The Express.
London, England, 1857-12-28 00:00:00

THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

In point of numbers Saturday was a great day et
the Crystal Palace. Weather of mildness extraordinary for
the period of the year, the general holiday taken by the
middle as well as the operative chasm, and a dente to see
the preparations made for the Christmas entertainments of
the suompiteg week, all contributed to swell the attendenou
Owing to them cartels the station at London-Midge wee
besieged at an early hour ; and the capacity of the railway
company for duly transmitting visitors to Sydenhant was
faded by the ardent rush of nearly 17,000 persons,
all of whom, it is believed, arrived safely, and without much
delay, at their destination. In looking round the budding,
and viewing the spectacle of a holiday amemtdy to
which dames that do not often meet in such sines
contact were most pleasantly mingled, one could hardly help
regretting that the "preparations" were not matured in
time for action on such an auspicious and unwonted Boxing-
day. The bill of fare actually presented consisted
of a concert and 'an organ performance. Of
the pleasures of the ensuing week there were
indeed sufficient indications to what the appetite of dl
present who will be able to participate either in their own
persona or in these of their juvenile representatives. Among
these a gigantic Christmas tree towere I aloft in the great
transept, with pendant prizes fur the youthful marksmen
who shall prove themselves the beat shots at target-firing;
while a tetanal cartoon of Grimaldi on the screen which con-
ceals the tropical plants from the other skie of the building was
made to do duty on the occasion fur " Punch and Judy," a
ballet company, a wonderful wizard, and other revelries which
commence to-day. The aspect of the place was decidedly
festive, and tu hammy with the season. In seconding the
that flight of steps leading direct from the railway to the build-
ing the visitor wee greeted with " a happy new year.''
Thence all the way to the centre of the transept were seen at
frequent intervals overhanging festoons of holly and other
appropriate evergreen., the words "jovial Christmas" and
"jolly Christmaa," as mottos., inlarge characters on each side,
and, again, at the opposite sides of the centre of the Upswept
the homely parody,
"Boys and girls come out to play
This is Christens holiday,"
with the mottoes," Merry Christmas," "Happy Christina.,"
" Jolly Christman" and " Jovial Christen.," respectively
at the four corners. The orange trees, on which the fruit is
now men it perfection, formed a marked feature in the scene.
With these grateful sights, and the standing attractions of
the building, in which the picture gallery sustained a very
prominent part, the day proved a very agreeable cue, despite
the immaturity, or, at all events, the postponement of the
Christmas revels.

Potsiterroc.—The managers of this institution
may well be content with the mimeos of their Christmas en-
terprise. We have never seen a place of amusement more
crowded than was the Polytechnic on Saturday. In nothing
was the art of the conductor more manifest than in the
manner in which so many hundreds of visitors—thousands
would, perhaps, be nearer the mark—were simultaneously
occupied and interested. The central galleries were con-
stantly thronged with young and old, toying with the
electrical machine, admiring the Indian and Mezieen
figures, smiling at the little clock-work duchess who
curvetted about en a white goat, or watching the fate of the
adventurous young gentleman in the diving-bell. The two
lecture-rooms, however, at all hours contained the great body
of the visitors, and without • rapid eucceesion of lectures
attracting the company to different points at the same time,
it would have been impoetable to dispose of the large num-
bers of people who presented themselves for entertainment.
Of the special provision made in the spirit of the season, and
with an especial view to the taates of the young people, we
spoke on Thursday, and only add, that with the dissolving
views, the giant Christmas tree, the natural magic, the
brand-making machine, the Scutari tea-pot, and the perms-
sent attractions of the place, there is amusement for every-
body, end at the cheapest wale.

ROYAL COLOSSEUM. —The spirited enterprise
which has restored the rutspended animation of this institu-
tion, and given Loden one more centre of amusement, met
on Saturday a well deserved enctess. The provision made
was ample and attractive. Mr. G. Bttekland's entertainment
was most diverting : it consists; of a succession of historical
views, which he calls Britannia's Picture Gallery, or
History made Easy, the display of the pictures being
accompanied with humor:nut comment, much of which
takes the lone of song. Mr. ammo' exhibited and
explained natural magic; Mr. W. Foster mounted several odd
chamfers in themmuter of Woodin,andMdllo Anna heaps-
rini, Mr. T. Peed, and Mr. Freeman sang in s vocal sod In-
strumental motet, Then there were the illustrations of the
Sepoy mutiny, with the more:permanent exhibitions of the
Colosseum, the Diorama of Lisbon. the Panorama of I.on•
don, the Caverna, and the Swiss Waterfall. We undershind
that Dr. Bealthoffner, who has for some time managed the
institution fors proprietary company. has now become the
sole lessee.

ZOOLOGICAL GARDLN/L—The extraordinary mild-
ness of the sease• renders it no longer an appropriate remark
to my that outdoor amusements are at a discount at Ovine-
max. A very lam number of persons visited the admirable
ecological collection in Regent's-park, from which they ap-
peared to derive mingled gratification end inatniction.
PROFESSOR WILJAI.BA FRIKELL. This clever
Mustonlet" twice filled St. James's Theatre, on Saturday,
with an amused sad wondering multitude of spectators. His
superhuman dexterity and inscrutable contrivances were
exhibited with the USW success. There would be mine-
thing terrible in the strange deeds which he performs if it
were not for hie inceseant pleasantry, and the simple, into-
Deaf air with which he works out his mysterious designs.
The yours, of the little Oh who opened their eyes en
vide to re his cut off the head of his poor pigeon could
net for a moaned believe that their playful and obliging
Mend would really do anything so cruel. The production
of some two hundred eilver cups—to say nothing of a thins.
send peeks of cards—from the inexhaustible interior of •
gentleman's hat, was certainly a marvellous performer oe.
These achievements leech as the fallaciousness of the vulgar
proverb which would require ne to "believe our own eyes."
Many groom superstitions may be avoided it we learn from
the conjuror to rely mcro upon reason and ler upon the
treacherous evidence of outward sense.

MADAME TIIFIKAUD'O3.—ThiI entertainmeut WEE
more thsa ordinarily crowded; sidits well-est•blielwd repu-
tation was folly kept up. Awes the recent oddities' is •
figura potirait
eresGeneral Havelock, which excited much at-
teationead intt.

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