The Express.
London, England, 1860-12-24 00:00:00

HR. WOODIN S CABINET OP CURIOSITIRS.

A new entertainment under this name by been
provided by Mr. Woodin, for this Christmas memo% at the
Polygraphiehall, in King Williametreet, &read. It is
clever and amusing, like an hie Mbar perfammases el the
same kind before. His changes of character and costume
are wonderfully quick, and supply an unfailing variety of
being caricatures. 'There was a private rehearsal on Satur-
day night of the new " Anthropological Mon000lflotnot"
which enabled as to get a foretaste of the popular trait to
come. The division of the Four Seasons has been adopted,
with a set of landscaped in which the scene painter has repro-
seated Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, for the
quarterly arrangement of Mr. Woodin's host of sub-
)ects. Some of these are taken from the manners
of London society, and some from the native
humours of the country, by the roedsido or the sea-
side, or in the homes of rustic folk. Oddities abounding
everywhere. Mr. Woodie finds no lack of fresh material for
his observation and mimicry. In spite of the dictum of his
first personage, " Mr. Griddles," the dogmatic old gentle.
man who obstinately denies that there can be anything new
under the sun, he undertakes to show as many human
" originals," within a two home' exhibition, as may con-
vince every spectator of the eodlese diversities of habit and
caprice to be witnessed in this inexhaustible world. After
hearing hie patter rag upon " People everybody must have
met," wean more inclined to agree with " Mr. Tom
Galloper:* the brisk young volunteer rifleman, who disputes
the maxim of his uncle, Mr. Griddles, about the general
Maleness of existence. Lary or languid persona, like the
" Hea. Mn. Magenta," sand from the fashionable colour
of her robe, which is the very pink of affectation—or
like that very unaffected lounger, the easy-going yachtsman
" Mr. Halcyon Higgins," who chiefly hates a bother—may
stick to the other side of the question. The female charac-
ters produosd at sash marvellously short notice by Mr.
Woodin are perhaps the most effective, though it might
be suggested that the addition of a pair of gloves to his fine
lady's costume would better disguise the sex which betrays
itself in his hands. The mistime of the Red Lion, " Widow
Whimperley," with her capital dory of lovemaking on the
top of the Monument, is to our mind the best figure in the
whole collection ; bat the pew opener, and the bathing
woman, are laughable enough. "Mr. Peter Plum," the
orator at a City charity dinner, is trite to the very life.

CRYSTAL PALACE.

That exceedingly popular and accomplished
couple, Mr. and Mn. Osiman Reed, made their debut at the
Crystal Palace coacert-room on Wenlay leak. A new dap
had been erected in front of the orchestra, by means of
which Mr. and Mrs. Reed were enabled to nee their own
proscenium, and to import all the arrangements of their
London entertainment. The concenrooru, in which • most
comfortable temperature prevailed, was crowded to the
doors, and the entertainment was, as usual, loudly cheered.
Mn German Reed was probably never in better voice and
spirits, and Mr. Reed showed that he bad acquired
all the mlf-possemion of an accomplished actor.
The seaside studies created roan of Laughter,
and the extraordinary changes of costume were
effected with their usual rapidity and soma Not the
least noticeable feature of the entertainment wee the
singing of Mr. J. Parry, especially the singing lama, which
went off with all the form of twenty yews ago. The
rifle trio was a tremendous hit, but we shall not spoil the
pleasurable surprise of the holiday visitors by describing it
in detail. It is a meat ingeniously constructed composition,
and will no deeM be a treensedoes favourite. When the
oompany broke =free the oonomeresea further iseimmasnle
ware found for them in the smanable decorations of the
transept, foremost and loftiest amongst which stands the
famous Christmartras, which was illuminated for the first
time on Saturday evening. It may easily be imagined what
effect would be produced by • handsome tree stand-
ing sixty fest high, and illuminated all over with
pa jots, ass through shades of variom coloured
glass. This mode of illumination, which was ens
of the great attractions of the Moscow °armee=
fetes, is capable of wonderful development in such • place
as the interior of the Crystal Palace. Other decontioas
had also been added, amongst which we must mention the
tasteful arrangement of shields and flags all round the cen-
tral arse, and the various minor feature, which collectively
give such a warm, busy, and picturesque tone fa the whole
interior. Out of doors, we fouod the entire range of foun-
tains alive with skaters, who whirled about on excellent ice,
and, what was better, in perfect security, the rimiest depth
of water not exceeding three feet. Taken altogether, it
would be hard to God so great an assemblage of holiday at-
traction as is in this fine frosty weather presented by the
Crystal Palace and grounds. We are glad to learn that on
the opening of the tenders for the refrealunest department
which took place in the morning, Mr. Strange was declared
successful over nearly twenty competitors, and may there
forc set about the preparation of his holiday fare with his
usual energy and judgment.