Public Amusements.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .

Whatever peculiarity of feature may have marked former seasons of pantomime , there is one characteristic appertaining to the year of grace 186- _ f- which is not only unprecedented , but the employment of which as an attraction could never have entered into tho imagination of the wildest speculator of popular amusements .

Heretofore the perfect use of tho two nether limbs , in man or woman , had been considered indispensable on the stage , while the limbs themselves were regarded not merely as ornaments but as positive conveniences . To walk with freedom , ease , grace , and firmness was thought as necessary as to articulate smoothly and with

distinctness , and to achieve the former two legs were adjudged as needful as the combination of tongue , lips , and teeth to realise the latter . More particularly did all observation ancl experience load to the conclusion that to th e dancer the possession of two legs was one of the most essential requirements of his art . Science , moreover , in

the laws of motion and gravitation , was A ^ ont to instruct us in the impossibility to the human animal of progression without violence when the ordinary number of lower limbs was wanting , and mechanical ingenuity suggested and necessity recommended tho wooden leg or crutch as an equivalent . But knowledge , art , science ,

and utility , it would seem , have all this while been labouring under a delusion ; and that one leg is enabled to do the office of two , and do it completely , AVO have now abundant proofs in the performances of three oncleggcd artists who were introduced to the British public

for tho first time on Monday evening at tho Royal Theatres , Covent-garden , Her Majesty's , and Drury-lane respectively . In the first appeared tho celebrated and unique one-legged dancer , Donate , who has excited astonishment in nearly every capital on the Continent , and who exacts terms for his services equal to those of

a Taglioni or a Carlolta Grisi , as ho receives from the English Opera Company—so Ave understand—no less a sum weekly than £ 2-1-0 , with £ 40 extra for every morning performance . Up to the present time of what could be effected in dancing with ono leg people hacl not tho least idea—modern opinion inclined to pronounce that not

much could bo accomplished with two . There is no doubt that Signer Douatois a phenomenon , or he would not have obtained such a reputation , or have commanded such exorbitant salaries . Tho single-limbed candidate at Her Majesty ' s Theatre performs one of tho clowns in the harlequinade , and is proclaimed " graceful ancl

agile , " ancl is called Capello . The curtailed professor at Drury-lane Theatre is a " one-legged dancer , " and , liko his abridged brothers , Donato and Capello , rejoices in an Italian name ending in " o , " his patronymic being Tcscano . " Signer Tescano , the talented one-legged dancer , " wo arc told , "has obtained groat celebrity on the

continents of Europe and America . " He introduces into the Di-nry-lanc pantomime his extraordinary Pas . de Nations , in which he displays the standards of Austria and Mexico , which wore presented to him by the Emperor Maximilian on the occasion of his appearing before his Imperial Majesty on the Sth of September last .

Which of the three will hop himself into the greatest renown wc cannot say , but wish each of them the success he merits . HER MAJESTY'S . The busy B ' s have been this Christmas as busy as

over . Messrs . Byron , Blanchard , Burnand , and Brough have , no doubt , all been hard at work , but the firstnamed gentleman seems to have distanced his competitors . Over ancl above the many pieces ho has composed for the usual metropolitan theatres this season , it is to him that the Christmas piece at Her Majesty ' s owes its being . Tho Opera House in the Haymarket has not

hitherto been famed for pantomimes . Henceforth , however , it may at Christmas time aspiro to rank with any of the West-end theatres . Mr . Harrison has for the time forsaken music , and given himself and his house up to the seductions of tinsel ancl red fire , big masks , and clowns , ancl columbines , and sprites . On Monday night ho produced a pantomime on a scale nearly as

great as that which has for years been the delight of play-goers at Old Drury . It is called " The Lion and the Unicorn were Fighting for the Grown , " and we venture to predict for it a success as great as it merits demand . The reader has perhaps noticed in the advertisement of Her Majesty ' s the strange wordsEidos Aeidcs . What

, can it mean ? It means one of the most surprising optical illusions yet produced . In the famous ghost patent there is seen on the stage tho figure of one who is not on the boards . Here wo have tho converse of that illusion . A character really ou tho stage is , without moving , made instantaneously visible and invisible , or ma } - bo made to appear in any stage of vapouriness .

To Mr . Joseph Maurice wc aro indebted for this effect , which is one of the most curious modern inventions . Miss Furtado plays Robin very well , ancl Mr . John Rouse represents King R-otm / borealis with his wonted vigour . Mr . Endersohn is a capital Fluuheybus , or toady of the King . In a word , the Christmas pantomime at Her Majesty ' s will bo one of the most popular of the season .

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA . Tho pantomime here has been supplied by the zealous and indefatigable Brothers Grinn , under the superintendence of Mr . Augustus Harris , the stage manager ofthe theatre . The outline of tbe popular fairy talc is for the most part adhered to , but some deviations have been made in the details of the plot . The transformation

scene is perfectly unique and dazzling beyond description . It represents the Fairy Chronometer , where each figure on the dial changes into allying fairy , and shows how rapid is the flight of tho hours when passed in pleasant company . In this scene Mr . T . Grieve , who has painted tho scenery of the pantomime , has achieved one of his greatest scenic glories . A loud summons from all

parts of tho house brought on Mr . Grieve , and another loud call made Mr . Augustus Harris appear . The harlequinade , with the Paynes , jun ., as Harlequin and Clown , and the veteran Paul Herring as Pantaloon , was replete with whimsical changes , and the Wimbledon Review scene introduced the great one-legged dancer , Donato , whoso dexterity has astonished tho playgoers of the

European capitals . Of Donato wc can only say that he is a real wonder , and that ho is quite equal to his reputation . His success was immense . No pains and no cost have been spared to render this pantomime one of the most brilliant ever produced on the stage . DRURY LANE . The pantomime at this theatre is founded on a popular story , variously told in various languages , and is called