The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-27 00:00:00

ASTLEY'S AMPHITHEATRE.

In the present days of a declining drama, when the
good old Christmas pantomime appears to be giving
place to the fairy extravaganza, and the splen-
dour of scenic effects and magnificent costumes are
supplanting the ancient harlequinade, it is not un-
pleasant to find a house where our old friends,
clowns and pantaloons, run through the course of
practical jokes and petty larcenies, at which we
laughed so heartily in the days of our youth, and
an audience whose appreciation of their
drolleries remains undiminished by the re-
finements of modern days. It would not be
too much to say that boxing night could not present
an audience merrier or more thoroughly amused than
that which last night filled the walls of Astley's Am-
phitheatre to overflowing. The performance com-
menced with the equestrian spectacle of Kenilworth,
followed by the Scenes of the Circle, in which several
novelties were brought forward. Among these was
M.ePlige whose feat of walking on a small
beer-barrel from the circle to the top of the
stage, on a tram-road erected for the purpose, was
viewed with mingled astonishment and trepidation.
M. Ghelia also made his first appearance, introduc-
ing his two steeds, whose performances showed the
high stage of training to which they had been
brought. There was also a new grand entrée, called
The Festival of Flowers, and Miss A. Bridges, the
equestrian Taglioni, concluded the Scents in the
Circle, by going through the Cracovienne and Ca-
chuca on horseback, with as much accuracy as
though she had been dancing on terra firma. The
subject selected for the Christmas pantomine
is the Irish Legend of O'Donoghue, who,
according to tradition, on a May morning,
rides on a milk-white steed across the
Lake of Killarney. The scene opens with the
Hag of Mischief brooding over an illicit still, from
which, after due incantation, springs forth the Spirit
of Whiskey, the evil genius of Ireland, whom she
sends forth in the shape of a recruiting sergeant,
bottle in hand, to work ruin and desolation over the
country, but more particulaey on the favourites of
O'Donoghue, who is the representative of the water-
drinkers. The second scene is the Lake of Killar-
ney, which was beautifully managed. The nymphs
and fairies of the lake are seen to glide over its
bosom, followed by the enchanted Prince O'Do-
noghue on his white steed, who after informing
them that he is in want of a pair of true
lovers to end his enchantment, disguises himself as an
ancient beggar and dismisses his train, who by well-
contrived scenic effect, which was loudly applauded,
are seen to sink down into the bosom of the lake to
their coral bowers below, leading the steed with
them. The Prince then becomes witness of the love-
making of Dermot Astore, the young landlord of
the Queen's Head, and Kathleen, daughter of Lord
Bullfrog; and, being relieved by the young lady, in
his capacity de beggar, promises his aid to the young
couple. Their loves are, however, interrupted by the
return of Lord Bullfrog and his motley train from
hunting ; and he, to get rid of his plague of a daughter,
puts her up as the prize of a steeplechase to be run
next day, and " may the best horse win." Dermot,
being the possessor of an unrivalled steed, feels assured
of victory, but in an unlucky moment he meets with
the Spirit of Whiskey who tempts him to take a drop
too much, and in this predicament swindles him out
of money, steed, and all. In desperation he is about
to try the cold water cure, and drown himself in the
lake, but is interrupted by O'Donoghue, who leads
him to his coral stable of a thousand steeds at
the bottom of the lake, and parades his stud
before him, and gives him his pick of the lot
for the morrow's race. Dermot chooses a
beautiful cream-colour, with which he vanquishes all
opposition, but when he is about to claim his prize the
Spirit of Whiskey, by a dexterous coup de main,
seizes both steed and maiden and elopes with them.
Chase is given, but on approaching the banks of the
lake the magic steed plunges in to reach his well-known
stable, and while Dermot arrives just in time to
rescuelKathleen, the Spirit of Whiskey is left to
be submerged in the uncongenial element.
The transformatioh then takes place and the bar-
lequinade commence 4. This of course is of the
usual description, full of fun and frolic, and abound-
ing with many excellent hits, verbal and mechanical,
at the passing topics of the day. The Exhibition of
1851, with the Clown's unprecedented contributions
to it, the Swedish Nightingale, with the rival mana-
gers putting salt on her tail, General Haynau and
the draymen, were among the number; and altoge-
ther, making the usual allowance for the first night of
performance, the pantomime passed off with great
success. The opening part is by Mr. Rodwell, the
author of the successful pantomime of King Hal.
The scenery and dresses are magnificent ; and we
cannot forbear particularising the coral stable,
with its long range of stalled steeds stretching for-
ward into the distance as far as the eye could reach,
attended by legions of fairy grooms and stable-
helpers. The Lake of Killarney we have already
mentioned, and there were several scenes in the harle-
quinade deserving of the highest praise. Mr. T.
Henderson, as Clown, and Mr. Rivolti, as Pantaloon,
throughout the whole piece kept the audience in
continued laughter, while the dancing of Mr. and Mrs.
W. H. Harvey, as Harlequin and Columbine, was
repeatedly applauded. The mechanical transforma-
tions were cleverly designed and skilfully executed,
and we cannot give too great praise to the manage-
ment for the spirit and liberality which has been
displayed in the placing of this piece on the
stage. Many opportunities were afforded by the
plot of introducing Mr. Batty's beautiful stud,
and we are convinced that where enjoyment of genuine
mirth is the object in view Astley's will be the place
first to be chosen by all the sight seers of the season.
So the audience seemed to think last night, as was
testified by their frequent and long-continued applause

