The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-30 00:00:00

A SPECIAL AMATEUR THEATRE.

The change of St. Martin's Hall into the Queen's
Theatre, and that of St. George into a novel Opera
House, together with the loss of the theatre known
as the Bijou, in the destruction by fire of Her Ma-
jesty's, have greatly restricted our amateur dramatic
friends in their selection of a stage, for their repre-
senLations, in anything like a•central position of the
metropoiit:. Whilst we deplore the loss of the last,
and cordially virLsh success to the spirited authors of
the transformations just mentioned, in alluding to
them as restrictions to our friends, we must can-
didly admit that when they were extant and open to
'temporary engagements, there was but one of them,
the Bijou, which was really sultabll for the
ti amateur
11.
The stages and auditoriums at St. Marn's Ha
(for there were two), as that at Langiiom-place,
were better suited for musical entertainrnentr; than
for dramatic representations, and it is a theatre aria
not a makeshift that is now required. 'We are well
aware that most all of our dramatic buildings are
occasionally procurable, and the amateur can seize
the opportunities (now here, now there) as they
present themselves. In so doing, however, he enters
upon each fresh stage an entire stranger, unfamiliar
with its size and arrangements, and unaeivaintA
with its power of conveying sound. Such ignorance
interferes with the propriety of his movements,
whilst it leaves to hazard the modulation of his
voice. It is therefore not merely a stage oil which
the amateur can appear on chance occasions that is
required, but one that shall be devoted exclusively
to his class ;—one not merely to be the scene of his
representations, bat also the school of his rehearsals;
and looking at the increasing numbeeof amateur
Thalian clubs and the growing predilection for
amateur performances, we think such necessity
might be supplied with profit, to the necessary out-
lay, as certain as it would be advantageous to the
amateur.
Among the benefits that a special building would
confer on amateur theatricals, that of drawing the
various clubs together would not be the least. This
wauld render them familiar with each other's
strength, and create a spirit of emulation. Each '
club might profit from the other's progress,
and on particular occasions a concentration of
talent might be effected. If this were done the
most fastidious audience would be contented ; for
there is ability enough amongst our friends to place
any drama on the boards in a style worthy of high
professional skill. Unfortunately it is now too dis-
persed—too widely scattered—and consequently its
effect is generally hampered and frequently spoilt
by a vast preponderance of incapacity.
All that tends to promote the welfare of amateur
theatricals is of more general interest than the casual
observer would imagine, for it leads to the cultiva-
tion of a branch of education too frequently ne-
glected. How many there are who, but for the
amateur stage, would not have devoted their spare
time to dramatic literature, and therefore to the
study of this educational branch known as the art
of reading; for there are "readings and readings," as
Moliere tells us there are " Fagots et des fagots."
There may be but few who attain anything like
success upon the board, ; but how many acquire
thereby a ready facility in seizing the thoughts of
an author, and a correct and pleasing delivery of
his language. Thus many an hour that might
otherwise pass dull and unprofitably in the family
circle, the amateur is able to render cheerful and
advantageous, and thus even a Special Theatre,
as it would tend to increase their number, should be
an object of public interest.—Racing Times.

On the morning of the 3d of November, "without
any previous warning," as the Buenos Ayes Stan-
dard very naively expresses itself, " the strongly
fortified and by near 1,400 men defended camp of

Tujuti, the base of all the military operations, as
well as the depot of all the military stores of the
Allies, was successfully surprised by a Paraguayan
force, variously estimated at from 5,000 to 8,000
men.

