The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-22 00:00:00

HA YMARKE T THEATRE.

" Valentine's Day; or, Harlequin and the Fairy
of the True Lover's Knot," is the name of the story
of the pantomime at this theatre. Old Bishop
Valentine, who lived a long time ago, was a great
friend to all true lovers, and it was his custom on
the 14th February to call together his proselytes,
when each selected a fair maiden, to whom he pre-
sented a letter, containing pictures and verses in
token of regard, and which was afterwards called a
valentine. There was in those days one Slyvanus, a
young woodman, who tenderly loved Belphmbe,
which means fair Pheebe, and who was one of the pret-
tiest milkmaids of that fairy and pastoral age. She
loved him in return, but their enemies, Scandal,
Gossip, Hate, Spite, Malice, Venom, Jealousy, and
Tell-tale" Tit, did all in their power to separate
them, and would have succeeded but for the fairy
Truelove, who, like the good Bishop, looked upon
the lovers with great favour. One day after they
had quarrelled, and all through their enemies, the
fairy sought to reconcile them by inviting them to
a festival in her spring flower abode, on the eve of
Valentine's Day, but even there Scandal and her
crew intruded, and placed before the eyes of the
lovers such false illusions that they parted, intending
never to meet again. The Fairy then sought the
Bishop in his little chapel, to ask his advice in
what way to frustrate these evil influences, when
he recommended that Sylvanus and Belphcebe
should each send the other a loving valentine, and
that others, very ugly and ridiculous, should be sent
to Scandal and her party. This being done, the
two lovers, on opening their valentines, were dis-
mayed to find them contain nothing but hateful
words, the contents having been changed by their
enemies. Scandal and her companions, on receiving
their valentines, and seeing them so ugly, accused'
one another of having sent them, at which they fell to
fighting amongst themselves. Belphoebe and Sylva-
nus were now made so wretched that each resolved to
love some one else, and so he with another maid,
and she with another swain, sought the Bishop
to be married ; but he, knowing the cause of their
separation, refused to do so, and desired them to be
present at the opening of a valentine that he had
sent to the fairy Truelove, when she would possess
such power as would enable her to defeat their foes.
Following this advice, they went to see the sight,
at which also their enemies were present, when the
Fairy thought of a plan to confound their machi-
nations, when Sylvanus and Belpheebe became
united and lived happily ever after. The
magnificent scenery of this story has
been painted by Mr. Frederick Fenton, who,
in the opening of the Fairy "Valentine, has pro-
duced effects nover before attempted in any
theatre. The pantomimists will, as heretofore, con-
sist of the unrivalled Leclercqs; while the harle-
quinade contains every hit at passing events, the
concluding scene will be her Majesty's channel
fleet in the order of battle during the great storm
in November last, painted by Mr. O'Connor. From
the high character of the pantomimes at this
theatre, the holiday visitors may Le certain of an
unusual treat.

PAINFUL ELOPEMENT.—The wife of Mr. J. 11.
Gurney, M.P. for King's Lynn, has eloped with one of the
family domestics. The lady has a fortune in her own right
of £500,000. Proceedings have been commenced with a
view to a divorce.

TIIE CHISHOLM SUCCESSlON.—lntelligence has
been received intimating that. James Sutherland Chisholm,
Esq., has been served heir of entail to the Chisholm estates.
—lnverness Courier.

The Postmaster-General gave notice yesterday
that her Majesty's ship Urgent will be detained until the
26th inst. ; supplementary ship mails for the Cape of Good
Hope will therefore be made up to be sent by the Urgent.