The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-27 00:00:00

STRAND.

We have recently admired, in common with the
judicious portion of the public, the rebuilt interior
of this pleasant little theatre. The performances,
too. have received our attention. They have not
called for change ; so that " Nothing iVenture
Nothing Win," the burlesque " L'Africaine," and
" Mrs. Green's Snug Business" are business enough
for this delightful little resort, which does not at-
tempt the stupendous, the gorgeous, or the over-
whelming.

after their opening the doors had to be closed against the
public, every available spot being crammed.
THE CluasrY MINSTRELS.—These clever "entertainers"
attracted a large audience in St. James's Hall. The enter-
tainment is still as popular as ever, which is amply ac-
counted for by the fact that the Minstrels are untiring in
their exertions to introduce constant changes and novelties.
It must be conceded that few entertainments have ever
been brought forward which presented such a variety of
features as are displayed by these darkened aspirants to
public honours. Whether it be in the well cultivated exer-
cise of the vocal art, or in those grotesque evolutions which
have contributed in a considerable degree towards their
enduring popularity, or in those irresistibly comic scenes in
which their dramatic powers are often severely and most
satisfactorily tested, these original Christy Minstrels still
find increasing favour in the eyes and ears of appreciative
audiences. Amongst other novelties recently introduced
should be mentioned an extremely amusing scene in which
ludicrously exaggerated embodiments of the two giants,
Chang and Anak, are represented under circumstances of
the most grotesque and boisterous humour—the vociferous
gentleman who performs the part of showman having the
good fortune to produce a hearty laugh every time he gives
the audience a specimen of his descriptive powers. A series
of performances more varied or more diverting than that
which is now being given by these original and veritable
Christy Minstrels has never yet been presented even by
the members of this eccentric body.
MADAME TrssAun's.—Baker-street would be but for
this exhibition a terra incognita to the large majority of the
residents of the metropolis leading from nowhere to no-
where—that is to say, so far as that majority is concerned.
As it is, however, it becomes a regular holiday pilgrimage,
in order that the rising generation may be treated by those
of larger growth to a sight of all the kings and princes in
the world, surrounded by various other notable individuals
in the habits in which they are supposed now to move or
to have moved. The great beauty of the exhibition seems
to b 3 that these habits never fade—Madame Tussaud or
her successors having an unpatented invention for preserv-
ing silks, satins, or other ornaments from becoming depre-
ciated. Then, there is the chamber of horrors—we beg
pardon, the physiological chamber— in which Charlotte
Winsor and Ernest Southey, or Forwood, have just found
befitting niches.
GALLERY OF ILLUSTRATION.—Mr. and Mrs. German
Reed, with their friend Mr. John Parry, issued invitations
for "Peculiar Party," both in the morning and evening of
yesterday, and on each occasion gave great gratification to
their guests. At the close of the " Peculiar Party," the
majority of the guests visited that of "Mrs. Roseleaf,"
where Mr. John Parry was the principal lion, and was
earnestly followed by a throng of admiring friends.
EGYPTIAN HALL.—How many exhibitions will this hall
accommodate ? No matter. Sufficient to state that Mr.
and Mrs. Ho ward Paul are here, and that the attendance
of yesterday proved that the attraction of their entertain-
ments has by no means decreased. " Ripples on the Lake"
should be seen by everybody. Mrs. Paul is as enchanting
and engaging, and Mr. Paul as comic as ever. What more
need we say ? On dit, Mrs. Paul is about to give up the
"entertainment" line to return to the stage, which she at
one time so well adorned.

.
NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY.—This was an extra day

at the National Portrait Gallery, and limited as was the
notice that it would be so, there was a large attendance of
visitors, the majority of whom evidently took a deep inte-
rest in the historical portraits which renders this collection

so valuable.
ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.—The Zoological Gardens in the
Regent's-park were more than usually attractive for the
time of year, owing to the unusual mildnass of the season.
Indeed there are few holiday amusements more interesting,
and certainly none more instructive, than a visit to the
Zoological Gardens. The grounds are in beautiful order,
the animals in good health, and the attraction for the
juvenile portion of the community fully equal to what it
has ever been.
THE GIANT CHANG.—Chang the Giant holds no less than
five levees daily, and yesterday found numerous ♦isitors
May their number never grow less ! Chang is appropirately
" set off " by Chung Mow, the redoubtable " Tartar rebel,"
who now, having taken to peaceable pursuits, beguiles the
giant and the British public with a display of his vocal
abilities, which, for aught we know to the contrary, would
insure him a tremendous fortune in his native land, were
it not that he has the ambition of pleasing the "Western
barbarians."

