The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-12 00:00:00

THE WEATHER AND THE PARES.

-
Yesterday was what is technically termed a grand day in
the different Royal parks. From an early hour in the morn-
ing pedestrians and members of the nobility and gentry in
carriages continued to flock into the parks, in order to wit-
ness the evolutions of the lady and gentlemen sliders and
skaters upon the different sheets of ice. Princess Mary of
Cambridge was one of the promenaders on the banks of the
Serpentine, with her attendants, and her Royal Highness
inquired at the Royal Humane Society's receiving-house as
to whether skating was going on in Kensington-gardenst
and whether any accidents had occurred.
The thermometer at this institution, as registered by No-
gretti and Zambra's patent glass, showed that during Wed-.
nesday night the mercury indexed 31f deg. At 9 o'clock
yesterday morning the same glass showed 321 deg., being a
little above freezing point. At noon the glass rose to 35
nogf
tehvoewryeainthd indication of
iacecahtantre
deg., being 3 deg. above freezing point. The barometer was
er.
29.63. The wind was I s ,E., and the weather was overcast.
Last night the glass began to fall, and the wind
t taking t h e
place north-west, o r t h
nw e
the st , chopped
sshtaotwei
present time on the Serpentine is 2in. thick, but exceed-
ingly dangerous. In the Royal Pond in K
gardens, the ice is half an inch thicker. The en. Binton-
lee in St.
James's Park is only about 14 inches in thickness,
and is in
a most rotten and unsafe state.

Owing to the admirable arrangements made by Mr,
Young, the secretary of the Royal Humane Society, and
Mr. Williams, the superintendent, the icemen, by great
exertions, managed to clear the vast expanse of this river,
if we except about 100 or 150 females and gentlemen, who.
in spite of ell expostulations of Deputy-superintendent
Murphy,
the afternoon. Fortunately
only
upon the ice until late in
only a few slight immersions
insisted upon staving
took place on this river.
In the Regent's-park about 3,000 skaters and sliders dis-
ported, and several serious accidents took place. Shortly
before noon Henry Childs. of 7,
Bury-street, Bloomsbury,
broke through the ice into 7 feet of water. He was rescued
by one of the icemen diving after him. About half-past one
a man named Geo. Addis, of 33, Duke's•mews, Grosvenor-
square, fell through the ice in 11 feet of water, and iceman
Windyard, managed to get him out in a very exhausted
state, the iceman nearly losing his own life in saving him.
Three other persons were also immersed, but happily they
were rescued. They were attended to by Dr. Norton, and
were able to return home. The Royal round-pond had
about 700 males and females upon the ice, but only a few
immersions took place, end nothing of a serious character
occurred.

PRIZE DESIGNS.—" As affording the most striking eon-
trast, Mr. Benson shows with these a fresh exhibition of
moJern watches, with cases made from prize designs at the
South Kensington Museum, some of which arc fine specimens
of engraving."—Times, Sept. 15, 1862. Chronometer, duplex",
lever, horizontal, repeaters, centre seconds,
keyless, split
seconds, and every description of watch, adapted to all cli•
mates. Benson's illustrated pamphlet on watches (free by
post for two stamps) contains a short history of watchmak-
ing, with prices, from 3to 200 g,uinc as each. It serves as e
guide in the purchase of a watch, and enables
and have those w
it h. o
sent
in any part of the world to sel,ct a watch,
safe by post. Prize medal and honour .ble mention, classes
33 and 15. J. W. Benson, 33 and 34, Ludgate-hip. London.
Established 1749. Watch and clock maker by special warrant
of appointment to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales.
No HOME complete without a' WILCOX AND GIBBS'
SEMN4S-biACHINE. Simple, compact, efficient, durable, and
noiseless. Warranted to fulfil all the requirements of a
perfect family machine. Prospectus tree On application at
No, 135, Resent-street, W.--LADvT.)

