Public Amusements.

effect ifc may have had upon the lad ' s mental capacities , has , at any rate , cultivated his legs and arms to a rare pitch of suppleness and power . His main successes were doubtless gained by this activity , this pliancy , this rapidity of limb ; but the hoy is either naturally very clever , or else has been capitally trained , for his by-play is simply admirable . The careful and demure scratching of a grotesque ear with a soft and discreet paAA *—the

exultant waving of a long and quivering tail—the stealthy step —the wild , frolicksome gambol—all ivere most cat-like . M . Leotard , too , has a formidable rival in this feline phenomenon . There is a great trapeze scene which roused the house to the heartiest applause heard throughout the entire evening ; and a subsequent scene , in ivhich the Cat , now figuring as a little Chinesedances an infinitelcomic jiearned for Master Haslem

, y g , the honour of a recall . The piece is illustrated by some beautiful scenery from the skilful hand of Mr . Gates ; and the occasional use of one of Rimmel ' s perfume vaporisers refreshes the house from time to time by a grateful diffusion of the oiiour of roses .

ST . JAMES'S . Mr . Wigan having retired this theatre is now under the management of Mr . George A ining . The Christmas entertainment ivhich he has provided is an extravaganza from the pen of Mr . AV . Brough , entitled " Perseus and Andromeda . " The piece is of course a travestie of Ovid ' s well-known story , ivhich ifc turns into nonesense with much dexterity and humour . The scenery ,

though not remarkable , is well and gracefully painted ; and there is one effect , the petrifaction of a crowd by the exhibition of Medusa's head , which is likely to take . ABELPHI . Nothing new produced here , the combined attractions of " The Octoroon , " and " The Colleen Bawn , " being deemed sufficient by the management to Avin the suffrages of Christmastide audiences Avithout the aid of pantomime or burlesque .

OLYMPIC . " The King of the Merrows ; or , the Prince and the Piper , " the name ofthe IIBAV piece produced at this house , is the joint production of Mr . Palgrave Simpson and Mr . F . C . Burnand . It is by no means destitute of literary merit ; but Ave suspect that its attractiveness ivill depend more upon the beauty of its scenery , and the completeness of its stage appointments , than

upon anything of art thafc can be discovered in its dialogue . The principal character in the piece is supported by Mr . Rohson , who endeavours to concentrate the chief interest in Dan the Piper . Tire scenery and dresses are extremely beautiful , and the grand reunion in the closing tableau , exhibiting the genius of Happiness in a fairy isle , covered with holly and moss , and bright ivith a thousand enchanting floAvers and silver streams , is quite a triumph in its way .

STRAND . * "Puss in a New Pair of Boots" will add nothing fco the literary fame of the author , although ifc may , perhaps , pass muster well enough as a temporary holiday entertainment . The story is an unmanageable one for burlesque purposes , and if Mr . Byron has been less happy than usual in his selection , it must not be imagined that he has been sparing of his punswhich are sown

, broadcast over the whole dialogue . NEW ROYALTY . The Christmas entertainment at this charming little theatre consists of a burlesque from the pen of Mr . J . Ii . Tully . It is rather a free parody on Verdi ' s opera of " II Trovatore , " but

the freedom with which that famous opera has been converted into its new shape constitutes , perhaps , its greatest charm . One of the best scenes in the burlesque is that in ivhich a representation is given of the Epsom Downs on a Derby Day . Mdlle . di Rhona takes a part in the burlesque , ar . d lends it an additional charm by her inimitable dancing . ASTLEY'S . The pantomime at this house is entitled " Johnny Gilpin's Ride ; or , Harlequin and the Black AVitch of Edmonton . " The

subject is a capital one for an entertainment of this nature , and the difficulties of the worthy citizen create as much mirth as though they had been developed for the first time before the gaze of a sympathetic and admiring throng . CRYSTAL PALACE . The holiday amusements comprise M . Blondin on the high

rope , in the central transept . His performance is of the usual character , and is only remarkable for one novel variation , namely , the feat of getting in front of his pole , rising with it behind him , and carrying it in that position . The Blondin exhibition is followed by a melange of nigger singing , dancing , and amusing buffoonery , the chief actors in AA'hich are the " inimitable Mackney , " and the Perfect Cure . The final performance is a grand ballet pantomime , on a stage erected opposite the

Handel orchestra . This ballet introduces M . Blondin as an ape . and Miss Adele Blondin , a pretty little child , as a boy , whom the sagacious and benevolent brute saves from drowning , and adopts with parental tenderness . There is a tragic end to this ballet ; for the ape is shot just before the discovery of his good deeds is made . M . Blondin astonished the spectators , not only by a marvellously close imitation of monkey manners , but in a much greater degree by feats of strength and daring . Having

run up a rope from the proscenium to a side gallery of the transept , he seized another rope , AA'hich AA'as suspended from the centre , and , holding it as a bellringer would do , took a flying leap across the immense ividth of the transept ; in the same way he afterwards regained the stage . The effect of these astounding feats on tire spectators ivas electrical . A breathless pause followed them , as if the public could scarcely believe the reality of what they saw ; and it ivas not till after some moments thafc the applause broke forth . Apart from the extraordinary performance of M . Blondin , the ballet was A'ery well acted , and was ? set off by some admirable scenery .

POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION . The bill of entertainments provided at this establishment includes this season a phantasmagoric pantomime , with the name of " Mother Goose . " Besides this , there are a series of photographs , magnified on the large screen , and showing scenes of striking interest in America ; and a most instructive lecture , by Professor Pepperon the magnificent field of discovery opened

, out by the new terrestrial and stellar chemistry and experiments of Professors Bimseu . aud Kirchoff—a theory ivhich maintains the power of discovering the metallic constituents ot tire heavenly bodies by appearance in the spectrum . There is * also a Christmas tree , thirty-four feet high , and other amusements .

ROYAL COLOSSEUM . Ample provision has been made for visitors to this oldestablished place of amusement during the holidays . An entirely neAv set of entertainments and exhibitions has been prepared for the present season . The programme includes a neAv musical and pictorial entertainment , entitled " A Vacation Tour , " embracing visits to the City of Geneva , Convent of St .

Bernard , Mont , Blanc , St . Gothard , Valley of Lauterbrunnen , Siviss Cottage at Thun , Berne , Zurich , Basle , and a panoramic vieAV of the Rhine , illustrated by dissolving views , with a description and vocal illustration , by Mr . Jones Hewson . An original comic monologue entertainment , entitled "My Christmas Box . " The illusions of Mr . J . Taylor , the Wizard . A musical sketch , entitled "Whims and Oddities of Domestic Life , " with songs and illustrations by Mr . Jones Hewson .

MADAME TUSSAUD'S . During the holidays , this exhibition is sure to be one of the places most patronised hy those who delight in sight-seeing ; and certainly there was sufficient to attract and gratify thc tastes of all . The whole suite of magnificent apartments are illuminated with more than usual brilliancyand the promenade

, rendered more pleasing by the music of a good band of performers . GALLERY OF ILLUSTRATION . Mr . and and Mrs . German Reed and Mr . John Parry are to be found here every evening , and sometimes of an afternoon , en-