Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-12-26 00:00:00

CATHOLIC BLIND ASYLUM.

The inmates of this institution, through the mun:ficenee
of their patrons, Were furnished with the mrais of partici-
pating in the festivities of Christmas. After mass, they
were supplied with s liberally-proviied refeetba of

Christmas fare, consisting of roast beef and plans-pudding.
The armual sal• of wolk (the labours of the blind) for the
benefit at the incitation, will take place on the 7th of
Jar:nary next in the institme, Maryland-street.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS,

THZATRB ROYAL.

Lea PANTOMIMM TO-NIG/LT.—lt can scarcely be acces-
sary to remind any of our readers—and we are certain it is
quite saperluous to remind our juvenile readers—that the
Christmas Pantomime o- ens to-eight at the Theatre Royal.
"Puss and Boots, or, Heideqain and the Miller's son," is
produced by the author to whom we are indebted for many
successive pantomimes in the Theatre Royal, and we
believe the getting-up and scenic eff.cte, will not yield in
splendour to any of its predecessors. The legend seems almost
too well known to require a word of explanation. Any one,
however, who has become so dulhd by business as to have
wholly forgotten the story of his youthful days, may be
informed that the old legend and the new pantomime both
convey after very different fashions the followieg tale :
" HOW a certain Miller had three sons—How he died and
left hie oldest son the mill; his second son a donkey; and
his youngest a Cat—How the two first were discontented,
and how Ralph, the youngest, Was perfectly satisfied—How
his Cat wore boots, to protect his legs from the brambles—
How he caught his master a rabbit—How he took it as a
present from his master to the King, who was fond of
game—flow the King inquired who had sent him such a
handsome present ? —How the Cat replied it was has
master, the Marquis of Carabas—How the King had never
heard of such a Merquis—How the Cat coziviuced him, aed
contrived a plot to get his master dressed in fine clothes out
of the King's wardroba—Liow Ralph became introduced at
first, and how he and the young Princess became enamoured
of each other—How the King wanted to see the Cestle of
the Marquis—How the Cat called upon a great Ogre—
How he outwitted and killed the 04re, and gave hs
master the castle in which the Ogre lived—How he told all
the Ogre's reapers, hop-pickers, and wood-tatters to tell
the King when he passed that way that all the lands he
beheld belonged to the Marquis of Carabae—How the King
came to the castle-111W haiph got found oat— How his
enemies tried to ruin him,ntici how he became changed into
Harlequin, the Princess into Celumbine, the King to
Pantaloon, and a grumbling old woman into Clown, whiio
the Cat becomes a great Lord, and never killed mice
except for his own amusement." Tne pantomime has,
however, this singular advantage over the nursery legend,
that when all the parties to the story, inclunieg
the Cat have arrived at the point of happiness and triumph
jast mentioned, the tale by no means ends there. Oa the
contrary, this climax becomes in the pantomime but a
starting point into a new wonder-land of mirth and
amazement. It is then that " all the fun" begins, clown
and Harlequin, Columbine and _Pantaloon have then their
hour of reign, and we believe will use their powers with
rio less hiilliant success this year, than in their preceding,
and still not forgotten seasons.