The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

Miss St . John to-night takes her original part in " Olivette , " at the Avenue .

* * Miss Camille Dubois has returned to the stage , and is appearing every evening in "Rip Van Winkle , " at the Comedy . " Dot" has taken the p lace of " Girls and Boys , " at Bro . Toole ' s 'Theatre . Bro . Byron's " Dearer than Life , " will be put on next week .

* # •¦ » Bro , Byron has , we are glad to say , somewhat recovered from his illness , and is busy writing a new play , which will make its appearance at the Vaudeville , on the withdrawal of the " Rivals . "

* * The Novelty has closed its doors . This is not unexpected , considering the poor piece it opened with . It is said that Mr . Edgar Bruce has become its lessee . He will make it pay . #

* * Miss Kate Santley is rebuilding the theatre which some of her admirers made her a present of—the Royalty—and intends to reopen it with comic opera of the first class about Easter . * # *

At the Adelphi Messrs . Gatti have resolved to bring out a pantomime next Christmas . The subject is already chosen , and will be "Dick Whittington and his Cat . " This is takimr time bv the forelock .

* * * Bro . Augustus Harris has again kindly given the use of Drury Lane Theatre for the annual benefit of the Royal General 'Theatrical Fund , which will bo held on isth March .

* * * " The Happy Return , " b y Mr . Law , now precedes " Comrades" at the Court , in which Mr . Arthur Cecil , Mr . lioucicault , jun ., and Miss Francis play . 'Today and next Saturday matinees will be given , an unusual feature here .

Bros . Swanborough are soon going to fulfil their promise and put " The Comedy of Errors " on the stage of the Strand , with Mr . J . S . Clarke as the principal character . We also understand that an opera has been acquired for this house , to be brought out later in the season .

* Her Majesty ' s has been taken by Mr . Leader , once the manager of the Alhambra , and latera large shareholder in the house now burnt down . Mr . Leader proposes to open it with opera bouffe of a high class , making the ballet a prominent feature .

* it * Our distinguished Bro . Edward Terry on Christmas Day gave a dinner of roast beef and plum pudding to a number of poor children in a suburb of London in which he resides . The rector said grace , and after the repast , proposed three cheers for Bro . 'Terry . Before the little ones left Bro . Terry gave each of them toys , and sweets , and fruits .

* On the 20 th inst . " Caste " will be revived at the Haymarket for the last time , in which Mrs . Bancroft will play Polly Eccles ; Bro . Bancroft will play Hawtree j and Mr . Conway George D'Alroy . Mrs . Stirling and Miss Gerard have been engaged for the Marquise de St . Maur and Esther respectively . Bro . Bancroft has in preparation a new comedy by Mr . Pinero , and an adaptation of M . Sardou ' s latest work , ' * Fedora . "

« # » Mr . Rowley Cathcart , the esteemed stage manager of the St . James ' s Theatre , was , on the 2 nd inst ., the recipient of two New Year's gifts . The first was a walking stick with gold band inscribed " From Madge Kendal j

1 SS 2 , " with monogram " R . C . ; " and the second consisted of a handsome gold chain and hunting watch , inscribed inside the case " To R . Cathcart , from John Hare and W . II . Kendal j January 1 st , 1 SS 3 j " and outside the case the monogram ' * R . C . "

= ff * P * Mr . Edgar Bruce hopes to commence his new theatre shortly . Its name will be " The Prince's , " by special permission of our M . W . Grand Master . It will take the place of the Prince of Wales's , now pulled down , but on a

very different site , thenew theatre beingthecorner of Coventry-street and Oxenden-street , Leicester-square . Three flats of residential chambers will be built over some portion of the house . The architect is Mr . Phipps , F . S . A ., the designer of the Gaiety , Avenue , and several other London and provincial theatres .

We understand that Miss Mary Dickens , eldest daughter of Mr . Charles Dickens , and granddaughter of the celebrated late novelist , is about to join the theatrical profession . Miss Dickens , who is nineteen years old , will make her debut at the Kilburn Town Hall , as Anne Carew , in the late 'Tom Taylor's " Wolf in Sheep ' s

Clothing , " for the benefit of the Home for Invalid Children . We hear that Miss Dickens has a strong liking and natural aptitude for the stage , and with earnestness of purpose , added to her own brightness ami intelligence , we may hope to find her well sustaining the reputation of the name she bears .

* * * " Puss in Boots , " the pantomime at the Surrey , is well acted , and certainly the audiences there get their moneys worth . There is no break from the rising of the curtain at half-past seven until its fall , at half-past eleven ,

The Theatres.

