Evenings Abroad.

Evenings Abroad .

As the showman at the fair says , " Hi ! hi ! hi ! hurry up ! There are only a few more representations of ¦' Cinderella , " at the Crystal Palace to follow , and those who can enjoy a plain , straightforward fairy story , simply told , admirably illustrated , capitally acted , and altogether entertaining , should ' not miss the present opportunity . The size and structure of the theatre at the Crystal

Palace is only adapted to spectacle ; actors may work , and vocalists may strain their voices , but they cannot make their full mark : hence , the spectacular department carries most of the responsibility of these productions . In this particular no effort has been spared , to render the whole pantomime a worthy successor of many a triumphant predecessor ; and . nothing could well be finer than the Woodland Scene , the Fairy Boudoir , and the Ball Room at the

Prince ' s Palace ; all these scenes are replete with magnificence ; and the ballets and processions are arranged upon a splendid scale . The transformation scene is a beautiful stage picture . Miss Susie Vaughan , Miss Edith Bruce , Miss Emma D'Auban , Miss Amy Liddon , Mr . Edward Righton , Mr .-John D'Auban , and Mr . C . T . Hague , all work capitally . The dancing of Mr . and Miss D'Auban is really first-rate .

Paul Martinetti s excellent Ballet—A Duel in the Snow—has been revived magnificently at the Empire . There is a scene representing a masquerade ball at the Grand Opera House in Paris , which probably could not be surpassed for effect and realistic details of life and colour . The scene wherein the perfect pantomimic acting of the Great Paul comes out strongest is in the Forest . This is

another perfect stage picture , the snow effects being wonderful and beautiful . The exquisitely amusing details of this duel must be seen to be appreciated ; but Paul Martinetti in a death scene is quite tragic and impressive . I have always admired this ballet previously , but it has never had such a chance as at the Empire , with its gorgeous mounting and its new music by Mons . Herve . Mons .

Konski has painted the scenery , and Mons . Landolff and Miss Fisher have supplied the beautiful costumes . I have congratulated Mr . Paul Martinetti , and must not forget to mention in the highest possible terms Miss Josephine , and Mr . Alfred of that ilk . Diana , a perfect ballet of its kind , supported by Signorinas Cavallazzi , Bettina de Sortis and Signor Albertieri , also deserves , and is hereby

accorded , a special word of praise . The variety entertainment is of first-class quality , embracing the names of Chirgwin , the cleverest " all round " artist on the musio hall stage , Nellie L'Estrange , a piquante vocalist , the Sisters Leamar , very attractive young persons , Mr . G . W . Hunter , quaint and curious , and Don Juan A . Caicedo , "the Columbian Marvel , " a tight-rope performer who will

make many another m the same walk , I suppose I ought to say rope walk , of business " sit up " with a vengeance . Besides the above-named , Mr . G . Beauchamp , Miss Eunice Vance , " Dutch Daly , " Mr . Walter Munroe , Miss May Selby , The Marvellous Eugenes , who as acrobats justify the qualification , the Berisor troupe , and Wilton , Mora , and Carol , triple bar performers of great pluck and finish , appear and give much satisfaction .

At the Alhambra there is also a ballet which , to my thinking , is the best that has been put on the stage of this house for years . By this , my readers may gauge the quality of the praise I wish to convey to Signor Casati , the inventor and arranger thereof , and to Mons . G . Jacobi , who has composed some of the most graceful and characteristic music which has ever come from his pen ; at any

ordinary house it is not difficult to beat a record , at the Alhambra it seemed to be a feat impossible , yet it has been done , and Irene proves herself to be a magnificent first for brilliancy and beauty . Signorina Legnani is magnificent in the title ride , while Signora Cossio , Madle . Cormani , Madame Roffey , Miss M . Thurgate , and Madle . Marie are all perfect dancer * . The Carnival at Naples and the scene of

Fortunas Kingdom are simply marvels of pictorial and choreographic art . Casati ' s pastoral divertissement , Tdenla , another lovely production , is to be seen here ; while the varieties are well supported by the Sisters Collins , the two Armstrongs , Revcn and Athas , the Brantfords , a most comical pair , Mr . Harry Randall , a clever vocal comedian , Mr . Curtis D'Alton , a good baritone singer , lively Miss

Alice Maydue , and amusing Mr . James Fawn . The Four Athos are extremely good acrobats , the feats of a little boy being perfectly marvellous . Lieut . Walter Cole ' s " Merry Folks " are ¦ as mirthprovoking and admirably worked as'dieretofore ; besides which the Lieutenant now exploits his funny ' " Alley Sloper" figure , which provokes ample mirth .

Speaking of music halls reminds me that there seems to be a total cessation of work upon the new Tivoli in the Strand . Why is this thus ? John Smith is the title of a bright little musical piece put on in front of Paul Jones last Monday . The interpretation is good , though the piece is neither very novel nor very strong . Still it serves its purpose well .

The Balloon goes up at the Strand Theatre on Wednesday of the current week . Captain , Swift at the Haymarket makes way for The Merry Wives of Windsor , which will be played every evening after Saturday next with the same cast as has supported it at the matinee performances which have been given here .

