Science, Art, And The Drama.

Science , Art , and the Drama .

NORFOLK ISLAND .

The Norfolk Island pine has found its way to most countries of theworld , but to those who admire its magnificent stateliness , does it occur to ask-Where is Norfolk Island , and of what character are its people ? That facts may be as interesting as fiction , the following brief sketch will testify : It may be'stated that , geographically , Norfolk Island lies down in the Southern Seas , distant some 400 miles from New Zealand , and about goo miles from

Australia . It is five miles long , three across , and possesses an area of over 17 square miles . It is bounded by precipitous cliffs , against which endless breakers roll . The soil is rich and undulating , and bears plants of many varieties , and groups of the magnificent pines known all over the world . Captain Cook discovered the island 125 years ago ; and a week after the occupation of the settlement of Botany Bay , in 1788 , a contingent of the

convicts landed there was despatched thither . This contingent made a very small party , the total being nine males and six female convicts , together with nine officers . These first settlers addressed themselves at once to the soil , and with results which answered the highest expectations . At several critical junctures afterwards the main settlement at Botany Bay was saved from starvation by the arrival of supplies of wheat , potatoes , and other produce from the little island . From time to time fresh batches of convicts

were sent out from Australia , until , in 1793 , the population numbered 1008 . In that year the produce amounted to 2000 bushels of wheat , 50 tons of potatoes , and considerable quantities of other crops . In 1803 an order from the _ Home Office directed the settlement to be broken up . Most of the residents were emancipists , or persons who had fulfilled their term of punishment , and it was officially considered that they would make good settlers

on the mainland of Australia or in Tasmania . They were offered land in either of these places equal to that which they owned on the island : but so reluctant were they to leave the scenes of happy years , that pressure had to be applied ; and it was not till 1806 that the island was vacated . For 20 yeurs the island ran to waste . Looking back from to-day one sees how eggregious was the blunder which

drove the emancipists from what they had made a home . Many of them did well in Tasmania and Australia afterwards , but many returned to evil ways , and that which was a garden in the wild seas became once more a place of desolation and decay . In 1826 the island was made a settlement for prisoners condemned to penal servitude in New South Wales . Prisoners condemned in Great Britain were sent to New South Wales , * and to satisfy

an official regulation of the time those condemned in New South Wales were thus sent to Norfolk Island . The 18 succeeding years make a terrible chapter of crime and its expiation . The island became the terror of civilisation . Death was preferable to living there . Dr . Ullathorne , Roman . Catholic vicar of New South Wales , and afterwards Bishop of Birmingham , England , went to the island in 1834 in the course of duty . A mutiny had

broken out , in which nine of the insurgents were killed , and 29 were condemned to die . Of the 29 eleven were executed . " The 29 men , " Dr . Ullathorne writes , " were confined in three cells . I read the names of the 11 who were to die . Each thanked God . The cruelties practised here made demons of men . Men drew lots to see who would kill the other . Judge Burton attended to 130 capital cases at one assize in the same year .

The little island , which had 18 years of such peace and happiness that men longed to make it their lasting home , and from which they were only removed by absolute official pressure , became in these later 18 years a plague spot of human degradation , where the wildest and blackest passions brooded . And in the first period , as in the second , the material officialism operated upon was of convict pattern , leaving it to be seen how important a

part system plays in the punishment and management of criminals . In 1844 the island was declared to be no longer a dependency of New South Wales , and was , by letters patent , annexed to Tasmania ; but nine years afterwards , on the cessation of transportation to Tasmania , the struggle of inhabitants was withdrawn , and once more the home of the great pines was given up to desolation . On this occasion

however , it was quickly revisited . About the time the small band of convicts was sent from Botany Bay to Norfolk Island to experiment for a habitation , the Bounty , an armed ship , under the command of Captain William Bligh , quitted Otaheite with a cargo of bread-lruit trees , and a mutiny occurring on board , fell into the hands of the daring outlaws . The captain and 18 men were put into an open boat , and sent adrift . The

Bounty was afterwards burned , and several of the mutineers were arrested and executed ; but nine who had escaped settled on Pitcairn Island , where , 20 years after , their descendants were discovered , now grown to a population of 198—96 males and 102 females . On Tasmania withdrawing her subjects from Norfolk Island , arrangements were begun for transferring the offspring of the mutineers , from Pitcairn Island , thither ; and in three

years the transfer was completed , the dependency , under these new conditions , being again placed under the Governor of New South VVales , with Instructions that the people were to be allowed to develop after their ov / n ideals . Governor Denison displayed special interest in the starting of them on sound lines , while fulfilling to the letter his instructions fiom England ; and soon the little community was furnished with a Constitution , which , to

the average mind of 40 years ago , must have seemed dangerously experimental . The franchise was given to all persons of 12 years of age , and with ability to read and write . Education was made compulsory , under a fine of 6 d . per day , the accumulated fines going towards the remuneration of the schoolmaster , who was guaranteed a minimum ot a ios . poll tax per child per annum . It was forbidden to manufacture intoxicating drinks ,

except for medicinal purposes ; and if it were atrempted to introduce them by sea , they were to be seized and poured into the harbour . Seemingly , these measures of political and social government suited well the circumstances of the island , and the temperature of the people , for , with slight changes , progress has been the rule . The population is now 750 . Originally married and single were given a certain number of acres ; but now the unmarried receive only 12 * , acres , while the

married _ obtain 25 ; and with both conditions are laid down demanding , under pain of forfeiture , annual improvment up to certain values . In addition to the population proper , there reside on the island 200 natives from adjacent parts , connected with the Melanesian Mission , but the affairs of the island are conducted without any regard to these . The chief magistrate is provided with two counsellors to advise him ; and there is a jury of seven elders , over 23 years of age , to deliberate and pronounce upon the guilt or innocence of accused persons . Last year ,

Science, Art, And The Drama.