Miss Lizzie Claremont , the Edmonds family , Mr . Monkhouse , Mr . G . Conquest , junr ., chiclly causes the merriment . Mr . Monkhouse is specially good as the Miller's Widow , and sings some capital songs , as also do the others we have spoken of . The marching past of the Egyptian troops composed chiefly of boys dressed as English

and Highland regiments , and the sailors come in for loud applause , not unmerited . The Japanese acrobats are wonderful , specially a lad who performs feats of marvel at the top of a ladder , balanced on a man's shoulder . "Puss in Boots" is worth visiting by those on the north side of the Thames .

"The Yellow Dwarf" at Her Majesty ' s Theatre , pending the completion of " The Pandora " is going much better than it did the first few days . It is calculated to please old and young . Though Mr . Vance is the prominent feature we cannot but think he mighthave been left out very well . He is not at all times , in a woman ' s part , as refined as might be , and his voice we thought not quite suitable to

the building . Master Charles Ross , the Yellow Dwarf , deserves every compliment he gets from press and public . We shall expect to see him in a pantomime every year . But by far the most interesting and amusing portion is the Dolls Quadrille , danced by Mdlle . Rosa , the Misses Abrahams , ( 2 ) and Master Abrahams . They are brought on the stage as dummies , and until they are wound up show no

life . But when the key is put to them they one and all commence dancing in a most comical and formal manner like machines . We understand they are encored night after night . It was these four who some time ago performed at the Gaiety with much satisfaction to lessee and audience . Nor should the performing elephants be

forgotten . This is an instance of the sagacity and faithfulness of this huge animal . They do almost anything but talk . Besides playing an organ , beating a drum , and walking on the tops of bottles , they can ring for dinner and also pay for it . No wonder the children go away delighted with Alfred Thompson's entertainment . It is a thing to be seen at this season of the year .

* Miss Bronte ' s novel , "Jane Eyre , " has been dramatised by Mr . Wills , and made its appearance under Mrs . Bernard-Beere ' s management at the Globe . Mr . Wills has taken a different course from that of the authors

who have dramatised the story before him . lhe maniac , Bertha , has been generally the heroine , but Mr . Wills , though unable to dispense with her , has put her in a small place , and Jane Eyre is now the heroine . Mrs . Bernard-Beere , who plays the governess , Jane Eyre , is not like the character in the novel , indeed she ' could not be , her appearance and manner are against the lady in the novel . Miss

Bronte ' s governess is a pale , short , insignificant woman—Mrs . Bernard-Beere cannot be this . While in the book it is by her great strength of character that Jane Eyre makes herself felt , in the play one cannot be surprised that her person has a deal to do with it . It seems quite natural that Rochester , in whose house she has come to be governess to his little ward , should fall in love with her , and prefer her

to the haughty Miss Blanche Ingram , to whom he is engaged in the first act . The first act is chiefly concerned by her introduction to Rochester and his guests , Lady Ingram and her daughter , who treat her coldly and rudely . The second act shows these aristocratic people setting traps to annoy her , but here they are frequently paid back in their own coin . Lord Desmond gets one for

himself in trying to catechise Miss Eyre , in geography ; and Blanche Ingram a decided , but quiet rebuff , in a question as to the translation of a French sentence , which causes Lady Ingram to insult the governess , and followed by her daughter leave the room . Rochester has now given up Miss Blanche and declared his passion for Jane , who has loved him fondly for a long time . After she has given her

promise of marriage , she is startled by a fiendish shriek and hideous laughter , when a door opens and the horrible maniac appears and causes Jane to faint at the fright . Miss D'Almaine who plays this character and only appears for this moment , is to be congratulated upon her wonderful success in dealing with this . 'The keeper of the mad woman has told [ anethatshe is Rochester ' s half-sister , and

it is leftin the p lay to Lady Ingram to tell her thatshe is really Rochester ' s wife . This is told not out of friendship but jealousy . Perhaps the finest scene now occurs between Mrs . Bernard-Beere and Bro . Charles Kelly ( Rochester ) when Jane reproaches him with making love to her and yet having a wife . She yet loves him , and after a severe verba ! chastisement , kneels at his feet and assures him of her

forgiveness . He again appeals to her , and she is nearly consenting , when once more the fiendish laugh is heard , and she bids him farewell . A fire occurs after this , and the maniac is burned to death ; but in trying to save his wife , for whom Rochester has respect , he loses his sight , and calls for Jane . She comes to him to nurse him , not knowing the stumbling block is removed . The curtain falls on her promise

renewed to marry him now it is no sin to do so . The end seems to us abrupt and wanting in something . It certainly is not satisfactory . Mrs . Bernard-Beere is too well known to require any further comments on our part than to say she acts admirably . We have seen Mr . Kelly often play

tar better j but we believe he was suffering from indifferent health . Wc hope he has now recovered . Miss Kate Bishop , as Blanche Ingram , has a character unsuited to her . Miss Carlotta Leclerq . as Lady Ingram , Miss Maggie Hunt , and Miss Alexis Leighton all play well their respective minor parts .

