Notes from Books.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 176, 14 November 1874, Page 5

Notes from Books.

OLD ENGLISH DRAMAS. The dramas of Chapman and the other contemporaries and followers of Shakespeare were the representatives of that transition state of public taste which was the natural result of the abolition of the miracle plays and gross absurdities of the middle ages. Critics and dramatists alike had not yet realised the truth that a play ought, above all tilings, to bo an exhibition of the passions and motives of human nature, as it is in its essence, in every stage of civilisation.—“ Chapman’s Dramatic Works,” in the Cornhill Magazine. HISTORICAL ROMANCE. The real liistoi'ical romance, with which at the present day everyone is so familiar, is quite a niodei-n creation, at any rate so far as this country is concerned. Sir Walter Scott, Lord Lytton, and James are its most celebrated representatives. In handling the subject, the plan generally adopted by these writers has been to take some period of history, and introduce real persons and events. While the historian would didactically describe the prevailing manners and customs of any particular age or country, the historical novelist strives to place his readers among the scenes themselves. Instead of describing the vices of the day, for instance, he would rather single out some individual and let us see the effects of a licentious state of society as depicted in a living character. How well the character of Lord Dalgarno, in the “Fortunes of Higel,” brings before us the wild and reckless life of a gallant in the reign of James the First ; to say nothing of the admirable way in which the character of that learned and uncouth monarch is sketched in the same novel ! The Argosy. WATERPROOF PAPER. Common paper, by a very simple process, may be converted into a substance as strong as parchment by means of sulphuric acid. The paper is simply dipped in the acid ; but the acid must be of an exactly determined strength, and mixed with half its bulk of water. A sheet of paper dipped in this liquid is almost instantaneously changed in character. It becomes tough, hard, and fibrous, but its weight is not increased, and it is far better for writing purposes than animal parchment. It can be rubbed better than paper, and almost as well as sheepskin ; and it serves for vellum in bookbinding, and for all legal purposes, as well as animal parchment, for strong binding, and 03 a substitute for bladders to cover pickle and jam jars ; and any paper that has even been printed on may be converted, by means of sulphuric acid, into vegetable parchment. Paper can be made waterproof without giving it the character of parchment by dissolving 290 z. of alum and 4oz. of white soap in 21b. of water ; also, 2oz. gum arabic and 6oz. glue in 21b. water. The two solutions are to be mixed, and the sheets of paper dipped into the mixture while warm. They are then to be hung up to dry, and pressed. /This paper is very useful for packages exposed t,o the damp, or for any purposes connected with the preservation of articles from moisture.— Cassdl’s Household Guide. BEHIND THE SCENES. Sothem, according to an interviewer in After Dinner says:—“Does acting tell on me? Yes, indeed, it does. Until within the last two years I have never given myself more than four weeks’ rest in a year. I have noticed the wear and tear on my constitution because my labors are heavier than the public know anything about. I will give the work of one day, when there is a matinee. I perhaps have

a scenic and property rehearsal at 9 ° clock, a company rehearsal at 10 o’clock, and this rehearsal lasts until 1 o’clock ; I have half an hour for lunch, go on the stage at 2 o clock, and act till haif-past 4 ; I dme at o ; rrom G to 7 rest ; at 8 o’clock on the stage again ; the performance is over at half-past 10 or a quarter to 11 ; and then I am so weary that after a light supper, I am compelled at once to cm to bed. in my early days, when the star actor had to -write out hi 3 part, instead of buying printed hooks, I have frequently written and studied twelve long parts a week, and each of these were seven lengths, making an aggregate of twelve times 308 lines oi fresh matter per week. This was to arrive at the mere question of getting the words into my head ; analysation of the characuer being another thing to do afterward. I have had io study all day, wheu I was not rehearsing or eating, and go straight home from the theatre and stay up till 3 and 4 and 5 m the morning ; I have been obliged to get up at 8 o clock the same morning, read my parts over again and o-o to a rehearsal at 10 o cloc.c. I got my memory so well cultivated that I at last would get my wife to read through a long farce, just repeating the long speeches twice, without ever having seen the words myself, and get thiough it actually every word.”

