The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Royal Aquarium . —The splendid collection cf wax figures exhibited for the first time in England in the St . Stephen's Hall , of the Royal Aquarium , Westminster , nnd brought over from Russia at an enormous expense , consist * of three sections . The first sectionoccupying nearly tho whole of tbe vast hall—we meet with , are a number of figures and groups taken from mythology and history ,

together with a collection of busts of living notabilities , and of various ethnological type 3 . The expression of the features , the graceful attitudes , and the astounding truthfulness with whioh the minutest details are rendered , excite the wonder of every visitor and explain the universal enthusiasm expressed by visitors of this interesting show , which is , indeed , unique in its kind , tho marvellous

likeness to nature being heightened in tho principal figures by ingenious mechanical contrivances , moving the limbs , the head , or tho eyes , and making the spectator forgot that these beautiful figures lack the divine breath of nature ' s crowning piece-man , or still more beautiful woman . Persons fond of blood curdling stories may have their whim more than gratified by visiting the second section , or

the Chamber of Horrors , where they will find a truthful representation of tortures practised in the past , notably by the Spanish Inquisition . Here is depicted with terrible veracity a system of cruelty , which , thanks to the more human spirit pervading mankind since the last century , is not likely to come into fashion again . When we contemplate the indescribable cruelties to which poor oreatures

of flesh and blood as ourselves , our neighbours , whom we are taught to love and cherish , were subjected—when we consider that only a few centuries ago such inhuman monsters actually existed , who , under the cloak of religion , perpetrated such atrocious acts of brutality—we feel our blood curdling in our veins , and must be ashamed of belonging to such an ignoble race . The milder sorts of

tortures represented here are such as were used for the purpose of extorting by the infliction of bodily pain from innocent creatures , confessions of guilt which could afterwards serve as an excuse for the application of more cruel tortures , ending often by punishment of death by burning at the stake . Among these we find the " Thumb Screw , " the " Spanish Pear , " and the " Spanish Collar . " Ascending

in the scale of cruelty we come to the forcible tearing off of limbs , rending , tearing , or catting out the breast or kidneys , branding with heated ironB and cutting out strips of skin . The "Man in the Stocks " seems an illustration of the amount of pain a human being may endure . He has gradually gone through the whole series of minor tortures , thumb-screw , leg-screw , rack and other diabolical

contnvanoes , and seems to have arrived at a total indifference against any other pain . The acme , however , of aberation of the human mind in the direction of cruelty , is undoubtedly reaohed in "The Iron Maid of Nurembarg . " Taming to the third section . The Anatomical Museum , which , of course , is not open to the young , we are forced to admire the exactitude with which are represented even

the smallest fibres o'f that frail edifice—the human body . Medical students might profitably spend hours in this splendid and instructive department , where they can have easy access to a vast stock of knowledge , acquired by painful and assiduous study . Here we find wonderfully accurate representations of the components of the human body , notably the so-called " Venus , " tho mother of Anatomy , " in

36 parts , and a beautiful illustration of man with all muscles , nerves , and ligaments painfully correct , and conveying a truer impression than can possibly be obtained in nature . Amputation of limbs , wonderful operations on nose and larynx , and illustrations of wonderful cures by means of inoonlation with Dr . Koch ' s lymph from living specimens abound , and sights may be seen here whioh

might not occur to a pbysioian could he practice for hundreds of years . A beautiful panorama forms part of this exhibition , which has been known under the name of a " panopticum " in Rassia since 1874 . Although exhibited for over six years in St . Petersburg , five and a half years in Moscow , and for several years in other large towns in Russia , it has never failed to attract visitors even from the very highest ciroles . Last but not least in this marvellous collection

are two mummies in an excellent state of preservation ; one that of a young girl , whose Oriental beauty is still to be seen represented on the painted mask that covers her faoe , dead these three thousand years ; and the other the body of a priest , who died nearly four thousand years ago . This mummy is one of the oldest in existence , and is a better specimen than any of a similar date in the British Museum .

Tho State performance at Windsor Castle , by command of the Queen , was , perhaps , tho most brilliant nnd most successful of any that Sir Augustus Harris hns had the honour of presenting before Her Majesty . The pieces selected were the second aot of " L'Amico Fritz" and "Cavalleria Rnsticnna , " conducted by the composer , Signer Mascagni , in which Madamo Calve sustained her original

parts , and Signor Vignas appeared in place of Signor de Lucia , who , owing to the illness of his wife , has been obliged to return to Italy . Signor Ancona was also Been to great advantage in both pieces , and acted tbopatts allotted to him for tho first time in England . The two operas were beantifally staged with new scenery , painted for the occasion by Mr . W , Caney , and the orchestra was composod of fiftysix performers . Previous to the performances Signov Mascagni had

the honour of being introduced to th 9 Queen , who conversed for some time with the young composer , complimenting him upon his great succoss in this country ; and when the performances wero over Her Majesty invited him- again to one of the drawing-rooms , in conjunction with Madame Calvo and Sir Augustus Harris , to all of whom the Queen expressed her great pleasure at the entertainments and Complimented them heartily upon their succoss .

The Theatres, &C.

The present opera season will be somewhat extented to allow of two extra performances in place of that of the gala night aud the one missed when the theatre closed for the Royal wedding . Before the season comes to an end Sir Augustus Harris promises to produce

Borlioz ' s " Damnation de Faust , " and Professor Stanford's " Veiled Prophet , " in addition to the now opera of "Amy Robsart , " by Mr . Isidore de Lara , which has been in constant rehearsal for the past four weeks .

The fanciful extravaganza founded on Leonoavallo's " Pagliacci , ' and produced at tho Palace Theatre under the title of "A Palo ' Archies , " has caught on in a manner far exceeding the most sanguine expectations of its authors , Sir Augustus Harris and Mr . Charles Brookfield , or of its composer , Mr . James M . Glover ; for ever since

its production the hoase has been literally crammed to overflowing , money being turned away from tho doors , oven on Friday , which is usually the worst nig ht of the week at most theatres . Judging by the roars of laught 9 r and hearty applause with whioh this amusing piece is every night received , it is likely to hold the boards for some considerable time .

Another distinot feature in the programme of the Palace Theatre is Mr . Carl Hertz , who appears this week for the first time before the public in an entirely new magical illusion , called " Yum-yum ; or , the Japanese Pagoda Mystery . " Madlle . Bob Walter , " La Serpentine

Mondaine Parisienne , " continues to figure conspicuously among the other attractions , so that altogether it is no exaggeration to say that tho present bill of this popular theatre of varieties is by far tbe most entertaining of any in London .

The concert in aid of tho "Victoria" Relief Fund , which Sir Augustus Harris had offered to give at * St . James ' s Hall , has been unavoidably postponed , and should it not take place later on it is the intention of Sir ^ Augustus Harris to subsoribe , in any ease , towards the fund .

The foundation-stone of the new theatre in Sheffield will be laid early next month by Sir Augustus Harris , who , together with Lady Harris , will probably be tbe guests of Mr . Arnold Mair Wilson , of Whiteley Wood Hall , during their stay in the town .

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