Science, Art, And The Drama.

Science , Art , and the Drama .

CITRIC ACID .

Every one knows that unripe fruit has an acid taste , and that this taste is not entirely gone even in fruit that is perfectly matured . Added to the sweetness , due to sugar , this acidity gives to the ripe fruit a pleasant , refreshing quality , which is much appreciated during the heat of summer . By a long series of laborious researches , which date back to the last ce-itury , it has been discovered that all fruits owe their peculiar taste tothe presence ,

in the pulp , of several acids , such as acetic acid ( vinegar ) , citric , tartaric , malic acids , and some others of less importance . Generally one of these acids predominates in any given kind of fruit , thus the chief acid of ihe grape is tartaric acid , that of the orange and lemon is citric acid , whilst in the app le we find malic acid as well as citric acid . Acetic acid , also , exists in many fruits . Most of these fruit acids are solid substances ,

which dissolve easily in water ; they are white and crystalline , like sugar , only instead of having a sweet taste , like the latter , they are extremely acid when placed upon the tongue . The ingenuity of the experimental chemist has detected some hundreds of these acids in various plants , and they form an interesting branch of study ; but of all these citric acid and tartaric acid are not only the commonest , but by far the most important to mankind .

No chemical product represents a much larger capital than that which is , at present , invested in the manufacture of citric and tartaric acids , the produce of the lemon and the grape . The process by which they are obtained is so similar that both these acids are generally manufactured by the tame makers . They are both white crystalline acids , and very similar in their uses and properties , though , in many respects , decidedlv

different . Citric acid is much the dearest , being , at the present time about is . 6 d . per lb ., whilst tartaric acid is is . 2 d . Of late the price of the latter has risen , and that of both acids fluctuates , of course , according to the supply upon the market . As they are put to different uses in the arts , manufactures , and in medicine , it was necessary lo discover some delicate tests by which they may be readily distinguished , and the

adulteration of the dearer by the cheaper acid was formerly much more common than it is since these tests were brought to light . Though the acidity of lemon juice was known to the ancients , it is only in comparatively modern times that some glimpses were obtained for the first time of the very remarkable substance to which this acidity is due . In 1774 , a Swedish chemist , named Georgi , or Georgius ( as it was the fashion in those days to Latinise

the names of distinguished men ) , endeavoured to obtain the acid in a pure state . For this purpose he filled a bottle entirely wilh lemon juice , cork « : d it and placed it in a cellar for four years . At the end of that time the mucilage ar . d olher impurities contained in the juice were found deposited at the bottom of the bottle . The liquid poured off from this deposit was put in a cool place , the temperature at the time being JS' Fahrenheit , or 4 " of frost ,

which caused the water to freeze , but not the acid , and the liquid poured away from the ice was a strong solution of citric acid , lt had never before been obtained so strong . But Georgi does not appear to have boiled down i . r evaporated this liquid to obtain the solid acid , just as solid sugar is got by evaporating the juice of the sugar cane ; and had he done so , lie would only have produced a very impure product , and have been puzzled and

disappointed , lt was reserved for another Swedish chemist , the immortal Schea ! e , towhomthe science of chemistry owes a greater liuru ' jerof discoveries than to any other man—to obtain citric acid in the solid form , and to show that it was quite different from tartaric acid , which he had formerly discovered . It was in 1784 , or just 10 years after Georgi ' s experiment , that Scheele made known his process for obtaining pure citric acid from the

juice of the lemon , and it is that which is carried out at tha present tim ; . We cannot discuss the technical details of the manufacture ; wi will simply slate that 20 gallons of good lemon juice will yield fully 10 lbs . of white rrjstals of citric acid . Citric acid is contained in a very Urge number of plants , besides orangisand lemons , and also the ripe fruit of the tomato . Enormous quantities of citric acid are used in calico printing , in pharmacy ,

