No More Learning

and afternoon.
PROF. ARTHUR SCHUSTER has lately
With regard to plague, the Research
Mr. J. S. Dines read a paper on 'The South-made serious attempt to solve the Commission is continuing its investiga-
East Trade Wind at St. Helena,' in which he problem of the magnetic power of the tions into its etiology. One of the cir-
hypothesis of a long-period oscillation in the wind earth, and has examined carefully all cumstances that attracted its attention
direction at St. Helena.
the current theories on the subject. The was the_rareness of bubonic plague in
fact that the magnetic poles are only a Eastern Bengal and Assam, and a medical
ARISTOTELIAN. May 6. --- Mr.
Bertrand few degrees distant from the true poles of officer was sent to make a special inquiry
Russell, President, in the chair. —Miss Beatrice the earth has led many to conclude that into the matter. He reported that the
Edgell read a paper on 'Imagery and Memory. ' the rotation of the earth on its axis must immunity of the province was due to the
In examining the orders of fact which it is neces- in some way be accountable for the phe fact that rats were scarce,
to
its attempt to deal with memory, as a cognitive pongens forbutin e of Schusterissives several this being the construction and arrangement
But
distinguish retention, the memory, which repeats wrong; He is more inclined to the theory the explanation of “the perplexing problem
memory of habit and practice, from the that the earth is a magnet because of the why there is less plague in Madras city
memory which imagines, memory proper. The
differing forms of the latter-recognition, per, and thinks that this has not been sufficiently further study, since it was discovered that
masses of iron concealed within her crust, than in Bombay has to be reserved for
sistence, reminiscence, suggested recall, and
recollection-manifest with varying degrees of investigated. The laws of magnetism as the rat is not merely abundant in Madras,
distinctness three orders of fact : an act, reference exhibited on the surface may, he says, be but even more susceptible to the plague
back to the past, imagery and meaning or object entirely different at the high temperature and epidemic than his fellow in Bombay.
remembered. Imagery is treated as the product
enormous pressure which are supposed to
of the reference back, the form in which con-
Among other matters of interest we note
sciousness responds to a given situation. It is exist in the interior of the earth, and this
the steadily improving health of the British
presentation," distinguishable from the act of is the direction in which further experi- army. In 1910 the death-rate was only
remembering on the one hand, and from the ment may be useful.
meaning or what is remembered on the other.
4. 66 per thousand, as against 6. 25 in 1909,
presentation be so recognized, there An attempt to put what he calls “rhab- and an average of 9. 86 for the five preceding
is no justification for regarding a cognitive state domancy, or the use of the divining rod, years. Improved health is not confined
of consciousness as generically different from
on a scientific basis, has been made by merely to deaths. It extends to the “
other forms of conscious experience.
All con-
Prof. Karl V. Klinckwoström. He says stantly sick and invalided home. "
sciousness would then be reducible to one supreme
A
that “control
category_conation. A sketch plan of such a
experiments made with few years ago over 25 per thousand of the
merely conative psychology has been worked out the rods
subterranean conduits men were invalided homeweakening the
by Prof. Alexander. But the attempt to elimi- | containing running water show that the garrison each year by two battalions; in
nate presentation ” leads to insuperable, dimitraditional phenomena have a real exist- 1910 the ratio fell to 7. 77. Perhaps the
culties. When imagery is treated as object and
as non-mental, the "pastness ” of what is remem-
ence; but that they can never be scientific- most striking proof of the improvement is
bered becomes unintelligible, while the memory ally investigated unless some apparatus the fact that the death-rate in the British
of the subject's own past states of consciousness more removed from subjective influences is now slightly less than in the native Indian
is ex hypothesi impossible, for such past states than the human organism be employed. army-the ratio in the latter being 4. 89 per
cannot be non-mental objects. Memory in this This, he thinks, he has found in a delicate thousand. We notice that the returns for
case has to be translated into “ revival
newal,” but such a translation proves upon
static electrometer, which reveals, according Indian troops in out-stations-e. g. , China,
examination inadequate to the fact as consciously to him, the existence of a perceptible radia- Singapore, and Aden—are still lower :
experienced. The paper was followed by a tion from a large extent of water. In con- even in Aden the rate was only 4. 34. In
discussion.