CASHEL. “ This is worth fighting for ' !” said Cromwell, as he looked across the Golden Vale of Tipperary, stretching away south-westward to the blue range of the Galtee mountains, and eastward reaching up its tribute to the Cashel of the Kings. Well might he say so, little as Cromwell cared for the old historic and saintly memories of the towers that crowded its rocs:; vet what he and his ironsides thought woith fighting for, is at least worthy of being remembered. A great hill that stands alone, and which (corresponding in shape to a gap in the crest of the Devil's Bite range) is said by tradition to have been bitten out of that chain and dropped at a distance from it ; a magnificent expanse of rich, undulating plain, embracing tiie Golden Vale and bounded by the distant* hills of Waterford, Cork, and Limerick as well as by its own beautiful mountains’ of Galtee and Knockmeldown. ihe lights and shadows that swoop over them fitfully like change and chance of time ; a deep, suo-o'estive stillness ; this let the reader imagine, and he has the setting of stones which are po eloquent, aye, and a worthy setting. The royal residence of the ancient kings of Munster took its name from a stone which remains within the old cathedral’s precincts, called Casseal, Caisil, Cashel, “ the stone of tribute. Hera the subject chieftains came with their offerings, and paid their homage. The modern town lies partly on a slope descending from the rock, and partly in a hollow ; and the thirteen roads which radiate from it in all directions have been well compared to ‘ spokes of a wheel.” There is something very suggestive m the fact that the snort and scream of the iron horse have never broken the impressive quiet of the place ; no railway coming nearer to it than Goold’s Cross, about five miles away.— The Quiver.

PROVERBS AND PARABLES FROM THE TALMUD. Tlie house that does not open to the poor, shall open to the physician. Bless God for the evil as well as for the When the righteous dies, it is the earth that loses. The lost jewel will always be a jewel, but the possessor who has lost it—well may he W< The aim and aid of all wisdom are repentance and good works. . Even the most righteous shall not attain to so high a place in Heaven as the truly penit6The reward of good works is like dates, sweet and ripening late. ; The dying benediction of a sage to Ins disciples was : I pray for you that the fear of Heaven may be as strong in you as the fear ot man ; you avoid sin before the face of the latter ; avoid it before the face of the AllSee H<f’who forsakes the love of his youth, God’s altar weeps for him. He who marries for money, his children shall be a curse to him. It is woman alone through whom Gou s blessings are vouchsafed to a house. She teaches the children, speeds the husband to the place of worship and instruction, welcomes him when he returns, keeps the house godly and pure, and God’s blessings rest upon all these things. . . . . Honor the sons of tlie poor, it is they who bring science into splendor. Let the honor of thy neighbor be to thee like thine own. „ ~ Bather be thrown into a fiery furnace than bring any one to public shame. There are three crowns : of the law, the priesthood, the kingship, but the crown of a oood name is greater than them all. When the thief has no opportunity for stealing, he considers himself an honest man. Tlie camel wanted to have horns, and they took away his ears. The soldiers fight, and the kings are the heroes. While thy foot is shod, smash the thorn. There is a great difference between him who is ashamed before his own self and him who is only ashamed before others. If you wish to hang yourself, choose a big tree. * . . A small coin in a large jar makes a big noise. . ~ A myrtle even in a desert remains a myrtle. Not what you say about yourself, but what Commit a sin twice, and you will think it perfectly allowable. Whosoever runs after greatness, greatness runs from him ; he who runs from greatness, greatness follows him. When the ox is down, many are the butchers. If there is anything bad about you, say it The sun null go down all by himself without your assistance.

Whosoever does not persecute them that persecute him, whosoever takes an offence in silence, he who does good because of love, he who is cheerful under his sufferings—they are the friends of God. Hospitality is the most important part ot Divine worship. The law has been given to men and not to angels. _ Whosoever does not increase in knowledge decreases. Do not judge thy neighbor till thou hast stood in his place.