Judge Docker , of New South Wales , was commissioned to go to the island to hear two cases of exceptional gravity . The judge found on that occasion that the permanent force of the island consisted of one policeman , and that no jail existed . Having to sentence a girl to a term of nine months imprisonment , he was accordingly obliged to order her to serve the sentence in a private household , where it was agreed she would be kept constantl y employed and locked up securely every night . Such is this remarkab e

little island in the southern hemisphere . There are no destitute there ; none is out of work , or hungry . Every acre of their little domain is put to use . Cereals and fruits of all sorts flourish luxuriantly . The excitements of the outside world rarely intrude . The islanders occasionally complain of this matter , and to meet their desires the Imperial authorities lately arranged that a boat shall call at least four times a year . Peihaps , this will make their simple lives more enjoyable . It is , at all events , to be hoped that it will not make them less so .

Painters And Artists In The Reign Of James I.

PAINTERS AND ARTISTS IN THE REIGN OF JAMES I .

( Continued . ^ Mytens remained in great reputation till the arrival of Vandyck , who being appointed the King ' s principal painter , the former , in disgust , asked his Majesty ' s leave to retire to his own country ; but the King , learning the cause of his dissatisfaction , treated him with much kindness , and told him that he could find sufficient employment both for him and Vandyck ; Mytens consented to stay , and even grew intimate , it is probable , with his rivalfor

, the head of Mytens is one of those painted among the professors , by that great master . Whether the same jealousy operated again , or real decline of business influenced him , or any other cause , Mytens did not stay much longer in England . We find none of his works Here after the year 1630 ; yet he lived many years afterwards . Honbraken quotes a register at the Hague , dated in 1656 , at which time it says that Mytens painted

part of the ceiling of the town hall there ; the subject is . Truth writing history on the back of Fame . These were the most considerable painters in oil in the reign of James . There were , undoubtedly , several others of inferior rank whose names are not come down to us , except two or three . There was one remarkable person in this and the succeeding reign . His name was Robert Peake . The earliest mention of him that appears is

in the books of the Lord Harrington , treasurer of the chambers , Nos . 78 , 79 , being accounts of moneys received and paid by him . Item , paid to Robert Peake , picture-maker , by warrant from the council , 4 th Oct ., 1612 , for three several pictures made by him at the commandment of the Duke of York his officers , and given away and disposed of by the duke ' s grace , £ 20 . It does not appear whether these pictures were in oil or water-colours ; we

should rather suppose portraits in miniature of ( King Charles I . then ) Duke of York ; but that Peake painted in oil is ascertained by Peacham in his Book of Limning , where he expressly celebrates his good friend Mr . Peake , and Mr . Marquis , for oil colours . Peacham himself was a limner , as he tells us in the same book , having presented a copy of his Majesty ' s Basilicon Doron , illuminated , to Prince Henry . Peake was originally a

picture seller by Holborn Bridge , and had the honour of being Faithorn ' s master , and what perhaps he thought a greater honour , was knighted at Oxford , 28 th March , 1645 . The disorders of the times confounding all professions , and no profession being more bound in gratitude to take u p arms in the defence of King Charles , Sir Robert Peake entered into the

service , and was made a lieutenant-colonel , and had a command in Basing House when it was besieged , where he persuaded his disciple Faithorn to enlist under him , as the latter , in his dedication of the Art of Graving- to Sir Robert expressly tells him , and where Peake himself was taken prisoner . He was buried in the church of St . Stephen , London . ( To be cotitinued . )

The Mysteries Of Old Houses.

THE MYSTERIES OF OLD HOUSES .

The English Sunday seems to have been no less hum-drum in the days of Horace Walpole than some persons consider it to-day . Walpole relates that Lord Lonsdale , Lord Bath , and other members of the West-end clubs , " took a house on Richmond Green , where they could play cards , in quiet , on the dull English Sundays , which bored them so much . " Why it was considered necessary to go to Richmond for this diversion is curious .

Perhaps for some similar reason to that which took the Hell Fire Club to Medmenham , on the beautiful reach of the Thames below Henley . It is related of an artist , when looking for a house , years ago , in St . John ' s Wood , he was shown over a pretty secluded villa , with a kind of chalet at the bottom of the garden , well built and prettily furnished , where , once or twice a week , the owner had entertained a select card party . " No noise there , " said the agent , " no chance of any kind of disturbance ; only one servant , a trusted retainer of his Grace , the So-and-so . " " No , he did not

think they played on Sundays for high stakes , but they drank a lot of wine —and it was wine , you may take your oath of that ! " " Any ladies ever 1 " " Oh , well , I couldn ' t say ; but you will own its a jolly little retreat , and there's a wine cellar that was specially excavated for the present owner . " " Where is he ? " " Dead ; passed away something mysteriously two years ago at Monte Carlo . " What mysteries are enshrined in every ancient house ? Strange , tragic , and romantic stories he would have to tell that could unearth and reveal them .

GENERAL NOTES . Mr . Tree is preparing to be seen in London in a character new to himnamely , that of Macaire in the play by Stevenson and Henley . In the first instance , the impersonation will be presented at a benefit matinee ; but it is pretty certain to take a permanent place in the actor ' s repertory . The p lay itself is said to have a good deal of literary polish . As to its stage

effectiveness we must judge by-and-bye . Of other versions of " L' Auberge des Adrets" there have been many , all of them emphasising the melodramatic and farcical elements . In our own day the best Macaire has been that of Bro . Sir Henry Irving , who had Weedon Grossmith for his Jacques Strop . # » * * Little Miss Beatrice Terry has been added by Mr . Chas . Hawtrey to the company to appear in " The Man from Blankney's , "