The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-12 00:00:00

PANIC AT ST. JAMES'S HALL

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Boring the ballad concert in St. James's flail, on Wea- ,
nesday evening, an event occurred which at one time ap-
peared likely to lead to serious consequences. The first part
of the programme had been gone through, and Misg Edith
Wynne had begun singing the ballad " Should he upbraid;
when a strong smell of fire pervaded the building. The
audience showed evident signs of uneasiness, and in a few
moments after, a quantity of smoke entering the hall, those
present rose en mane, and a great number at once made
their way to the doors. A most excited sccue navy
occurred. A number of gentlemen mounted the benclei
and earnestly appealed to the other members of the amdie4
not to endanger the lives of themselves and their felirm
beings by crowding the staircases. Mr. Boosey cammfor-
ward, and when the noise was in some degree dimiiiisinscl,
anxiously solicited all present to keep their places, explain
ing that there was no danger whatever, the fire being at
a box-maker's in Vine-street, at the rear of the premi 30'i
and at len-. " .e or four doors removed from the hall. - A
window at the back of the building had been left open,
and the volumes of smoke issued from the burning box-
maker's had penetrated the hall and caused the alarm.
The explanation and assurance of safety given by Mr.
Boosey, together with the expostulations of many among
the audience, produced a good effect, but the majority of
persons in the stalls, and many in the balconies, quitted
the building. The stalls, in fact, were left comparatively
empty, several ladies having gone out, leaving in their
haste their shawls, &c., behind them. Mr. Boosey then
led forward Madame Liebhart, who, with great presence of
mind, sung the appropriate song, " Oh dear, what can the
matter be ?" which tended considerably to reassure those
present. The concert was then proceeded with, several
songs by Madame Lemmens-Sherrington, Miss Edith
Wynne, and Madame Leibhart being re-demanded. We
must not omit to mention that in the midst of the excite-
ment a lady in one of the front rows of stalls mounted her
seat, and, in the most impassioned manner, besought, or
rather commanded, those of her sex around her to remain
seated and retain their sell-possession. Her emphatie
manner and Amazon-like appearance had no little effect
on those around her.

THE S7I?ANGE STORY OF AN ADOPTED

CHILD.

The inquiries made on Wednesday with reference to
the little boy who was brought so mysteriously to the
Cooper family in Nelson-street, Hackney-road, last
March, and whose equally mysterious death formed
the subject of an inquest opened on Tuesday, have
resulted in the discovery of a clue to the previous
history of the child. It would appear that the child
was, from the time it was a fortnight old almost
up to the day when it was taken for " adoption"
to Mrs. Cooper, in the care of a Mrs. --„ re-
siding at Islington. While there it was visited onoe a
month by a young lady, stated not to be more than 20
years of age, and who was without doubt the mother:
The supposed mother was a person of superior manners,
and appeared to be well educated. The child was brought
to Mrs. Cooper late on Saturday evening, the 23rd of
March. The lady who came with it said that she was
the mother, and that the fact of its existence had been kept
from the knowledge of all her friends. She added that it
had been intended both by the child's father and by her-
self to keep the child at nurse until they could meet
with some young couple who would adopt it. "We
intended," she continued, " to get married then, and to
go to Australia." After giving up the child and paying
the £lO, she said, " I have one last favour to ask. Will
you let me call once more, and see the el ild before I go
to Australia ? The papa may call. I may bring him
with me, but it will only be for once." The permission
asked for would appear to have been granted on the
condition that the visit would be made only once, and
would not be repeated. The mother, however, had not
since called to see the child. The outfit brought with
the child was composed of abundance of clothing of a
very expensive kind ; the materials were of the finest
description, and the embroidery was unusually rich. The
principal out-door suit was composed of a scarlet dress,
and Scotch cap with a white feather. It would appear
that Mr. Cooper is a carman. He is employed under Mr.
Butt, a brush manufacturer, but his duties consist in car-
rying brushes in a van to the oilshops. The advertisement
of the Coopers, it may be mentioned, follows three others
in the Clerkentvell Nem, each headed with the same word,
" Adoption." These announcements ars irrespective
of others in the same sheet, commencing with the
words, " Children (care of one or two) wanted, by a
respectable married person," &c., &c. Another adver-
tisement, bearing upon the same subject, is, to say the
least, a little singular :—" Children.—Wanted to place
one or two infants out to nurse. Neighbourhood of St.
John's-wood or Regent's Park preferred. Address, stating
terms, &c., to Mrs. , Post Office, Pentonville-road."
The system of getting rid of the embarrassment of un-
welcome children by "adoption " would appear to be
well organised, and to be in process of development into
an extensive branch of trade. It is said by medical men,
who have opportunities of becoming acquainted with
secrets hidden from everybody else, that cl-qdren are
" adouted" out by scores.