20 FEBRUARY 1953, Page 16

The Apertator, jfebruarp 19th, 1853

ON the 10th instant, the now ancient vacancy occasioned among the Royal Academicians by Turner's death was filled up by the election of Mr. Frith; an artist than whom none fitter can well be conceived, if popularity and the talents which ensure it are the test.

The great " sight " of the week is Macbeth at the Princess's. Every- body has seen Mr. and Mrs. C. Kean play Macbeth and Lady, but everybody has not seen Macbeth put on the stage under Mr. and Mrs. C. Kesn's management; though from their known talent in decorative art, everybody may fairly guess that tb,e thing is done in recherché style. This Macbeth is indeed a gorgeous affair. The manager, stand- ing like a Colossus with one foot on ancient Scotland, and the other on that supernatural realm which, if we be classically inclined, we may call "Acheron," has done as Philip II of Spain should have done —has made the most of both his worlds.

The phaenomenon of _rnock suns has been witnessed in England twice this week. At a quarter past twelve p.m. on Monday, Mr. John Thornton, who dates from the Grammar School, Kirnbalton, Hunting- donshire, saw it in company with Mr.. Valentine Hill, agent to the Duke of Manchester: he saw four parhelia in a bright circle of white light round the sun; the two most Southerly were the most brilliant, fawn colour towards the sun, violet white on the outer side, and were situated at the intersection of another horizontal circle with the vertical one.