firmation of this, he appeals to the fact that China the ratio was but 3. 86, and at Singa-
storm-clouds have been shown to follow by | pore and Colombo 3:36. The causes of the
Tues. Royal Institution, The Formation of the Alphabet. preference the course of streams, and that improved health of the two armies are
thunderstorms are more violent in the neigh- reviewed at considerable length by the
Tuurs. Royal Lostitution, 3. -' X Rays and Matter,' Lecture L. , Prof.
bourhood of these than over dry land. Commissioner, and the impression is left
Royal Institutioa. 9. -'Icabergs and
in the
Nurigation. Prof. U. T. Barnes.
Aeronauts also say that the clear spaces that they are likely to last, with increasing
Royal Institution, lui The Development of Meteorological which they find in the interior of rain-clouds ' proportional effect.
>>
th
Unless *
con-
over
or
re-
MOETINOS NEXT WEEK.
Lecture L. Prof. W. M. Flinders Petrie
0. G. Buckls
Fx.
their Location in
SAT


## p. 600 (#452) ############################################

600
THE ATHENÆUM
No. 4413, May 25, 1912
new
the paint has of being incorporated into the
FINE ARTS
very substance of the material painted on,
EARLY CHINESE PAINTINGS. It thus shares in some sort the monumental
This collection at the Fine Art Society's painting by modern methods always looks
look of fresco, compared with which a
NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. gallery appears to us the finest exhibition
technically meretricious a superficial daub-
Notice in those columns does not preclude longer in London since the display at the British ing cover of the structural basis of the works
• Amateur Photographer Library : 10, Museum took the artistic public by storm Among the quite small paintings which
risk being overlooked we must signal out
THE LANTERN, AND HOW TO USE IT,
and made admiration of such work fashion-
able.
by C. Goodwin Norton and Judson
It includes several masterpieces,
three of great beauty-Nos. 35, 36, and 39.
Bonner ; and 31, THE OIL AND BROMOIL
and enumeration of these is hampered by
PROCESSES, by F. J. Mortimer and S. L. the difficulty of ruling out others which
For
Coulthurst, 1) net each.
are of almost equal importance.
SKETCHES BY RUBENS.
Hazell, Watson & Viney beauty of workmanship, the instinctive
Two
editions of concise hand refusal to elaborate a work beyond the
This loan exhibition, organized by Messrs.
books upon these photographic processes. pitch at which the materials used display Dowdeswell in aid of the National Hospital
Full instructions are given as to the produc- their maximum of intrinsic beauty, the for the Paralyzed and Epileptic, shows the
tion of photographic prints in oil and brom- Chinese are unrivalled, and before the master's
qualities admirably. Some of the
oil, and the development of the optical executive perfection of such paintings as
works, such as the fine series of tapestry
lantern.
Nos. 4 and 5 in the present collection we
Henry (David), THE KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN, theme. The hand which wrought these The equally fine and much
larger work
are disposed to forget the slightness of the designs lent by Lord Barrymore, have been
WITH OTHER MEDIÆVAL INSTITUTIONS delicate panels was certainly inspired by contributed by the Corporation of Glasgow-
AND THEIR BUILDINGS IN ST. ANDREWS,
2/6 net.
