The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-27 00:00:00

W. S. WOODIN.

Our country cousins and our friends from the
continent, evening after evening, are in the habit of
finding a refreshing little oasis in their dusty and
foot-sore wanderings about this wilderness of Lon-
don and Westminster. About eight of the clock
they turn into it from the roar of the Strand—that
great thoroughfare which may be regarded as the
mystical bond connecting together those same
Siamese Twins among the cities of the earth—
London and Westminster. Guided by a happy
whim, out of that turmoil of the Strand, advancing
but a few paces down King William-street, turning
to the right through the open doorway
that whosoever enters in the dumps is
absolutely certain to leave laughing—the Visitor
in search of amusement, no matter whether he be a
" Young Man from the Country," or " Any Other
Man," has reason to congratulate himself upon his
choice before he has been very long seated in the
Polygraphic Hall, into which Hall a lucky chance
may in a happy hour have directed his footsteps.
Why—we London habitués know perfectly well. The
Stranger, though be jumps to the conclusion often
with an instantaneous sense of exhilaration—more
frequently arrives at the not unwelcome know-
ledge of the fact by a series of almost imper-
ceptible gradations. Once settled in his place—no
matter whether that place may be among the stalls,
the reserved seats, or the boxes—he finds at every
turn that his comfort has been sedulously cared for
by his Entertainer. A profusion of mirrors cover
the walls of the little theatre after that sparkling
Parisian fashion which tends so much to the
adornment of every cafe along the Boulevards f►•om
the Place de la Madeleine to the Place de la Bastille.
There are flowers in abundance dispersed in grace-
ful vases or tazzas in front of the proscenium.
There are pleasant sprinklings and tinklings of
dropping water—there is a sense of delicate
fragrance in the air—it is Rimmel's fairy-like
device of little odour breathing fountains ! There
are new decorations visible here and there through-
out the whole interior. A better arrangement has
been contrived for the musical accompaniment
that occasionally enlivens the monologue of the
speaking, dancing, and singing Polyphonist. As
a whole the entertainment itself is, of course, the
same as last year's—the same, that is, with a diffe-
rence ! Two or three new Characters are intro-
duced, and one marvellous Imitation. The last-
mentioned being no other than what we may call,
with perfect truth, a veritable fac simile, or alter
ego of Mr. Sothern as my Lord Dundreary ! His
lordship it is, rather, we should say, in propria per-
sona—with all his elegance, with all his stutter, and
with all his unconscionable stupidity. The affluent,
slightly peg-toppish trousers—the unexceptionable
coat the long trailing half-whisker-half-
moustache—the hair parted from the centre of the
forehead up to the crown of the head in the very
straightest of sheep walks—the eye-glass perpetu-
ally on service—are none among them more true
to the reality than the h-h-hesitating, st-stammer-
ing voice, than the in souciant and ineffable expres-
sion of the whole countenance, than the little pre-
posterous tripping run of the whole figure, or than
the everlasting baulk of that oft-threatened, but never
accomplished, sneeze ! Mr. Woodin has certainly
a knack beyond that even of Munden—whom Charles
Lamb describes as dipping for faces. Mr. Woodin
dips not only for faces, but with them for figures,
for voices, for complete and, some of them (as in
the instance of Lord Dundreary) most complex in-
dividualities. To Mr. Woodin, we should imagine,
the old familiar axiom, about two heads being better
than one, must appear not simply trite but ridicu-
lous. His heads, apparently, are about as nume-
rous as those of a Scotch Divine's prelection. Our
Polyphonist may, in effect, with confidence be pro-
nounced—a very Proteus, a very Politician, a very
Human Chameleon in his change-ability. Him-
self, however (as a Polyphonist), we would none of
us, far an instant, wish to change for anything
but—exactly what he is! Namely, less of an Actor
than of a whole Company ! And " capital com-
pany " too ! Whatever he may be in private life,
certainly we must say that of him, whenever he is
before the public, in front of the footlights! Wnat
with his flexible features, and elastic figure, and
variable voice, and his wonderful adaptability, in
regard to air, and gait, and carriage, and general
deportment--however much he may imitate others,
he himself, we take it, may fairly be pronounced
inimitable.

MANSION-HOUSE.--The Lady Mayoress gave a
ball at the Mansion. house, on Tuesday evening, to a distin-
guished company. The invited guests, about 1,•500 in num
ber, included the foreign ambassadors, a very large propor-
tion of the nobility, the Royal Commissioners and jurors for
the International Exhibition, many foreign visitors of dis-
tinction, all the members of the Court of Aldermen, and a
large circle of private friends. The company began to
assemble about 10 o'clock. All the state apartments were
thrown open on the occasion, the Egyptian-hall being set
apart for dancing, which was continued until some time
after midnight.
AN AMBITIOUS BUG.—The following appears in
an advertisement in yesterday morning's Junes :—" I, Nor.
folk Howard, heretofore called and known by the name of
Joshua Bug, late of Epsom, in the county of Surrey, now
of Wakefield, in the county of York, and landlord of the
Swan Tavern in the same county, do hereby give notice,
that on the 20th day of this present month of Juno, for and
on behalf of myself and heirs, lawfully begotten, I did
wholly abandon the use of the surname of Bug, and as-
sumed, took, and used, and am determined at all times here-
after, in all writings, actions, dealings, matters, and things,
and upon all other occasions whatsoever, to be distin-
guished, to subscribe, to be called and known by the name
of Norfolk Howard only. I further refer all whom it may
concern to the deed poll under rny hand and seal, declaring
that I choose to renounce the use of the surname of Bug,
and that I assume in lieu thereof the above surnames of
Norfolk How ard, and also declaring my determination,
upon all occasions whatsover, to be called and distinguished
exclusively by the said surnames of Norfolk Howard,
duly enrolled by me in the High Court of Chancery.—
Dated this 23d day of June, 1862.—Norfolk Howard, late
Joshua Bug."

GALLANT CAPTURE.—The capture of a notorious
burglar took place at Southsea, near Portsmouth, on Wed-
nesday, and is somewhat remarkable for the determined
spirit which was displayed by the captor. At the eastern
part of Southsea, close to the sea beach, is an educational
establishment, where young gentlemen aro prepared for
their examinations for entry into the military and naval
services, the principal of whom is Mr. Kempshead, who
was formerly an inspector of Government schools. On
Wednesday morning Mr. Kempshead was awoke just pre-
vi.us to daylight by a noise in the house, and, arming him-
self with a sword, left his bedroom to ascertain the cause.
He soon discovered there was an intruder in the house,
who, however, seemed to be making a rapid retreat, and
eventually escaped from the house, and fled across Southsea-
common. Mr. Kernpshead's clothing was slight, an easterly
wind was blowing, and the figure of the burglar was fast
i„,,ening to view ; but the gallant principal did not hesitate
many seconds before he dashed across the common in pur-
suit, came up with the chase alter a hard run of some mi-
nutes' duration, captured him, and conveyed him back
in
triumph, a prisoner, to the house he had taken so much
trouble to enter, but had fled from F 0 precipitately.
arrival home with his prisoner Mr. Kempshead sent O
to then
nearest Cu and
astguard station for assistance, delivered the
prisoner into their charge, by whom be was conveyed to
Portsmouth gaol, where he was recognised byc ih governor
(Mr. Astridge) as an old hand, whose last name was Henry
Thompson, and who had recently been discharged from
penal servitude.