The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

Miss Hilda Hilton has again come to the Royalty , of which she has been the lessee for the past few months . She now p . ' ays in a new piece , called " Long Ago , " a drama in one act , of which we in England have not many , though abroad they are very common and popular . Here a one act piece is generally looked upon as put on the stage to than

play the people in . But " Long Ago " is far more this . It is exciting to a certain degree , and that because Miss Hilton throws ' all her energy and talent into it . In a certain way the story is something similar to " Odette . In a fit of wildness Madame le Fontaine has deserted her husband and child , and taken afterwards to the gambling tables , and become herself a keeper of one , where she has

ruined many men and women . To her house comes a young man , who falls ill of a fever ; she nurses him , and has an affection for him , for she sees in him a likeness to her own child , who . of course , he ultimately turns out to be . Dr . clttitt 'Mr . Everill ) , the young man ' s guardian , finds him out in this bad house , and bids him return home . Madame le Fontaine begs the doctor to allow him to Bluntwho

remain , and tells the story of her life to Dr . , accuses her of being the wife of his old friend , which she denies , but afterwards has to acknowledge . The doctor allows her an hour to Iconsider whether she will reveal herself and her past career to the young man by telling him she is his mother , or bid farewell to him for ever without narrating it , and so allow him to think his | mother a saint in his father the

heaven , as he had been taught by . For sake of her son she stifles her mother's feelings , but tells him she had once a son like him , and asks him if he had a mother who had sunk as low as she has would he forgive her . He says yes , with all his heart , from a son ' s love to his mother . She is now happy in knowing that if he knew the truth he would forgive his own mother . 1 he play ends by her dying in his armsafter she has asked him , just to

, please her , to say " mother . " Miss Hilton proves herself fully equal to the demand on her talent in this drama . Mr . Reeves Smith , the young man , plays a somewhat difficult part with great credit , whilst Mr . Everill , as the old doctor , is as good as ever . The merry burlesque of " Sinbad , " which follows , still runs on , and perhaps goes better than at first . Altogether the Royalty entertainment is both attractive and various .

At the Opera Comique to-nig ht will be brought out a new burlesque , entitled " Th ' e Wreck of the Pinafore , " in which Miss Rosa Leo , Bro . George Temple , and other well known artistes will take part . We shall give a notice of it later on . It was at this house that the very popular opera of "H . M . S . Pinafore" was first played in London and proved a source of wealth to every one connected with it .

Bro . Sims' new play , " The Romany Rye , ' will shortly be brought out at the Princess ' . Mr . Wilson Barrett , thelessee , and Miss Eastlake taking the principal characters . It is expected to be a popular piece , Bro . Sims having bestowed much time and patience on every detail of it , and last summer attached himself to gipsy life to study the movements and life of the tribe . We are glad to say Bro . Sims is shelter now in health . We believe the ioth of June will be the first night of "The Romany Rye . "

Almost the whole of the Royal Family have visited the Haymarket to see "Odette . " On Monday Prince and Princess Christian and suite were expected but being unavoidably detained attended on Tuesday . Mr . Sardon's play has now become thoroughly established at Bro . Bancroft ' s house , and will certainly be played until the summer season is over , when we believe arrangements already entered into will be carried out , and Mrs . Langtry return to London .

* . if Hro . Kendal , who has been laid aside for a week with an attack of measles , will , we are glad to announce , soon resume his place as Lieut . Thorndyke in " The Squire . "

'l'he next comic opera for the Avenue 1 heatre , by Mr . Harry Paulton , is called " Monteaux Noirs " and will be ready on the 3 rd prox ., when " Madame Favart " will be withdrawn . Bro . Bracey , Mons . Marius , and Miss Florence St . John will take the leading parts .