St. Andrews, Henderson defiant cleverness of No. 1, Birds, with Nature adorned by the races (14)—is, how-
The author has for years collected material Pomegranate Tree, which might represent over, less familiar to Londoners, and would
relating to the history of ancient buildings the triumphant Aourish of some brilliant in itself suffice to make the exhibition
at St. Andrews, which, having been published designer of wallpapers; but we recognize in important. The central group is, indeed,
in the columns of The St. Andrews Citizen, the Portrait of a Taoist Priest with Attendant too small in scale for the rest of the picture,
proved so interesting to its readers that a (30) the added impressiveness of an essen.
reprint in book-form was desired. There tially dignified subject treated on a monu.
and with no suggestion of atmospheric
is a certain inexpertness in treatment; for mental scale. The spacious landscape, No. perspective. to account for the fact
by
instance, we do not see why the life of 42, Imperial Hunt, is another work of capital and flowers and the lusty figures supporting
St. Francis need have been related so fully, importance, carried off with a fluent ease
nor other remote historical
matters so largely never degenerating into sloppiness; while it; which frames in the inadequate centre-
expatiated upon. On his proper subject the another painting of early date-An Arhat piece, is superb. Few things mark the
author is full of information.
resisting an Attack by a Dragon (43)-is greatness of Rubens more convincingly
Rhead (G. Woolliscroft), MODERN PRACTICAL perhaps the most striking design in the than the way in which he could utilize the
Batsford exhibition. It reveals the sage floating like Breughel, picking up chance sugges.
mannered brilliance of a painter of still-life
should be stimulating to intelligent young less, by fasting, and prayer, but enjoying a beautifully painted, but quiescent flower-
This admirable and practical handbook high in the clouds
resisting attack, doubt tions of direction or constituent colours in
.
students. It begins with an analysis his own immunity. The figure is very finely piece, and, by planting here and there in its
of plant forms, accompanied by copious
illustrations showing how to carry back these
characterized a conception of spiritual
the whole by his abundant vitality. The
forms to their geometrical principles ; goes exaltation which the West would never
on to an illuminating chapter upon The have evolved—and the work would be impression of wealth and splendour emitted
Ornamental Filling of Given Spaces" ; and impressive as well as humorous but for the from this panel is delightful, and it must be
admitted that by comparison the large
devotes the remaining two-thirds of its poorly designed, peevish. dragon, which Meleager offering the Head of the Boar of
pages to the technique of particular applica- tempts us to remain in the frivolous plane Calydon to Atalanta (9) is somewhat dis-
tions of design - textiles, book-decoration, of thought.
appointing. It is in magnificent preserva-
pottery, stained glass, &c. The whole book As to the 'methods by which the extra. tion, and has an occasional passage of clean,
is clear and expert.
ordinary triumphs of execution of these hard brilliance difficult to parallel outside
Chinese artists were achieved we are still, his own work or that of Jordaens, but
Turner's Water-Colours at Farnley. Hall, in England at least, without any detailed neither colour nor form is really well knit,
Part I. , with Text by Alex. J. Finberg, and authoritative account. We had usually and the panel looks as if it might readily
2/6 net.
The Studio
assumed them to
Colour-reproduction has, indeed, made
have been painted have formed part of a larger composition.
silk stretched horizontally, the
strides when it has become possible to
A fine landscape, The Timber Wagon (12),
purchase excellent prints of five water complete command of a very liquid water-
colour stroke apparently forbidding any the best of the exhibits. In the latter the
and an uncatalogued Wolf Hunt are among
colours by Turner at a cost of 6d. each.
other method.
The five in this first part of the series are :
But the perfection of clarity and brilliance of the pigments used
the long upright lines of No. 12, Herons proclaim Rubens as in some sort heir to
* Bonneville, Savoy, a beautiful, sober
and Kingfishers, a 6-foot panel largely the earlier Flemish painters, even when, as
drawing of exquisite gradations in the
filled with the drooping branches of
colouring of mountains and of clouds ;
in this picture, he is fresh from the study
* The Valley of the Wharfe,' a stretch of dazzlingly difficult to attain without the the influences of heredity, too, in the curious
a weeping willow or analogous tree, seems
of the Italians of the Renaissance. He shows
open country and meandering waters ;
• The Valley of Chamounix,' skilful and
aid of an upright position. This, again, is
delicate, but not quite so charming as
one of the masterpieces of the collection. way in which, instinctive decorator as he
The massive designs of lotus leaves in Nos, darks, giving precision to his detail through-
was, he yet clung to the use of copious small
"Bonneville ? ; a lovely, luminous, early 21 and 28 present large shapes to control
morning Scarborough the finest of the
out a design. He distributed this rather
set; and a very interesting ‘Interior of at such necessarily close quarters as are
linear skeleton of shadow with inexhaustible
St. Peter's, full of atmosphere and of floor; but here, indeed, the success appears that, even so, it is small and fretting in its
implied by painting a picture
on the
variety and ease, but it cannot be denied
misty distances.
