Science, Art, And The Drama.

Science , Art , and the Drama .

THE KID GLOVE AND KID SKIN INDUSTRY IN FRANCE .

( Continued ) . The skins of kids which are bought by the butchers in the towns , and used as a substitute for lamb skins , are sold to the skin merchants or their agents . The skins of kids which are butchered by the peasants themselves , are sold to country pedlars who wander through the region from cabin to cabin collecting them in order to finally dispose of them at a town fair , to

the skin dealers , or to the agents of the glove manufacturers , or skm merchants . Formerly , the regular fair or market , brought together all the dealers in the neighbouring district , who exhibited in the market place their lots of kid skins , varying in number from 5 , 10 , and 20 to several hundreds , and sometimes thousands . These fairs were watched with the greatest interest by those who were in the skin business , as the prices

obtained there for skins were an indication of the probable prices for the entire season . This is , to a certain extent , true to-day , but the town fairs no longer play the important part that they did 20 years ago . The railways , the press , and general education , as well as the enormous importation of skins from the Argentine Republic , Chili , the Caperof Good Hope , Arabia , Mexico , Russia , and Asia Minor , have brought about a revolution

in the skin business . The leading fairs , where kid skins are particularly in evidtnce , a * e held at Vhe following places-. Romans ( Drome } , Anneyron ( Drome ) , St . Marcellin ( Isere ) ,-Valence ( Drejme ) , Clermont ( Oise ) , Tours ( Indre et Loire ) , Poictiers [( Vienne ) , Lusignan ( Vienne ) , Riom ( Puy de Dome ) , Aurillac ( Cantal ) , Chalons sur Saeine ( Sae ' me et Loire ) . At one time , the annual fair at Valence was considered by kid skin dealers to be

the most important of all those held in France , because the prices obtained there regulated the year ' s price for France , and probably for other countries as well . Its great importance in this business was due to the fact that Valence is situated in the centre of a large fine kid skin producing country , andSts fair was held at the beginning of the season , for the southern central portion of France . These conditions brought many fine lots of raw skins ,

several thousand dozens to the Valence fair , which fact was sufficient to draw thither the big purchasers or their agents from Grenoble , Annonay , Paris , and other places . This fair still exists , and its prices are quoted every year , but it has lost its former importance , because , its importance being recognised , speculators have manipulated the market in order to bring about fluctuations to their own advantage . In Italy the finest kid skins , many of them equal

to the best French skins , come from the north , above the line from Turin to Venice . A heavy , coarse skin is found in the neighbourhood of Genoa , a ^ id a finer , smaller skin in Tuscany . In Rome the kid skins are very small , and the market unimportant . Naples , a great centre for the manufacture of cheap gloves , is noted for a low grade skin , as well as Sicily , Sardinia , and Corsica . Those that come from the Abruzzi district , north-east of Naples ,

are very much better . Switzerland stands next to France in the high quality of skins produced . Spain and Portugal both produce I irge quantities ; but , as a rule , they are far inferior even to those of southern France . The best Spanish skins are to be found in Taragossa and the surrounding country . Germany produces a large number of kid skins , of which the best

come from Saxony , Bavaria , Baden , Thuringia , and Silicia furnish large quantities . The best Austrian skins are to be found in the Tyrol and Styria j those from Bohemia , Hungary , and Transylvania are not so good . Kid skins from Eastern Europe , Northern Africa , Southern America , and Mexico are used principally in the manufacture of Suede gloves .

HANS HOLBEIN . ( Continued ) , Holbein went to England with recommendatory letters from Erasmus to Sir Thomas More . Holbein was kindly received by hirn , and was taken into his house at Chelsea . There he worked for nearly three years , drawing the portraits of Sir Thomas , his relations and friends . The King , visiting the Chancellor , saw some of those pictures , and expressed his

satisfaction . Sir Thomas begged him to accept whichever he liked , but he inquired for the painter , who was introduced to him . Henry immediately took him into his own strvice , and told the Chancellor th . it now he had the artist he did not want the pictures . An apartment in the paUce was immediately allotted to Holbein , with a salary of 200 florins besides his being paid for his pictures . He drew thc King several times , and all his Oueens ,

though no portrait of Catherine Parr is certainly known to hi of his hand . He painted , too , the King ' s children and the chief persons of the Coutt . It is related that one day as Holbein was privately drawing some lad y ' s picture for the King , a great lord forced himself into the chamber . Holbein threw him downstairs ; the peer cried out ; Holbein bolted himself in , escaped over the roof of the house , and running directly to the King , fell on

his knees , and besoug ht his Majesty to pardon him , without declaring the offence . The King promised to forgive him if he would tell the truth , but soon began to repent , saying he should not easily overlook such insults , and bade him wait in the apartment till he had learned more of the matter . Immediately arrived the lord with his complaint , but sinking the provocation . At first the monarch heard the story with temper , but broke out ,

reproaching the nobleman with his want of truth , and adding , " You have not to do with Holbein but with me ; I tell you of seven peasants I can make as many lords , but not one Holbein . Begone , and remember that if ever you pretend to revenge yourself I shall look on any injury offered to the painter as done to myself . " Henry ' s behaviour is certainly the most probable part of the story . After the death of Jane Seymour , Holbein was sent

to Flanders to draw the picture of the Duchess Dowager of Milan , widow of Francis Sforza , whom Charles V . had recommended to Henry for a fourth wife , but afterwards , changing his mind , prevented him from marrying . Among the Harleian MSS . there is a letter from Sir Thomas Wyatt to the King , congratulating his Majesty on his escape , as the duchess's chastity was a little equivocal . Were it so , considering Henry ' s

Science, Art, And The Drama.

temper , it seems that the duchess had the greater escape . It wis .-. bout thi same time that it is said she herself sent the King word , " That she had bu ; one head , if she had two one of them should be at his Majesty ' s service . " ' Holbein was next despatched , by Cromwell to draw the Lady Anne of Cleves , and by practising the common flattery of his profession , was the immediate cause of the destruction of that great subject . He drew so favourable a likeness that Henry was content to wed her , but when he

found her so inferior to the miniature , the storm which should really have been directed at the painter burst on the minister , and Cromwell lost his head because Anne was a " Flanders mare , " not a Venus , as Holbein had represented her . We have only further to relate of this great painter that he remained in England until his death , which was occasioned by the plague , in the year 1534 , in the 56 th year of his age . The spot of his interment was as uncertain as that of his death . Who his wife was or what family he left we are not told .

