The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-30 00:00:00

THEATRE ROYAL- LYCEUM.

Madame Celeste, in addition to the charming extrava-
ganza and pantomime with which she opened the Christ.
mas season, and to the merits of which we paid due homage
in our paper of 'Tuesday, last night introduced, for the first
time, to a London audience, two distinguished Spanish
dancers, the Dona Isabel Cubes and Don Juan Ximenes,
who have recently been creating a perfect' furore on the
continent, at Pesth, Turin, Vienna, Milan, Odessa, and at
the Sultan's Theatre at Constantinople. These accom-
plished artistes have just concluded an engagement at
Odessa, and on their way to Paris were secured by Madame
Celeste for a short engagement in London. The Senora
was happily introduced in that scene of the extravaganza,
where the agitated Paterfamilias (Mr. Rouse), quite over-
come with " the difficulties of the situation," exclaims--'

"My mind is weary of affairs of state,"
(turning to the Chamberlain, and giving him an energetic)
dig in the ribs)
"Have you no novelty arrived of late "
To which the Chamberlain (Mr. Forest) replies—
" Yolk. Majesty forgets : a Spanish dancer,
Of most attractive charms, awaits your answer ;
And I declare these eyes have never seen a
More lovely specimen of Ballerina I
A perfect beauty I Form and face combined,
Graceful as fawn that runs before the wind !
More fatal to the Moor would be the glances
From hsr bright eyes, than fifty Spanish lances."
The immediate appearance of the Dona fully justified the
compliment involved in these lines, and a most cordial round
of applause welcomed the lady. In appearance the Dona
Isabel Cubas embodies the idea which we have been accus-
tomed to attach to those magnificent Andalusian beauties,
who have maddened the brains of both Moors and Christians,
and have been the theme of some of the most charming
compositions of the Spanish muse. Her costumes (for the
audience were delighted with two sets of national charac-
teristic dances) were at once simple and costly, and distin-
guished by a contrast of colour, evincing the most correct
taste. Her danc ng emphatically belongs to the grandiose
school, if we may use the expression, and has nothing in
common with that petite elegance which rendered Perea
Nona so great a favourite some seasons since, but the energy
and activity which we were, of course, prepared to witness
in Spanish dancing, is by Dona Isabel subdued by most
exquisite elegance and refinement, which produced so de-
cided an effect upon the discriminating audience, as
to leave us no hesitation in declaring her debut was
a complete success. It is but justice to observe that Dona
Isabel .Cubas was most ably supported by Don Juan
Ximenes, whose movements were distinguished by great
grace and fe'eli'ng. It is scarcely necessary to add that both
were recalled at the close of each of their dances to receive
the warmest marks of approbation from the audience. The
compliment was recognised by the bella senora with an in-
describable charm, which must be witnessed to be tho-
roughly appreciated. We have devoted so much space to
the event of the evening, that we have but little room to
spare to do justice to the perfection which has been attained
in the " working" of the extravaianza. Too much praise
cannot be bestowed on Mr. W.. 1% est, the very able stage-
manager, and on Mr. Loder, the chef d'orehestre, by whose
united and indefatigable efforts (for they must necessarily
act in concert) the present completeness of the entire pro-
duction has been secured. The effect of the transformation
scene has also been rendered infinitely more brilliant by the
" Apotheosis of the Chrysalis," which is now the centre
and distinguished feature of the scene, together with the
revolving spiral glass columns, the lake of pure looking-
glass, reflecting the fairy forms of the water-nymphs
upon its bosom, the admirable disposition of the fern leaves,
and the whole suffused with intense brilliancy of varied
tints, combine to accomplish one of the most finished artistic
displays which, we may venture to say, has ever been pro-
duced on any stage. Of the performers, we may add that
Mr. Rouse has already firmly established himself with the
Lyceum audience, by his very clever personation of Pater-
familias ; and Mr. Forest, as the Chamberlain, deserves
more than a passing notice for the carefulness with which
he renders his part, and delivers the linos allotted to him.
As to the Princess IMperiosa' it is painful to reflect that
the very ability which we most admire in Miss Hudspeth,
as completely identifying herself with the " Pet," may
possibly leave some permanent traces upon that good
humour and amiability which are said to be that young
lady's natural characteristics. Let us hope not. Miss
Julia St. George, as the Prince, leaves nothing to be de-
sired ; and we sincerely trust that the liberal and devoted
energy of the management will meet with its well• merited
reward in an overflowing treasury.

THE OVERLAND INDIAN MAIL.—The Dover mail
packet Prince Frederick William brought over the Indian
mail from Calais yesterday afternoon, specially. She had a
very rough passage against a heavy sea and strong gale
from the S.W. The weather was so bad that the South-
Eastern Company's steamer Princess Maude, which was to
have left at the same time as the mail packet, preferred to
remain at Calais.

FULFILMENT OF A DREAM.—An inquest was held
last evening at Sheffield, before Mr. Thomas Badger, coro-
ner, on the body, of Mr. Charles Holmes, button manufac-
turer, Clough-house-lane, who hail. been found drowned oi►
Monday morning in the Lead-mill dam in that town.
The deceased left his home on Saturday night in company
with his wife; they walked through the town together,
and about nine o'clock, at which time they were at the
top of Union-street, he said to her " I'm going to leave
thee here, Fanny." She said " Are you ?" and he re-
plied, " Yes, I want to see an old friend who is going
to Birmingham on Monday, and he is to be here.
She said to him, " Well, Charlie, don't stop long, because I
do feel queer about that dream," and he replied, " Oh, don't
say that; I'll just have a glass and then come home. Go
and get the supper ready, and I'll come directly." She then
left him. When he got into the house he was invited to
drink with his friend, but he exhibited some reluctance,
saying that on the night before his wife had dreamed that
she saw him dead in a publichouse, and that she had
dreamed a similar dream about a week before. Unfortu-
nately, however, he yielded to the temptation, got drunk,
and did not leave the publichouse till after 12. He was
accompanied part of the way home by his friend, and was
never afterwards seen alive. Near his house are the Lead-
mill dams, and, in 'consequence of his not returning home,
his wife felt convinced that he had fallen in and was
drowned. A search was made, and on Thursday morning
his body was found in the water, and was removed to the
Royal Standard publichouse, where his with saw the body,
and identified it as that of her husband. The jury re-•
turned a verdict of "Found drowned," and recommended
that an opening in the wall, near the dam, through which
it is supposed he had fallen, should be built up,--Illanchea-
ter Guard,an,