Lord Lyllon ' s comedy , " . Money , " will be given at morning performances to-day ( Saturday ) and on Saturday next at the Vaudeville . We understand a very powerful cast has been arranged for the occasion . .. .. .. Bro . Hollingshead , before removing—nol extinguishing— " the sacred lamp of burlesque , " has produced " Little Doctor Faust , " Irom the Gaiety stock . As usual , it has been rcceived . with the same applause and the

same favour from the audience as the precceding ones . Bro . Edwr . rd Terry as Mephistophelcs is most amusing . His song oi Ihe showman at the fair was encored again and again . The whole of the company , whom we mentioned in . our last issue , were applauded in the manner peculiar to the Gaiety . We regret Mr . Roger , an old favourite here , is struck down with paralysis . We

recommend those who like burlesque to see Bro . Byron ' s " Dr . Faust" while they can . On the 29 th the French plays begin , and will run for six weeks . During the first three weeks the famous Sarah will play . The following two weeks Mons . Coquclin , from the Comedie Francaisc , with his company will occupy the house . The regular Gaiety

Company will not play at a neighbouring theatre during the time , as stated by many of the newspapers , but will delight the denizens of Yarmouth , Glasgow , Liverpool , Newcastle , and Manchester . In the autumn an entirely new burlesque is promised , entitled " Little Robinson Crusoe . " By the above arrangement we have detailed "the sacred lamp " will still burn , though not in London .

Music

MUSIC

Madame Adelina Palti made her first appearance this season at the Royal Italian Opera on Thursday last , as Catarina in Meyerbeer ' s opera of "L'Etoile du Nord . " That the fair prima donna was received with the utmost enthusiasm goes without saying , the tbral demonstrations in thc shape of bouquets being again and again repeated .

Nor is it necessary to say more as to her performance than that , both musically and dramatically , she exhibited equal , if not greater power than before . Madame Valleria , as Prascovia sang with brilliancy and effect , and her acting showed great spirit . M . Gailhard as Pietro , Signor Lestellier as Danilowits , and M . Dauphin as Gritsenko , were also of the cast .

On Friday , Madame Sembrich appeared as Amina in Bellini ' s opera of "La Sonnambula ; " en Saturday , " Rigoletto" was repeated , with Madame Albani ( Gilda ) and the other members of the cast whom we mentioned last week . Monday witnessed another perfoimance of "Mignon , " the principal lady artistes being

Mesdames Albani , Valleria , and T ' rebelli ; and on Tuesday Madame Adelina Patti made her second appearance this season in 'Ml Trovatore , " being supported by Madame Stahl , M . Defries , and Signor Nicolini . "La Favorita " was given on Thursday , and yesterday ( Friday ) she was to

play Giulietla in "Romeo and Giulietta , " Signor Nicolini , of course , being the Romeo . To-night ( Saturday ) Madame Pauline Lucca will make her first appearance this season in " Carmen , " and will , we doubt not , experience a welcome in all respects worthy of so distinguished an artiste .

The German Opera Season commenced at Drury Lane on Thursday last with Wagner ' s " Lohengrin , " and , speaking generally , it may be said that the company which has been brought together by the joint exertions of Herren Franke and Pollini , gave the best representation of this masterpiece of the great German master of to-day

which lias yet been seen in this country . Fhe chief interest of the audience centred naturall y in the Elsa of Frau Sucher , and the Lohengrin of Herr Winkelmann ; and it need only be said that both artistes , the one by her poetic rendering of the part she played , and the other by his grand

impersonation of the hero , fully justified the expectations that had been formed of their abilities . Frau Garso-Dely , as Ortrud , and Dr . Kraus as Telramund , played admirably , and the whole performance was received with enthusiasm . Herr Hans Richter , on appearing at his post of conducter , met with a most cordial welcome

The second performance took p lace on Saturday last , when " Der Fliegende Hollander" was presented , and here again Frau Sucher , by her impersonation of Scuta , proved herself to be an artist of the first rank , Her reading was truthful and poetic , her poses were graceful with naught of stagej-ness about them , and her singing

was perfectly natural . Herr Gura , as the Flying Dutchman , showed the greatest skill as an actor . Fraulein J . Schefsk y as Mary , Herr Wolff as Erik , Herr Ehrke as Dalana , and Herr Landau as the Steersman , gave capable representations of the characters severally entrusted to them .

