The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-27 00:00:00

WOODIN'S OLIO OF ODDITIES.

New dresses, new decorations, and one or two new
sketches of character, are among the additional attractions
to Mr. Woodin's very popular entertainment. The host of
the evening--for Mr. Woodin is surely and in very truth
" a host" in himself, if any man is I—made his first appear-
ance for the season last night at the Polygraphic-hall,
King William-street, Strand, before an audience as crowded ,
and yet as comfortable, as it was attentive and evidently
delighted throughout. The entertainer really appears to
be a man who never dreams of taking a rest—having
always his cue in hand, we presume, to "keep the ball
a-rolling," as ths man says in the race-coarse booth at the
game of rouge-et-noir ! So refreshingly animated and.
lively is he from first to last that nobody would at all have
ausp:cted yesterday, from his manner, that during the late
holiday season, instead of enjoying an interval of leisure,
he has been toiling at it here, there, and everywhere in the
provinces—at Brighton, at Newport, at Portsmouth, at
Chichester, at Bath—introducing the astonished natives
of Somerset, Sussex, the Isle of Wight, and Hampshire
to alt kinds of pleasant personages ! Characters long since
familiar to us Londoners : but none the less delightful to
encounter once more last evening " Orators " and
" Critics," Miss Chattaway and Mr. Gabbleton, Henry
Russell and Albert Smith, Herr Formes and Mrs. W. J.
Florence—winding all up with a grotesque pas seal, fan-
tastically danced by a most preposterous Gentleman in
Black, all swallow-tails, whiskers, cricket-like agility, and
lank-limbed extravagance ! Until the curtain closes before
an audience fit to die of laughing—and therefore (mai4
cea va sans dire) thoroughly delighted.

GENERAL Tom TERTHB held his first public levee yester-
day, and had he been chosen President of the United
States, and come t,) London to exhibit himself, he could
not have created a greater sensation in Regent-street. The
Quadrant was throngod with carriagesdnring the reception
hours of the illustrious General, who enjoys, as it would
seem, the double advantage that those who have not seen
him wish to do so, and those who have before seen him
are desirous to do so again.

GORDON CUMNING'S EXRIBITION.—The hunting ad-
ventures of the " Lion King" seem to have grown into
even greater interest since the arrival of Dr. Livingston
has excited so touch curiosity in the British mind in re-
gard to the yet unknown regions of Africa. Mr. Gz.rdon
Cumming throughout the day addressed throngs of visitors,
who listened to him in gaping astonishment as to a second
Hercules, who had conquered Ncmean lions and carne to
this country direct to tell the tale.

DR. KAHN'S ANATOMICAL MUSE= attracted the aUten-
tion of a largo number of visitors from the country, who
availed themselves of the opportuuity for becoming ac-
du doted nith the wonders and mysteries of the human
frame. Tu'e leelure was listened to with the greatest in-
terest., and " the thousaud models and preparations" were
regarded e:.ch by some thousands with first horror and
then interest.

MONT BLANC was ssz.enqloci by hundreds yesterday, in
company wi:h AL)ert Smith, who on this occasion WaS
compelled t. work double tides, giving performances both

in the morning and evening.
Madame TUSSAUD'S EXLIIBITION —This popular place
of resort has been visitoi by a large concourse during
the week, and w.ore particularly yesterday The numerous
attractions here produced are sure to draw the multitude.
The excellent -music, brilliant lighting, and the splendid
decorations, together with the iutersting groups and
figures displayed in all parts of the museum, render this
one of the best exhibitions in tho metropolis. The holi-
day folk cannot be considered to have completed their
tour of sight-seeing unless they pay this establishment a