and in the preparation of artificial lemonade . This is cheaply produced , and is much used as a cooling drink in fever hospitals . It has been used in the Navy as a substitute for fresh lemon juice in the treatment or prevention cf scurvy , but has been much less efficient . In rheumatism , or rheumatic gout , the fresh juice of the lemon is preferred on account of the bicitrate of potash which it contains . Pure lemon juice is also a valuable remedy in

sore throat and diphtheria ; cases have been recorded in which children have apparently been cured of this terrible disease by constantly sucking oranges or lemons . Pure citric acid possesses , like some other acids , the power of destroying the bad effects of polluted water used for drinking ; but it is , peihaps , best to boil the water before adding a little citric acid to

it . Besides the production of artificial lemonade , immense quantities of citric acid are annually consumed in the manufacture or preparation of pharmaceutical products , such as the effervescing citrate of magnesia , citrate of quinine and iron , and many other preparations which employ thousands of hands in all parts of the civilised world .

Painters In The Reign Of Elizabe Th.

PAINTERS IN THE REIGN OF ELIZABETH .

{ Continued ) . The next painter on our list is a name of more note , celebrated in the lists of the great Italian masters ; this was Frederic ZiKchero , th- ynungir biother of Taddeo , and born like him at Vado , in the Duchy of 1 ' rhino , in the year 1550 . Frederic was carried by his parents to Rome , where their and the much in the

elder son was then employed , younger improved so space nf six years , that , without his brother ' s assistance , lie painted a picture of Helicon and the Muses , for a Roman nobleman , and executed thc greatest pai ' t < f a chapel , on which his brother was engaged . They worked for some tune in conceit , and , being at Florence , painted in four days the whole hibiory of the Passion , which was bespoken in a hurry , for the decoration of

Painters In The Reign Of Elizabe Th.

a church on Easter Sunday . Taddeo dying at the age of 37 , Fraderic finished his imperfect works , among which were the paintings at the magnificent palace , then lately built at Capravolo , by Cardinal Farnese . His picture , in distemper , of Calumny , borrowed from the description of one painted by Apelles , was supposed to be a tacit satire on that cardinal , with whom he had quarrelled on some deficiency of payment . Zucchero ' s temper

seems , by another instance , to have been pretty strongly tinctured with resentment ; while he was employed by Gregory 13 th to paint the Pauline Chapel in the Vatican , he fell out with some of his holiness ' s olli : ers . To be revenged , he painted their portraits with ears of asses , and exposed the picture publicly over the gate of St . Luke ' s Church , on the festival of that saint , tne patron of painters . But for this exploit , he was forced tc

fly from Rome , and passing into France , he was , for sotie time , employed in the service of the Cardinal of Lorraine . Tnence he went into Flanders , and made cartoons for tapestry ; and in the year 1574 , arrived in England . Another instance of a painter ' s loss of temper is related of Verrio , who , quarrelling with Mrs . Marriott , the housekeeper at Windsor Castle , drew her picture for one of the Furies .

This was to gratify his own passion ; to flatter that of the court of Charles II . he represented Lord Shaftesbury among the demons of Faction in St . George ' s Hall . The Careen sat to Zucchero for her picture ; so did the Queen of Scots , for that well-known portrait , at Chiswick , which has been engraved by Vertue . This portrait of Mary Queen of Scots is a copy by Zucchero . She had been in Englmd , and under the strictest confinement , since 156 S , several years previous to the painter ' s arrival ; and it

is utterly improbable that any foreign painter should have been admitted to her presence under the then existing circumstances . Tne portrait of her which has the general suffrages for its authenticity is one preserved at Dalmahoy , the principal seat of the Earl of Morton in Scotland , from which an elegant engraving has been made . It is inscribed " Mary O leen of Scots , said to have been painted during her confinement in Lochieven Castle . The name of the painter is quite unknown . " ( To be continued . )

St. James's Theatre.

ST . JAMES'S THEATRE .