The third performance of German Opera took place on Tuesday , when "Tannhiiuser" was played to a crowded audience in a manner which fully sustainded the high opinion previously formed of Herren , Franke , and Pollini ' s company . The cast was a strong one , the central figure being again Frau Sucher , who , as Elisabeth

achieved a still more brilliant triumph than Senta in " Lohengrin " on the opening . We need not go far to account for this . Elisabeth affords far greater scope for the display of the great artist ' s powers . 1 he character is a grand one , and well calculated to elicit the enthusiasm of so gifted a lady , there being also ample room for giving

full expression to that truth to nature by whicli the part is characterised . Herr VVinkelmann's Tannhiiuser was a powerful piece of acting , while Herr Gura as Wolfram , Herr Landau as Walther , Herr Wolff as Heinrich , Herr Ekrke as Bittcrolf , and Fraulein Wesdormann as Venus , did their part towards making the performance as complete a success as possible .

--ii . There was a numerous audience at Bro . VV . Ganz ' s third orchestral concert at St . James ' s Hall , on Saturday last , among those who were present being the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh , and the Duke and Duchess of Teck . Liszt ' s Symphony to Dante's " Divina Commedia " was performed , by special desire , a second of the most successful

time on the occasion . One performances was the " Entr ' acte a Ballet " from Schubert ' s music to " Rosamunde , " the clarionet solo by Mr . Lazarus being played with his wonted skill and taste , while M . Castognier ' s oboe solo greatly enhanced the pleasure of the performance . Bro . Ganz , however , is never chary of providing novelties , and the introduction of Vladimir de Pachemann , the Russian pianist , proved a great success ;

his rendering of Chopin ' s Concerto in F minor , Haydn's fantasia in C , a rondo in E Hat by Field , and Liszt ' s " etude , " " Walders Rauchen , " serving to prove that the artist is equally at home in his interpretation of these specimens of entirely different schools . Miss Cavlotta Elliot was the vocalist , and the several songs she sang greatly delighted the audience . tti * . &

The second grand Ballad Concert , at the Alexandra Palace , on Saturday last , drew together a very large audience . The programme was unusually lengthy , and the majority of the numbers were loudly applauded ; this being especially the case with a fantasia on ] Scotch airs , b y Holm , which was admirably played on the pianoforte by Herr Albert Henning . Among the vocalists were Madame Patey and Messrs . Maas and Trmrley Beale .

Science And Art.

SCIENCE AND ART .

1 here are now on view in two separate galleries at iCS , Bond-street , two exhibitions of tapestry-paintin" - , one consisting of the "chef d'ouvres " of M . Barthelerny Grenie , and the other of two large tapestry-panels of surprising beauty , which v .-eve executed at Buckingham Palace by Mr . Henry M'Dowell , and are being exhibited by the Queen's permission . Mr . Henry M'Dowall is director of both .

The president of the Sanitary Institute of Great Britain for the new year is the Duke of Northumberland and Sir John Lubbock , Bart ., M . P ., Dr . B . W . Richardson , F . R . S ., and Mr . Thomas Salt are the trustees . The report of the council shows that great progress has been made by the society during the past year .

l \ yo very interesting papers were read at the meeting last week of the Meteorological Society—one by the Hon . Ralph Abercrombie on "The Diurnal Variation of Wind and Weather in their relation to Isobaric Lines , " in which the author showed that the mean diurnal increase of the wind ' s velocity is explained by the fact that for the

same gradient there is more wind by day than there is by night ; and , further , that the diurnal veering and increase of rain follow as a natural consequence of the diurnal increase of velocity . The other , by Mr . VV . F . Stanley , dealt with the " Mechanical Conditions of Storms , Hurricanes , and Cyclones . " 2 . V . = 1 .