THEATRE OF MYSTERY, EGYPTIAN HALL.—Stodare, who
has not seen Stodare ? Let him go at once. Yesterday
the basket trick and the sphinx created as much amuse-
ment as ever, and the distribution of Christmas presents
by a most lavish hand no doubt implanted the name of
Stodare on many a juvenile mind for years to come.
ST. JAMES'S HALL.—Another giant, and yet another
giant ! Anak is now exhibiting on his own account, and
yesterday gave four special performances, allowing himself,
as heretofore, to be led in triumph round the stage by
General Dot and his Liliputian troopers. Alas ! how great
men stoop to obtain the applause of the world—and, shall
we add, bread and butter.
CROWN JEWELS OF CHINA.—To those who delight in
the sight of precious gems which they are destined never
to possess, the exhibition of these jewels, captured in the
Summer Palace of Pekin, and now exhibiting in Piccadilly,
must prove attractive; at all events they appeared to be so
to hundreds of holiday-makers yesterday.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—This Day.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

"BoxiwG-DAY."—A number of persons were brought
beforo Mr. Tyrwhitt this morning charged with being
both drunk and disorderly. Where the charge was
only that of drunkenness and the disorderly conduct was
not serious, Mr. Tyrwhitt, taking into consideration that
it was holiday time, discharged the offenders—one elderly
female thanking the magistrate for his kindness and,
much to the amusement of a crowded court, wishing him
" a happy New Year." There were several cases of
drunkenness and assault, and also o drunkenness and
wilful damage, amongst others the following _ _

Annie Stanley, a young woman, was charged with wil-
ful damage at Mr. Gilbert's oyster-rooms, 5, Oxford-street,
and also with assaulting Arthur Howell, the waiter.
The waiter said the prisoner came into the rooms, and
had a lobster and left, and shortly after returned and de-
manded her umbrella. He told her there was no umbrella
in the place, ;and she took up a quart port and smashed
eight panes of glass, of the value of 125., and on trying
to prevent her doing more damage she bit three of his
fingers through to the bone.
The prisoner denied being drunk, and said she went
back to get her umbrella, which was refused.
Mr. Tyrwhitt said the prisoner was as bad as a mad
dog, and he should commit her for the assault for 21 days,
and order her to pay the damage, or 14 days.
John Turner, a carpenter, of No. 18, Wellington-terrace,
Hammersmith, was charged with being drunk, behaving
in a disorderly manner, and wilfully breaking a pane of
glass, value £2, at the house of Mr. Nye, and also with
breaking a pane of glass in the police station.
The defendant was ordered to pay the damage, £2, or a
month, and a fine of 2s. 6d. for the damage at the sta-
tion. •

A NIGHT CAB Holum—Wm. Cooper, cab driver, badge
10,595, was charged before Mr. Tyrwhitt, at the instance
of Mr. Wm. Love, of the Royal Society for the prevention
of Cruelty to Animals, with cruelty to a horse, by working
it while in a totally unfit state.

Inspector Temperley, of the Royal Society for the Pre-
vention of Cruelty to Animals, proved seeing the prisoner
shortly after 12 last night in charge of a horse on the stand
in St. James's-street. The horse was standing on three
legs trembling, and on examining it he found it to have
several bad wounds and the muscle of its near shoulder
wasted away, the poor animal being past all work. It was
a practice to bring any kind of screws out at holiday
times.

Mr. Tyrwhitt fined the prisoner 20s. or 14 days,
observing that he thought the best thing would be to have
the horse killed, and killed in a proper manner, and at a
proper place, and that it should not suffer. If the prisoner
did not have it killed, it would be wittehcd by the officers
of the society, and there would be a summons for every day
it was worked.