Science, Art, And The Drama.

Science , Art , and the Drama .

ROADSIDE FRUIT IN EUROPE . ' The cultivation of fruit trees along the high roads of France , to take the place of the interminable lines of poplars , so well known to all travellers , has proved so profitable to the revenue , that it has been encouraged by the Government , and is being extended each year . The communes have followed the example set by the Government , so that now roadside cultivation has become an important branch of national industry . It is not , however , only

in France that fruit-tree planting has been turned to such profitable account . In Germany , Belgium , and the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg the system has been greatly developed , giving satisfaction to the respective countries and to local interests . On the Wurtemburg roads , for instance , the fruit harvest from this source produced over ^ 40 , 000 in 1 S 7 S , and last year the returns had more than trebled . The annual revenue derived from the national

roads of Saxony , planted with fruit trees , rose from £ 1800 m 18 S 0 to / 8400 in 1892 , furnishing a total sum of ^ oS . ooo for the 13 years . In Belgium , according to the statistics of 1894 , over 21 , 875 miles of roads were p lanted with 741 , 571 fruit trees , which furnished the large sum of / 400 , 00 c In France the product of fruit trees is estimated at ^ 12 , 000 , 000 . In Westphalia , in the Duchies of Baden and Saxe-Weimar , in Alsace

Loraine , in Switzerland , Ike , the employes of the Adminstratien of Roads and Bridges , and the road supervisors , are instructed in fruit culture . In some of the southern departments of France the roads are bordered with cherry trees , producing the small fruit called merisee ( wild cherry ) , much appreciated for making wine , siiigeneris , preserves , and even alcohol . In the Touraine , plum trees predominate , while in the Allier , the walnut trees

transform the roads into shady walks . In Auvergne , the chestnut tree flourishes ; while in Normandy , place is naturally given to the apple tree . Some 20 years ago the picturesque roads of the north-east of France were lined with stately poplars ; but , although ornamental , their roots went far and wide , rendering the adjacent meadows sterile , and ploughs were continuously stopped by offshoots , lying almost at the surface of the soil . The

farmers appealed in such strong terms that the communes decided upon the fall of the poplar , and soon axes and saws were brought into requisition , and the roads cleared of these trees in favour of the humble , but more useful mirabelle ( small plum ) , to the great satisfaction of the villagers . Thousands of baskets of this fruit are sent to Paris daily . Some 30 years ago the distillation of the mirabelle was unknown in the country districts ,

the people plucked it as food for their pigs ; but , to-day , they have learned to make more profitable use of it . They distil it in large quantities , and find a ready market for it . A quart of this alcohol , slightly perfumed , sold five or six years ago for only about iod . or isd ., to-day it brings not less than 2 s . or 2 s . fid ., while in Paris the best kind cannot be obtained under about 4 s . 3 d .

GRAVES' GALLERIES , 6 , PALL MALL , S . W . EXHIBITION OF SKETCHES BY THE LATE W . BRO . WM . SIMI-SON , F . R . G . S ., P . M . Q UATUOR CORONATI LODGE , NO . 207 C There is an interesting collection of water-colour drawings and sketches by our late Bro . Wm . Simpson , P . M . Quatuor Coronati Lodge , No . 2076 . Our distinguished brother was well known in the Craft , and his valuable papers on Masonry are to be found in the iccorded transactions of the

Quatuor Coronati , of which he was a P . M . A well-written sketch of his Gtisy life is the preface to the catalogue of his works now exhibited . To this we refer our readers . Our province is to consider his pictures in an artistic point of view . We cannot do better than quote the concluding passage of the preface— " The works of this extraordinary man , whose name is a household word in many parts of the world show wonderful drawing ,

exquisite colour , and the most careful attention to detail , and his tireless energy and indefatigable labour , combined with the excellence of his work , whether executed under conditions of temperature below zero , malarial climes , or the fire of an enemy , afloat or ashore , can only be a subject of admiration to those who knew him personally , or by his works . " We subjoin a few of his pictures , which , especially by their artistic merit , attracted