to be a little gymnastic, as though the arm, effect; witness the treatment of the legs
Wall (E. J. ), THE DICTIONARY OF Photo- with inimitable vigour, went through a
GRAPHY, AND REFERENCE BOOK FOR
in the advancing figures relieved against the
series of concerted movements without ade superb landscape, which is so attractive a
AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL PHOTO- quate ordering by the eye to perfect its feature in this fine work. Indeed, there is
GRAPHERS, edited by F. J. Mortimer, evolutions. In No. 29 we see an example hardly a picture in the room in which the
7/6 net.
Hazell, Watson & Viney are surprised not to meet with
A ninth edition of Wall's complete and more of them in which the usual darken-
same fault is not discernible, though in
scholarly work. It has undergone consider- ing of the silk with years has had a disas- from' Vulcan for Achilles, the wealth of
some, such as No. 11, Thetis receiving Arms
able revision, and, as is necessary in a science trous and disturbing effect on the values of small form is so lavish as to pack into
constantly pushing out and developing new the composition. The use of opaque pig massiveness and lose its spidery quality.
methods of expression, has added nearly 100 ments is usually so thin that even these
pages of new matter. For the task of defini- alter in value with the ground. One of the
tion and reference in photography this edi- causes, indeed, which give Chinese paintings
tion is invaluable.
their aspect of nobility is the appearance
on
-we


## p. 601 (#453) ############################################

No. 4413, May 25, 1912
601
THE ATHENÆUM
II,
are
MINIATURES AT BRUSSELS.
Isaac Becket, Hollar, Thomas Forster,
MESSRS. ELLIS are about to issue Mr.
the Fabers, Loggan, Bulkeley, and others H. C. Levis's ' A Descriptive Bibliography
THE ENGLISH SEOTION,
who drew ad vivum and whose work is of Engraving and Prints. The author's
often remarkable for its truth and delicato intention has been to describe the most
DIFFICULTIES in regard to other ascrip- finish.
J. J. FOSTER.
important, interesting, and rare books in
tions not wanting
e. g. , No. 58,
English on engraving and print collect-
Portrait of Lord John Cutts,' signed
ing, and show their development and
and dated 1662, and here ascribed to
ETCHINGS AND ENGRAVINGS. relation to each other. Beginning with
Samuel Cooper. Inasmuch as John, Lord
Cutts, was (according to the ‘ Dictionary of
MESSRS. CHRISTIE sold the following etchings and
the earliest ‘Books of Secrets' issued in
engravings on Tuesday last: D. Y. Cameron, the sixteenth century, he describes the
National Biography ) not born till 1661, St. Etienne, Caen, 771. ; North Porch, Harfleur, practical and historical treatises on the
and this is the portrait of a grown man, 521. ; Ben Ledi, 1311. St. Laumer, 751. , Old Cairo, different branches of engraving and collecting
there is evidently something wrong here ; 631. The Gateway, Bruges, 67. Muirhead Bonethat followed them, down to the latest
but it is a good miniaturo, suggesting South Coast, 631. Calross Roofs,:58. ; Stirling monographs on individual artists and schools,
in style Laurence Crosse, who, by the way, 543 . John's Wood, 62. ; The Great Gantry, including many scarce publications of learned
is exceptionally well represented. The
charms of the yellow-skinned lady called early state, 1687.
Charing Cross, 1571. ; The Great Gantry (D. 203), societies and clubs.