For over seven hours the Paraguayans were com-
plete masters of Tujuti, burning and
everything they could not carry off. The panic of
the Brazilians was such that, according to the
Buenos Ayres Standard Army Correspondent, the
soldiers threw away their art acid knapsacks and
fled: At last the officers commanding the Brazilians
were able to rally their troops, and succeeded with
a superior force in dislodging the Paraguayans, but
only after a hard fight of three hours, and not be-
fore the Paraguayans were able to carry away 26
guns and nearly 2,000 prisoners.
The loss at the surprise of Tujuti to the Allies
has been very great and very difficult to replace.
The amount of stores in provisions, ammunition,
buildings, &c., destroyed at Tujuti, is estimated at
over £2,000,000. Nearly 5,000 soldiers, amongst
them a great many officers, fell, and were wounded
by the victorious troops of Marshal Lopez. General
Porto Allegre, commanding at Tujuti, was seriously
wounded, and General Barreto killed. The loss of
the Paraguayans was also heavy, and is reported by
the Brazilians to be 2,000. At Tujuti, besides the
Government stores, there existed also a very large
trading community from Buenos Ayres, Monte-
video, Rosario Corrientes, and even Rio de Janeiro,
all attracted by the large profits from supplying the
Allied Army. The establishments of nearly all
these traders and merchants have been burned,
destroyed, or pillaged, and the loss must have
been very heavy ; one private firm alone had the
provisions for 20,000 men destroyed. This great
calamity which befel the Allies on the 3d of Nov.
the journals of the River Plate and Brazil try to
bide as much as possible, and even go so far as to
try to make the world believe that Tujuti was a
victory.
But some of the Buenos Ayres journals had spirit
enough to tell its readers the naked truth. The
merchants of Buenos Ayres finding the statement
as to the battle of Tujuti, as •represented by the
Pueblo, one of the independent journals of Buenos
Ayres, not only correct, but identical with their
own private advices, hundreds of the most pro-
minent members of the Stock Exchange sent a
letter to the editor of the Pueblo, thanking him for
[ his independent spirit and veracity.
" TO THE EDITOR OF THE 'PUEBLO.'

" Your publication of yesterday gives us the true and
frank exposure on behalf of the public, in consequence of
which we authorise the person who called our attention to
th; 'otter you published yesterday to subscribe from the
Ist De'ember of the current year.
" The at:vices published yesterday in the Pueblo agree
with ours, and is so much the more meritorious for you
that your reporter does not mislead the public, as is gene-
rally the ease.
" Signed by 100 Merchants on the Stock
Exchange of Buenos Ayres."
The article referred to reads as follows, and
needs no comment as to the complete rout and
defeat of the Allies at Tujuti :
" The Paraguayan column that defeated the army of
Baron Porto Alegre iu the night of the first November,
iu
the rear of the fortified lines, arrived by a road unknown
to the allies.
"At 3.33 on the morning of theld a part of the column
attacked that of Baron Porto Alegre, while another fired the
barracks, houses, and stores of the Allies. The surprise
was from the rear. The battle was desperate.
" The Brazilians had no option but to die or fight, and
suffered a heavy loss.
" The Allies have been utterly routed, and have suffered
great slaughter on the field of battle. The Paraguayans
also lost heavily. Among the prisoners wero many field
offh:ers. Many of the guns were spiked and others taken

away.
" The party who wounded Baron Porto Alegre, and who
died by his hands, was not the commander of the expedi-
tion, nor the colonel of the same name, but a subordinate
officer. It is believed Baron Porto Alegre is now dead; if
not it is one Manna Bareto.
" The rout was complete. We are witlout guns, bar-
racks, houses, or provisions, from which it is presumed
they are in want of munitions of war and common neces-
saries; and this is confirmed by the Standard of Buenos
Ayres."
All the other news from the River Plate are insig-
nificant as compared with the above. The Brazilian
ironclad fleet is still in the same dangerous position
as for the last few months, unable to move, and
exposed to the raking fire of Curupaity and
Humaita. Business in the River Plate is .nearly at
a standstill.--Anglo-American Times.

MERCANTILE SHIP NEWS.

