The Sun.
London, England, 1865-11-21 00:00:00

Strand Theatre.

Little could the habitue of the Strand Theatre
at the close of the summer season have imagined
the brilliant sight that was presented to him on his
taking his seat at the commencement of the winter
campaign. Such a perfect transformation has
taken place within the building that it nowpresents
one of the most brilliant sights in the metropolis.
During the recess the interior has been thoroughly
remodelled, the roof elevated, the stalls and
boxes elegantly refitted and enlarged, and new
entrances to the pit and gallery constructed in
Surrey-street. The decoration of the interior has
been confided to Mr. Bradwell, and well has he
executed his task, as nothing could present a
prettier or more tasteful appearance than the " au-
ditorium " of, literally, the New Strand Theatre.
A very excellent company has been secured, and
Meyerbeer's "Africaine"seleeted for the opening bur-
lesque, theleading part, that of Ind, being supported
by Miss Ada Swanborough. It will 'be quite sufficient
to say all the points in the grand opera have been
seized upon, and in each case the artistes admirably
enact their respective parts. The mounting of the
burlesque is superb, and it is no exaggeration when
we say it is quite on a par with those splendid pro-
ductions which secured the late Madame Vestris
such a world-wide reputation. The scenery, by
Mr. C. Fenton, too, is worthy the highest praise,
the council chamber and the cabin of the " Don
Quay" being perfect marvels of scenic illusion,
taking into consideration the actual extent of the
stage.

The season has been commenced with spirit, and
we sincerely trust it will, in its progress, meet with
the great success it deserves.

MINISTERIAL CHANGES.—Mr. Goschen has ac-
cepted the post of Vice-President of the Board of
Trade, vacated by the Right Hon. W. Hutt, whose retire-
ment is supposed to be influenced by the miscarriage of the
negotiations in which he took part respecting the treaty of
commerce between this country and Austria. Sir Robert
Peel has now resigned the Irish Chief Secretaryship, and
will be succeeded by the Right Hon. Chichester Fortescue.
EXETER HALL.--The " Creation," with Miss
Louisa Pyne, Mr. Leigh Wilson, and Mr. Santley, will be
given by the National Choral Society, under the direction
of Mr. G. W. Martin, on Wednesday, the 29th. This will
be Mr. Santley's last appearance in oratorios this winter,
and the first appearance of Miss Louisa Pyne.
THE REPAVEMENT OF OXFORD-STREET.—Yes-
terday the entire thoroughfare of Oxford-street, which has;
been repaved nearly throughout the whole distance, wao
again thrown open to the carriage traffic. There has been e
continual stoppage now for many weeks while the repairs
wore being carried on, and all vehicles were in consequence
compelled to diverge to the right and to the loft, to thegrsat
inconvenience of the neighbourhood.

EXCESSIVE BRAIN-WORK is probably the side on
which some of the most useful men sin most reck-
lessly. Exercise and regularity and care about food inaY
counterbalance the n/ischief up to a certain point, but the
fuel can never be supplied with a rapidity and certainty
proportionate to the consumption. The long lives of th°
judges are commonly held up as a proof that the hardest
work is not inconsistent with health. But it is worth while
to consider that, though a judge works a good deal, it ill
not all work which taxes his mind very severely. It is not
like the work of an original author, for instance. The
judge sits a great many hours of every year in a court, but
his mind is not keenly on the stretch throughout the whole
of every case, perhaps not even of the majority of cases'
And, in the second place, a judge always has an enor-
mously long rest once a year. The vacation is long enough
to permit • a thorough renovation, and this is the great
thing. Every holiday is so far an advantage ; but there
can be no doubt that one prolonged change of occupation
and surrounding is of a better kind than a number of short
changes, not one of which is sufficient to allow the WO°
entirely to recover. It is a mistake, therefore, to argil!
from the example of the Bench that a man may wor. V.
brain eight or ten hours a day, most days in the year,
out seriously impairing his health. Yet men of all sobilb:
and conditions are constantly attempting this irapo6l_,d
feat. Men of business and politicians, and students
.013.
journalists all supply instances of the fatal sin of the
It takes so long to rid the mind of an old habit of 10°' a
at things.—Saturday Review.