Les Chagrins de l'Enfance, after
THE book on 'South American Archæo-
“Nell Gwynne,' No. 62, dated 1668, when Monchet, by Le Cour, in colours, 901. Flirtilla, by
she would be only 18, must have faded, if it and after J. R. Smith, printed in colours, 1151. logy' which we reviewed last week should
be Cooper's work at all. The small oil Lady Taylor, after Reynolds, by W. Dickinson, have been credited to the Medici Society
fine impression of the only state, 1941. Louisa, by
painting of an unknown man (63), which and after
W. Ward, printed in colours, 501.
as well as Messrs. Macmillan as publishers,
hangs next to it, is, on the other hand, Acland and Children, after Lawrence, by S.
Lady The publication is a joint affair, and the
extremely fresh and pleasing. It belongs to Cousins, 501. Mrs. Musters, after Romney, by I. Society asks us to give it due credit for its
Mr. Lippmann. No. 45,
Lady Castle. Walker, second state, 1991. 108. Dedham Vale, share in the enterprise, which we gladly do,
haven,' * from Madresfield, presents more
after Constable, by D. Lucas, proof before letters,
991. 158. The Look, and The Cornfield, after and Association of Scotland in St. Andrews,
At the recent meeting of the Classical
difficulties of a like nature. It is hard to by the same, proofs before letters, 1311.
accept such handling as this as the work
Prof. Burnet propounded a new theory of
of Cooper. The Margaret Lemon' (40),
the origin of the Ionians. He believes they
owned by Mr. Pfungst, is a sad example of
RAEBURN PORTRAITS.
were the Minoans expelled from Crete when
fading. All the colour has gone from the
On Tuesday, the 14th inst. , Messrs. Sotheby sold
the Northern invaders finally broke the
face of this well-known mistress of Van Dyck, a pair of portraits by Raeburn—those of George power of Cnossus about 1000 B. C. We know
whose portrait is to be found at Hampton Thomformeth fetched 7811. 553. , and the latter the Hittite power, which had in earlier
from recent discoveries that by that time
Court and elsewhere (here she is dressed as
a Cavalier); but it is an interesting and 4,6721. 108. , both being 29 in. by 24 in.
centuries prevented the spread of Minoan
genuine picturo-perhaps the most important
influence into Asia Minor, had decayed.
work of the master shown in this Exhibition.
Certain Mycenæan finds and legends
Another Cooper representing a lady in male
Fine Art Gossip.
connecting Crete with Ionia were held to
attire is a portrait of the Duchess of Rich-
confirm the view. The change in the
mond (655), better known as “La Belle
LADY BUTLER'S . The Roll Call,' now to be destination of the sacred ship from Crete
Stuart,” that coquettish lady of whom both
Charles II. and his brother James were so
seen at the Leicester Galleries, is an amazing to Delos might, it was suggested, also have
much enamoured, and whose real character production for a young girl, and, as frequently some significance in the same direction.
is much in dispute, or was in the days of happens in such cases, the seriousness of The lecturer agreed with Prof. Ridgeway in
believing that the Minoans spoke Greek.
Popys. Of the first-named monarch there fluent ease commonplace enough-oxactly The language of the Minoan tablets is,
is å version of the Duke of Richmond's similar to the work we are accustomed to however, not yet settled.
superb miniature representing him in the find done for the weekly illustrated papers. M. NARIMAN has drawn attention to the
full robes of the Order of the Garter. This
The Roll Call’ is better than that, rather
is probably Cooper's most elaborate work, dull in execution, but sincere. It is evi- between the beliefs and practices of the
numerous parallels that can be traced
and it was given by Charles to the Duchess dently akin to Frith’s ‘Derby Day,' but modern Zoroastrians or Parsis and those of
of Portsmouth. The version here shown in the figure of the mounted officer
comes from thº Rijks Museum, and is search for dignity meets with some reward. guineous marriages which were perhaps
Buddhism. Among these are the consan-
markedly inferior to the chef d'oeuvre
at Goodwood.
