The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-03 00:00:00

REVIEWS 0/' THE WORK.

"Curtis on Manhood.—This is a truly valuable work, and
should be in the hands of young and old."—" Sunday Times,"
'3d March, 1856.
"The author has conferred a great boon by publishing this
little work, in which is described the source of those diseases
which produce decline in youth or more frequently premature
old age."—" Daily Telegraph," March 27, 1856.

• •
" This work, which for twenty years has stood the test of
professional criticism and empirical hostility, treats in aplain
and sympathising manner on the various disqualifications
and impediments arising from nervous excitement and de.
bility,; and to invalids suffering from youthful errors and
excesses it will be found valuable and useful."—Record.
London Published by J. Allen, 20, Warwick Lane, W
0 oninitPater-
nc4ter-row; Kann' C"nhall3* 10..t111 3
ittlon-10 to 3 and 0 to S iiiwrnsalYwt

The above is a carefully drawn strategic map of
the seat of war in Maryland,-also embracing several
of the most interesting points in Virginia.
The approaches to Baltimore by rail will be seen
at a glance. They are from the North, the North•
East, the South, and the West. The Philadelphia
and Wilmington Railroad from Havre-de-Grace, a
distance of 33 miles, traverses on its way to Balti-
more, first, Bush River, and then the Gunpowder,
the bridge over the former being three-quarters of
a mile long, and that over the latter one and a quar-
ter mile in length. There is also a small bridge at
Stemmer's Run, and one at Harris's Creek, near the
city. These bridges were all destroyed by the Bal-
timore mob, but ere this have been either rebuilt
by Maryland or by the Federal troops. The Nor-
thern Central Railway, that stretches off north-
wardly into Pennsylvania, passing through York 'to
Harrisburg, is now in running order, the bridges,
of which there are a large number, chiefly over cul-
verts and small streams, having been rebuilt. Seve-
ral of them were of iron, and were let down by re-
moving captain screws, so that they could be easily

M. BLONDIN A T THE CRYSTAL

PAi:ACE.

On Saturday afternoon the Crystal Palace was
the scene of a remarkable exhibition, which served
to introduce, for the first time to the London public,
a hero of world-wide reputation. The intrepid
Blondin, universally acknowledged to be the cham-
pion of the tight-rope, who, in his aerial flights,
had braved the dangers and terrors of the great
monarch of cataracts, had been announced to give
a proof of his hardihood and skill in the central
transept. It was naturally to be expected, both
from the fame of the actor and the unprecedented
nature in this country of the performance, that the
occasion should bring together a large body of sight-
seers and lovers of the marvellous, and that antici-
pation was verified. The entertainment also de-
rived additional attraction from the fact of Blon-
din being a kind of representative man. It foreigners
viewed the pugilistic Sayers as the type of English
stamina, endurance, and pluck, we perhaps might,
in return, be excused looking upon Blondin as the
incarnation of that reckless spirit of daring which
characterises sometimes the feats of strength and
skill of our Gallic neighbours, and imparts to them
a novelty and supernatural aspect of which we can-
not boast. There was consequently an eager de-
sire evinced to witness the display of Blondin's
peculiar talents, which, however, though of
French growth, have been cultivated to their
present state of extraordinary perfection on
American soil and under American patronage.
Before the appointed hour the trains had brought
down from town many thousands of curious
and eager spectators, who formed an assembly very
different from what might have been seen little
more than a year ago, through the grey morning
mist, in a Farnborough field. Nor was it like a
Canterbury Hall audience, nor did it resemble
congregation at the palace on shilling days during
the holiday week. It was rather a company com-
posed of the same ingredients which might be seen
ph
reireee
of
the
mfl oisws
ieurn shows2os
.r
6cdo.n, c ebrut t festivals.the re
w a
sThe
an
extra charge for reserved seats, rising in some of
the galleries to £1 and more. The rope on which
M. Blondin had to walk was suspended between the
fifth or topmost galleries, at each end of the central
transept, along the whole length of which it ex-
tended, and from below appeared to be no bigger
than an ordinary clothes line, although actually 21.;
inches thick. Its length was 318 feet, or not quite
a third of the distance traversed by him over the
rapids of Niagara, and its height from the floor of
the palace 150 feet. Every precaution had been
taken to render the rope as taut a possible, but all
the powers which could be applied to it could not
prevent a deflection in the middle of more than 12
feet. The ends are made fast to massive timbers
carried down through three galleries, and finally
secured to the upright column, round which the
circular staircase winds, where the rope terminated.
In each of the top galleries there was erected a
small enclosed platform covered with green cloth
and decorated with flags. Care was taken to steady
the rope, by means of stout cords, 25 feet apart,
fastened to the galleries below, and by hanging to
it also at short intervals two pieces of lead, like
clock weights. The entire weight of metal used
for that purpose amounted to at least half a ton.
A wide space on the floor below the rope was railed
off, and no one admitted within it; but for the
musicians who played in the great Handel
orchestra the same precaution was not taken, and
they seemed indifferent to M. Blondin passing
over their heads, Round this enclosure the main
portion of the spectators were clustered, but the
different galleries within view were well filled.
With the strictest punctuality, M. Blondin ap-
peared on the platform opposite the orchestra at
the hour publicly notified (four o'clock), and was
greeted with a rather faint and ill-sustained cheer
of encouragement. He was attired in a tightly-
fitting dress of light colour, ornamented with beads,
and with a large cap bedecked, like the headgear of
a Red Indian, with a prodigal profusion of gay
feathers, and looked taller than he actually is, being
a man below the middle height. He has a compact
and well-made frame, firmly knit together, with
the muscles of his limbs unusually prominent, and
with courage and determination strongly marked
on his countenance. To complete this personal
sketch it may be added that he is aboute 40 years of
age, that his features are regular
ul
he ar an pi easieg, and
his complexion fair, and that
but a light moustache and beard. wears
After
ine
slight whisker,
preparations he took in his hands the balance-pole,
28 feet in length, and weighing about 601 b., and
advancing to the extreme edge of the stage began
his perilous trip with some few cautious steps, as
beingthe
fo
oatbi
no about
if gradually feeling his way along the giddy height.
The descent tcoontshiedecreinntgrethoef
naturethe
12 feet, or nearly 1 in 15, formed by no means an
he rope, as it were, with the hollow of
passed on with a steadiness, regularity,
fliwgilldnneeetnce, which proved him to be master of
the bill, he at last broke into a rapid
easyChwah
essudet foot,
cl
hrdtinee, r
and gradually increasing his speed as h e
run which caused a shudder of apprehension for his
safety, and kept up that pace until he reached the
other side. A few
friends on oenretwhde
ephlaetlfeowrmbwuraertmelnyt
congratulated him, n
into an enthusiastic cheer. After a brief pause he
recovered himself with the inyaluable pole, And

