The Sun.
London, England, 1851-04-24 00:00:00

STs JAMES'S THEATRE

PROFESSOR ANDERSON'S SOIREES FAN-
T A STIQUES,_

To " the Great Wizard of the North," as in days
gone by Mr. J. H. Anderson was wont to style
himself, the metropolitan public is indebted for a re-
vival of the taste for fantastic illusions and popular
magic. The race of conjurors had become extinct,
their tricks were too clumsy to excite the surprise,
and too vulgar to please the taste of the present
fastidious age, and the practice of " white magic"
had fallen into desuetude when Mr. Anderson ap-
peared, and by his gentlemanly demeanour, the neat-
ness and really wonderful nature of his tricks, and
the brilliancy of his splendid gold and silver appara-
tus, at once revived a taste for the mar-
vellous, and became the founder of the
modern school of parlour magic. The magi-
cian himself was no longer the long-bearded,
grim-looking, diabolically-adorned individual, who
bad excited the terror and admiration of our child-
hood, he was now the well-bred gentleman, dressed in
his usual evening coitume, who was amusing his
friends in au eligantiy fitted-up drawing-room,
which had taken the place of the cave of magic of
old. The illusions also were of the most elegant and
tasteful description ; the inexhaustible bottle ; the
production of myriads of beautiful bouquets, the
distribution from apparently impossible sources of
innumerable cornets of bonbons ; the wonders of the
magic telescope; the mysterious disappearance of
individuals from under extinguishers, have been sub-
stituted for the vulgar fire- '
eeting and red-tape pro-
ducing, and for the brutal and blood-stained fowl-
killings, with which of old our ancestors were
amused. Mr. Anderson was the original reformer
and civilizer of the art magic, and it Was therefore a
graceful compliment that her Majesty paid to him
when she summoned him to Balmoral Castle to per-
form before the Court. Since that time we believe
he has assumed the title of Professor Anderson.
He last night, to the great delight of a numerous
audience, repeated the Balmoral performances at the
St. James's Theatre, and we understand that every
evening during the week :,the Royal entertainment
will be repeated. The tricks were all performed with
admirable neatness, and we doubt not but that the
Professor's campaign will be most successful.

THE TOURISTS' GALLERY.
A numerous audience assembled yesterday to make
the grand tour of Europe with Mr. Charles Mar-
shall. The artist led his unwearied companions over
a vast extent of ground, first embarking them by
the John Bull steamer from London to Ham
burgh, and
.from thence leading them through the
great and picturesque cities of Germany to Vienna,
withits smiling esplanades. We must not follow in
our notice any strict geographical sketch of the
varying scenes unfolded to the eager onlookers. Suf.
fice it to say that faithful transcripts of some of the
most beautiful scenes on the Danube, of Rome,
Venice, and Constantinople, received a just reward of
approbation. Amongst the particular views well de
selling of commendation for theiri artistic effect were
the "Ducal Palace of Venice, " The Bridge of
Sighs," " The Great Square of St. Mark," " Lago
Maggiore," and the beautiful island, "Monts Rosa.
The effect of an avalanche and the morning after a
snow fall were also very fine. The Alpine scenery,
the " View of Interlaken and the Jung-frau," were
rendered with great skill, and produced a fine effect.
Mr. Marshall carried his easy travellers an agreeable
journey down the Rhine, and, for the fee of one shil-
ling, he freed them from all annoyances of
waiters, hotels, or Customs' officers. A lecture in-
structed the uninitiated, and descriptive music en-
livened the ever-varying scene. We can cordially re-
commend those who have not either time or means to
make the grand route to accompany our artist for an
hour or two, and we promise them that they will not
only derive instruction but much amusement from
their trip.