our attention : Nos . 4 , Ujek Tcpei , Troad ; 6 , Plan of the Battlefield of Sedan ; io , Massoolah Boats , Madras ; 19 , The Ganges , 1875 ; 26 , Interior of Rock-cut Buddhist Temple , Ajunta ; 33 , Calvary in Brittany ; , S 51 The Two Columns , Brindisi ; 59 , Praying Wheels , Himalayas ; 62 , The Acropolis , Mycenoe ; 70 , Pyramids of Geezeh ; 94 . The Kailas , Ellora ; > 6 , View from the Palace Gardens , Athens ; 81 , A Funeral at

Sea on board the P . and O . ss . Sumatra ; S 3 , The Tomb of Raphae l Pantheon , Rome ; S 6 , Portrait of the Artist in Eastern Dress ; 95 , Ma-nacs Carnge , Brittany ; 101 , The River Ho'jghly ; 113 , Bowlee , Allahabad ; 116 , The Gate of the Lions , Mycenue ; 118 , Magdala , Abyssinia ; II <) , The Wailing Place , Jerusalem '; and 127 , The Yosemite Fall , Yosemite Valley , California . We heartily commend this fine exhibition to the attention of the brethren .

THE FINE ART SOCIETY , 148 , NEW BOND-STREET , W ,

WATER-COI . OI : R DRAWINGS or ENGLISH , SCOTCH , AND ITALIAN GARDENS , HY G . S . ELOOOD , R . I . This collection of highly-finished water-colour drawings is not only charming in itself , evincing great artistic skill and taste in the exquisite harmonies of colour , but also seives to remind us how many beautiful spots there are in the world , with which the majority of us have little or no acquaintance . Itis interesting to note the different styles of landscape

gardenuig—how in the English and Scotch the arrangements arc on more iiiiss ' vj lines than those of the Italian , which go more into details than our own . Mr . Elgood ' s work gives evidence of careful industry , he seems to revel in colour , and , yet , brilliant as are his pictures , he in nowise sins against the canons of art . Amongst the beautiful pictures we notice those of Crathes , Scotland—Nos . 5 , Autumn ; S , Phlon ; 44 , The South Walk ; 6 3 , The Garden Gate ; other places in Scotland—1 , The Rose Garden , Balcaskie ; A , The Terrace Walk : 21 , Kcilie Castle . In England—23 , The Pool ,

Science, Art, And The Drama.

Bramham , Yorkshire ; 30 , The Strid , Bolton Woods , Yorkshire ; 3 S , Stepping Stones , Bolton Abbey ; 55 , Cottage Garden , Leicestershire . In Italy—6 , Head of the Great Stair , Villa Gazsni ; 13 , Florence , from St . Miniato ; 15 , Villa Irnperiale , Genoa ; 25 , Como , from the Villa d'Este ; 32 , Villa Colonna , Rome ; 46 , Villa Castello , Florence . There are many other fine pictures . We would recommend a visit .

THE STRAND THEATRE . There is a very amusing Farce now being played at the above theatre , entitled "The Wrong Mr . Wright . " The title is a happy one . The author is Mr . Geo . H . Broadhurst , already well known by " What Happened to Jones , " and " Why Smith left Home , " which achieved great success , being thoroughly appreciated by the play-going public . " What Happened to Jones , " has been revived at Terry's Theatre . " The

Wrong Mr . Wright , relates the adventures of a Mr . Singleton Tites , who , under the assumed name of Wright , endeavours to trace and discover the locality of a Mr . Bailey , his cashier , who has levanted with a considerable amount of money by means of forged documents . The many difficulties he has to encounter , especially at the conclusion of the piece , of establishing his identity lead to

awkward predicaments , which are brought before the audience in a ludicrous manner . Mr . Thos . A . Wise , who enacts the part of the hero , is gifted with a sense of dry humour , which carries him triumphantly through the bustling business of the piece . There are some good character sketches , well contrasted . Wayland Clingstone , the part of the unctuous hypocrite , is well conceived by Mr . Geo . Shelton . Lieutenant Crosby ,