and speedily reconstructed. There were no bridges
on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, or the Wash-
ington branch, injured or burnt, nor were there any
burnt over the streams crossing the turnpikes and
common roads in the vicinity of Ba'ltimore.
The distance from Baltimore to Harper's Ferry is
81 miles, from Harper's Ferry to Washington a little
more than 60 miles. The distance from Baltimore
to Washington, direct, is only 38 miles. The heights
around Harper's Ferry make that point almost im-
pregnable, but the strong forces of the Government
will doubtless be fully able to dislodge the Virginians
who at present retain possession. There may pos-
sibly be some fighting at that point, and an attempt
to burn the bridge over the Potomac ; but to pre-
vent the latter every precaution will necessarily be
taken by the Government and the company. There
will be no difficulty in keeping open the whole line
of this great highway if Harper's Ferry and Mar-
tinsburg are once occupied, for the intermediate
places eastward will be of easy access to the troops,
while the portion beyond Cumberland will be pro-
tected by the friendly population of Western Vir-
ginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
The occupation of Pikesville Arsenal, seven miles

excited still more astonishment, if not alarm, by
walking backwards down the rope to about a fourth
of its length. He then retraced his steps, and turn-
ing round ran still more rapidly down the incline than
he had done before, poised himself gracefully and
with a careless air, first on one foot and then on the
other, and sat down upon the rope with the sangfroid
of a person reclining on a couch. Here as he lifted
his hat in acknowledgment of the cheering a feather
got disengaged, and the length of time it took in
falling illustrated practically and painfully to the
senses the immense elevation from which it had
come. Blondin having got nearer the centre of the
rope, next divested himself of his hat, and holding
it with the pole in his hand deliberately stood upon
his head, and after remaining in that position for a
few seconds turned a somersault, catching the rope
between his legs. He then lay down at full length
on his back with the pole under his head, sat side-
ways, knelt down, and turned more somersaults,
and yet with unvarying ease and composure. A
repetition of these evolutions followed, and, having
reached beyond the centre, he literally took to his
heels and never stopped until he had put foot on the
secure spot from which he had first started. The
other half of the programme was to test still more
severely the strength of one's nerves. Enveloped
in a sack put over his head, so as apparently, and
no doubt actually, to destroy for the time his power
of sight, he once more entrusted himself to the rope,
again handling the pole as if it were a mere switch.
Groping his way as a man would do in the dark,
who every moment dreaded falling into some pit
and judged it necessary cautiously to estimate the
security of every foothold before he ventured upon
it, M. Blondin accomplished some dozen yards, and,
while every one's fears must have been worked up
to a great pitch of intensity, he made a false step,
his leg dropping suddenly with a jerk which
startled all and made several ladies, as well as some
of the other sex, jump up and avert their eyes
or utter exclamations of alarm, or rather of horror.
This tremulousness, this faltering, and this omin-
ous slip happily turned out to be merely feints to
give greater effect to what really required no such
embellishments to set it off. But we suppose
Blondin
is so perfectly at home on the rope,
however much re
moved from terra firma, that
he feels he can indulge in a little sky-larking
with impunity.
This episode over, he walked
quickly forward, without the slightest hesitation,
sat down on the rope for a rest, got again upon his
feet, and ran the remainder of the way, only with
a little less alacrity than when he had the free use
of his eyes. The sack being
taken kbelni
blindness
hises
s a attendantsbandag e
prepared him for the next and final achievement.
mentioned was dropped over
To more certainly ensure
his
nd
t w overe havehis
eyes, and the very uncomforta-
