Science, Art, And The Drama.

Science , Art , and the Drama .

DOUBLES . Nature must have her mischievous moods , or she would never set about producing human replicas . Nobody wants them , and the unfortunate who knows he has a " double " somewhere , by no means rejoices in the . know-Iedge or cares to be brought into contact with his counterfeit presentment . Two temporary sojourners at an American winter resort started one morning from opposite points for an early stroll on the beach . Midway they

met , halted and glared at one another as they , stood twitching their fingers in the self same way . Each looked upon a dwarfish swarthy wizen-faced man , with a black unkempt beard , wearing a brown check suit , and saw himself as others saw him . Neither felt like saying with Dromio of Ephesus , " I see , by you , I am a sweet-faced youth , " but the readiest of the two , a New York doctor , blurted out , "Mr . Gould , I believe , " " I am not quite

sure if I am , " was the testy answer of the railroad autocrat , " I wish you would not wear clothes like mine . " " Shave off your beard , and I won ' t , " snapped by the doctor passing . on . He had , perhaps , the most reason for being dissatisfied with his likeness to the Napoleon of Wall-street . People wanting " points , " respecting the ups and downs of stocks and shares , stopped him in the streets , receiving his angry disclaimer of any

acquaintance with such matters , with sceptical laughter and rude remarks ; while , one particular afternoon the doctor was rendered especially indignant , by utter strangers familiarly slapping him on the back or digging him in tbe ribs , inquiring " How about that cradle ? " a salutation explained to him , on taking up a newspaper , and reading " Mr . Jay Gould has presented Mrs . George Gould with a cradle for her first-born . " Doctors seem to be well

provided with doubles . A London physician has his personality duplicated in that of a well-known artist , and another medico's possession of a double or , as the Germans term it , adoppel-ganger , in the shape of a popular song writer and song singer , led to the latter finding himself stayed , in a street walk , by a lady , who , without any parleying , poured forth a flood of information about her ailing daughter ' s physical affliction . Not till she had

exhausted her theme , or her breath , did she give Mr . Lovett King a chance of asking whom she took him to be , and then he had some difficulty in making her believe he was another man altogether , and not the medical adviser , for whom she mistook him . Sir Edward Thornton , sometime her Majesty ' s representative in the United States , and Judge Poland , of Vermont , brought a well-intentioned young fellow to doubt the evidence of his

eyes for evermore . At a wedding party in Washington , recognising a gentleman he had met in Mexico , he wished him good evening and proffered his hand for a shake . No shake came , and his greeting was returned by a curt " I fear you have the advantage of me . " "Is it possible that you don ' t recollect seeing me with my father in Mexico ? " was the freezing response . " Why surely you are Sir Edward Thornton ? " By no means , sir ; I am Judge Poland , of Vermont . " A week or so later , the unwitting

offender was at another party , and , catching sight of the judge ( as he thought ) , walked up to him . " That was an awkward mistake of mine the other night , my taking you for old Thornton . " "And pray whom do you take me for now ? " queried the other . " Why Judge Poland , of Vermont , of course . " " My name is Thornton " said the Ambassador , leaving the unlucky blunderer pondering how in the future he was to tell who was who .

One can imagine a popular actor's delight at a Northcountryman addressing him as " Mr . Mayor . " Whether the Mayor would have been equally pleased at a member of a touring company slapping him on the back , with " What cheer , Johnny , " is a little doubtful . One man , at least , was delighted at discovering he had a " double . " He was the manager of a London theatre in want of an acting manager . Among the applicants for

the berth was an actor the veritable counterpart of himseif . " You ' re the man for me , " jaid the manager , clinching the engagement then and there . Having secured him as his lieutenant , the wily manager utilised the marvellous resemblance between them by deputing the acting manager to represent him whenever an undesirable caller came to the theatre bent on an interview . When the Strand Theatre was in the hands of

Mrs . Swanborough , Mr . Robert Hillier , the American author , had an odd experience there . Tendering the price of a stall to the money-taker , that worthy said : " AH right , Mr . William ; you can go up , sir . " " What do you mean ? " inquired Mr . Hillier . " Oh , it ' s all right , " responded the other , " You needn't pay , you know that . " The visitor insisted upon paying , and his cash was taken , under protest , the money-taker calling to

the check-taker : " Show this gentleman into a private box . "—Mr . Hillier had scarcely settled himself when the box-keeper appeared , telling him " Mrs . Swanborough was in the dress-circle , and wished to speak to him . " "Mrs . Swanborough wishes to speak to me ! " exclaimed the supposed American ; " she does not know me . " The disconcerted man duly conveyed the reply to the manageress , the result being his return with the

imperative message , " Sir , your mother desires you to come to her at once ! " " My mother ! " ejaculated Mr . Hillier ; " my mother has been dead many years . " However , he went to the dress-circle , and satisfied Mrs . Swanborough he was not her son William , and returned to enjoy the performance , with a mind at ease as to his identification and the sanity of the manageress and her money-taker . During their reign at the Prince of

