Public Amusements.

A'ery best pantomime that has heretofore been produced at this favourite theatre . The other performances consisted of the everwelcome scenes in the circle , and Mr . J . Crockett ' s extraordinary feats of lion-taming , all of which , as well as the pantomime , wore received with enthusiastic applause by a crowded audience .

STRAND . The Christmas piece at this favourite little theatre is from tho prolific pen of Mr . H . J . Byron . It is an illustration of the wellknoAvn fairy tale of " Cinderella and the Glass Slipper , " AA'hich ha so often done the stage , if not the State , good service by amusing He Majesty ' s lieges on festive occasions . The treatment by Air . Byron is , however , novel and ingenious , and care has been taken to make the " cast " sufficiently wide to embrace nearly the AAIIOIC of the

Strand company . The piece was highly successful , and the eo ncluding scene , by Messrs . Calcott and Broadfoot , is a beautiful piece of senio effect , of which the audience testified their admiration by a tumultuous call for the artists . A similar compliment was s paid to Mr . Byron , and the curtain fell amid hearty and prolonged ] . , applause . The entertainments concluded ivith tho UOAV farce of " Did 1 Dream It . " The house was filled in every part .

POLYTECHNIC INSTTTUT ION . The new management of this excellent institution , though under the control of a limited company , has shown itself no niggard in the amount of amusement provided for the holiday folk , and ivhieh agreeably combines the solid and the light , the instructive and amusing . The hall has been tastefully coloured , and the new arrangements include a sculpture-gallery , coloured in the Pompeian

style , and furnished ivith impluviums filled ivith lloAvers , from which issue innumerable tiny jets of water ; a gallery of carefully selected paintings , by deceased artists , in ivhieh is also the armoire of Napoleon the First , and a series of very interesting engravings , by Turner , and of woodcuts , by BeAvick , as also prints of the etchings and various stages of the plates , & c . The architectural-room has some pleasing models , and the naval department is worth a visit from those interested m the subject . The great feature in the

building , and an entire novelty , is a gigantic sectional model of the earth ' s crust , designed and executed by Air . John S . Phone , managing director of the institution , under whom the various improvements b .-iA-e been eil ' ceted . fherc ,-irc two pur / briuaiiees ; l rluyfrom half-past twelve to five , and seven to eleven , the first of which commences Avith an explanation of the model just named by Air . King , and Avhich is sufficiently scientific for all practical purposes without losing the best element of such lectures—a popular style

easily understood by young and old . Then there is the oxyhydrogen microscope , under ivhieh are shown some beautiful photographs of sculpture , as well as living and other objects ; the wellknown diving-bell ; a Lecture on . Astronomy ; and some admirable Dissolving A'iews , especially of Italy and Sicily , ivith one series of comic scenes for the juveniles . Nor is music wanting to add to the charms of the Institution ; the band , under the direction of Air . AVaudbeing most efficient , and a most excellent

entertain-, ment being given by Mr . Charles Field , assisted by-Messrs . Aylivin , Field , Freilcrich , and 'full , and the Alisses Bennett and Warner , who introduce some favourite songs Avith good effect . These varied entertainments , combined with the various natural and mechanical objects to bo found within the hall , render thc Polytechnic one of the best of popular resorts .

ROYAL COLOSSEUM . Dr . Bachholfner appears to have greatly improved this establishment since he undertook the management , some six years since , during ivhieh period he has raised it to a character second to none . We need not here dilate on the beauty of the colossal dioramas of Paris and London—for who is there in London , or who has visited Paris , who has not seen them and formed their own opinion of their truthfulness and excellence?—or the stalactite caverns , the

Swiss conservatory , the sculpture gallery , the eosmoramic vieivs , rsrc , for these are known as the standing attractions of the exhibition . A neAV pictorial and musical entertainment has been produced , entitled , "A Holiday Excursion , " in Avhich Air . Austin Burns , the lecturer , contriA'es to give some interesting particulars , not only of the scenery , but of the manners and customs of the people in India , China , Australia , Turkey , Italy , France , America , & C . —a sufficiently wide range for the most extorting of si ght-seers . Then there is

another musical entertainment , by Mr . ileivsou , under the title of "Musical Peculiarities of the Present -Age ; " and , in a "Casket of Mirth , " Air . Julian gave some capital imitations of popular performers , which Avas greatly aiiplauded . The Colosseum is generally , as it deserves to be , Avell attended . THE GREAT GLOBE , in Leicester-square , is one of those exhibitions which does not provide any special entertainment lor the holidays—the Great Globe