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.
LIVERPOOL. Dxc. 26.
STOCK EXCHANGL—The share market was very quiet
to-day, but prices were firm. The transactions were as
follow:—Caledonian, 103,,,—Chester and Holyhead, 1714
Ditto, Preference, guaranteed 5q par cent., 14—Great
Western, 79—Leeds and Thirsk, 1414—Scottish Central, 14—
Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire, 107/F, dis.—Ditto, 22/.
Shares, 61% dis. -- Edinburgh, P. and D. (late E. and N.),
Preference, 5 per cent., 19%—Lancashire, and Yorkshire,
Consolidated, 53:1/ —Ditto, Fifths, 71,g dis.—London and
North-Western, 126,,4 Ditto, New Quarters, 4% p.
Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincohishire, 2714—Ditto, Pre-
ference, 101/ Midland, 49 L4—Ditto, Halves, 1834 dis.—
Newcastle and Carlisle, 90—Shropshire Union (Railway and
Canal), 3 dis.—South-Eastern and Dover, 233—South
Staffordshire, 3 5-16 dis.—York, Newcastle, and Berwick,
191 Ditto, Preference (unpaid up), 3% dis. Dutch
Rhenish, 434 dis.—Namur and Liege, 91/B—Orleans, Tours,
and Bordeaux, 3 11-16 dis.
BIRMINGHAM, DEC. 26.
STOCK EXCHANGE.—The market was extremely dull
to-day. The only transaction reported was—Shrewsbury
and Birmingham (13), 4% dis.

RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS.
LONDON AND NOLTII-WESTERN RAILWAY.—ROtUrII Of
TraSc for the week ending Dec. 22:
£25,842 7 9
... 18,417 1 6
CPMaaetsrtscleelinagnedis'i.B Merchandise
parcels,
... 911 9 5

Total 445,200 18 8
Corresponding week last year 46,650 2 6
Note.—The returns as published are exclusive of the
traffic of the Huddersfield Canal and Shropshire Union, North
Union, Preston and Wyre, South Junction, Manchester and
Buxton, and Buckinghamshire Railways, and of the propor-
tion of traffic deducted under agreement with the North
Staffordshire Company. '
GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.--Return of traffic for the
week ending Dec. 22 £1F,427 9 0
Corresponding week last year... 17,540 0 8

THE GRIAT NORTHERN RAILWAY.— (Miles in work, 236
Return of Traffic for the Week ending Dec. 1.5, 1850:
Passengers, parcels, carriages,
horses, doge, and mails ... £1,367 2 9
Merchandise and minerals ... 2,651 14 0
Cattle ... ... 313 12 9

Total .. £7,3A 9 6
Corresponding period last year.. 2,707 110
SIIROPSIIIRE UNION RAILWAY.—(Open 1.0 miles.) Traffic
!Or the week ending Dec. 22 :
Passengers, parcels, &c.
Goods and live stock

... £276 0 10i
... 169 10 10

Total .• •• £445 11 Ei
Corresponding week last year ... 453 15
SOUTH WALES RAILWAY. - Return of traffic for the weak
ending Dec. 22:
Passengers
Parcels
Goods
Expresses

... R 703 16 8

... 32 3 3
.. 112 10 5
... 10 3 0

Total (exclusive of mails)... E 63 13 4
LONDON AND BLACKWALL RAILWAY.— Amount of revenue
or the week ending Dec. 22:
Passengers
Goods

.. £683 18 4
... 17 0 0

Total ...4700 18 4
Corresponding week last year ... 538 14 6
CALIMONIAN RAILWAY.— (160 miles opened.) r Return of
,raffia tor the week ending Dec. 15: --
Passengers, &c.
Goods, &c.

„. £1,893 8 7
... 4,268 7 3

Total . £(.161 15 10
Corresponding week last year ... 5,9 9 13 5

THE POWER'OF PENCE.-The majority of persons
will speak disparagingly of pence, and entertain the most
sublime contempt of their influence; yet—unreasonable that
they are I—they will doff their supercilious:iess, and do ob-
sequious homage before the majesty of pounds! As if a
penny were not a round in embryo " Take care of the
ponce, and the pounds will take care of themselves," said
one; and the experience of every-day life gives to the say.
ing the force of an axiom. Many a millionnaire has owed
his envied position to a respect thr pence in the outset.
Jacques Lalitte would never have risen to be the Crcesus of
modern France, did he not entertain it—did he not regard
trifles; and many a once wealthy man can trace his down-
ward course to penury to a reckless din-egard of small sums—
in short, to a contempt of pence. Everything around us
teaches us that we should entertain a proper respect for
small things, as the foundation of great ones. The universe
is composed of atoms—the coral reef is upheaved by the
labour of a tiny insect, in the depth of the ocean—trifles make
up the great sum of life itself.