The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

Mr . Recce ' s new burlesque , " Little Robin Hood , " has been received with the same applause as the three former ones , and is pronounced on all hands to be a success , and likely to remain on the Gaiety stage for some time . We need scarcely say that it is almost impossible to recognise the story of Robin Hood , but Gaiety audiences are not fastidious nor exacting that the tale shall be traced

easily throughout Gaiety people go to be amused , and only hiss if the entertainment does not provide sufficient laughter . Mr . Reece ' s latest effort is calculated to excite the risible faculties to no slight extent . Like its predecessors , the new burlesque is a combination of puns , grotesque and graceful dances , comic—not vulgar—songs , pretty dresses and sc ° nery , and , we almost apoligize for saying ,

clevar artistes , for they are so well-known as such . Aliss Farren is the Ear ! of Huntingdon , Robin Hood , who is about to be married to Marian Fitswalter ( Aliss Gilchrist ) , the daughter of Lord Fitswalter ( Air . Squiie ) . The wedding , however , is interrupted by the advent of King John ( Air . Robert Brough ) . He , too , loves Marian , - but when she repels him and clings to Robin Hood , the

King turns round and declares her lover an outlaw . Amongst the guests is Richard Ccvur-de-Lcon , in disguise , of course , who , with the others , declare themselves on the side of the outlaw . Even Friar Tuck ( Air . Dallas ) is willing to give up his good and easy living to join Robin Hood , and fight King John . He says he will be the cook , for is he not a

"frier ? " Robin Hood is captured by the king ' s soldiers and put in the jail of Nottingham , in the market-place , from whose grating he pelts the king unmercifully , while the king again tries l . rve-making with Marian . This young lady now encourages him , but only for her own ends , for she steals the prison key out of his pocket and lets her Robin Hood out . VVe do not remember this in the

traditional history ; but it matters not , the burlesque is not an illustration . Numerous songs of the day are introduced , one of the best being by Air . Dallas and Air . Arthur Williams . "Sometimes , generally , always . " The police and the Thames Embankment outrages are well hit fr , but the verse alluding to Egypt was the one applauded the most . On Miss Farren and Miss Gilchrist fall the major part of

the work , and it is by their charming songs and graceful dances that the spirit of it is maintained . Aliss Farren sings a song of the newspaper boy in her style so taking to all who hear her . VVith Aliss Connie Gilchrist she sings a duet and dances a minuet , which well deserved the recall they obtained . Aliss Gilchrist's prettiest song was , " Is there any harm in that . " This young

lady is fast coming to the front , and as she is only seventeen years of age , bids fair to be in the highest ranks of our actresses , whether she remains at burlesque or changes to comedy , for which she has shown undoubted talent . Air . Arthur Williams makes some excruciating puns , and so cleverly does he pronounce his punning words , that one cannot miss any of them . His burlesque of Air . Charles

Warner in " Drink " is capital , and productive of great laughter . Mr . Robert Brough ought to be welcome from the name he bears , and so he is . He , too , is rapidl y coming to the front in this style of stage work . His imitiation of Gaspard in " Les Cloches de Corneville" was well applauded . Air . D'Auban ' s dance , as a man in armour , like all his dances , was duly encored . " Patience " comes in

for burlesque . Aldme . Rose and a clever company were three times called upon to go through their performance of the " . ( "Esthetic Quadrille . " A company of acrobats were introduced on the " first night , but not being well received , have been wisely withdrawn , only an infant bicyclist being permitted . This child does some wonderful things on his or her bicycle—we do not know whether the performer is a boy or girl—yet a theatre can hardly be said to be the

p lace for it . Of course , the German Giantess at the Alhambra was burlesqued . Aliss Gilchrist having a long skirt put round her was gradually raised from the stage , whilst Mr . Arthur Williams donned the moustache and imperial of Bro . Holland , and stood underneath her arm , and assured the company " she is still growing . " VVe noticed Bro . the Earl of Donoughmore amongst the audience . Us -: k- its

" Patience , " at the Savoy , is not likely to be withdrawn for several weeks yet , but those who have not seen it , or those who have and would go again , had better take time by the forelock . Its last weeks will shortly be announced , and a new opera by the same author and composer , Messrs . Gilbert and Sullivan , will be brought out . "Patience" must Rave brought in to all concerned in it ,

whether as composer , writer , theatrical proprietor or players , a good fortune . As an opera its run is unprecedented . On our last visit it showed no signs ' of flagging . Air . George Grossmith , as Buutborne ; Air . Rutland Barrington , as Archibald Grosvenor , the " all right because I am infallible , " were as loudly encored as ever . VVe cannot but think the aesthetic craze must have received a check by this opera

though , of course , it burlesques the sham by showing it in its most "intense" form , and making it ridiculous . Messrs . Elliott and Fry have issued a set of portraits of the principal players in character , all faithful likenesses . Miss Leonard Braham , Patience , in her dairymaid's dress ; Air . Grossmith in his "bilious " costume , which he owns is

a sham ; Air . Barrington in his black velvet and silk stockings , which make him the adored ot women against his own will ; and Alessrs . Browne , Thornton and Lely , as the Colonel , Major and Duke respectively . ^ These three are represented as in their famous song , trying to imitate the love-sick maidens in their delusion .