him like an extinguisher. At first walking slowly,
then he dropped upon his back, and having with
equal smartness assumed his perpendicular, he ran
rapidly as far as the centre, where he divested him-
self of the sack and handkerchief, throwing both to
the ground, that it might be seen no deception had
been practised. He then turned somersaults,
balanced himself upon his head, and otherwise
gaily disported himself, and finally wound up his
performance, which lasted altogether half an hour,
•by running to the east platform with a nimbleness
which showed that his vigour had been but slightly
diminished by the immense strain of mind and
body which he must have undergone, On his re-
tiring there was much applause, the band struck up
the National Anthem, and the company dispersed
to enjoy a promenade, or the more substantial com-
forts of the dining-rooms and refreshment counters,
with a strong feeling of relief probably at the non-
occurrence of such a casualty as must have been
foremost in the thoughts of all. The little dapper
Frenchman, in evening dress, with some medals on
his breast, looking thoroughly unconcerned, who
shortly afterwards went through the crowd on
his way to the directors' room, passed by without
being recognised, so complete was the transfor-
mation, and no stranger would have given him
credit for the rare qualities ho had so recently
displayed. It transpired that M. Blondin has
been engaged by the Crystal Palace Company to
give 12 representations for
a sum of .£1,200 ; and
that the next will be varied in several important
details from that of Saturday. Madame Blondin
and young family witnessed the performance from
the orchestra with evident satisfaction,. and without
entertaining for a moment the iclea that M. Blon-
din was running any greater risk than if he were
at some ordinary avocation. The Yankee who
went on his back across the Niagara. rapids was also
present, and assisted him during his preparations.
In the transept are exhibited,
.
in two parts, the rope
with which M. Blondin made that celebrated as-
cent, his stove, and other portions of his outfit while
encamped on the banks of the stream.

[ADVEILTISEISIENT.I—HoIIoway's Pills and Ointment.—
Always Prepared.— o well conducted household should
bo without a supply of these excellent family medicaments
at this season of the year. No other means for purifying
the solids and fluids composing the human body can be
compared for efficiency or safety with Holloway's prepara-
tions. They moderate, or stimulate, and regulate every
function ; and confer on each secretion its natural quality
and quantity. The Ointment, rubbed over the stomach
and liver, wonderfully assists the Fills in promoting diges-
tion and extracting all available nutriment from the food.
Hence, the power these remarkable remedies possess of
strengthening the muscles, consolidating the bones, and
invigorating the nerves. They may safely be employed m
every disease At any stage.

out on the common road leading to Westminster,
will effectually command that part of the vicinity
of Baltimore, and will be the centre of a line of
communication between the Relay House on the
Northern Central and Woodstock, on the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad. It will be seen, from an inspec-
tion of the vicinity of Baltimore, that the occupation
of the railroad approaches thereto necessitates its
submission to the Federal authority, whose forces
have only to fortify the heights around the city.
A glance at the points laid down in Virginia, and
regarded by her military martinets as strategic,
will show that the United States will have no dif-
ficulty in driving before them the rebels, so soon as
General Scott is ready to move upon Alexandria,
Dumfries, and Fredericksburg, on his way to Rich-
mond, which must inevitably fall into his hands,
whether Jefferson Davis makes a stand there or not,
for the advance of the United States upon that city
will necessarily be supported by the approach of a
powerful column up the James River, as a sequence
of the surrender of Norfolk, while a similar column
will penetrate in the direction of Winchester, and
thence by the Hampshire and London Railroad,
threaten Richmond from Gordonsville.

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