The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-10

and we humble entertainers. too-have
contributed largely to this result"
Among the interesting features OF Cas-
sells Magazine for May is an illustrated ac-
count of the manner Of handling the bag
gage OF a. army-a system now being
worked out under many difficulties In South
Africa. Another paper having a bearing on
the Boer war is a little history of the IA
nous British regiments forming the corps
or royal engineers. There is also the story
or the evolution OF an army uniform.
some Of the biggest and most expensive
articles of food and drink in the world. An
illustrated article descriptive of some of
the jewels belonging 10 the Princess OF
Wales will interest feminine readers. In
addition to the contributions named are
seven complete stories.
In its transformation from a weekly to a
monthly periodical the Criterion has
changed its character considerably and a
new acquaintance has to be made with it.
Its publishers now announce a definite aim,
namely, to present trustworthy criterions
of judgment concerning current books,
drama, art and music, and to tell what is
or largest importance and of most popu-
lar interest in these four fields. IN the
first issue the space and attention given
to the subjects named are well balanced
and the treatment good. There is a chap
ter of general editorial comment on cur
rent literary, artistic and dramatic topics,
followed by special papers on various
phases of the sa9{e themes. The new Cri-
terion seems likely to fill a want in the
field 1t has entered.
Gustav Kobbe. talking in the May Forum
about plays and Players" has this to say
of a recent literary development: 1.-The
dramatization of books is the latest stage
phenomenon. and 1t has assumed such i'm
p%ortance that the writer of a novel now
seems to have the manager in view while
he is writing for the publisher. The writer
or q book may not become his own drama
tizer, but the dramatization. even If by
other hands. is profitable to him. With the
dramatic writer the problem is to find his
subject. The book gives 1t, and the the
atrical manager is willing to compensate
the writer in liberal fashion. Therefore, 1t
is no exaggeration to say that, during the
past year. the American writer's of books
have been among the best writer's of plays.
The theatrical manager now takes the
same chair as the editor, and accepts fiction
for the stage, as the latter does for his
magazine. With the first symptoms of
success Of To Have and to Hold the au-
thor of that novel received for the dra-
matte rights offers enough by wire and let
ter to fill a large ~scrapbook."
A Chicago correspondent of Recreation
writes thus Of the attractions and posi-
bilities of an aquarium: IL suggest that
you interest your readers in keeping fish
in an aquarium at home. BY this I do not,
however. mean two or three so-called gold
fish in a bowl, but a variety of small game
fish in a tank 12x14x20 or thereabout: /
have done this for some years past, and
find II a most interesting thing. If these
fish are taken when very young they will
thrive In confinement in such a space. pro-
v1ding sand, stones, weeds, ETC., are placed
with them, in order TO give them such
haunts as they dearly love in brooks and
streams. One might think 1t impossible to
have a variety of these little chaps in the
same space, but l find no troubfe / have
not, however, had any black bass, having
never been able to secure any small enough.
L have had rock trout, rock bass, elfers
young eels), and several varieties of which
1 did not know the names. 1 have also had
a few small sunfish, catfish and a tadpole
or newt in with them to make things more
interesting. All of these have done well,
and / have spent many pleasant winter
hours watching these little fellows enjoy
lfe.'
The restoration of old paintings is a task
involving great echnical knowledge on the
part of the operator, and few there may
be that possess it, Probably the most skill
full art conserver Of our time was Mr..
Henry Merritt. and in the Magazine of Art
for May will be found an interesting
ANNOAo VI Jill VI lie n.
Mr.. Maltus Q. Holyoake, who contributes
the paper, thus describes the restoration
of the portrait of Richard III: Another tri-
umphant restoration was that of the large
portrait of Richard III, now hanging on
the southern wall of the Sacrarium in
Westminster Abbey, painted in the four
teenth century. There is probably no his
torical portrait in existence of equal age,
and its successful restoration by Merritt
was considered little short IF marvellous
Unfortunately the portrait had been ''re-
stored" several times before by persons
with very primitive notions of the art of
preservation, notably in 1872 a Captain
Broome, who was authorized to restore the
painting, which he did by the simple process
of repainting the portrait with several
variations from the original of his own
The dean Stanley and chapter of West
Minister, custodians of the painting, at the
time of its exhibition in 1866 at South Ken
s~ington-where its condition was much dis
cussed-appointed, on the advice of the late
George Richmond, r. A, Mr.. Merritt to
restore the picture. Merritt, under the SUI
perintendence of Mr.. and the
late Sir George Scharf. director of the
National Portrait Gallery, removed with ap-
propriate solvents the coats of the success
sive paintings, until once more the form
and features of the unhappy king, depicted
in the Shakesperian play, became visible,
after being obscured for one hundred and
fifty years. 1t was a critical and hazard
Gus operation, requiring both caution and
courage, but in the end the ~restorer had
the satisfaction of revealing a delicate por-
trait in tempera, ~uninjured by the various
repaintings to which ii had been subjected.
Merritt's skillful restoration of a painting
over five hundred years old received full
appreciation in the art world. The impor-
lance of the restoration was considered
such that Merritt kept a journal of the
operations day by day, to which Mr.. Rich
mond added notes. The journal was pub
lished in observations on the Westminster
Abbey Portrait of Richard the Second by
Sir George Scharf."
Danger in Mixed Liquors.