The Court shortly re-opens with "The Parvenu , " the Royalty with a new opera by M . Planquctte , who , it is said , expects to rival his famous opera " Les Cloches de Corneville . " VVe believe this will be the first opera written expressly for the English stage not produced beforehand in France .

Music

MUSIC

The Promenade Concerts are in full swing still , and it is satisfactory to be in a position to record that , owing to the success which has attended these entertainments in the present season , they will be continued during the month of October . Air . Gwyllym Crowe deserves the success he has so strenuously endeavoured to secure , and we congratulate him accordingly .

This evening ( Saturday ) he will take his annual benefit concert , when , we doubt not , his patrons and wellwishers will muster in overwhelming numbers , in order to show their sense of the taste and enterprise he has displayed in ministering to their entertainment .

* * : Professor Macfarren , as Principal of the Royal Academy of Alusic , delivered his inaugural address to the students on Saturday last , there being also present a strong muster of the professors . After exhorting the students to persevere in their studies , the learned Principal carefully traced the history of music from the earliest times , pointing

out that it advanced earlier in England than in other countries , and that at the commencement of the thirteenth century elaborate contrapuntal compositions were discovered . From 1500 musical erudition was directed to secular subjects , which were produced on the same principles as ecclesiastical music . Towards the close of his address , he

set himself strenuously to the task of combating the very common assertion that this country was incapable of attaining to a high degree of musical excellence . On the contrary , there was nothing in our soil , climate , or physical construction to warrant this idea , and hence he suggested they might all take courage to work to the best of their ability . #

* * The programme of Tuesday next , at the Crystal Palace , when those popular caterers , Bros . Bertram and Roberts will hold their annual day and night fete , will include a grand evening naval and military

promenade concert , in which the bands of the Grenadiers , Scots Guards , and Royal Alarines , and three other military bands will take part . The chief attraction of the concert will be the " British Army Quadrilles . " The vocalists will be Air . Edward Lloyd and Signor Foli .

The Moore and Burgess Minstrels entered on their eighteenth consecutive year , at St . James's Hall , on Alonday , when two performances were given in honour of the occasion . Owing to the rebuilding of the Piccadilly entrance and the erection of a new gallery staircase , the performances of this popular troupe will cease with the present week , and re-commence on Boxing Night .

% ¦*;• v .= Bro . Lord Harlech , Prov . G . Master of North Connaught , presided on Friday last at the Oswestry Triennial Alusical Festival , held in the Powis Hall , Oswestry . The first and second parts of Haydn's " Creation " were given under the guidance of Air . Henry Leslie . There was a large and fashionable attendance .

- * - * -A The first of Mr . George Watts's series of Philharmonic concerts will take place at the Royal Pavilion , Brighton , on Wednesday next , the 4 th prox . On this occasion Aladame Christine Nilsson will make her only appearance in Brighton during the present season , while at the same time , it will be her farewell visit previous to her departure for America .

Thursday evening was fixed for the opening smoking concert of the Victoria Glee Club , which has lately moved its quarters to the Horns Assembly Rooms , Kennington-park . The Principals are Alessrs . Edwin Bryant , S . Kessell , and R . VV . Heney , and Bro . Egbert Roberts .

Science And Art.

SCIENCE AND ART .

A very interesting ceremony was that in which , on Saturday last / the leading part was taken by Bro . the Right Hon . the Lord Alayor , G . J . Warden . A working men ' s industrial and line art exhibition had been organised by the London and South-Western Railway Institute and Club at its quarters in Brunswick House , Vauxhall , the proceeds to be devoted to the improvement of that useful institution . All the exhibits were the bonl lide

handiwork of working men in their hours of leisure . They were ranked in eight classes , of which four were set apart for adults , and classified under the several heads of mechanical , artistic , general , fabrics , and fancy work . The fifth was confined to persons under eighteen , and tlie other three to that of work done bychildren belonging to Church , Board , and Nonconformist Schools respectively . The promoters had been much assisted by the Railway Company ' s

officials , and a fund had been raised , among the contributors to which were the Dukes of Connaught and Albany , Past Grand Wardens ; Bro . the Earl of Derby , Bro . Sir Thos . Brassey , ALP ., Bro . the Lord Alayor , Bro . Alderman and Sheriff Sir Reginald Hanson , Sheriff Sir VV . A . Ogg , the Archbishop of Canterbury , and the Duke of Westminster . It was this exhibition which our Right Honourable Brother had kindly undertaken to inaugurate , and , in accordance with that undertaking , his lordship , accompanied by thc

