The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-04-14 00:00:00

EASTER HOLIDAYS.

The festive holidays commenced yesterday, but the
weather was quite unfavourable for sports and pastimes.
From an early hour rain came down at intervals, and the
atmosphere was unusually cold, with a smart wind so
that, without perpetrating a pun, wind, cold, and rain put
a complete damper on all amusement, This remark•
applies more to town folk than to our rural friends, for
al hough the state of the weather was so unpromising,
yet a large number of people came in by trains from
the country, but, or course, not a tithe of what would
have visited its otherwise. There were few of the inhabi-
tants who ventured out of town, co thatt altogether the
day may be called one of considerable aullness. From
two o'clock the rain ceased, but that did not mend the
gloomy prospects that prey sled. Notwithstanding all
the drawbacks Mated, there were people who would have
a holiday, no matter what came of it ; and, therefore,
there were more than ordinary numbers crossed the
river, and when the evening cleared up, the streets
became thronger than ordinary, and it was not difficult
to recognise Dill' tountry frieuclaand sorrkg *e were to
behold their cold long faces, all the fault of the
weather ; but When the Whitsuntide holidays
come,. we an, icipate more genial sunshine, so that
we may be able to give them a warm and hearty
reception._ If the people were disappointed during the
day, they resolved to make up for it in the evening, for
the Theatres and other places of public amusement and
resort were full to overflowing—in fact it was a sort of
" boxing night." The first place that elaims attention is

THE ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE,
which, in addition to the usual holidarattractions, pro-
duced a piece called "The Willow Pattern Plate," a
Chinese extravaganza, which certainly set (not the table)
the house in a roar, or rather kept the people—who of
)urse were wedged into all parts of the house—in a
perfect hurricane of laughter all through. The scenery,
decorations, and other appointments of this piece, are
elegant and attractive, and are got up in the best style of
art, and most effective in all the arrangements, mecha-
nical and otherwise. The Tong Slices and the Shoo
Kees, with all the Lingo and the Lint goes, are all
admirably personated, and for the time being one would
feel it hard to think that it was hot on Mister Yeh and
other gentlemen with Semi-Irish patronomvcs that he
gazed with admiration. The spirited proprietor deserves
much credit, and there can be no doubt that be will
receive very substantial marks of public approbation for
this piece, which has, like all his other good hits, came
out in the nick of time. The drama of " Fraud and its
Victims," from the prolific pen of Sterling Coyne, dannot
fail to convey a wholesome and warning lesson to the
" fast" and unthinking portion of mankind. As the title
of this piece indicates, it is founded on recent events
which have astonisheA the world on the world's stage, and
of course must be interesting on the mimic stage, which
is a picture in little of the great wor'd's arena, where
every man must play his part, his acts being seven ages.
The next place WQ turn to is
HENGLER'S CIRCUS, DALE STREIET.
There will be always a thwart about horsemanship, and,
when other entertainments pall, the noble art of Mlles •
trianism will attract eelighted audiences, On such an
evening as last, when there were so Many popular
amusements through town, it might be imagined that the
circus had only its fair share of visitors; but if anything
were wanting to prove the popularity of the circus, and
how much the people admire this species of entertainment,
the crowded state of the building last night would prove
the truth of the assertion that horses (like music) hath
charms for high and low, old and young, gentle and
simple. Were we inflined to criticise, even the perfor-
mance of
,last night Would challenge Onr observations,
for the more we see of this circus, and the exertions of
the spirited proprietor, the more we think he pleases
and deserves the support of the public. To those who
have not seen to what perfection the art or horsemanship
has been brought, we %%mild say, "Go to Hengler's, and
if you are not pleased and astonished, you must be an
unbeliever."