The Express.
London, England, 1864-12-26 00:00:00

POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.

Professor Pepper's Christman arrangements at
this highly and deservedly popular place of amusement are
full of variety and attraction. The scientific lectures and
experiments have been carefully arranged to nit the present
festive season, and the collateral amusements have been got
up almost entirely with a view of meeting the testae of the
juvenile audiences. The wonders of the diving bell will, of
comae, be exhibited, but it is hardly to be expected that in
the present state of the thermometer, the diver—that most
mysterious looking of men in armour—will often be troubled
with the care of curious fellow-pameogers. The Professor's
"Ghost," the speciality of the Polytechnic, the success of
which has called more imitative "spirits from
the vasty deep," all over the well!, than ever before
obeyed the behest of necromancer, will make its
impalpalill bow under new and cheating aspects. By its
angle agency, assisted by an interesting running lecture
from the professor, the young people will be made fa-
miliar with the history of "Bony Ref" and her little
companion, who, wandering in a wood one day, wen so
unfortunate as to tumble over a certain avaricious dwarf,
who at that particular moment was busy hiding hi mosey.
The perils of poor Rosy Red and her companion, occasioned
by the persecutions of the dwarf, and from which they are
always extricated by the interpceition of the inevitable
" Good fairy," form the subjects of a series of shadowy
tableaux which have all the rouednese, substantiality, and
motion of living groups. The capabilities of the Mis-
sion are, in fact, developed to their fullest extent in mores
of novel forms, and each tame with improved effect,
In addition to this, there is a pictorial history of the re-
mowed Baron Manchausee, whose extraordinary perils and
navigating are illustrated by a series of dissolving views,
and elucidated by a punning commentary, which will no
doubt create as many hearty laughs as the views themselves.
Then we have the ieelhaustible " tub," from which eager
little hands will pick gratuitous boxes of toys, and which
will, we Lave no doubt, have ample reason to be satiated
with its share of juvenile patronage, with all the established
attractions of the Polytechnic. The novelties were all
rehearsed on Saturday evening, to the satisfaction of a select
and critical audience. There were, of course, a few bitches ;
for example, the Btron's horse remained so long in his
perilous position hanging by the bridle from the church spire
es
to create set ion. Marro for his safety amongst the more
WOODS spectators—but the general opinion was that the
arrangements were very complete, and were sore to be in full
working order for boxing day, and the rest of the holidays.
One feature of the programme which elicited unqualified
applause was the exhibition of the unique statuary in the
possession of the London Stereoscopic Company under the
powerful light of lanterns, obligingly lent by the manager,
Mr. Nottege. There was quite a burst of cheering as the
spectators recognised their grand favourite of Ist'.2, the
▪ Readies Girl" of Magni, and Matte's hardly less popular
" Sleep of Sorrow." Spence's "Finding of Moses," the Baron
de Triquiti's " Edward the Sixth," and Weeks's charming
" Mother's Etas." were also shown in this part of the
entertainment, and all received a genuine Christmas wel-
come.