KOHLER’S WAXWORKS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 492, 3 November 1881, Page 2

KOHLER’S WAXWORKS.

This exhibition opened at the Town Hall this morning, and will no doubt be largely patronised during its short _ stay here. On entering the Hall the visitor is surprised at the extent and excellence of the show. Banged round the walls are a number of waxen counterfeits of the human form divine, while a striking group comprising the paincipal actors in the Kelly drama are arranged upon the stage. In the centre of the Hall is another group of five figures, the middle one of which is Judge Barry seated in his robes of state as he appeared at the trial ,of : the Kellys. In connection with this excellent figure a ludicrous story is told. One right recently while the exhibition was in a southern town, a dog managed to get in after dark, and whether he had a ‘‘ down ” on the Judge on public grounds for his action in the Kelly business or merely wished, like the mongrel in; the “ Vicar of Wakefield ” “ to gaimhis private ends,’’ does japt appear, but he “ went for ” the judge, rolled him over and tumbled him about in such a way that that celebrated man was found next morning lying on the ground, his body in one place and his head in another. So skillfully has he been repaired, however, that he looks almost as well as ever, and few spectators would imagine that he had had any difference of opinion with that dog. At the four comers of the judge’s raised platform are standing Mr Gladstone, Mr Parnell, the Queen of Spain,: and Madame Ghio, the bearded lady, who as her name implies, was chiefly remark-' able for hirsute adornment in the shape; of a beard, of which many members of the opposite sex might justly feel envious.; Smiling at us near the door is George Peabody, perhaps considering whether it might not be wise to present Ashburton with a few thousands for charitable or public purposes, such as the erection of’ suitable bathing accommodation in the Domain. His Holiness Leo XIII, and the Emperor of Germany, having apparently determined to “bury the hatchet,” and forget all religious differences, are quite close- to one another. The Empress Eugenie and Dan O’Connell are also neighbors. Oh the opposite side of the hall are gathered quite a number of notabilities, including Sullivan, the murder, Dan Morgan, Bogan, Nesbitt, and Captain Moonlight. The Fat Boy and the Fat Girl, the latter especally, are indeed cnrositiea. Probably they never met, but they ought to have done so and married, for they must have been intended by nature for each other. But when the fat boy tried to get his arm around the fat girl’s waist, it would have taken him all hia time to do it, for there is not the the smallest reason to suppose that the young lady was addicted to tightlacing, as her waist measures 4ft. Gin. around. The Kelly group on the stage is very good indeed, and will bear looking at and into. At either side of the stage (and .we are sorry to see that they keep such bad company) are General Tom Thumb and Mrs Stratton, his tiny wife, Commodore Nutt and Minnie Warren, another Lilliputian pair. A Queensland black and an Australian lubra and her child, are really excellent works of art. These figures were exhibited at the Paris Exhibition in 1867. Not far off is a glass cass—a veritable “Chamber of Horrors ” in miniature. But to describe half the figures in detail would occupy more space than we can spare. The reader had better by far go and inspect for himself. Let us add that an Edison’s talking machine or phonograph, and .an “ Electric Boy,” are also amongst the attractions. There is an excellent little orchestra, and Mr Kohler is himself a thorough proficient in the musical art, for apparently he plays everything that comes in his way in the shape of a musical instrument with equal facility, from the pianoforte to the “ Ocarina,” which new instrument Mr Kohler calls “ the whistling torpedo. ” The show will only be on view for three nights, and is well worth a visit.