The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-30 00:00:00

LYCEUM THEATRE.

Under the title of " Who's to Win Him ?" a
slight comedietta, obviously based by Mr. T.
J. Williams on a French foundation, has been
brought to serve as a lively prelude to the ela-
borate pantomime with which Mr. E. T. Smith
has astonished his juvenile patrons. The prelimi-
nary trifle agreeably employs the feminine force
of the company, and conveys a suggestive moral
in showing how maidenly reserve is much more
likely to secare a lover than the obtrusive
claims put forward by four village belles
who set their caps at a young officer in a
country village. The pantomime, which his been
produced in a very costly fashion, is now in the
height of its prosperous career, and is remarkable
for the rapid manner in which the spectator is
dazzled by a succession of brilliant tableaux. The
importation of the " Parisian Carnival Quadrille"
is by no means hazardous as an experiment, for
the quaintness of the dance so cleverly performed
by Mdlle. Finette does not in the slightest de-
gree pass the boundary of decorum. Miss
Goodhall especially distinguishes herself in the
introductory portion, and with Miss Furtado,
Miss Caroline Parkes, and Miss Sidney, the
amplest justice is rendered to the operatic parodies
introduced. The harlequinade is full of spirit,
and the activity of the Clown, Mr. Forrest,
with the graceful dancing of Miss Esther Austin,
the Harlequin a la Watteau, and the fun
and flexibility of the rest of the nume-
rous troupe of pantomimists engagei, sustain un-
flaggingly the amusement of the audience. Mr. E.
T. Smith, with his usual energy, is preparing fresh
novelties to strengthen the favourable impression
produced by his pantomime, and early in the
month of February a new actor of European
birth and of American reputation will make his
first appearance in England in an Anglicised
version of the German drama of " Narcisse." Mr.
E. T. Smith has also arranged with Mr. H. J.
Byron for the immediate production of " The Lan-
cashire Lass," which, with all those " sensational"
effects which created so much excitement when the
piece was produced at Liverpool a few months back,
will be forthwith transferred to the Lyceum stage.

CITY AMATEUR MUSICAL SOCIETY.—The ball of
this society took place on the 23d, and proved to be a bril-
liant success. The new and handsome suite of rooms of
the Freemasons' Tavern, at which the ball was given, are
scarcely to be excelled in fitness for an entertainment of
this description. Supper was served in tasteful and lavish
style in the elegant drawing room of the establishment.
The usual toasts were duly honoured. Coote and Tinney's
quadrille band performed an admirable selection of music
in the Grand Hall, to which the members and their friends
danced with zest for several hours. The whole of the
arrangements were pronounced to be unexceptionable.
STEEL FROM CLEVELAND IRON.—The occurrence
of sulphur and phosphorus in Cleveland pig iron has
hitherto prevented its being used for conversion into Bes-
semer steel. For the latter purpose only the pig iron ob-
tained from the purest epathic and hematite ores has been
employed ; and the increasing demand for steel has led to
some apprehension lost the iron trade of Cleveland should
eventually suffer from the competition of the Bessemer
steel manufacturers, unless some practical and economical
method could be discovered whereby the north country
pig iron could be converted inw steel. During the past
year a considerable number of experimenters have been
attempting to solve this important problem, and at length
it would seem there is a fair prospect of success. At the
last meeting of the Middlesborough iron trade samples o
steel made from Cleveland iron were exhibited by Messrs.
Fox, Head, and Co. These appeared of superior quality,
and excited great interest, as it was stated that by the new
process steel rails could be manufactured at from £9 to
£lO per ton, or at about .£3 per ton under the price of
Bessemer steel rails. Should these anticipations be well
founded it is certain that a great impetus will be given to
the iron trade of this locality.

A person living at Hentield, near Bristol, has a
cuckoo in a cage. It was caught last summer soon after it
loft its nest. It eats bread, potatoes, meat, cheese, &v.
AN OLD LADY'S iloAnn.—Llst week au old
widow lady, named Evans, died at Swansea, at the house
of her daughter.- She had for many years previous to her
death lived in a little cottag3 by herself. After her
death a charwoman, who was cleaning the cottage, dis-
covered, concealed in an old-fashioned night-stool,
.£1,60G 10s. in gold. As there was no will, the next of
kin proceeded immediately to London to prove his title to
h e treasure.

OFFICIAL LiQuIDATons...T.-Yesterday a notice
was promulgated at the Rolls Chambers, headed " Official
Liquidators' Remuneration," stating that no application
would be entertained for remuneration to official liquida-
tors during the present sitting unless made and the evi-
dence in support of it left with the chief clerk on or before
the 14th Much next.