The times., 1899-07-02

Private information tends to confirm the
belief that the British Government is act
ing with greater irmness at Pekin. The
energetic propaganda of the China party
in the House of Commons and the press
has impressed the Foreign ONCE.
The opera has been well patronized, al
though no novelties have been produced
and Jean de Reszke has gone. Puccini's
La Boheme" was given this week, with
Nine. Melba and Signor Ancona for the
first time at Covent Garden.
On the London Stage.
Sarah Bernhardt, after playing Hamlet
with a success of curiosity. has finished at
Stratford- -on-Avon Theatre with applause.
Coquelin is here with "Cyrano' and is as
popular as ever, although the play fails to
please the critics. In Molleres comedies
he is more successful.
, However, the event of most interest in
the dramatic world is the revival of the
Elizabethan masque by members OF the Art
Workers Guild. headed by Walter Crane
| at the Guildhall, for four nights. Beauty's
| Awakening" is the title of a masque
symboliZing the awakening of London to
| art AS an esthetic spectacle nothing so
lovely has been seen in London for years.
The stage pictures were designed and col
ored by Mr.. Wilson, one of the most schol-
| arly OF our architects and metal workers.
| The costumes cost infinite labor and re-
| search. procession representing the fair
! cities OF the world. Thebes, Athens, By
zanlum, Rome. Florence. Venice, Nurem-
berg. Paris. and Oxford was of extraordi-
nary beauty. Every figure seemed to have
| stepped bodily out OF some rare master
piece. Venice, with her attendants. re-
called Titan, Bordone, and Bellini. Paris
| the most beautiful of medieval illunnina-
tions.
Each city was accompanied by her most
distinguished citizen. We saw Phidias
Augustus, Constantine. Durer and Dante
Songs and dances enlivened the spectacle
The whole was revival OF the greatest
interest and beauty. which was worth go
ing miles to see.
Mark Twain is still enjoying the hospi-
tali;y of literary clubs. and is a most wei.
come guest wherever he goes.
Rudyard Kipling has gone to his qIe
country home. Nothing is heard of him
except that he is looking we'll.
Lady Randolph Churchtll's anglo -SaxoI
Magazine" has been well received
a New Raphael.
The discovery Of a new Raphael is re
ported from Rome. In one of the galleries
OF the exhibition OF sacred art at Conc
there is a picture representing The Mas
sacre of the Innoeents." belonging to Dr.
Biondi, of Pavia Some artists. attractet
by the beauty of the painting, formed
committee TO examine it attentiveiy. Tn
surface of the canvas was treated, and be
low the varnish was found the signatur
"Raph Yrbi," and the year "MDX." Tn
picture would, therefore. belong to the be
ginning of the last decade of Raphael
life.
At Christie's salesrooms the event of tn
week has been the dispersal of the cele
brated Marlborough collection of gems
Three of the most costly gems went L
private buyers. The cameo with a hea
of the deified Augustus brought 81, $50
one representing Claudius Caesar brough
s1S,750 and another, with a pair of i'm
, perial heads, realized Si6.500. The Britis
Museum bought several fine examples. an
, sales were made for the Boston Museur
, and elsewhere. Reynolds portrait OF Lad
, Hamilton, as Bacchante sold for S22 81.
: Punch" has changed his address. Th
proprietors gave a housewarming and sup
per, which was attended by many literar,
artistic and legal lights, in honor OF th
! occasion.
The widow of the late Gleason White ha
r been granted a pension of s175 year. /
consideration OF his exceptional services [
decorative and applied art, and in respons
! to a petition, signed by a number of emi
/. nent art workers. The grant has give