ROYAL
ST. JAES's
Management of Ir. T11,,,E..,ATRE, under the
Manage p,• r,BSTER.
ai.ra. Charles
Evening --Mt. -wa,,‘-;,°,1-I..,redV of TIRE
Crowded with rank and fashion.— The N„ r,
SILVER LINING every
:Ors. Frank lii.ii—
Mathews, Mrs. Stirling*,
The following emhews, and Mr. J.
L. Toole every evening., ii.riqaot artistes are
Webster. Mr. J.
eng,ageri:—Mr. Benjamin Toole Mr. Paul
Robinson. Mr. Ashley,
Bedford, Mr. Frederic i
Iferbert, Mrsan Mr' Cbas.
Mathews ; Mrs. Stirling, Miss • -`rank Mat-
thews Miss A. Cottrell, Mis
• s Fanny Josephs, Iris
BWent-
worth and Mrs. Charles Mat:news.
THIS EVENING, and during the Week, at 7 °•c ,
ie ()ek'
an entirely new Comedy, in 3 Acts, by ',v „ . _., ester Ituold nEf-
haw, Esq., entitled Ti 1 E ;.•;I LVE I:, LIN I, i. . mr. f, harks '
Mathews, Mr. Frederic Robinson, Mr. Ashley, Mr, John-
stone, Mr. Montagne ; Mrs i barks Mathews, biro. Frank
Matthews, miss Cottrell, Miss Wentworth. and Mrs. Stirling.
To he followed by Nir, Charles Mathew/4 just translated
from the Frenehiin his characteristic character of Un Anglais
Timide, entitled COOL AS A CUCUMBE I:.
To conclude with 1801; or, TILE SENSATIONS OF
TILE PAST SEASON. : Mr. J..L. Toole, Mr. Paul Bedford,
Mr. A. Cottrell, and Miss I`
anny • j osephs.

•
ROYAL STRAND THEATRE.
Manager, Mr. W. H. Swanborounii.
ars EVENING, UNLIMITED CONFIDENCE. Mr.
Belford, Mr. Parselle ; Miss Marie Wilton, Miss Thorne.
After which, the Grand Christmas Burlesque, ORPIIEU3
Y, Wood, James Fenton,
AND EITRYOICE . Hone
Mesdames SWanborough, Marie Wilton, Hughes, dm.
Followed by MARGATE SANDS.
Commence at'.

-SHE THIRD EDITION OF ‘, THE SUN,"
Containina the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENc,
san be had Every Evening of
G. R. GLENIE, NEIVii AGENT,
No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park.

The annual assembly of the friends and supporters
of the Dramatic, Equestrian, and Musical Sick Fund
Association took place on Wednesday. The ladies
and gentlemen who take a prominent part in the
social gathering are gifted with quick wit and ready
talent, besides possessing to a high degree that tact
and self-possession secured by the experience of a
long public career. Such was especially the case
on this occasion, when the list of the company
assembled to do honour to this admirable institu-
tion included most of the foremost names in the
ranks of our dramatic talent. The speeches showed
no diminution of their accustomed brilliancy either
in the gay sallies of Mrs. STIRLING, or the interest.
ing reminiscences of Mr. BUCKSTONE, who was the
occupant of the presiding chair, a post for which ho
was eminently well fitted. In proposing the coast
of the evening, Mr. BUCKSTONE, with a mixture of
humour and pathos, explained the objects of the
association. " When the poor actor," he said, "is
cast down by illness, and unable to don his theatri-
cal dress for Hamlet, Sir Peter, or Mr. Box—when
the musician has no wind for his trombone—the
singer unable to bring out hisfalsetto—or the eques-
trian cannot obtain a ' leg up' for his rapid act of
horsemanship—this association helps him till his
troubles are over, and if he succumbs to them, it
buries him. What can it do more ?" It is a fact
worth notice, as contradicting in a great measure the
general opinion entertained of the thriftlessness and
recklessness of the theatrical profession with regard to
money matters, that where loans have been advanced
by this society for the purpose of enabling actors to
carry on their engagements, they have always been
punctually repaid. The unprofessional reader may
naturally overlook the serious perplexity which an
inevitable journey may be to the struggling young
actor of limited means. Could we tell by what
privations and even sufferings the reitior actors
sometimes reach their place of performance, we
s lonia look With interest even on the "walking
gentleman" and confidential companion. Mr.
BUCKSTONE, in the plentitude of his reputation and
success,afford toAtsellhous
had once
thheeosoecaretpsoto)rf
the
o o. u
s
country actor himself he said he could well appre-
ciate the benefits of this society, for had it existed in
his provincial days it might have saved him many a
long journey on foot and many a wonder as to what
fourpenceehalfpenny in his pocket.
miles
eiiews was
stoondloy. He once Walked seventy-two
Another time, being part of a theatrical company
assembled at Folkestone, whose manager suddenly
decamped, he had to consider how to get to London,