The Sun.
London, England, 1862-08-30 00:00:00

CRIS7AL PALACE.

Tho month of September opens well for the Crystal
Palace. With an excess of visitors, two hundred thousand
beyond any former year, it steadily advances in public esti-
mation, and up to the period of closing the International
Exhibition, it will no doubt continue the some proressive
increase which has marked the past two months.
One cause for this is owing to the varied attractiOns pu;
before the public. As these are always announced a week
beforehand, visitors have their choice of the particular spe-
ciality most suited to their tastes. It is not to be inferred,
that the peculiar and unrivalled attractions of the Crystal
Palace proper, so to speak, are on the wane; on the con-
trary, the ad miration and gratification expressed by the thou-
sands of foreigners and strangers who visit it daily are un-
bounded, and as these return to their respective homes, they
unquestionably add greatly to the permanent popularity of
this thoroughly English institution. As, however, a little
special attraction suits various tastes there isno doubt that the
variety brought to bear on each week adds many to those
who would visit Sydenham without any specialty beyond
those comprised in the building and beautiful grounds. '
In the coming week, on Monday and Saturday, the whole
of the Great Fountains will be played. These never fail to
attract large numbers. On Monday Mr. coxwell will also
make an ascent in his great balloon,which has acquired
so much celebrity from its ascents with Mr. Glaisher,
for the scientific objects connected with the British
Association. Mr. Coxwell's late exhibitions at the
Crystal Palace have done much to popularise pros- 1
tation, several hundreds of persons having availed
themselves of the recent opportunities of ascending
for a few hundred feet. As the car of this great
balloon is of almost omnibus size, and will contain sixteen
persons, it is really a very commodious affair, and it is not
surprising that applications to accompany Mr. Coxwell in
his aerial trips are becoming frequent as blackberries at this
season of the year. Monday being likewise the day fixed
for the excursions of the South London Foresters, the
combined attractions will cause a large assemblage,
The great Autumn Show of flowers and fruit will be
held at the Palace on Wednesday and Thursday, the 3rd
and 4th of September. The reputation the Crystal Palace
has acquired for its great flower shows is well known.
Being always under the roof of the Palace they are unaf-
fected by vicissitudes of weather. Those which have
been already held during the present year have been
unusually successful. That the present show may
be no exception to the present popular rule which is
being so successfully carried out, the charge for admis-
sion to the Palace on the days of the flower show will not
be increased, but continue at the usual one shilling rate,
and thus, all classes may have the opportunity of partici-
pating in the pleasure of these great displays. Blondin,
whose popularity has evidently been immensely increased
by the unhappy notoriety attaching to displays in imitation
of his particular vocation, will walk the high rope over the
fountains on Tuesday, and give one of his equally attrac-
tive, if not equally exciting, low rope exhibitions on the
Friday.
Commencing with the Ist of September, season tickets,
admitting to the Palace up to the Ist of May, 1863, will be
issued at half-a-guinea each. There is always a large sale
of these tickets, which is not to be wondered at when it is
known that they admit to all the varied attractions of the
Palace for eight months.
As the excursion rates by the various railways have been
put at very low rates, during the period the International
Exhibition remains open, to induce heads of large firms in
the provinces to send their workmen and others to visit the
International Exhibition, the directors of the Crystal Palace
and the Brighton Railway have agreed to issue joint tickets
for conveyance to and fro and for admission to the Palace
at the lowest excursion rates, viz., one shilling, provided
that the party belong to one firm, and are not less than
one hundred in number. Hitherto this low rate has been
confined to excursions of one thousand and upwards ; its
extension so as to include the numerous smaller excur •
sions now converging to London for the Exhibition,
will enable many to enjoy a sight of the Crystal Palace
and its world-wide attractions, at an almost nominal cost.
On Tuesday, 9th September, the great Brass Band Con•
test will be held at the Palace. Forty-nine of the principal
.champion district bands of England have entered as corn •
petitors for the prizes to be awarded. The effect of such a
force of brass instruments, aided by a large staff of regi-
mental drummers and buglers, when combined in the great
Handel Orchestra, must be heard to be believed. The con-
test will commence in the grounds of the Palace at ten
o'clock. The combined bands will perform in the great
Orchestra at three, at the conclusion of which, the selected
bands will contest for the prizes, which will be afterwards
presented to their respective winners in front of the Orches-
tra. Much interest is excited throughout the populous dis-
tricts to which these bands belong.
During the month of August upwards of 400,000 persons
entered the Palace, by far the larger proportion of whom it
is estimated visited it for the first time.
MARKETS---THIS DAY.