THE Home Arts and Industries Associa- the most striking feature of Persian religion
There is, by the way, in the Foreign Section tion held its twenty-eighth annual exhibi. in Greek eyes, and which M. Nariman shows
a very brilliant enamel by Bone, after Lely, tion last week in the Albert Hall; and very rather unexpectedly to have been common
of Madam Quarrell,' as the English interesting the display was, in spite of it's not only among the Buddhist kings of Burma,
populace were wont to call her Grace of glaring need of a competent business but also in the family of Gautama him-
Portsmouth.
manager. Will it be believed that, while self. So, too, the exposure of the dead to be
devoured by birds and beasts, instead of the
By Alexander Cooper are six examples the catalogue is alphabetical, the stalls were
from the Queen of Holland's collection. arranged upon some other plan, and that no
cremation of the corpse, is referred to with
They are all Dutch-like in foeling, and single address other than the Albert Hall is approval in the Jatakas and many other
tame in comparison with the work of printed in it, so that would-be purchasers Buddhist books, and seems to have been
Samuel, the brother and superior artist, have no convenient means of communicating the practice among Buddhist communities
as he is here seen to be.
later with workers whose productions they in Mongolia and Thibet. The literary
I have referred to the works by Crosse. They might like to buy? A full and detailed form of the Sutras is not a very convincing
are all vigorous and excellent, in a fine state of catalogue, worth keeping for reference, argument, because conversations in the
preservation, and form a representative and which could be sold at a profit for 6d. , shape of question and answer between a
interesting group. Mr. Pfungst and Messrs. would probably more than double the master and his disciples are known in other
but the likeness between the
Duveen own the greater part of them; London sales and orders; while the ap- religions;
but the finest of all, in a silver filigree frame, pointment of a press agent would greatly Saôshyañt or future Saviour (or Saviours)
of the Parsi literature, and the Maitreya or
is No. 100, 'Mrs. Catherine Boovey (née strengthen support in the country,
Riches),' belonging to Mr. Henry Gibbs. The level of work has become high, and future Buddha, is striking. Yet it does not
follow that these likenesses imply a common
By Nicholas Dixon, a painter unknown to little really inartistic was to be seen. Much
origin. Contact and even direct imitation
Redgrave, are some half - dozen or more of the embroidery and nearly all the lace were
examples which make the work of the Lens very good. Among the more striking and
are responsible for closer analogies between
family, of which there numerous original things shown were the Sarum wrought have been thought possible.
different religions than would at one time
specimens hanging near them, appear poor ironwork, the rugs of the Agatha Stacey
in comparison.
This is an instance in Home (Birmingham) for feeble-minded girls, M. AMÉLINEAU has again addressed himself
which the reputation of a comparatively the gorgeous painted and gilded leather to the beginnings of Egyptian Christianity,
unknown painter is much enhanced by screen from Failand, the toys of Mr. G. and produced a long study of the life of
familiarity with his work.
Shergold, the hand-made silk buttons from St. Anthony, whom the Copts consider the
There is one case in “ la Section Anglaise Lytchett Minster, chairs from the Gowrie founder of Christian monachism.
The
which the student should not overlook. Labour Home, and baskets from Saxmund- famous scene of the Temptation here appears
There is nothing ad captandum about its ham. The good work evidently being done with full details, and is laid in the first
contents; but all who appreciate fine by the Wilts Arts and Crafts Association monastery or coenobitium inhabited by
draughtsmanship will enjoy the plumbago was noticeable in the numerous articles from St. Anthony, which seems to have been
portraits (Nos. 350 to 367), the work of that county.
instituted as a direct copy of the cells in the
a
are


## p. 602 (#454) ############################################

602
THE ATHENÆUM
No. 4413, May 25, 1912
(
Serapeum of Alexandria, where those vowed
to the Græco-Egyptian god Serapis were
DRAMA
accustomed to intern " themselves. Here
Musical Gossip.
