The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-01 00:00:00

DER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

The year 1857, as far as the Opera-house is concerned,
has come to a cheerful termination, but last night "La
Traviata" was revived, and Mademoiselle Piccolomini
made her first appearance for the winter season. The
book of the Opera is, to be sure, somewhat of the lachry-
mose order, but then the tears elicited by the work, and
still more by the young artist, are of good substantial
value. Jupiter might have shed them when he went
to was Danae, and the golden shower would only
have been increasing thereby. In short, whether in
the regular or in the extra season, the first night of
" La Traviata" (Mademoiselle Piccolomini of course in-
cluded) is a sort of festive occasion, and the Haymarket
is thronged by a multitude whose appetite for the
lyrical treat is stimulated to a degree that forbidden fruit
can alone inspire. "Would I were a Jew 1" exclaimed a
lover of swine's flesh, immortalised by Dr. Johnson,
" for then I could eat pork with all the gusto of sinning."
Wh 3 would not be the father of a family in a southern or
eastern suburb for the sake of telling his neighbours that
he hal taken an opera-box on purpose to see "La Tra-
viata r The audience hovered over by the last night of
1857 was in every way worthy of the established festivity
—boxes all full, gallery and pit densely crammed. One
almost regrets that the opera closed about 11 o'clock.
It it had lastail an hour longer we should have " Tea-
viata'd" the new year is.
Certainly Mademoiselle Piccolomini never sung better,
or acted snore delightfully than last night. Her joyous
scenes sparkled with playful coquetry—her bursts of
passion were as spontaneous as they were powerful ; her
(12a- h was a touching picture of the agony of a young,
ardent being, who is forced to quit lite when she has
first di,,covered that life is beautiful. In all phases,
she completely charmed her audtence, and, the
fall of the curtain was followed by calls of the good old-
fashioned school and a shower of .bouquets, ?thick tLe
young vocalist picked up in her own semi-playful man-
ner. Most admirably, too, was she supported by Signor
Giuglini, whose voice seemed finer than ever, and who
use d it to the best purpose in depicting the devotion
and impassioned despair of the infatuated Alfredo.
Never was vocal talent mere eloquently employed. As
the elder Germont, Signor Aldighieti did himself great
credit. His voice, though not very powerful, is of good
quality, and he sings with taste and expression.

THE MILITIA.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sig,—Seeing in one of our local papers that it is the
intention of Government to embody more militia regi•
wants, tray I beg to suggest, through the medium of
your valuable publication, that, as much as possible, the
regiments should be raised from the di,tressed districts.
In a letter in the Guardian, of the 30,11, I see there
is much suffering in Mcelesfield and the neighbourhood,
whero, it is stated, there are upwards of 300 men be-
longing to the lat Cheshire Militia, and which regiment
velouteered some time ago to serve at home or abroad.
These men, it appears, when last embodied, received
the thanks of the Mayor and Corporation of Chester
for their excellent conduct when quartered there, and
I think former good conduct should not be overlooked
when mon are starving and willing to serve.—Yours
truly, A RATEPAYER,
Manchester, Dec. 31, 1857.