The Express. — 1868-05-27 (London, England)

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 27,  SECOND EDITION.  THE DERBY DAY.  "THE ROAD" THIS MORNING.  ANOTHER NE N' THEATRE.  The Strand Music-hall, which wen probably one of *0 most unlucky and akort-lived of all our London pleas of amusement, after being closed for many months, offered for sale under the winding-up acts more than once, and looked at but not purchased by persons in search of •synagogne, has bean bought by a gentleman of enterprise and capital for a new London theatre. Many changes will of course have to be made in the building, both internally and externally, and, above all, it will be ' wise for the new proprietor to give it leas the air of a country grammar school than it has at present. The interior of the building will probably be enlarged by the purchase of some adjacent property, giving the house greater breadth as a theatre than it possessed as a musichall. The work of reconstruction will begin about the same time as the building of the new Lyons-inn Theatre in Newcastle-street, and it will be curious to see which house will be opened first. Both these theatres will have the advantage of a Strand frontage, as the south side of Holywellstnret is condemned, and the north side of that street will ultimately be the north side of the Strand from St. Mary's to St. Clement's church. The New Strand Theatre, it is almost needless to say, stands chiefly on the site of old Exeter Change, being bounded on one side by Wellington-street, and on the other by Catherine-street.  For many years past each succeeding "Derby Day " has been looked forward to with increasing interest, not alone by the sporting public, but by that far more numerous class which looks with indifference upon all other events connected with the turf. " The Derby," on the present occasion, seems to have been regarded with more than ordinary interest, not from the la/vises, of the " field," or any extraordinary ellence in the horses entered for the race, but from circumstances connected with the favourite, Lady Elizabeth, and her owner, which have recently attracted public notice. This being a gloriously bright and thoroughly English May morning, the road presented more than its usual bustle and excitement on the Derby Day. " The road," as it is commonly called, may be said to commence at the Elephant and Castle, Kennington, for at this point the streams of vehicular traffic from the City and the northern, eastern, and south-eastern districts of the metropolis converge. Long before daybreak the road was thronged with pedestrians of all descriptions, wending their way to Epsom. Among the motley groups were, as usual, the vendors of paper flowers, fantactic dolls, false whiskers and noses, and " krect cards of the races," proprietors of Aunt Sallies and " three sticks a penny," members of the pea and thimble fraternity, and the hundreds of nondescript beings who appear only called into existence on Derby days. Beguiling their weary march by shouting, singing, and all sorts of indescribable noises, they effectually murdered the sleep of the unfortunate inhabitants of houses on the route.  By 7 o'clock in the morning the neighbourhood of " the Elephant," and the footways along the Kennington and Clapham roads were lined with people while the windows of the houses were filled with gaily-dressed ladies and children. By the aid of numerous companies of " nigger" melodista, the strains of German bands, and no lack of what is called " chaff," an hour passed merrily and quickly away, until 8 o'clock, when the arrival of vehicles of every description, laden with passengers, crowded the road, and from 8 until 11 o'clock there was one unoeasing stream.  Notwithstanding the large number of spectators and the crowded state of the road, no seriour accident occurred, and nothing beyond the occasional break-down of some over-loaded ricketty van, or the obstinate refusal of some brokenwinded horse to carry his load any further, occurred to interrupt the traffic.