St. Anthony tried to conquer the demon who
revealed herself to him as the spirit of wan. At the recent Balfour Gardiner Concerts
tonness by all the known practices of
asceticism, including fasting, sleeping un
Mr. Percy Grainger's compositions proved LADY GREGORY'S FOLK-HISTORY
of high merit.
clothed even in the cold nights of Egypt, and
His setting of the Faeroe
PLAYS.
not anointing himself with
the oil used by his
Ballad was original, while the ‘ Mock Morris
was as clever as it was quaint. On Tuesday EVERY devotee of the Irish Literary
countrymen. Finding these practices un
availing, he transferred himself to the range Æolian Hall, with a programme devoted Gregory's folk-comedies, even if he admits
evening the composer gave a concert at the Theatre is perforce an admirer of Lady
the Fayum, and there lived in a tomb, thus bers the clog dance · Handel in the Strand, that there is often in them a strain of farce,
braving the wrath of the ka, or double of in which the so-called Harmonious Black and perhaps a suggestion of the observer
the dead, whom he-like other Egyptians smith' air plays a part, was particularly who views the Irish peasantry too exter:
of the time believed to dwell there.
When clever and characteristic. " Mr. Grainger has nally, and accepts their posture too
he quitted this at the age of 35, it was for struck out a line of his own, but his settings literally. But there is a phase of that
,
-vocal and instrumental-of folk-songs are
monastery which still bears his name. It
conscientious artist's talent with which
all, and rightly, of small compass. Com-
is a curious story, and throws great light
we are less familiar on this side of the
upon the way in which Egypt passed, as
positions of this kind depend for their due Irish Sea, though it is hinted in her more
has been said, from paganism to Christianity harmony, if protracted, is apt to pall.
effect on brevity. Piquancy of rhythm or
serious one-act plays. Ireland looks two
almost without knowing it. That the
ways--if one eye is fixed on an idealized
clothing, for instance, adopted by the
monks of the East and West alike, was the
THE ST. PETERSBURG QUARTET gave future, the other glances back at an
costume of the period for the Egyptian Friday, the 17th, and Tuesday, the 21st interpret the spirit of the country, who is
two fine concerts at Bechstein Hall on idealized past, and no writer can hope to
peasant there can be little doubt.
inst. At the first the programme included
Tschaikowsky's early Quartet in F,
not steeped in its legends and history.
and the
long, unequal, yet interesting Trio in A minor. Lady Gregory, then, may be taking risks,
MUSIC
At the second Beethoven's G major Quartet since she has been so successful in the
was played, and Schubert's in D minor, vein of comedy; but she is fulfilling a
also Arensky's Pianoforte Quintet. Admir- proper ambition when she attempts, and
MASSENET'S 'DON QUICHOTTE. '
able renderings of these works were given. offers in book-form, a series of ‘ Irish Folk-
OF the later works of Massenet only two pretations were soul-stirring.
The ensemble was perfect, and the inter- History Plays. '
have been heard in London, `Le Jongleur
These are in two sections of three plays
de Notre-Dame' and 'Don Quichotte,' the
latter of which was produced at the London
'THE FLYING DUTCHMAN," "THE RAINE- each, in the first of which, relying, as she
GOLD,' AND THE VALKYRIE' vocal scores does, almost entirely on chronicles and
Opera-House yesterday week. In
Massenet seems to have written for himself kopf & Härtel’s English Popular Edition.
these have just been published in Messrs. Breit- traditional lore, she subordinates her sense
and his art, without any concessions to
of humour to the demands of the heroic
public demand. In 'Don Quichotte' the edition, Mr. Ernest Newman
in his English comedies, so called-give more scope to
Here, as in a previous number of this and tragic. The second section—tragi-
part of Dulcinée is a comparatively small version has tried
one; the Don and Sancho are the chief follow the original text.
and successfully — to
He also, in many
her natural instinct for the ironic or the
figures. But for the “mad scene" in instances, faithfully reproduces the original
ludicrous.
'Lucia,' or the ‘Bell’ song in ‘Lakmé,' alliteration.
those operas would long ago have died a
Otto Singer in the pianoforte Of the tragedies, the shortest-a study
natural death.
parts has managed to give with rare skill a
Don Quichotte' has its good idea of the score, while, at the same gilla, who is credited with having betrayed
sensation, the Windmill episode, which, time keeping the writing well within the Ireland to the English invaders—has been
of the old age and repentance of Dervor-
by the way, was most skilfully presented
on the stage. Massenet, or rather his range of ordinary players.
seen in London at the Court Theatre. A
librettist, Henri Cain, introduced it, how.