Deal, Dec. 21.—Arrived, the Forest Queen, from Hali-
fax. Arrived from the River, the Prince George, for New
Orleans. Liverpool, Dec. 21.—Arrived, the Cathedral,
from Mobile; the Beatrice, from Savannah. Sailed the
Cuba, screw steamer, from Boston.
Amsterdam, Dec. 20.—The Oquenda, which arrived
here, Dec. 12, from Havannah, had encountered very
severe weather throughout the voyage, during which she
strained very much, and made a good deal of water from
the decks and upper works; her cargo is coming out with
considerable damage.
Hooksiel, Dec. 16.—The two barrels of petroleum that
were driven ashore near Inhansersiel and saved are
marked, the one "B W 097 R i 4 M 242," the other " 8.W.,
a 99, R M 132," and painted blue and white.
Clyde, Dec. 19.—Sailed the Britannia, screw steamer,
for New York. Leith, Dec. 19.—Sailed the Reymont for
New York.
Kingroad, Dec. 20.—Arrived, M. W. Brett, from New
York. Broomielaw, Dec. 20.—Sailed the H. L. Routh for
New York.
Custom House, Lonion, Dec.2l._Entered inwards, the
Marcia Greenleaf, from New York ; entered outwards, the
E. H. Taylor, for New York; the Rusoer, for Phila-
delphia. Cardiff, Dec. 21.—Sailed the Addie M'Adams
for Havannah.
Liverpool, Dec. 23.—Arrived, the Floris, from San
Francisco ; the Donna Maria, from Mobile ; the Persia,
mail steamer, from New York. Sailed, the Garibaldi, for
Havannah; the Margaret Pollock, for Savannah. Custom
House, London, Dec. 23. - Vessels entered inwards, the
Forest King, from Halifax ; the Jenny Lind, from Balti-
more ; the John Mann and the Alpha, from New York;
the Forest King, for Halifax.
Liverpool, Dec. 23. Sailed, the Ulidea, for Havannah;
the Northern Empire and the Jas. Keeler for Mobile. Dec.
24.—Arrived, the Cultivator, from New York. Sailed,
the Emerald, for Mobile.
Gloucester, Dec. 23.—Arrived, the Martin W. Brett,
from New York.
Newport, Dec. 21.—Arrived, the Kong Sverre, from
Tvedstrand, for Now York:
New York, Dec. 9.—The Hecht, steamer, from Liver-
pool, reports having left the Sacramento, of Boston, with
mainmast gone and jury enizenmast rigged, on Dec. 8, in
lat. 41. N., long. 73 W., heading S.W., wind N.W. Had
stood by her 32 hours, having her in tow three times,
ropes parting each time. Dec. 24 (per Atlantic cable).
The Panther, from Baltimore to St. John's, is
ashore at Cape Prospect, Nova Scotia. The Beau-
tiful Star, of and for Liverpool, from Laguna, was
abandoned on December 11 ; crew saved by the Rhine,
arrived in the river from New York. The Herald sailed
from Shields on March 16 for Hongkong, and has not since
been heard of. Tho Enoch Bonier, which sailed from Li-
verpool on August 22 for Boston, was off the Smalls on
the 27th, and has not since been heard of.
Savannah, Dec. 9.—The Consul, bound to Liverpool,
which caught fire Dec. Ist, burnt to the water's edge as
she lay on the bank, and the tide afterwards flowed over
and put the fire out. About 180 bales of cotton have been
saved, slightly injured by its breaking out, and it is sup-
posed 1,000 to 1,200 bales will be saved damaged.
Vessels Spoken With.—The Ellen Southard, American
ship, San Francisco to Liverpool, Nov. 27, lat. 18 N, long.
31 W. ; the Arnold Bollinger, Shields to New York, Dec.
7, lat. 33 N., long. 26 W.
Bristol, Dec. 26.—Arrived, the Artistic, from Charleston.
Queenstown, Dec. 25.—Arrived the France, steamer,
from Now York, and proceeded to Liverpool.

