Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-02-09 00:00:00

ARGUMENT.

Ever s 0 iong'ago there existed a remote little kingdom in
the realms of Extravagance called Faraway,_ which, at the
primitive period to-Which this story refers, was governed by a
crafty and tyrannical monarch, yclept Squander, whose recklessj'
and unchecked expenditure (book-keeping being then unknown
and auditors never dreamt of,) had plunged his little king-
dom and his wretched subjects into an abject state of poverty
and Want: In order to replenish .his empty coffers, and
to stop the murmurs of his impoverished followers, King
Squander conceived the idea o•f effecting a matrimonial
alliance between his only son, the handsome Prince Golden-;
heart, ' and a wealthy -spinster Princess, 'his ward, whose
charms were buried in her money-bags. Like 'many modern •
match-makers, his Majesty speedily made the discovery tnat
his task was more difficult than he had imagined; fair
although the intended bride was quite willing, the bridegroom ,
elect' expressed a decided objection to the alliance. Finding
his son so obstinate that threats and entreaties alike failed to
turn -hini'llom his anti-matrimonial ptirPose, the King de- .
wised a cunning scheme, by 'which—he hoped to overcome the
scruples of his son, and entrap-, him into wedlock with the
by-no-means beautiful Prindess. Having .an ungallant idea
that the fair 'set were" wholly and Without:exception addicted
to the looking-glass (those in which they could see their own
faces, having been invented abciut that time), he despatched the
Prince upon his travels, and obtained his royal promise that if
ha-returned without having discovered a fair maiden who had
never beheld her face in a glass, he would then accept the prof-
fered hand.of the, obnoxious princess. Froceeding upon his
novel and 'apparently hopeless mission, the Viiiice had "almost
',7esigned himself to despair; when, wearied add dispirited, he
reached an enchanted forest, and, by the aid of certain good
fairies who dwelt therein, he w .s enabled to discover the object
of his search in the person of little Snow-white, a wood nymph, •
who, togethe,r with her compthilems, had not only never seen
their'Own faces in a glass, but had never seen the face of one
man until the arrival of Prince Golden-heart in their abode,
which' was a sequestered dell on the borders of Fairyland.
The Prince, overjoyed by his wonderful discovery, w...s at once
anaitten with her beauty, and' the maiden was not slow to
reciprocate the sentiment. -
Their future was probably A happy one--but history is obli-
*ions of their Subsequent career. Certain learned antiquarians,
whose special mission is to attempt to make people believe that
the musty records of past and gone arc of mare importance to
She living present than the stirring events of the existing gene-
ration, or the onward advancement of the future, are of opinion
that the ancient kingdon of Faraway has been- discovered
beneath the Goodwin Sands, and aiimited Liability scheme is
in contemplation, for exploring that highly attractive locality.
By others it is contended that Hilbre Island covers the defunct
tingdem;•and this supposition is encouraged by the recent dis-
covery of a fossil, bearing a strong ruse i,blance to a missing
toothpick, formerly the property. of King Squander; Other
equally learned pundits are of opinion that Faraway is buried
in oblivion, and that it never existed an where but in the
inventive imagination of a needy author.

- TRANSFORMATION.
harlequin Mr. W. Waite I Pantaloon Mr. E. Lauri
Clown Mr. Power Columbine Miss M‘Ginty

frir A GRAND MORNING CONCERT, supported by
highly distinguished Artistes will be given in this Theatre on
SATURDAY, February 11. .
Admission :---Dress Boxes, 45.; Uppef Boxes, 3.4. ; Pit, 2e.;
Gallery, Is.
Doors Opened at Half-past Six, and the Performances com-
mence at Seven o'clock precisely.
The Box-office is Open from Ten to Three; for securing
Seats in the Dress Circle and taking Private Boxes, which may
be had under the direction of Mr. George ?Weston.

ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE,
GREAfT CHARLOTTE-STREET,
Proprietor, Mr. W. R. COPELAND.

TILE NEW, .GRAND, LOCAL, COMIC, AND-NAUTICAL
• PANTOMIME: ,
EVERY EVENING.

THIS EVENING, (Thursday), the 9th instant, and Every
Evening this Week,
THE MAID AND THE MAGPIE.
After which, the. New, Graml, Local, Comic Christmas Pan-
tomime, entitled,
DAVY TONES'S LOCKER:

Or, iIARLEQIJIN, AND THE LIVELY LASS OF LIVIMPOOL.

The Opening story of the Pantomime (written expressly for
this Theatre) by Mr. Wm. Dorrington.
The Overture and Music of the Opening, and the Music of
the Comic Scenes composed, selected, and arranged by Mr.
Musgrave. The Scenery of the Pantomime designed and
painted by Mr. George Dawson, assisted by Messrs. Penn,
Goodman, Hall, and Rogers. The new Stage and elaborate
Machinery, including "The Storm at Sea," by Mr. Cawdrey.
The Properties and Masks by Mr. Jenkins, assisted by, Messrs.
Dearlove, sen., and E. Lauri. The Dresses by Mr. and Mrs.
Jeffries. The whole of the Dances and the Action of the Ballet
arranged and directed by Mr. Martin and Was Bramah.