visit.
wits most
s,tu
entitlednexee ptitohn
rapturouslye-
YLD'S GCEAT GLOBE is a standing wonder to the
Christmas holiday folk, and a great attraction to new
corners ; but Mr. Wyld, who has left off attending to the
affairs of the country to the great advantage of his own,
does not rely on more prestige!, but continually adds to his
great exhibition some illustration of immediate interest.
In the present instance, forty c,lossal tableaux of Russian
scenery set before us, the sites and scenes of the late me-
morable campaign, as will as St. Petersburgmwean
sts
baprnirldol Moscow,ivaindteldy
at-
tended
fort .
Nijni Novogorod during the fair, the Ural Mountains, and
a grand panorama of the crowning of the Czar in the great
Cathedral. The exhibition was densely crowded both
morning and evening.
AnGvu-Rooms.--This place of amusement, despite the
attraction held out by
Ttlibee
etnhteearteisn,
tended last night. The whole of the arrangements
admirable, and :d1 persons present seemed thoroughly to
tt
ehr the r .
singing, .
enjeoAyNtThEeßmßsuellivyes4.lALL._
tahbole.holTidhaeym,
faekateursreb,y,
ofli rt.h3eloervieonni,ngthseveans
prietor of this splendid establishment, were enterprising pro-
,M,
"Rumours
Couorwse(l,fl,
30
Pantomime,"
,tinhotonmeiwmpe,r,i,zNevhciocinh
applauded throughout and an encore demanded. It has
proved a decided hit, and bids fair to
favourites. The Spanish Minstrelsliekae
the celebrated ditty of the ~ Rate rival in popularity
ticvhi
seer 'csa
mDea uignhftoerr,i:
and henceforth will no doubt bee() one of Mr. Cowell's
fair share of applause.
VALENTINE VOUSDEN.
The hall was densely crowded,
and there could not have b 1
een ess than two thousand per-
sons present.
"house-
hold word" for able imitation and polyphonic as well as
characteristic illustration.
musician,
Oxford-street, was ion'
nightTtlhi
will assuredly become a d
by 311 admiring au-
dionce, who lastcordiallyappreciation of this
gentleman's talent asy that united
of ai n
dramatictheir artiste whose per-
:0,37611e Vousdey,
.at 315,
per-
sonations unite the humorous and the truthful, and who
pleases not mer ,
writing his own songs ,a ,
ownw. music. His " Irish Imitation,' Good bye t'ye
eiy as an imitatora,ndbustinagis
n'
yn
tahcetoinr
taondhias
Kitty," " Dennis leave the Child behind," and " The Irish
diJaunting Car," are masterpieces oweitation and indivi-
-liality. The Salle Vouslen will, prognosticate, in a
short time be one of the most popular evening lounges in.
the metropolis.
The rooms of the British Museum were crowded with
thousands of well-dressed persons with their families to
insdnmobilneebraulilkdiinnggd. kingdoms,
see the vast collection of articles of vertu and numerous
this theol
lec animalted in
At the National and Vernon Galleries very considerable
many of whom had come long distances to see
annoyance arid disappointment was occasioned to thousands
andand orathree:Pecucliimoseitnise:of
ges collection
tohfePo6hreBri"ce avres of the ancient and modern masters col-
lected in those galleries, iu consequence of their being
closed, Friday bsing one of the days set apart for students
of the public, who have no other period of the year to wit-
ness the " national collection."
At Marlborough House the celebrated Souls
with the Wellington funeral car attracted alarge body of
Abbey,
, alsost. pt,,huel,
sU,
theni t United
Tower, Sery Museum,d jaWest-
mviinit:tres;Aabsn House
Museum, the Museum of Ornamental Art, and other
similar exhibitions. _ .

The Houses of Parliament and " Big Ben"
minster will be open to•day for inspection by ticket, to be
obtained at the Chamberlain's-office.
of West-

THE Lug INDIA CIVIL SERVICE—
of Appeal are to be shortly abolished,.The Budder Courts
plan of the English County
and will be ma-
naged something on the
Courts, presided over by an English barrister of experi-
ence, assisted by Company's Judges, The Calcutta
%Ir. "dulls, an
papers announce the death of Ur. Dunbar, one of the
Su.l(ler Judges. Mr. R. J. Tayler and Mr. T. Church
thivd been permitted to resign the Company's service.
College, has been appointed head-master of the Hindoo
School,—Civil Service (Mate.
a‘sistaut-professor at the Presidency