t'he first point to which Mr. Samuelson draws attention
is that of the evil effect of strikes supported by trades
unions. Instances are given of cases in which strikes
have taken place in English factories, employed
mostly by foreign firms, and the result of which was that
the business of such factories was transferred to foreign
countries and could not be won back again. The enforced
uniform rate of wages per week to men of different
degrees of skill was another retarding influence. In the
manufacture of cotton and woollen machinery that has not
been subject to strikes, English manufacturers held
their own. in foreign markets. But,. no doubt, the
inferior' education of the English artisan as compared with
the artisn.--: of the Continent generally accounts for what
:s und— 2.1 y the fact, that in many, alincLt all, branches-- "
of manufacture in which complicated machinery and the
latest scientific appliances are required, the workmen a
the Continent are taking the lead. This is exerapliked
by the cases of Leeds and Bradfinll.; In the Avoolleli
. manufacture in Leeds yi'ersYthing has stiffened iett.l,
tradition and routine; old-fashioned forma are adhered to;
anti even when au enterprising wool-spinner introduces
improved machinery into his factory, he finds that his
" hands " will nut or cannot work it to the utmost advan-
tage. " One result is that the spinners and manufacturers
of Belgiuni are exporting woollen yarns and cloths
valued at nearly two millions annually to this
country, produced from wools a great portion
of which are first imported from our colonies into
London and shipped thence to Antwerp." At Bradford
the woollen manufacture is carried on with the newest
appliances, by energetic masters and unprejudiced work-
people, and is consequently a most thriving branch of
industry, which has nailing to fear from continental com-
petition. Nottingham has suffered quite as much as Leeds,
but in this case the chief cause has been the differences
between masters and workmen. The trade here, in every-
thing except cotton lace and net, is rapidly being trans-
ferred to France ; and unemployed English lace machines
of £4OO to £BOO in value have been bought by manufac-
turers from Calais, and are now in full operation in that
town. In the hosiery and carpet trades of the Nottingham
district, and in the steam-coal trade of the north of England,
"Boards of Conciliation" for the settlement of differences
between masters and men have been established, and are
working with the happiest effects, so that the hosiers of
Nottingham compete successfully with the extremely low-
paid labour of Saxo'ny. In lace curtains there has been
no decline at Nottingham ; in fact, quite the reverse. The
success in this branch is due to the excellent local school
of art. Mr. Samuelson saw beautiful designs by pupils of
the school, which were being executed in one of the fac-
tories, and he was informed that the English patterns
in this branch are preferred to those of France. The
thriving lace-factories of St. Pierre les Calais contrast
most favourably with the decaying establishments of
Nottingham. One of the most successful Calais manufac-
turers said to Mr. Samuelson that the Nottingham lace-
makers had relied too much on their acquired position,
and had ceased to give that close attention to details
without which the lace manufacture cannot be can-led

Themanufacture-of iron of. the highest class, fit for the
construction of British engines, is still almost a monopoly
in England, but in France it can be obtained from a great
variety of workshops, and at prices considerably below ours.
" For instance," says Mr. Samuelson, " I found that the
iron tyres or hoops for the wheels of locomotive engines
made at the Great Yorkshire Works ranged in price from
£ll ss. to £l9 IGs., while iron tyres of equal quality, and
of corresponding weight and size, but made in France,
cost only from £6 3s. to £l3 45.; and I have good reason for
stating that the routine and prejudices of our railway
superintendents akne prevent the latter from being more
extensively introduced than they have yet been on our

railways.