Public Amusements.

itself , and the various excellent dioramas it contains , giving scenes of all the exciting events of the last half-dozen years in the Crimea , in India , in China , and in Italy , proving , with the descriptive lectures , sufficiently attractive to secure a , good attendance of those who , objecting to the li ghter forms of amusement , are still desirous to do homage to the season , and present to their children a really instructive exhibition .

BURFORD'S EXHIBITION " , ivhieh has been established so many years as to be almost beyond the memory of man , but which never fails to be attractive . A neiv Panorama of Messina has jnst been opened ; and looking at thepeculiar interest with Avhich everything regarding the Sicilies at . present creates in the public mind , cannot fail to be attractive .

MADAME TUSSAUD'S . The figures at this celebrated exhibition of Avax-work are as fresh and brilliant as AA'hen the exhibition was first opened a quarter of century ago , whilst the araangeuient has been greatly improved . Amongst the recent additions to the collections are—Garibaldi , the King of Naples , and Mullens , the murderer of Mrs . Enisley , who has found his place amongst other notorious criminals , in what used to be termed the Chamber of Horrors , but which has recently changed its title , and is now designated as the Chamber of Comparative Anatomy .

ALHAMBRA PALACE . This last venture of Mr . E . T . Smith promises to be the most remunerative of that gentleman ' s numerous speculations . Mr . Smith has shown himself a perfect master of the art of catering for the amusement of all classes of society , and never more so than at the Alhambra . A really popular anil excellent concert by good singers and musicians , and admirable dancing by an efficient corps de

ballet , could scarcely fail to be attractive , especially when brought together in one of the finest halls in the metropolis , which has been most elegantly decorated , and every convenience provided for the accommodation of the public , whilst the price of admission is only Gd . A neat , sketchy entertainment—musical , Terpsichorean , and dioramic — has been produced , entitled "Donnybrook Fair , " in which the humours and vicissitudes to be met with in that once celebrated prnt'icringr worts aMy ami laughingly delineated—Mr . Sam . Collins himself being sufficient to ensure its success , he being both a genuine Irish singer anil actor .

ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS . The selection of animals and birds assembled ivithin these gardens has never been surpassed , and , notwithstanding the weather , they appear to be in excellent health , There are few studies more attractive for the young than that of natural history , and there is no place in the kingdom where it is so well illustrated as in these gardens .

GALLERY OF ILLUSTRATION . Air . and Mrs . German Ueed and Mr . John Parry have returned . AVhat more need be said to assure our readers that a most excellent entertainment is in store for them if they have not already visited it ? The lady has lost none of her appreciation of character ; and , ably supported as she is by her husband and Air . Parry , the Gallery of illustration will continue , as it has ever been under the management of the Heeds , a most attractive and fashionable peace of resort for the coining season .

ST . JAMES'S HALL . The Buckley Sercnadcrs ivell maintain their ground . Anna Alalia Jones appears to bo an immense favourite , whilst " A little more cyder" brings rloivn a perfect hurricane of [ applause . Air . G . Buckley is the best bones ive have ever seen , and his solo from the Opera of " Zampa" must be heard to be appreciated . The entertainment , is brought toa close by aplantation festival dance , entitled "Dixies' Land , " the comicalities of which arc irresistible , and the audiences never leave excepting in the best of humour .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

AxosY-iioi'S . —Write to the Grand Secretary . NIL . —It was only a flash in the pan . —Persons , however amiable they are , do not like to play second fiddle after having been so long , improperly , ranked as first . GEOitrjE . —A ' ou have no legal right to keep a certificate presented to you by a beggar , even if you believe him to he an impostor . T . T . T . ( Jersey ) . —AA ' e do not undertake any such agencies , Be cautious hoiv you are proceeding , or unpleasant results may folloAV .