Fredk . Bond , and Belmont Stuyvesant , jun ., receive full justice at the hands of Messrs . F ' arren Soutar , Herbert E . Terry , and Sam Sothern . Miss Decima Moore , who , as Tillie Bird masquerades as her mistress ; Ethel Bond , played by Miss Ellen Macbeth , has an opportunity of displaying her talent , of which she does not fail to render good account . The

important role of Henrietta Oliver , the female detective , an important agent in the development of the plot , is ably undertaken by Miss Constance Collier . The continued success of "The Wrong Mr . Wright" is well deserved . We would strongly recommend all those who can enjoy a hearty laugh to pay a visit to the Strand Theatre .

GENERAL NOTES . The ouestion has often been asked of naturalists , whether vipers possess legs ? The answers received have been of a conflicting nature . Some positively deny the fact , others affirm confidently that it is so . As it , therefore , seems doubtful in the minds of many persons whether the creatures have limbs or not , a few words on the subject may not be out of

place . It may create surprise when we say that a decided " no " cannot be given as an answer to the question . This is owing to the fact that snakes sometimes bear towards the hind end of their body a pair of small tentacles , like protuberances , which , if not legs in the true sense of the

word , are vestiges of what once were , as the internal arrangements of the bones in their neighbourhood sometimes show there being unmistakable leg bones . These legged snakes are not , as it is needless to say , very frequently met with .

Mrs . Oscar Beringer has been discoursing to a feminine audience on the women dramatists of to-day , a subject with which she is obviously well acquainted , and on which she has every right to record her opinion . Women , happily , are progressing in intellectual capacity , and there is little doubt that ere long they will be able to hold their own . Every day they are acquiring

a wider and deeper knowledge of life—a knowledge which has not always been within their reach . What we may reasonably expect is , that the lady playwright will always excel much more in comedy than in serious drama . It is only the exceptional woman who has the strength to conceive and represent tragedy . Miss Milford tried and failed ; the onl y plays by

women which can be called classics , take the form of comedies— " The Wonder a Woman Keeps a Secret , " by Mrs . Centlievre , and so forth . In our own day , it is in this direction that women have succeeded most conspicuously—take for example , "John Oliver Hobbes , " whose single effort in tragic drama , did not make a favourable impression .

Tschaikowsky ' s " Pathetic" symphony , originally composed for , and produced by , the Philarmonic Society , will be performed at the first concert of the forthcoming season . The work has been played so often all over the

world , that most musicians and amateurs are familiar with it , and some of them think it might be allowed to rest awhile . But it is quite easy to understand the Society's wish to repeat , with their own orchestra , a work which has become famous since they brought it out .

At the War Concert to be given at the Albert Hall , under the auspices of the Colonial Society , a band of 500 performers upon mandolines , mmdolas , lutes , guitars , and similar instruments , will be heard , conducted by

Signor Marchisio . 'Ihe Royal Academy of Music Choir , Madame Albani , Mr . Edward Lloyd , and Sir Alexander Mackenzie , will take part in the concert at which T . R . H . the Prince and Princess of Wales have promised to be present .

Our clever young English pianist , Miss Gertrude Peppercorn , is goingto Berlin , where-she has been engaged for recitals . Fro : n thence she goes to other German cities , and will be away several weeks . * * * * By the generosity ot Mr . II . E . Bischoffsheim , the National Portrait Gallery has been enabled to acquire the portraits of Charles I . and his

Queen , Henrietta Maria , from the Marquis of Normanby ' s collection , about which there was , a little while ago , an animated argument between the Treasury and the Gallery Trustees , Mr . Bischoffsheim having bought and presented to the gallery the picture of Henrietta Maria , the funds at

the disposal of the Trustees proved to be sufficient to meet the cost of the other portrait . Both works are well worthy of places in the National collection , and such a satisfactory ending to a much discussed episode is a matter for congratulation .