The Sun.
London, England, 1865-10-03 00:00:00

The Oxford Music Hall.

Opera, Operetta, Comedy (with a dash of the Tragi-
comic), Burlesque, Extravaganza, Ballet, Pantomime—all
the familiar elements of our amusements in the Opera..
house or the Theatre—enter into the composite entertain-
ments of the Oxford Music Hall). Very kaleidoscopic, it is
true, but just the sort of recreation of which modern
audiences do not tiro, because, although the amusements
are continual, they are varied by incessant contrast, and a
good hearty laugh can be guaranteed any ten minutes of an
evening, the classical and the sentimental notwithstanding.
The music hall yields a quicker succession of fun than the
theatre, except when the presence of some burlesque on
the theatrical boards admits of the "passing follies" being
engrafted on the text. Last night, we know, we saw two
Chinese giants on the Oxford boards. " Chang," the
veritable sank into insignificance in comparison with the
improvised giants ; and " Chung," the dwarf, was there
too, and a lecture, and real Chinese salaams into the
bargain. We mention this latest addition to the facetim
of the Oxford to show how well the management
is posted up in the most recent events of London
life. Since Offenbach has reigned supreme at the Oxford,
"Laughter" has wisely taken the precaution of holding both
his sides. It is not saying too much to aver that by the
introduction of the operettas of " Orphee aux Enfers" and
" 66," the taste of the town has been considerably pro-
moted for comic opera. Both these sparkling operettas
have had a brilliant run. English composers are taking
heart at the success of these Parisian favourites, and are
promising us something lively in the way of musical farce
after their more severe lucubrations in the clas-
sical vein. The operatic company now at
the Oxford have attained a high point of perfection,
and we should like to see their powers tested in Offenbach's
piquant music at a morning concert at the Crystal Palace
for the delectation of the season ticket holders. The prin-
cipal artistes in the latter selection and in the " Traviata"
are Miss Russell (the prima donna), Madame Maria, the
Misses Tyrrell, Walmsley, Barril, E. Reid, and Fitzhenry ;
Messrs. A. St. Albyn, Husk, W. Williams, Evans, and
Signors Tivoli and Spagnoli ; and in both selections the
magnificent chorus displays its well-known efficiency. In
" The Bridal of Beauty," the grand ballet, invented by
those favourite danseuses the Misses Sarah and Tessy
Gunnis, we seem to have a revival of the old Opera House
ballet in its most palmy days. Tho brilliant prismatic
method of lighting was not known in Taglioni's time, and
brilliant effects are now accomplished which literally
throw the past into the shade. The fascinating young
ladies have all the felicitations to themselves, however
and it is to be regretted if any lingering fears of the Lord
Chamberlain prevent the introduction of Perrot in the
midst of these amiable sylphs in the person of D'Auban or
a Hungarian brother. But there is sure to be a quarrell-
ing between the sexes in a ballet, and it may be
prudent to steer clear of any plots that might be
mixed up with these passions, but the result is that the
premiere danseuse is left without a lover. The miscel-
laneous selection included songs by Miss Walmsley, Miss
Fitzhenry, and Miss Ellen Reid. The D'Aubans are un-
approached in their peculiar line of " comic " dancing. A
patten dance, introduced by Miss D'Auban, in a pair of
pattens, such as our grandmothers would have worn, is a
special little triumph over difficulties of locomotion. " The
Hungarians"—the Brother and Sister Karalfi—dance and
look well in the national costume. The young lady points
to the sky with her foot, in the most vertical manner, and
surprises by the extreme lissomeness of her limbs.

WINE.—Our readers are sufficiently acquainted
with M. Pasteur's researches on the causes to which
may be attributed either the deterioration or the improve-
ment of wine. According to that distinguished chemist
wine gets spoilt through the action of organised ferments,
presenting certain definite shapes under the microscope ;
good, and especially old wine, has no such ferments. In a
paper addressed to the Academy of Sciences, M. 11"11""AP
questions the correctness of some of these ar
endeavours to prove that the qualities and
whconstitute
good wines, such as flavour, bouquet, &c., are equally owing
to the presence of organised ferments and also to the vari-
able nature of the medium in which they live. In the south
of France they communicate certain properties to wines by
subjecting them to a certain artificial temperature, which
must not exceed a certain number of degrees, by exposing
them to the heat of a southern sun. The changes which
wine undergoes, especially in growing old, are owing to a
fermentation produced by certain organised microzoaria,
the successors of the alcholic ferment, properly so called.
M. Bechamp states that he has for many years past been
examining the best wines he could procure, and has al ways
found organised productions therein. They are exceed-
ingly small and difficult to discover ; in red wines they are
very small globular beings, grains moving about with great
agility, and requiring a strong magnifying power to be
detected. In white wines besides these small globules,
there aro also minute filiform beings like bacteria, and
moving like them ; as also small grains similar to the
smallest ferments of vinous fermentation. This M.
Bechamp supported by producing a sample of the deposit
found in a bottle of St. George's, and another specimen,
taken from a bottle of Rancio. Hence ho concludes that
any wino may contain organised productions, and yet not
get spoilt, and that, however paradoxical it may seem, it
may be said that wines will grow old and improve through
causes similar to those that spoil it. The art of imparting
to new wine the properties of old will therefore in future
consist in favouring the production of beneficial organisms.
—Galignani.

MRS. SunnArr's COUNSEL-11 has been stated
in the Neto York herald that during the progress of the
conspiracy trial, in June last, Mrs. S urratt gave her note for
$3,000 for 60 days to hor counsel, who, after the execution,
and several days before the note became due, notified
several of the intimate personal friends of Mrs. Surratt
that they would settle the note in question at a heavy dis-
count. The latter subsequently informed the counsel that
but $l,OOO could be raised, which sum was accepted in full
couidoration of the note for 63,000,