The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-28 00:00:00

THE OPERA COMIQUE.

Under this title another new theatre will open its doors
to the public to-morrow evening. It is situated in Holy-
well-street, and makes the fifth building of that class
erected in the neighbourhood of the Strand within the
last two years. The house has been constructed entirely
from the designs and under the supervision of Mr. F. H.
Fowler, the architect of the Queen's, Gaiety, and other
theatres. Though situated in Holywell - street, the
principal entrance is from the Strand (immediately facing
the Strand Theatre), from whence a spacious
tunnel leads to the interior of the building, on
a level with the dress circle, where it forms a
junction with the second entrance from Holywell-street,
and there are also two more entrances in Wych-street,
making four in all. The general appearance of the
interior differs in many respects from some of our pre-
sent theatres, the Genoese-Italian style being the promi-
nent feature. Throughout the decorations and in the
architectural composition there is a liberal—we might
almost say lavish—use of high art; inasmuch as the
lunettes round the upper circle contain allegorical
paintings emblematical of music, science, art, &c.
The prevailing colour in the drapery is blue with gold,
while the columns are principally white and gold, relieved
With other tints. One great feature in the arrangement
of the auditorium is the absence of any pit, the whole of
the space behind the orchestra being devoted to stalls,
and throughout the entire management of the front of the
house there seems to be a direct contradiction to the latest
idea of Mr. Boucicault, viz., that of a low-priced house
offering a high-class entertainment, the admission to the
stalls being 7s. 6d., the balcony stalls 55., while beyond
this we have the dress circle and the family circle. To
commence their campaign the management have secured
the services of Mdlle. Dejazet, and the whole of her com-
pany, from the Theatre Dejazet, Paris, who will appear
to-morrow evening in " Un soir neigeiat Lefores St.
Gervais," by Victorien Sandon, and " Les forfaits de
pipermans." In concluding our notice of this new aspi-
rant for public favour, we can only say that there has
been no expense spared to produce what is without doubt
the handsomest theatre in London, and from the line of
entertainment promised we anticipate a great success for
the Opera Comique.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

-YESTERDAY.

Louis Gustave Drox, 38, watelnnaker, a native of
Switzerland, was charged with throwing a quantity of
aquafortis upon Harriet Drox, with intent to do her
grievous bodily harm. The prosecutrix was the
wife of the prisoner, and they had been married for
eighteen years at the time the occurrence took
place. Owing, however, to the cruel treatment of the
prisoner, the prosecutrix had applied to the Divorce
Court, and obtained a decree of judicial separation,
on the 10th of June this year. The prisoner appeared
to have constantly waylaid the prosecutrix and
annoyed her after she had obtained the decree, and
she never went out without having some one to accom-
pany her. On the 2nd of October she had been to Dr.
Cumming's Church, in Covent-garden, and when she came
out she saw the prisoner, and he went up :to her, and
she saw him drop his hand, and at the same moment
she smelt a strong smell, and found that her dress had
been burned, and there was no doubt that the prisoner
had thrown a quantity of aquafortis, an ingredient which
he was in the habit of using in his trade as a watch-
maker, upon the clothes of the prosecutrix, but fortu-
nately no part of her person was burnt. The prisoner
was found guilty of a common assault, and sentenced to
eight months' hard labour.

The Italian Government is said to have determined
that a strict neutrality shall be maintained, and has con-
sequently given orders that the authorities should prevent •
the departure of those who are suspected of rendering
assistance to France during the war.
Many of the German papers represent that the condi-
tion of the tmoops before Metz is satisfactory; but such is not
the view of the Weser Gazette. That journal says that the
cold of the evenings, with the constant rain, has produced
great havoc. Flannel waistcoats, woollen coverings,
and all needful medicines are sent, but the devastation
proceeds.
THE CHARGE AGAINST A COUNT.—To the Editor
of the Sen.—l must request your kindly correcting the
following errors in your number of 26th inst., which errors
otherwise might be prejudicial to my reputation. In the
11th line—these bills were signed—" T. Arthur, and Co."
(to be) Thomas Arthur and Co. (in full), 29, Rue Taitbout.
13th line—of T. Arthur, and Co., the agents, &c., (to be)
John Arthur, and Co., the agents, &c. In the 17th line—
" but in the absence of a material witness the Lord Mayor
dismissed the case,"—this is perfectly incorrect, and begs
you to refer to any paper you please of the 15th Sept.,
and you will find there never was question of
witness wanting. Your reporter has conbunded this item
with the application made on the 20th September, at the
Old Bailey, by the prosecution "to postpone preferring
bills of indictment," on the grounds of wanting a witness
from Paris. This application was refused. I wish the
truth inserted—as was stated before the Recorder—viz., in
the 17th line, after the words " Mansion House," the fol-
lowing—" Where the case was fully investigated before
the Lord Mayor, and dismissed." Relying on your
kindly having these corrections inserted, I am, &c.,
TIMM AliTHUite