At the great ironworks of Creuzot the coal and cres are
raised On the spot, manufactured into iron, and this again
into the most powerful and elaborate machinery. The
works cover 300 acres, the workshops and forges 50 acres;
the mines yield annually 250,000 tons of coal, and 300,000
tors of iron ere. The ironworks produce more than
100,000 tons of iron, machinery, locomotive, and marine iron
bridges and viaducts ; and even iron gunboats and river
steamers of an average yearly value of £600,000. 9,930
workpeople are employed at the works of Creuzot, and
receive in wages the sum, in all, of £370,000 a year. The
steam engines worked are equal to a duty of 10,000 horse-
power. The machinery in use is made after the best
English designs ; but no appliances for producing perfect
work, or for economising the cost of production, have been
omitted, and the great forge is " probably unequalled in
the world." Excellent schools— bctli primary and special
or technical—have been established in connection with het
works, and by means of these unfailing supplies of skilled,
scientifically trained workmen are obtained.

Mr. Samuelson went over the works of the Terre Noire
Company, and saw the process of manufacturing Bessemer
steel from the iron— a simplification of the Bessemer pro-
cess as compared n ith the- practice in England—which
involves such economy that the Terre Noire Company are
supplying one of the great French railway companies with
20,000 tons of steel rails at a price below their prime cost
in England, in spite of comparatively dear fuel and ores.
At these works no precaution is omitted that success may
be ensured, and measurements and qualities are looked
upon with as much anxiety as if the great iron works was
a chemical laboratory. " The most careful chemical daily
analysis of all the raw material and products is one of the
conditions of the success of Terre Noire in their manu-
facture. At the steel works of Firminy, near St. Etienne,
another modification of the making of steel is followed,
and steel rails are manufactured at an extraordinarily cheap
rate. The ingots run from the furnace are simply rolled,
and the rails produced are of so excellent a quality that
the waste ends arc used in the works for turning tools and
chisels, without being re-melted or subjected to any other
process except that of ' tilting' or hammering. The
works of Terre Noire and Firminy are unsurpassed in the
world for economy in the production of ordinary steel."
But the most marvellous steel works in the world are
those of Krupp and -Essen in the Wupper Valley, West-
phalia. They consume 800 to 1,000 tons of coal per day,
raised from pits within the walls of the works or immedi-
ately adjoining, the cost of the coals being less than ss.
per ton. " The machinery of every department is as
perfect as the magnificent products of the works would
lead one to expect. The range of crucible furnaces
is a sight of its kind unparalleled in the world,
except, perhaps, at the neighbouring works of
Bockum. At the time of Mr. Samuelson's visit a steel
1,000-pounder breech-loading gun was nearly completed
for Russia, and several 200 and 300 steel breech-loading
guns, hooped and rifled, for the German navy. Thousands
of steel breech-loading guns were in course of manufacture
for all nations." Besides these, Mr. Samuelson noted a
number of forged cast-steel cranked axles—one of them
of enormous size for a Transatlantic steamer then being
built at Greenock by the Messrs. Caird. Eight thousand
• men are employed in these works, and 60,000 tons 'of steel
—more than twice the entire export of steel from the
United Kingdom—are produced annually.

While the continental workmen are better educated
than the workmen of Britain, they are also apparently
more peaceable in disposition. " Nowhere in France aro
the hindrances felt which the abuse of trades unions is
placing in the way of several trades in England ; and this
for the simple reason that unions such as we have here do
not exist." " There are no trades unions in the north of
Germany." The workmen save their wages, buy a pieo
of land, which they and their families cultivato.. Thus
they become attached to localities, and are interested
supremely in the preservation of amicable relations be-
tween them and their employers. Strikes do not enter
into their heads, though it is undoubtedly true, that while
as a rule they are better educated than British workmen,
they work longer hours for considerably less pay.

STORM WARNINGS,—The Board of Trade and the
isreteorologieal Committee appointed by the noial Society
have decided on issuing cautionary signals to the following
places, viz. :—Hayle (Cornwall), Grimsby, Morecambe,
Fleetwood, Aberystwith, Caarvon, Poston, Liverpool,
Goole, and Leith. These places have sent in applica,tione
to receive telegraphic information respecting the weather,
and have undertaken to hoist the drums and keep the
gear in order, Other places have also applied, and their
t1i;p1,11419174 ATe Vtill under maiderati9p,

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