An edition for low voice has also been static and monotonous play, with its story
ever, not for its spectacular effect, but as the published, with German text and English
most striking instance of the Don's power version by Mr. Ernest Newman, of Wag mainly told in retrospect, it makes a better
of imagination. The libretto is based on ner’s ‘ Five Poems,' i. e. , poems which he set closet than stage drama, and one needs a
a drama by Le Lorrain, which, while dealing
to music.
lively appreciation of the Irishman's im-
freely with the history of Don Quixote as
told by Cervantes, gives a very fair outline
On May 12th M. Jules Massenet cele- placability towards the anti-patriot not
to be impatient over its octogenarian
of his career, without setting forth the birth. He studied at the Paris Conserva-
brated the seventieth anniversary of his
heroine's remorse.
The version of Kin.
satirical aim of the poet.
Though there are lyrical passages, the
toire, won the Prix de Rome in 1863, and
cora 'Lady Gregory now prints is one of
music throughout is continuous. At the
his first work for the stage, ' La Grand' tante, several she has written, and she is ham-
opening of the first act characteristic
was produced at the Opéra Comique in 1867. pered by superabundance of material.
Spanish rhythms are heard in the music,
Her rival kings, Malachi and Brian, whose
while the crowd is dancing and singing in
The Danish singer Herr Peter Cornelius,
are wrecked by the termagant
the square. The most dramatic music occurs
who has now secured a leading place at
in the third and fourth acts, but, as in Siegfried at the musical festival which takes herself
, and the son and brother she uses
Covent Garden, has been asked to sing queen they marry in succession, this queen
as her pawns, are all characters more
with what is taking place on the stage. place at Bristol in September, when the
In that respect Massenet seems to have
Ring 'cycle will be given.
suited to epic than dramatic treatment.
been influenced by Wagner's theories rather
The best of the tragedies is · Grania,'con.
than by his practice; for the greatest ad-
cerned with a heroine who is very much
mirers of Wagner's genius must admit that
in Deirdre's situation, but is Deirdre with
at times in the 'Ring' the music gets the
a hard streak in her nature. The author
upper hand.
tells us she was attracted to the subject
The performance at the London Opera-
by its very difficulties, by the riddle
House was excellent. The impersonation
Grania herself poses, “Why did she,
of the Don by M. Lafont showed gifts of a
high order ; from beginning to end he was
having left grey-haired Finn for comely
absorbed in his part. His singing was
Diarmuid, turn back to Finn in the end
forcible, and his diction remarkably clear.
when he had consented to Diarmuid's
He was ably supported by M. José Danse as
May and Beatrice Harrison's Orchestral Concert, 8. 15, Queen's death? Lady Gregory solves the riddle
Sancho, whose part, though secondary, is
by making Grania jealous of the friendship
of no small importance. Mlle. Yvonne
of her two lovers. Even so the motive
Kerlord (Dulcinéo) sang and acted well.
M. Fritz Ernaldy conducted with marked
Irish Folk-History Plays. By Lady Gregory.
ability.
careers
PERFORMANCES NEXT WEEK.
Sux. Special Concert, 3. 30, Royal Albert Hall.
National Sunday League Concert, 7, Queen's Hall.
Mox. -8Ar. Royal Opera, Covent Garden.
Mon. Sat. London Opera House, Kingsway.
WXD. Jacques Thibaud's Violin Recital, 3, Bechstein Hall.
Vernon D'Arnalle's Vocal Recital, 3. 15, Æolian Hall.
Nathalie Aktzery's Concert of Kussian Music, 8. 15, Rolian
Hall.
Société des Concerts Français, 8. 30, Bechstein Hall.
THURS. Twelve o'Olock Chamber Concert, Æolian Hall.
Harry Alexander's Vocal Recital, 3, Æolian Hall.