Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-02-26
Our European Letter.
LONDON, Eng Feb. Z, 1879.

of the Shakespearian and Legitimate >
drama, certain well-wishers of the stage
have collected variety of statistics. They
have been collected privately, and solely
for the information of the government. Il
appears that there are altogether forty-fivC
theatres in London, besides four places
such as the Crystal and Alexandria Pal
aces, where dramatic performances are
occasionally given. In the provinces there
are two hundred and three theatres
total number of theatres in the United
Kingdom being two hundred and lifty-two
In the provinces Liverpool takes the LEAD
with nine theatres, Glasgow comes second
with five, and there are three towns sup
porting two theatres and one hundred and
eight supporting one theatre. In Paris,
on the other hand, there are about thirty
two theatres, of which five are subsidized,
and there are two hundred theatres in the
French provinces. In matter of dramatic
productions the English also take the lead
of France. During the year 1873, no less
than one hundred and fifty-ive pieces
were produced in London, and only seven.
ty-nine in Paris. Ninety.f five new pieces
were also produced last year in the PROV
inces, this making II gross total of two
hundred and fifty new works produced in
this country within the twelve months.
From these statistics the argument is de.
duced that the stage gets on very much
better without than with subvention,
and that ut any rate their dramatic roll,
unbelped by the state, shows far better
results than that Of France where govern
ment subventions are granted. 1t is also
pointed out that the most prosperous
French theatres are those which have no
subvention and that the worst results were
obtained at the Paris Grand Opera, whose
years work has called forth unanimous
condemnation in spite of the enormous
government grant of 100000 year, be,
sides free rent and gas. The argument is
also advanced that the government has no
right TO tax the community for the amuse-
ment of a few, and that Il large proportion
of taxpayers have conscientious objections
to the theatre at all. These facts will be
in n petition to be presented TO
parliament if the expected motion is
brought on during the forthcoming session
for the foundation of national theatre
and opera house.
1t is curious to find how the absurd but
harmless impression still exists abroad
that John Bull lives only for, and upon.
his roast beef and plum pud ling. They
are permanently placed upon the carte for
his special delectation, and the waiter,
recognizing his nationality, slides upon
and suavely suggests "ros bf," or " un
bif steak" and is astonished and hurt
when his offer is declined. As matter of
fact he has long since ceased to find ever
fresh delights in the limited but substan-
tial dishes his ancestors were wont to in
dulge in with so much gusto, and were
never weary of praising in toast and song.
The production of the dantes and deli
,acies of every day consumption is devel-
)ping into quite an important industry,
md each wear shows an increased appreci-
Ition OF the appctizing and piquant rel
shes now so largely shared in. Chief
'mong the firms representing this industry
ire Messrs. Edward Pink & Sons, of this |
'ily. Their mandatory forms small |
own in itself, employing no less than
light hundred hands. The potted dainties
If every kind, preserves and table delica-
lies of every sort are prepared in aston
shingly large quantities. OF two article |
Ilone-iams and marmalade-no less than
hrec million packa! cs, weighing 2,5l3 |
ons, were made last year, with their
numerous other productions upon an
qually large and proportionato scale.
1t appears from the gcnearl annual re-
urns of the British army for the year 1877
hat the effective strength of the rank and
lie of the service on January, 1879, was
66,S66, and the establishment l6i,S77. |
he difference being due to the number of
upernumerarics. The effective strength
# the rank and lille of household cavalry
vas l,Ol0; of the cavalry of the line, H.
70; royal horse artillery, 5,lOG; royal
rtillery, 25,5So; royal engineers, 1928;
DOT guards, 1901; infantry of the line
O5, PA; colonial corps, 900; army serv-
&c corps, 2,5Ol; and army hospital corps,
,264. According to the latest returns re.
eived on the list of January, there were
/ England 70,058 Of all arms; in Jersey.
Guernsey, and Alderney, 1852; in Scot
ind, 1895; and in Ireland, 22,72l. In the
olonies there were 1892; and in the
asst Indies, 6l,6l2; making up the total
fective strength Of all grades, including
lose on passage to and from India, 190,-
IS.
Commander Hugo Pearson and Chief
ngineer Bacon, of the royal yacht o.
'rne, have at tho request OF the Prince of
Wales visited Firth for the purpose of re-
orling on the properties of n steam ,
lunch which his royal highncss contem, t
ates purchasing for the amusement of i
lc royal children. The little wooden
aft was built ut the Herreshoff manu-.
cturing works in America, and has been c
odeled on the lines Of the Herrshoff tor. {
edo boat. The steam is supplied by \
'tent coil boiler on the beehive principle =
Re tubes being an inch in diameter. and ;
e utmost amount of water in the boiler y
one time about n gallon. All chance of
'ploding and scalding is thus avoided, !!
Notwithstanding the fact that the working ~
'essure is one hundred and twenty pounds q
the square inch. The screw revolyes O
dead water below the keel amidships. r.
ii is projected against the effects of 4
o1nding by an inclined plane or Stag" n
lie ruddcr is also placed under the keel v
about four feet from the stern. e
From private letters from Gothenbury