We have lately visited the above theatre , where Mr . Geo . Alexander has provided for his patrons a powerful social play , written by the well-known dramatist , Mr . Sydney Grundy . We shall refrain from criticising it at length ; it may , and will no doubt , be admired by many , but it is not to our taste . There is but one conclusion we can arrive at—that cold , heartless selfishness can achieve its aim , attain to prosperity , and , at the end , remain

unpunished . There is one bright spot in the drama—that of the simple , good-hearted , blundering friend , James Antrobus , admirably played by Mr . H . F . Esmond—which is depicted in the author ' s best style and forms a striking contrast to that of the worldly-minded O . C . If , as we cannot but believe , this was drawn with lull intent by Mr . GTundy , we congratulate him upon his success . It is an original conception , well cirriei out . Th ;

leading part in a " D-jbt of Honour " —as the play is named—is enacted with his usual artistic skill , by Mr . George Alexander , who wisely endeavours to soften tbe more repulsive points of the role . VVe hi ghly commend M ss Fay Davis for the great feeling she evinces as Gipsy Floyd ; she elicits oar sympathies in the warmest degree . The loving unselfish wife has a good exponent in Miss Julie Opp . Mr . W . H . Vernon , as Sir Jacob Holroyd , 1

M . I ., does his best with a character entirely out of Ins hue ; the clever actor has adapted himself to it . Mr . Hartley Manners , as the Rev . Absalom Baxter , gives us an amusing sketch . On the whole , " The Debt of Honour " is well staged , and without doubt well acted , but we like it none tne more on this account , and regret that Mr . Alexander should not have chosen a more pleasing subject .

Strand Theatre.

STRAND THEATRE .

I here is a capital bill of fare just now at thc little theatre in thc Strand . First we have a smart piece , * ' Punctured , " in which Miss Audrey Ford and Mr . James Welch are engaged . As may readily be imagined , it is foundid on the dilemma of a fair cyclist , the tyre of her wheel beiiig punctured when on the Chertsey Road , many miles from London , She is succoured by another cyclist of the sterner sex ; the dialogue

which ensues being very amusing . The chief attraction is " In the Soup , " whicli , we are informed , is the posthumous play of Mr . Ralph Lumley . On the principle " I ) e Mortuis nil nisi bDnum " we shall not judge il severely . The title , " In the Soup , " is suggested by a most laughable incident which occurs in the second act ; it leads to some ingeniously contrived complications , which are

satisfactorily explained at the end . Mr . J unes Welch has a pirl which entirely suits him . In his impetuous quiintness and rich drollery he reminds us of Edward Terry . Miss Cronyn acts with intelligence and discretion . Mr . Ayes , as the Frenchman , with ins ui . ole appstite , doas Hie bust with his role . Biles , lhe butler , and his wife , thi 00 k , who has an unpleasant habit of " giving a bit of her mind , " as she says , find worthy

representatives in Mr . Victor Biddecomb and Miss M iria SiKer . I ' he Indian Judge , who is the innocent cause o ( all the trouble , is cipitaffy acted by Mr . Johu Beaucha-np . A word of praise is certainly due to Mrs . Richard Edgar as Madame Moppsrt , while prelly Miss Audrey Ford , as the step-daughter , is delightfully piquante . We refrain from describing th-s story , so that ihose who would have an enjoyable evening may work it for themselves . If we are not mistaken , they will laugh as heartily as we did .

General Notes.

GENERAL NOTES .

The new Thr : itre Fram , lis , Paris , will be opened for its first psrformance on Christmas Day . * * * * Mine . Sarah Bernhardt starts on her American tour with M . Coquelin on October n _ j _ h .

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I AMONG TIIE LEADING BRANDS OF pM-fO CHA . MP __ A . aMS / mJ . Blankenhorn ' s "SPORTSMAN " ilT S ^ s & fV | j ENJOYS A REPUTATION OP A QUARTER-OF-A-CENTURY . IJZ ^ L IS LJ UnUo " 0 «« ces—is , CULLUM STREET ; ' LONDON , E . C .