WYNDHAM'S THEATRE . There has lately been a revival of one of Mr . Pinero ' s early comedies * ' Dandy Dick , " at Wyndham ' s Theatre . This was originally played , many years ago , at the Court Theatre . It comes to us again with all the freshness of its first representation . Dramatic works of this kind are not destined to be forgotten or to sink into utter oblivion . There is smart clever writing

strong contrasts of character , and opportunities of good acting which will always commend themselves and justify its periodic revival . On the present occasion , although we miss the unctuous manner in which Clayton personified the Dean of St . Marvels , yet still Mr . Alfred Bishop is a worthy representative—he seems to most thoroughly appreciate the chief points of the i haracter and bring them into prominent notice . Georgina Tidman the

sporting widow , the original part of Mrs . John Wood , has been entrusted to Miss Vie let Vanburgh . This is a character that requires to be played with great discretion . Were the sporting tendencies made too obtrusive , disgust would certainly ensue ; - but Miss Violet Vanburgh , by her clever and judicious acting , attains the happy medium , being piquant without baing offensive . Blore , the butler at St . Marvels , is in the hands of Mr . Geo .

Giddens , who manages , in a quiet manner , to render the part very amusing . Mr . Denny , as Noah Topping , the village constable , has the opportunity of a fine piece of character acting . He is well supported by Miss Annie Hughes , who , as his wife , Hannah Topping , renders most efficient aid in the scene of " The Strong BJX . " The other characters—Sir Tristram Mardon , Bart ., Major Tarver , and Lieut . Darby—are efficiently plavid bv

Messrs . Maurice , Vane tempest , and Stanley Cooke , whilst Salome and Sheba , the daughters of the . Dean , are intelligently rendered by Misses Hoffman and Lane . " Dandy Dick " will well repay a visit .

GENERAL NOTES . After reading in the press of the many instances of the destruction of bird-life in our islands , it is a pleasure to note the report of the Society for tf . e Protection of Birds , at its annual meeting , held at the Westminster Palace Hotel , recently . In spite of the difficulties experienced in many of our provinces , the convictions obtained under the Wild Birds' Protection Act , mainly by members of the society , show that the society is doine

excellent work , and making energetic movements on behalf of the creatures that add so much to the pleasure of both town and rural life . Not only , however , are the operations of the society being carried on in our own country , but they extend to our Colonies , and even to forei gn countries . Petitions have been sent to various parts , urging the prevention of the wholesale slaughter and exportation of the lovely birds of paradise humming

birds , and various other species , assistance also has been offered to a similar society , recently inaugurated in China , in checking the traffic in the skins and feathers of the many beautiful game birds and other species peculiar to that country . It should not be forgotten that the plumage ol birds is always brightest and best in the breeding season , and that at this period , the collectors of , and traders in , their skins are unusuill busyThe

y . cruelty of killing birds at this time is increased by the death of a victim often causing suffering and starvation to a nest of little ones " . We are sure if the misery endured by these nestlings , through their parents' feathers being required for ornamentation , could be pictured to ths leaders of ladies ' fashions , the use of feathers would be , to a large extent discontinued but

, it may be that the reports of these sufferings are looked upon by many of the great ladies , as so many exaggerated tales , and as such are dismissed from their minds . 1 here is reason to hope , however , that through the exertions of the Bird Protection Society and of its several thousands of members this state of affairs will not much longer exist . '

1 he grand opera season at Covent Garden will commence on Monday i-ilh May , and extend to 30 th July , 67 performances being given during that period . The opera season generally closes about the middle of lulv but the Goodwood week is usually the mjst fashionable in London , and this year the great race meeting falls later than usual , the CUD dav ojcoirrincr „„

2 , d August , hence , the late date of the final representation at Covent Gaiden . Most of the great artists , who have appeared during recent seasons will again be heard , although neither Madame Calve nor M . Jean de Reske have finally decided at present . Mesdames Melba ( who will probably sine in the production of " La Tosca " ) , Susanne Adams . Edith Wall ™?

1 ernma , Gadski , Belce , and Schumann Heink ; M . M . Tinbart de la I ' our ' Suleza Dc Lucia , Edouard de Reske , Journet , Scotti , Plancon , Lieban Van Royy , 3 nd Slezar , and Herr Strauss , are all on the list . Two cycles of Der Ring des Niebelungen , " are promised early in June , and it is a pleasure to . know that Herr Felix Molk has been engaged as conductor of the German operas .

Br . tish choirs and bands are being cordially invited—at their own expense—to the Paris Exhibition , where concerts may be given , on specified dates , in the Grand Hall , but at the risk and expense of the concert gi-ersmoreover , numerous deductions will be made from the receipts . We do things more liberally in London . When any of the great bands are invited to play here all their expenses are paid , and they receive a handsome fee as well . However , there will probabl y be some special concerts of British music by the band of the Exhibition , and these will , it is hoped . beconducted by Sir Arthur Sullivan or Mr . Cowen .