The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-04 00:00:00

POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.

Though the pleasing terrors of the optical ghost
have not ceased to attract a throng of curious spec-
tators, Professor Pepper has devised a new source
of excitement in the shape of an interesting and in-
structive lecture on one of the most awful topics of
the day. "Burning to death and saving from death"
is the alluring title of his discourse, and as every
unhappy victim to the ignited crinoline has sup-
plied him with a sort of ghastly advertisement, it is
by no means wonderful that his rooms are crammed
to repletion. People know that Mr. Pepper is
much too wise iu his generation to attempt to in-
struct them only, to lecture drily on the chy mical
properties of combustibles and incombustibles, or to
discourse with unspiced erudition on the subject of
asbestos. They are well aware that a sensation
scene of some kind or another is in preparation for
them, and, indeed, it is one of Mr. Pepper's great
qualities that he knows how to flavour his rations
of science with sauce of the strongest relish. Un-
mixed is the satisfaction with which the spectators
behold him as he tests the efficacy of various anti-
dotes to combustion, by holding a piece of muslin
saturated with each in the flame of a lamp: Phos-
phate of ammonia, that produces carbonisation
without combustion, or—to use shorter words—
blackens without a blaze, is regarded with great
respect. More lightly esteemed is borax, which
allows the flame to give a sort of red-hot appearance
to the muslin, and leads one to conjecture that
if it will prevent people from being actually
consumed, it will not insure them against the
chance of being grilled. Contempt, shared by the
lecturer, is felt for alum, which seems to be endowed
with the negative virtues of a chip in the porridge;
while tungstate of soda and the "patent incombus-
tible starch" command murmurs of applause. Still,
the pleasure as yet felt is mainly of an anticipatory
kind. The " patent incombustible starch" manu-
factured at Rushton.stieet, Hoxton, and sold at the
Polytechnic, is obviously the article to which the
whole lecture is intended to lead, but everybody is
convinced that its virtues will be shown in a more
striking manner than the preservation of a miser-
able piece of muslin. The conviction is justified by
the event. With two grand " effects" does the
lecture conclude. For the first Mr. Pepper brings
forward a lay figure, attired like a lady largely be-
crinolined, and stands it on a plate of iornonc.ausAesligthhet
applied to the skirt of the dressfi do
athteooflafmreeqsu frequent:
of the sipdeocftataomrse'sharnideksoalaloeul.
figure
eotre bsueslcoespttiibnlea
reality. des
.eonftab.tliaonnkeotfs
but the dilapidated appearancteheof
fatethe
at the frightfulivitht
extinguished,
figure is perhaps even more appalling than the bril.
hreepa
liant destruction of its garments.
extin
Now for the
second effect. We have already seen
of the damsel who wore crinoline, but would not
-
use "patent incombustible starch ;" we have now to
behold the reward of prudence. Not a lay figure,
but a real lady, attired in a duly prepared garment,
takes her place on the iron plate and confidently
walks up and down between two rows of
flame. The fire lightly plays upon her
skirt, and leaves her unscathed, while she
bravely tempts it to do its worst. Here is an ex-
citement of the most legitimate kind—the ap-
pearance of peril combined with the reality of per-
fect safety ; a Blon din with his neck warranted not
to break, even in the event of a fall. Applause, of
which the young lady has a share, is tremendous,
and--" What need of further argument ?" says Pro-
fessor Pepper. He has given his auditors capital.
premises fora syllogism, and if they cannot draw
the Cinderella," so ingeniously
The pantomime o
the conclusion they must be dull indeed.
composed of dissolving views, is now accompanied
by an entirely new entertainment spoken by Mr.
Lionel Brough.

NORWICH MUSICAL FESTIVAL.—The services of
Mademoiselle Titiens and Mr. Sims Reeves have been
secured for the next musical festival at Norwich. The local
choral society will shortly proceed vigorously with their
rehearsals, and the committee will hold a meeting in the
course of the month to further mature arrangements