Sheriffs , attended , and fulfilled his agreeable task , his brief address on the occasion being listened to with great interest and heartily applauded . The proceedings concluded in the usual manner . It may be remarked that the exhibits in the first four divisions numbered 742 , and in the other four together to 213 . Among them are several excellent models of

steam engines , many skilfully executed carvings in stone and chalk , & c . There is also a loan exhibition , consisting of examples of art manufacture , drawings , engravings , & c , which it will be well worth the reader ' s while to visit and inspect . lis . jf . ** .

I he fund that is being raised towards endowing a Professorship of Experimental Physics in Yorkshire , as a memorial to its first President , the late Lord Frederick Cavendish , already amounts to £ 3000 , and the Alarquis of Ripon , Viceroy of India , has written to the Council of the College congratulating them on the movement , and announcing his intention of contributing towards it the sum of ^ 500 .

The ninth annual exhibition of oil paintings was opened at the Town Picture Gallery , Brighton , on Thursday week . The number of exhibits is no less than four hundred and sixty-eight

On the 22 nd inst . the members of the Iron and Steel Institute arrived at Pesth , where a most cordial welcome was extended to them by Herr Rath , the chief Burgomaster , on the part of the city , and Government Councillor Kerpoly , on that of the Hungarian Ministry . In the evening they were entertained at a grand banquet given in their honour by the City Council .

1 he twenty-sixth meeting of the National Association for the promotion of Social Science was opened at Nottingham , on VVednesday last . In the evening there was a very strong muster at the Alechanics' Institute . The chair was taken by the president , Mr . George W . Hastings , M . P ., who , in the course of his inaugural

address , referred , among other things , at considerable length , to the Land Question and the Married Women's Property Act , and concluded by laying stress on the vast importance of having a sound system of elementary education . The retiring president , Lord O'Hagan , was unable to be present . * * *

' 1 he real business of the Congress commenced on Thursday , when the different sections met for the discussion of important public questions . In the jurisprudence department its president , Air . H . Fox Bristowe , Q . C , Vice-Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster , deliverecTan address on " Jurisprudence and the Amendment of the Law . " In the economic section the report of the select committee on

railways ( rates and fares ) 1 SS 2 , was considered , and ultimately a resolution was passed recommending that the subject of railway administration and the practicability of effecting more complete management should be referred for discussion at the winter meetingof the association . In thc education department , Mr . Hamilton read a paper by Professor Sylvanus S . Thompson , as to " How Technical

Training can be best associated with Primary Schools and Local Colleges . " The employment of women in mills as bearing on infant mortality was considered in the health department , while in the art department the question , " In what way can the influence of Art be best brought to bear on the

masses of population in large towns ? " was submitted , and papers were read by Alessrs . T . C . Horsfell and Hodgson Pratt , who both recommended the opening of museums and art galleries on the Sunday . In the evening the members were entertained at a conversazione in thc Castle .

* * « On Friday , Mr . Woodall , M . P ., President of the Education Department , delivered an address , dwelling at length on the new Education Code and the question of the compulsory attendance of children at school , and directing attention to the subject of Technical Education . In the Health and Art Departments the ladies mustered in

strong force . In the former Mrs . King read an interesting paper on " Rational Dress and its Effects , " while in the latter Air . C . H . Lloyd , organist of Christ Church , Oxford , submitted one dealing with the results that might be anticipated from the establishment of the Royal College of Alusic , which , in his opinion , was admirably calculated to ensure to the public early elementary teaching by affording increased facilities for hearing good music .

The proceedings of Saturday were very fairly adjusted between business and pleasure , the latter taking the form of excursions , & c ; while , as regards the business proceedings , Sir Rutherford Alcock , as president of the health department , delivered an address . In the education department papers were read by Miss Beale and Bro . C . Pfoundes , the subject of the latter being the education of those who go abroad and tne choice of a career .

We learn the following from " Cassell's Household Guide" tor October . —To wash silk . —Lay the silk smoothly on a clean board , rub soap upon it , and brush it with a rather hard brush . The amount of brushing requisite will depend on the quantity of grease upon the silk . When it has been sufficiently brushed with the soap to cleanse it from grease and dirt , it should be well brushed on both sides with clean cold water . A little alum infused in the last water with which thesilk is brushed

will prevent the colours from spreading . Should there be any patches of grease upon thesilk , they should be removed as previously described or by the application of a little camphine and alcohol . Folding or wringing silk when wet must be scrupulously avoided , as creases made in silk , when wet will never disappear ; and , in like manner , hot suds must not be used for washing silks , as . it will in most instances remove the colours .