The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-09 00:00:00

h R MAJEST Y'S T ATIt E.
!not the means t. showing to each other the corn-
LA T AVE AT A.
Madtle. PICOOLOVINI'S BENEFIT
Mdlle. PICCOLOMINI has the honour to announce to the
Nobility, Subscribers to the Onera and the Publi that her
Benefit will take place TO-NIORROW EVENING (Thursday),
July 10, when, by general desire, will be presented Verdi's
Opera,

raon courtesies of life" ! This is a plain and un-
adorned but most clear and convincing statement,
one that will be felt throughout the length and
breadth of the land, nay, more,will serve to convince
other nations of the fallacious estimates they had
formed of British generosity and British justice.
And why should they be deprived of their half-
pay when other officersholding lucrative sitivations
received it? The Naval Lords clutched it with tena-
cious held. The Governor and Deputy-Governor re-
ceived it (and very properly). Many other in-
stances were also cited of parties holding good
situations being permitted to receive their half-
pay in addition. Why then stop it from those
who of all others had the best claim thereto ?—for
it must be remembered that the nomination to
Greenwich was bestowed at an advanced period of
life, for severe wounds received, or for very
gallant services rendered ! The matter would be
incomprehensible, but it is unfortunately but
too true. It would seem as if those in authority
were desirous of balancing their accounts and
compensating for some gigantic job by a paltry
saving such as that referred to. WAMBA insinuated
that the merry outlaws set off a thousand crowns
taken from a fat abbot by a small donation to a
mendicant friar. "My Lords," reverse the ope-
ration, and justify the useless outlay of a million
by a few thousands abstracted from the pockets
of those by whom they had been fairly earned,
and who could badly spare the amount.

LA TRAVIATA.

Violetta, bidlle. Piccolomini; Alfredo. Signer Calzolari ;
Barone Dauphol, Signor Vairo ; I ottore Grenvil, Signor
Eaillou ; and Clermont Giorgio, Signor Beneventano.
With other Entertainments, particulars of which will be
duly announced.

To conclude with an entirely new Ballet,
LE CORSAIRE.
With new Scenery, Dresses, and Decorations.
Conrad, Signor Ronzani ; Seyd, M, Dauty ; YussulTe M.
Veuatra. ; Birbanto, M. Vandris ; Snlmea, Mdlle. Clara ; 'Gut-
nare, Mdlle. Rosa; Dilare, Mdlle. Lizereux; Medora, Madame
Rosati.

The Opera will commence at Half-past Seven o'clock.
Applications for boxes, stalls, and tickets to be made at
the Box-office of the Theatre, Colonnade, Haymarket.

TdCATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.
Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith.
ENGLISH OPERA.
THIS EVE'STNG will be produced
ESMERALDA.

FolloNnl by
A GRAND CONCERT.
To con loda with
A BALLET r1172R ISSEMENr.

I.7llaLtlit.F. R?)YAL. 11.§,vMARKET.
tinder the Ifanagement of Mr. Bnekotono.

?HT EVENTVG,
TWELFTH 1.4-1 G aT.

Aitcr which
The Spanish Dancers.

Followed by
SIR I.II3GfIES AT HOVE.

• To conclude with
A DAUGHTEI: TO MARRY.

40,Ar, pßrw-:c r%IFA'rI2E. 03UORD-STREET.
Underthe 131%narrement of nr CHABLIS KZAN.

Tllia EirtNTINI4,
MUSIC HITH CHUMS.

The old proverb, that "it's an ill wind which
blows no one any good," is now receiving a happy
fulfilment in the support given by the Sabbatari-
ans to the Saturday half-holiday. They are
heartily co-operating, though from such different
motives, with the old friends of the people in
obtaining for them this boon ; and in one point,
at least, they must have the credit of consistency,
for rest from labour was indubitably enjoined on
the seventh day of the week by the fourth com-
mandment, and it is to that commandment that
they uniformly appeal, when desirous to enforce
on those who differ from them abstinence from
recreation, as well as from labour, on the first
day. Fearful of losing the good-will of the many
by their views of Sunday observance they are
endeavouring to make up for it by doing their
best to get them half Saturday. We accept their
aid ; it in no way prejudices the main question,
and from all that has been said and done we be-
lieve that masters will not lose, and that men
will greatly gain by the proposed relaxation.
Experience may now be fairly appealed to, and
that under very varied circumstances. The mer-
chants of busy Manchester and the tradesmen of
the Northern Metropolis have alike tried the
Saturday half-holiday, and are satisfied with the
result. With the former it has been a growing
practice for many years, and is much more likely
to become universal than to recede. At Edin-
burgh it originated a series of entertaining and
useful lectures and entertainments for the eman-
cipated toilers and spinners. Messrs. PRICE'S
Candle Company, Messrs. SPOTTISWOODE, the
printers, and the well-known firm of TRUMAN,
HANBITRY, BUXTON, and Co., have all tried and
approved closing at earlier hours on Saturday. In
the latter firm there was, it appears, a diviaion
of opinion at first, which experience has entirely
removed, and they now invite other business
firms to inquire into its working with them.
We do not remember, indeed, to have heard of
an instance in which the result of the concession
has not been the condensation of as much work,
at least, into the shorter time, and the improve-
ment of the habits of the work-people.
It was predicted that it would open the door
to increased drunkenness and dissipation ; but
such has not been the effect generally, though
probably individual instances might be found of
the abuse of this as of any other good. Nothing
so drives men to artificial stimulants as ceaseless
fag and toil. Nature will avenge herself ; and
the rebound from monoton3us labour, continued
to the last hour, is either the gin-shop, or hall
the Sunday in bed. Let a man finish his work
in time to take his wages home early, and for his
wife to have the chance of showing him the wants
of his family, and of getting change at the shop
instead of the public-house, and the majority of
men will feel the prior claims at home. If the half-
holiday gives to the utterly depraved few the
opportunity of indulging their appetites sooner, it
also gives to the more reasonable many the oppor-
tunity of spending the week's earnings with
greater advantage. Should the practice of paying
wages on Friday extend at the same time, the
two would in all probability have a strong ten-
dency to induce a more considerate appropriation
of weekly wages.

