed first blisters , and then holes , and then finally fell to powder . A very remarkable case is also mentioned of a good

commercial tin , which during its transport from Rotterdam to AIoscow in a very cold winter changed into a grey powder . Air . Markownikoff has ascertained that once the process of change has commenced it cannot be arrested by removing the cans to a warmer temperature , though if the spots were cut out , the destruction ceased .

The society of Painter-Etchers have opened their first annual exhibition of etchings in the rooms of the Fine Art Society , 14 S , New Bond-street . No less than 207 works are catalogued , many of them being of average , if not of exceptional merit . Among the best examples are Air . Seymour Haden's , Lancashire River ( 4 G ) and Harry Kelly ' s ( 59 ); Air . VV . Strange ' s , Head of ' aPeasant ( 40 ) *

Air . A . H . Haig's Chartres ( 52 ); Air . VV . Nixon's Interior of Allliallows the Great ( 29 ); Air . R . Farrer's , Eh Cathedral ( 11 S ); Air . HoIIoway's , ' lhe Old Priory Milt ( 123 ) , and Old Chelsea ( 143 ); Air . Hcrkomer's portrait of Dr . VV . H . Thompson ( 102 ); and Mr . Bellows' Riverside S 1111 ( 201 ) . Mr . F . Slocombe ' s , Middlesex Lane ( 71 ) and Lands / tip ( 72 ); and Air . C . P . Slocombe ' s Forest Stream ( 122 ) , are also to be commended .

The estimates for the financial year 18 S 2-83 contain several grants to learned societies and for purposes of investigation , which will in due course be submitted for the approval of the House of Commons . These are £ 4000 tothe Royal Society , £ i 5 , 30 otothcMeteorologicalCouncil , £ 500 to the Royal Geographical Society , £ 300 to the Royal Society of Edinburgh , , C ; oo to the Royal Academy of

Alusic , £ . 300 to the Irish Academy of Alusic , ^ . 4100 towards preparing a ccount of the scientific results of the Challenge expedition , and £ i 4 , G ? o for expenses connected with observations of the transit of Venus . The estimated cost of the National Gallery is set down as jfi 7 , S 7 S , of which £ 9500 is allowed for the

( purchase of pictures , against which must be placed estimated receipts of £ 300 for sale of catalogues , and £ 700 for admission fees on students' days . For the National Portrait Gallery under £ 1200 is proposed for salaries , while the sum allowed for the purchase of portraits in only f . y $ o .

At the monthl y general meeting of the Zoological Society , held on Thursday week-, at its rooms , Hanoversquare , the chair was taken by Professor Flower , the President , and there was a good attendance . Several gentlemen were elected Fellows , and the names of twentyseven candidates were put down for ballot at the next meeting . Alention was made of the additions to the Society ' s collection during the month of February , among

them being two warty-faced honey-eaters and two musk ducks , and the Australian sprais , and a female musk deer from the Western United States , presented by Dr . C J . Eaton , on whom , in consideration of this and former gifts , the silver medal of the Society vvas conferred . Reference to the birth in the gardens of a baby tapir , on the 12 th of February , was also made , and very naturally the subject of Jumbo ' s sale vvas commented upon , the action of the Council being very generally endorsed .

In . 1 letter from Signor R . Lanciani to the Alhenamm is noted the recent discovery of a magnificent tomb on Alontc Accrto , a hill about Soo feet high , situated sonie three miles off the Isola l * arnese , the site of ancient Veii . ¦ 'The discoverers , fortunate in other than an arclircological sense , were a band of robbers , who having stumbled upon the gate of entrance forced their way in ,

and carried off treasures which had been hidden for six and twenty centuries from two of the three rooms forming the tomb . The discovery got wind , however , and Puria Alario Chige , the proprietor of the place , took steps to prevent further spoliation . It is believed that many valuable specimens of Etruscan pottery will be recovered from the chamber that had not been disturbed .