Mr . William Spottiswoode P . R . S ., presided at the meeting on Wednesday last of the United Service In . stitution , when Mr . St . George Lane-Fox read a paper on " The future of Electric Lighting , and the Exhibition at the Crystal Palace , " s . s . 3 .

M . de Neuville ' s latest picture , "Thc Cemetery of St . Privat , " which is now on exhibition at Messrs . Dowdeswell ' s gallery , 133 New Bond-street , shows him to be the greatest living painter of battle scenes . The scene represents the close of the struggle made by the French in the little village , who had been left to cover the retreat of Marshal Canrobert ' s corps before the overwhelming Prussian and Saxon forces .

Professor Lankester has been re-appointed Professor of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy at the University College , London ; while Messrs . Frederick Pollock and T . P . Taswell-Langmead , Professors respectively of Jurisprudence and Constitutional Law and History .

Mr . C . Wilford presided at the monthly meeting , on Saturday last , of the Royal Historical Society , on which occasion Bro . Hyde Clarke , D . C . L ., read a paper on " The Iberian and Belgian Influence in Britain . " - » e # Messrs . Christie , Manson , and Woods had another great sale of pictures and water-colour drawings at their rooms in King-street , St . James ' s , on Saturday , the bulk of them being the collection by Mr . G . Cotterell ,

of Walsall . The sum realised was over £ 14 , 000 ; the highest prices being paid for "The Coral Fisher , Amalfi , " by J . C . Hook , R . A ., exhibited at the Royal Academy 1 S 7 S , 1100 guineas ; " The Lake of Geneva in the Beginning of the Present Century , " by J . M . XV . Turner , R . A . —including copyright—S 30 guineas ; "The Race for Wealth , " by \ V . P . Frith , R . A ., being- the original finished sketches for the larger works , C 60 guineas ; " Al Duina , " by J . Phillip , R . A ., exhibited 1 S 5 S , 670 guineas ; " Over thc Hill , " by | .

Unwell , sen ., 1 S 72 , 610 guineas ; "The Harvest Wagon , " by J . Linwell , 1 S 62 , 560 guineas ; " Married for Love , " by Marcus Stone , A . R . A . exhibited 1881 , 490 guineas ; " Brittany Cattle , " by E . Van Marcke , 410 guineas ; "A View in Devonshire , " by F . R . Lee , R . A ., with cattle by T . S . Cooper , R . A ., 3 6 5 guineas ; and "Jezebel and Ahab met at the entrance to Naboth ' s Vineyard by Elijah the Tishbite , " by Sir F . Leighton , P . R . A ., exhibited 1 S 63 , 405 guineas . . ; > . -Is

At the annual general meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society , which was held on Monday , at 12 , Hanover-square , under the presidency of Mr . J . Dent Dent , the Duke of Richmond and Gordon was unanimously elected President for the next year . At thc invitation of the Lord Mayor and Council of York the show for 1 SS 3 will be held on the well-known racecourse in the vicinity of that city .

__ One of the last letters written b y the late Lord Frederick Cavendish bears date the 5 th of May , and was addressed to Mr . Illingworth , President of the Bradford Chamber of Commerce . In it his lordship promised to subscribe X ' 100 to the Technical School .

. - -is ' ¦ £ There is now open to the public in Paris an exhibition consisting of one hundred paintings by fifteen masters of ten different nationalities , England being represented by Mr . Ahna-Tadema .

At the meeting on Friday last of the House of Commons Committee appointed to consider the merits of the various Electric Lighting Companies , promoted by ne . v companies , gas companies , and corporations , Sir F . fiiamwell , Mr . . William Spottiswoode , President of the Royal Society , and Dr . C . Siemens were examined at some length .

The Queen has been graciously pleased to confer the honour of Knighthood on Mr . VVilliam Fettes Douglas , who was appointed President of the Scottish Academy in February last , in succession to thc late Sir Daniel Macnee .