After whien

T 1E WINTETS TALE.

ROY THE kTRIC ADELPHT.

Proprf...tor and Manager. Mr. R. Webster.

Directrest, Madame Celan..
TAB P.VreNING,
THE GREEN BUSHES.

After which,
TFIE CUSTOII3 OF THE COUNTRY.

Followed by
TLIE IRISH LION,

ROYAL OLYMPIC TIIEATRE.
Leasee and Mana;Ter. Mr. Alfre4 Wigan.

T FITS, EliE NI `TG

A FASCINATEIG INDIVIDUAL.

After which.
RETRIBUTION.

ennelude with
A CONJUG XL LESSON,

ASTLErSI ROYAL AIIPHITFIEATRE.
Lessee And Manager, Mr. Wm. Cooke.
THIS EVENING.
The Romantic Equestrian Rpectacle called THE HORSE OF THE
CAVERN, or the Mounted Rrizands of the Abruzzi with Mr. W.
Cooke's stud of trained docile horses. ,
After which,
The incomparable Eque;trian Display of EQUESTRI ‘N ART in
the ARENA. The novel and miraculous performance of the German
Brothers.

To conclnae with
THE FESTIVAL OF PEACE ; or, Honour to the Brave.
Tiox-otiice ()nen frvn F'ev?ti till PV:r. Stave Manager, Mr. W
West. Equestrian Director. Mr. W. Cooke. Jun.

RIGq WATER, AT LONDON
Trite DAT—Morn. 19 min. aft. 6 —Evening 40 min, aft. 6
Tn. XORROW—Morn. 0 min. aft. 7—Evening 22 min. aft. 7

THE WEATEIER.—SuN OFFICE, JULY 9.
THERIIO)fETER, IN THE SHADE.
59 —highest since noon yesterday.
52 —lowest this morning and during the night.
64 —this day at noon.
Ragonsrot-29.84-lising rapidly.
WIND, N.W.—Fresb, with cloudy weather and sun-
shine. A. fine day for the Guards' review.

k{,- P. ,..4--e-_,:v-------74:44 '.•- ''- ki___,
•--"r

It was, however, among the young men em-
ployed in shops and warehouses that the demand
for shorter hours first began. There can be no
question that to them it would be a great and an
easy boon. Early closing of shops could be no
loss ultimately to the shopkeepers. The gene•
rality of persons will spend their incomes, and all
would spend just as much in shops if they were
open but ten hours as if they were open twelve
or fourteen. Competition has engendered the evil
and sustains it, and nothing can put it down
but a public opinion as strong as an Act of Par-
liament. If the young men do but persevere, it
will, before long, ba felt to be as selfish and dis-
honourable to keep open a shop too late as to
keep it open on a Sunday ; it will brand the doer
of it as indifferent to the comfort of his servants,
and as desirous meanly to get an advantage of his
neighbours. The utility of the practice to the
public is more than doubtful ; it merely fosters
late instead of encouraging early habits. Persons

who now put off their shopping till a late hour

would soon find it marvellously easy to do in

the afternoon what they have put off till evening ;

and few indeed of the shopkeepers could not do
at least half as much business again in the same
time• The prezent practice is, in truth, a wanton

waste of the time and health of young men ; and

we gladly, therefore, contribute our mite of en-

couragement to the movement for Early Closing
of shops, and, in all occupations which admit of it,
to the Saturday half•holiday. We trust that the
meetings and deputations this week will be of

great service to the object. It is by this conti-
nued calling of public attention to the subject that
the advocates of the movement must hope to
succeed.

I
Thanks to Mr. MORRIS MOORE,
.e have now
had another revelation of the Mysteries of the
National Gallery. Eureka—it is found—the'
I secret history of that big daub, the 2,,1000/. PAULO
VERONESE, as Punch called it, "The Adoration
of the Magi, and of nobody else !" It appears
to have been one of ten pictures belonging to the
church of San Silvestro, in Venice—ten pictures
originally (that is to say, only a year or two
back), in very bad condition, "en tres ynauvais
etar —ten pictures the Curate of the Church en-
deavoured during twenty years in vaii i to sell to
some goose or another of a connoisserudr—terz pic-
tures which at length in 1855 (obsery e, only last
year !) he did actually part with (to his hearek,
Joy, no doubt, and infinite consolatitin) for the
sum of 10,000 francs, a sum paid to him for .