Music

MUSIC

The second performance of Bro . Willing ' s newlyinstituted choir is announced for the 30 th inst ., atSt . James ' s Hall . * * * The series of Promenade Concerts at Covent Garden Theatre begun on Boxing Night will be continued during the present month , and probably for a much longer period .

Music

On Monday last the Monday Popular Concerts were recommenced before a large and expectant audience , Madame Norman-Neruda re-appearing as leading' violinist , and Herr Pachmann as solo pianist .

& # # Arrangements have been made by the Crystal Palace Company to hold the Handel Festival at the Palace on Friday , June 15 th j Monday , June iSth j Wednesday , June 20 th j and Friday , June 22 nd .

» * Mr . Andrew Carnegie , of New York and formerl y of Dunfermline , N . B ., has presented a subscription of £ 5000 towards the fund being raised for the Royal College of Music . The Prince of Wales has acknowledged the gift .

# # * It is improbable that German opera will be produced at Drury Lane Theatre or at Her Majesty's for some time to come , as the large money losses last season will doubtless prevent , or at least delay , a recurrence of any similar speculation .

* * « Thenew series of Mr . Henry Holmes ' s " Musical evenings , " which entertainments deserve recognition for the generally classical nature of their programmes , usually including string quartets or quintets and other chamber music by the great composers , led by Mr . Holmes himself , begins on the 24 th inst . #

* * The 145 th anniversary festival of the Royal Society of Musicians will be celebrated this year . The society deserves large support in its unostentatious exercise of its benevolent purpose—many decayed members , or

their widows and orphans , being supported from its funds at a minimum cost of administration that contrasts strongly and favourably with the arrangements of some establishlishments of the kind . The event takes place at St . James's Hall , under the presidency of Mr . Arthur Sullivan , on the 13 th March .

Science And Art.

SCIENCE AND ART .

Karl Fitzwilliam opened a School of Art in connection with the South Kensington Department , at Peterborough , on Saturday last .

* * * Mr . Conrad Cooke , the electrical engineer retained by the Corporation of Sheffield , has delivered a report , in which he recommends that the streets of the town should not be lighted by electricity but by gas . A marble bust has recenlty been placed in the City Liberal Club , Walbrook , in memory of the late Sir Francis Lycett , who took a prominent part in the formation of the Club .

* » # Dr . Farrjuharson , M . P ., attended a meeting on Friday last , in Aberdeen , ol the Scottish Educational Congress , at which he strongly advocated the appointment of medical insp ectors of schools . * * *

The Institution of Civil Engineers musters 132 J members , 15 S 5 associate members , 525 associates , and twenty honorary members . If to these are added 759 students , there will be found to be a total of all classes on the roll of 4210 .

# # * At a special meeting of the Court of Aldermen on Saturday last , Bro . the Lord Mayor presiding , Alderman Finnis resigned his position as a trustee of Sir John Soane's Museum and Library , and Alderman Sir Robert Garden , M . P ., was elected in his stead .

« # # M . Clesinger , a distinguished French sculptor , among whose most prominent works were his equestrian statues of Francis I . and Napoleon , died on Saturday last , aged sixty-eight . He was engaged at the time on a statue of Carnot , which , with those of Marceau , Hoche , and Kleber , are to decorate the courtyard of the Ecole Militaire .

* * # A highly interesting addition has been added to the exhibition works by Mr . Alma Tadema , R . A ., now on view at the Grosvenor Gallery , in the shape of a picture of " Cleopatra , " who is represented on board a galley ,

attended by a female flute player , and a negress , there being also two priests who bow their heads and kneel as they thrust before their sovereign their silver incensebearers . Apparently , the Queen has gone forth to meet Antony , whose galfey with tossed oars is alongside .

* •* # In the third of his lectures on " Light and the Eye , " delivered at the Royal Institution , Albemarle-street , on Saturday last before a juvenile audience , Professor Tyndal ! referred to the substances which had the power of

drinking in the light and giving it out again , and he expressed a hope that an invention might some day be forthcoming which might be used in coal mines , and so put an end to the horrible accidents which now so often occurred through the use of lamps .

* * * Dr . Huggins . of Tulse-hill , informed the members of the Royal Society at their last meeting that he had suceeded in photographing the solar corona with a Newtonian reflector , using violet glass . He obtained between June and the 20 th September a series of twenty photographs , in all of which the characteristic rays and structure

of the corona are apparent , while in the most successful plates the definition is sufficientl y clearto admit of measurement and drawing from . Professor Stokes , on seeing Dr . Muggins's plates , expressed his belief that the corona had been photographed and not the glare round the sun , and this opinion has since been confirmed by comparison with the photographs of the corona obtained in Egypt during the solar eclipse in May last , there being a marked agreement between the two series as to the rifts and streamers .