The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-17 00:00:00

CRYSTAL PALACE.

The benefit of Mr. Strange, the purveyor-general
to her 'Majesty's lieges visiting the Crystal Palace,
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ever - varying demands upon the commissariat
department of the Palace at Sydenham. Unlike
those necessarily made upon a large establishment,
where the number of visitors or residents can be
pretty nearly ascertained, the wants of the visitors
to the Crystal Palace can never be estimated and
provided for. The attendance is regulated
in a great measure by the weather, and
when that uncertainty is taken into con-
sideration, it is something surprising that the
tastes of thousands are so adequately supplied. Of
course there must ba occasions when disappoint-
ments as to a favourite dish are to be met with, but
let those who have suffered under that inconve-
nience for one minute consider the ever-varying
number of visitors, and inconsiderate indeed must
be that person who is not convinced that the ar-
rangemects of Mr. Strange are neither imperfect
nor parsimonious, because on some special occasion
a plate of salmon, or a dish of whitebait, is not to
be had by asking for. The visitor ought, before
coming to the conclusion that the arrange-
ments are bad, to consider the number of persons
present, not one of which has given Mr. Strange
the slightest notice of what he should like
for dinner. There is an old story about a number
of cockneys going on a pic-nic excursion, and when
each opened his provision basket it was found to
contain a solitary leg of lamb, but neither bread
nor salt. Of course the consternation under such
circumstances may be imagined; each would have
acted differently had he known his friend would
not have brought the bread. On the same rule Mr.
Strange, if he could correctly ascertain the number
requiring a certain dish, would most assuredly
amply provide for all. Our great surprise is, not
that we cannot always have salmon when we wish
it, but that the complaints, taking into considera-
tion the number of visitors, are so few. On the
occasion of Mr. Strange's benefit, however, there
was no room for complaint, both refreshments and
amusements were of the most unlimited character.
There were three military bands stationed in the
grounds, a grand organ performance, comic singing,
a grand concert of national melodies by 200 voices,
the brothers Stonette, the Elliotts in their elegant
ball-room entertainment, a balloon ascent, military
sports, the great fountains, and the performances of
Blondin on the low rope. At the termination of the
amusements the place and grounds were lit up with
coloured fires, and thus one of the greatest fetes of
the season was brought to a conclusion amidst a
blaze of triumph.

THE ADVANTAGES OF BUS' RACING.

AS SUMMED UP BY A. SPORTING SURGEON.
"Doncaster. Pshaw You'll not catch me going there
this meeting, I can promise you. Yes, I like seeing a good
race, and the St. Leger is a crack one : but the fact is, just
at present there are races here in London, which to me are
far more interesting. What do I mean ? My boy, I mean
the Races of the Omnibuses, and I'll trouble you to show
me any that can equal them. One goes to races chiefly for
excitement. Now, to get up a sensation there's nothing
like an accident, and for the chance of a good accident
there's nothing like a 'bus race, Yes, I know all that ;
there was a spill last Derby, and not a bad one, either,
Still, you see, in horse racing if there is an accident, it's
only to an animal, or may be to a jockey. But in 'bus
racing, my boy, there is no telling what may happen, from
a conductor being crushed to a child being run over. Be-
sides, the 'busses may capsize in rattling down a hill, for
of course when they are racing they never stop to put the
skid on. And then, the chances are there'll be a jolly lot
of casualties, and you may get some goodish cases if you are
looking out for them. I make a point myself of attending
all the 'bus races ; and I assure you, I've picked up a pretty
tidy lot of practice at them. You see, there's sure to be a
race as soon as a new 'bus is started on the line of
route which has been worked by the General Monopoly
Inconvenient Conveyance Company. Directly the Dew
'bus starts the G. M. I. C. C. start a couple more to nurse
it, one keeping close in front and the other close behind it;
so besides the chance of being torn to pieces by the cads,
the passengers in getting en or off the 'busses while going
at full speed, are pretty sure to come to grief and broken
bones occasionally.

"so, long live this 'bus-racing, say I; for however gre-Lt
a nuisance it may be to the public, it is certainly a benefit
to men of my profession, and the longer that it flourishes
the better will it be for us. The only thing I fear is, that,
by some accidental act of common sense, a jury should re-
turn a verdict of manslaughter against niy good friends
the directors of the G. M. I. C. C., who are, after all, the
chief promoters of 'bus•racing. In that case there would,
doubtless, be a stop put to the sport; but the contingency
of common sense occurring to a jury is really so remote, that
it
13
hardly worth conhidering: —Punch.

RESTORATION OF TILE CATHEDRAL OF ST.
XILKENNY.—This venerable and beautiful struc-
ture hav•
tion _asn'g latterly fallen into great d:isrepair its restora-
tion
w to XlO,OOO resolved on at the estimated cost of from £B,OOO