A FooVs Paradise ( capital title !) will be played at the Gaiety Theatre next Thursday moi . iing with a strong cast , consisting of Messrs . Conway , Gardiner and Wenman , and Misses Kate Rorke , Gertrude Kingston and M . Collette . LAUNCELOT GOBBO .

Our City Article.

Our City Article .

CAPEL COURT , FEBRUARY 6 TH , 1889 . In consequence of the numerous new issues money is rather more in demand , and the lowering of the bank minimum to 3 per cent , brings the outside and the inside rates very near . But for the influx of a large sum to the Bank of England there would have been some little scarcity apparent , as it is there is a tendency

towards an upward movement , which would become more decided if the demand for South American is renewed ; and that this will come before long is certain . Up to the end of last week the dullness prevailing lately on the Paris Bourse continued , but as soon as their monthly settlement was concludedwithout any difficulties being shown , there was a

, recurrence of the buoyancy of a few weeks ago , and a consequent sharp advance in those loans particularly affected in that quarter . I speak of the Paris Bourse rather than our own Stock Exchange in this relation , as it is either thence or from Berlin that our inspirations come , the dealers in London merely reflecting the tone of either one or the other . The breaking up of the

Panama Canal Company had not the effect that was anticipated by some , the loss falling npon small capitalists and being very largely subdivided . The demand at the moment is especially for Egyptian Stocks and for Spanish—the former upon the very good revenue reports from the country , and the latter upon the talked of re-arrangement of the public debt , and

the confidence felt in the capacity of the present Finance Minister . Greeks are also well supported . It is rather to South Americans that the next attention will be drawn , particularly those of the Argentine Republic , where the most reliable authorities concur in giving excellent reports of the material progress being made in the country , and where the money so largely supplied from England

is being well expended . The activity in English rails has somewhat abated , but the rise in prices since last week is considerable and well maintained . The dividends on all the principal English lines have now been announced , and are quite up to the expectations previously formed . I cannot but think that there is fairly room for a further rise

beyond the present , as the increased traffics published week by week show that the improvement is actual and continuous . In order to make a fair comparison we must go back to the year 1882 , when the dividends declared for 1881 were about the same as now , and then prices were much higher even than at present . In the meantimehoweverthere has been an appreciable advance in

, , the value of solid dividend paying securities , consequently I argue that the present prices do not fully represent the increased and increasing value of railway ordinary stocks . The Great Western dividend of 1 \ per cent , caused no rise in the price as it had been expected , and the market was dull at the time of the announcement . I think that this stock

will go higher , and that Brighton " A " stock will also reach before the end of tho week the price it stood at before , viz ., 137 J ; but the stock which I have mentioned before—Chatham Second Preference —affords the best prospect , perhaps , of a considerable rise . In the American market , which is so uncertain that I did not mention it last week , the improvement that had taken place did not hold , and

the activity lasted but for a few days . It is said from New York that the bulls are waiting a decision of the Inter-state Railway Commissioners , but looking at the old conditions I cannot but think that a rise before long is inevitable , although prices in the meantime may go somewhat lower . The resumption of activity in Mexican rails is very marked , and

having once again come to the front , there is every probability of the movement being carried considerably further . The last traffic helped , but it is some vague idea of a re-arrangemant of the different classes of stocks that it is said the rise is taking place . This , to my mind , is merely nonsense , unless it further secures the stability of the preference stocks . 'What is really the case is that

the stocks have been largely oversold , and that this bear account has not yet been closed . Trunks keep steady , but there is no advance upon the rise previously noticed , although I am inclined to look for a further jump shortly . In miscellaneous shares there is very little doing , except in the shares of new issues , or of those Companies which are in a position

to grant subconcessions . The Pahang is notably one of these , and what I have before said of this Company has been fully borne out , the shares being now quoted at 7 , after being above that price , and in some quarters it is even said that they will go to 15 . This is , I think , as absurd as when they were under par . They will probably get rid of another concession this year , in addition to the which has successfullfloatedand return

Pahang Kahang y , a of the full capital , in the shape of a 100 per cent , capital may be expected , but inasmuch as the shares are only £ 1 each the present price is quite high enough , even if they were certain of a 50 per cent , dividend for years to come . New territories are being opened up in South Africa which appears to be literally

teeming with metalliferous wealth . New districts are being opened up , and the shares of any Companies offering chances of explorations on virgin ground find their shares readily taken up by the public . Mine shares are as active as ever , the boom not being quite so much confined to the 'Randt district as heretofore , but

interest is still principally confined to South Africa . Nitrate Shares are dull and drooping , and in the absence of the person most interested are not likely to be very active for the present . The prices reached by the shares of most of the Companies are such as to require very good dividends to warrant a sustentation . CRAFTSMAN .

ANSWER . S . D . —( 1 ) We should sell at once , while there is a good premium . ( 2 ) Keep until after the special settlement . ( 3 ) 27 / 6 is a fair price .