Wales Theatre , Mr . and Mrs . Bancroft were unpleasantly apprised of the existence of a married pair , travelling about in their shape and names , to the credit of neither . The day after returning from a holiday spent in Switzerland and Venice , Bancroft , meeting his orchestral chief , was asked what he thought of the new play at the Criterion , and said he had not yet seen it . "Not seen it ? " returned the baton-wielder , " why , one of the

band , who has been with us for years , told me he saw you and Mrs . Bancroft in a private box at the Criterion last night . " A morning or two after Mr . Bancroft opened a letter from a debt-collector , demanding immediate payment of the money due to a Ventnor hotel-keeper for carriage and horse-hire . Never having set foot in Ventnor , he surmised that somebody was playing a joke upon him , and thought no more about it until a

second and more peremptory demand roused him to indite an angry denial of his indebtedness . A few weeks later the hotel-keeper himself came to the theatre , stated his business , and was shown into the green-room . " Good-evening , sir , " said the manager . "I am Mr . Bancroft . " ' "So I see , sir , " said the visitor , cheerily . After a little

skirmishing , the hotel-keeper owned himself impressed by his supposed debtor ' s denial , but for whicli he would readily swear he was the gentleman who came to his house with a lady , as Mr . and Mrs . Bancroft , of the Prince of Wales ' s Theatre . Pointing to a large photograph , Mr . Bancroft said , * " That is my wife ' s p ortrait . " " Yes , and a very good likeness it is , "

Science, Art, And The Drama.

was the answer . Pressed for particulars , he said that his Mr . and Mrs . Bancroft stayed with him for a month , living on the best , and then wanted to depart without settling up , promising , to do so as soon as they reached town . A compromise was effected , the gentleman being allowed to go , leaving the lady and her belongings in pawn . The cash was duly remitted , and the hostage released ; mine host subsequently discovering he had

omitted to charge for carriage hire , hence his demand , which , he was at last convinced , was made in the wrong quarter , and departed disappointed but disillusioned . Mr . Bancroft , however , had not heard the last of the nefarious pair . Later on , when he and his wife were nightly appearing on the boards , two young lady friends , writing from Switzerland , expressed their surprise at seeing them there at that time of year , and inquiring wh y Mr . and Mrs . Bancroft had cut them dead twice in one day ; and at a still

later period , Mr . James Payn , the novelist , reproached him for utterl y ignoring him and Mrs . Payn when passing them at King ' s-road , Brighton , to which the actor replied it was a year since he had seen Brighton . Telling their " double " grievance in their delightful Reminiscencies , Mr . and Mrs . Bancroft hoped some day they might be repaid for the annoyance endured by a legacy intended for their "doubles . " That was years ago , and they are still hoping .

Painters And Other Artists In The Reign Of James I.

PAINTERS AND OTHER ARTISTS IN THE REIGN OF JAMES I .

[ Continued . ) Norgate was totally unknown at Marseilles , and whilst walking many hours every day on the pier , in a disconsolate manner , was observed b y a French gentleman . Inquiring into his circumstances , he told him that , perceiving he was able to walk at least 20 miles a day , if he would set out on his journey homewards he would furnish him handsomely for a footman

, by which assistance Norgate arrived in his own country . In very early life Norgate discovered considerable talents for minute drawing and designing ornamental scrolls for the embellishment of MSS . He was Clerk of the Signet to King Charles I ., whom he attended into Scotland in 16 40 . Fuller says that the Bishop , finding him inclined to limning and heraldry , permitted him to follow his fancv therein . It does not aooear

that he remained long enough at Cambridge to have taken any degree , or to have applied himself to any of the learned professions . In pursuit of that branch of the arts to which his genius more particularly led him , he came to London and soon connected himself with the eminent painters who were patronised by Charles I . To the Royal Gallery , and to ! those of Lord Arundel and the Duke of Buckingham , at that period ,

contaming the finest collection of foreign pictures , before their dispersion on the Continent , he had constant access . Norgate soon obtained the patronage of Thomas , Earl of Arundel , the father of vertu in England , and it is presumed that he was domesticated at Arundel House . In 16 33 , he was appointed by Lord Arundel , as Earl Marshal , Windsor Herald , in the College of Arms , and soon after , " Illuminator of Royal Patents , " some of

which are still preserved by noblemen to whom they were granted , and are , indeed , exquisite specimens of beautiful design and finishing , upon vellum , inferior in no great degree , to the elaborate bordures which enclose the miniatures of Guilio Clovio . With such excellence and facility of pencil , it is a fair conjecture that he made many small limnings from the Arundelian collection ( a kind of drawing in which the Earl is said to have taken great

delight ) , but from their evanescence , or other causes , there are none now extant . He instructed Lord Arundel ' s sons , Henry Fredk . and William , afterwards the unfortunate Viscount Stafford , in his elegant art . Thus having , from superior opportunities , acquired a correct knowledge of masters , and become intimately conversant with the theory of painting , Lord Arundel sent him to purchase pictures for him on the Continent .

( To be continued . ) MR . FORBES ROBERTSON ' ^ next production at the Comedy Theatre will take place on Wednesday , the 22 nd instant . As already announced , the plav is to be an elaboration of "The Sacrament of Judas , " which the author , M . Louis Tiercelin , has written into three acts . The translation is by Mr . Louis N . Parker , who was responsible

lor the excellent adaptation of the one act version produced by Mr . Robertson at the Prince of Wales' Theatre . The scenery is in the hands of Messrs . Helmslev and Hann , and the dresses are by Miss Edith Craig , Messrs . Simmon , and Co . and Messrs . Pratt and Sons . The scenes , dresses , and properties are after designs by Le Celt , an artist whose work is well-known and greatly admired in Fraice , but of which very little his been seen on this side of the Channel .

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