Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1885-05-30 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

MINIATURE "MADAME TUSSAUD'S."  Under the above title; novel entertainment haa been devised for the benefit of the Industrial Fund for the Girls' Friendly Society, Diocese of London, by Lady Helen Stewart and Mrs. Symes Thompson, aided by the ladies patronesses of the institution. The exhibition was opened the other day at the town house of Lady Egerton of Tattoo, in Rutland-gate, and the waxwork show was supplemented by other amusements, including processions of children in historic costume, singing nursery rhymes. The miniature Madame Tussaud's was a curious exhibition, in which prizes had been competed for by the members of the Girls' Friendly Society, and certificates of merit awarded to those hors cons-ours. First in favour among the competitors appeared to be the subjects drawn from apocryphal English history; among others, King Arthur, Sir Launcelot, and Sir Galahad, Pope Gregory saying "Non Angli sod Angell," Alfred the Great letting the cakes burn in the neatherd's hut, and William Rufus shot dead by Tyrrel. Many of the minute toy-like groups were very well composed and clothed, and in some the composition of the picture was very commendable. A capital instance of what can be done in the arrangement of minute figures was that of the Empress Maud leaving Arundel Castle. The group of Henry 111. and Eleanor of Provence was also well imagined, as was that of Henry V. and Katharine of France. The plucking of the Red and White Roses in the Temple Gardens was well illustrated; and so was Henry Viii., who appeared in the midst of what may be called a family group of the King and his six wives. Edward VI. giving the charter to the Bluecoat School was another good subject, like that of Queen Elizabeth dancing before Roger Ascham. Elizabeth with Sir Walter Raleigh spreading his cloak before her was a still better picture, and Oliver Cromwell and Milton was also capital in its way. There was a good group of the Georges and an interesting young Pretender; but the crowning glory of the groups of miniature waxwork was the Presentation at Court to Queen Victoria. Immense pains had evidently been taken with this group, which included the Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and Mr. Gladstone, as well as a distinguished circle around them. There were also some very clever groups of fisherfolk, and one of the interior of a ward in a hospital, showing the patients in various stages of convalescence, from a girl " just a little better" to one able to sit up in bed and do a little embroidery. Taken altogether, the exhibition was extremely amusing.  A VERDICT of wilful murder has been returned by a coroner's jury at Slaidburn, near Clitheroe, against Grace Isherwood, the wife of a farmer, and Isabella Gardiner, her sister, for causing the death of the illegitimate child of the former. It transpired that Isherwood's husband did not know of the existence of the boy, who was two years old, and the woman tried to gain admittance for the little one at the work. house, but failed; shortly afterwards the body was found in a neighbouring brook. THE Cinderford blast furnaces, Forest of Dean, the property of Messrs. Crawshay and Sons, which have been idle for four months, have now been put into blast operation again. A large number of miners will also resume employment at the same company's iron mines.  Tus Unopposed Bill Committee of the House of Commons has passed the bill which authorises the abandonment of the Charing-cross and Waterloo Electric Railway, sanctioned in 1882. The abandonment of this line has, it is said, been partly brought about owing to the difficulties experienceddby the company with the Metropolitan Board of Worrs". THE new line connecting Swanage and Corte Castle with the main line from Waterloo to Weymouth has been formally opened. Swanage, which has hitherto been almost inaccessible, now bids fair to become a summer resort from Bournemouth, and the land has already risen enormously in value. AT noon the other day some alarm was caused in London by the appearance of smoke issuing from the old building of the General Post-office. The firemen attached to the place found that a quantity of waste paper in the basement had become ignited, but in a few minutes the outbreak was subdued  Mao. GLADSTONE laid the foundation stone of Sunday school buildings in connection with the church of St. Michael and All Angels', Walthamstow, the other day. NEARLY 200 persons have been arrested by the Manchester police in a raid made on a number of unregistered clubs, alleged to be used for betting purposes.