OUR ROME LETTER.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3476, 14 February 1880, Page 1

OUR ROME LETTER.

(FHOM OUB OWN COBBEBFONDINT.) London, December, 1879. The old system of Christmas annuals is coming into rogue again, after a lapse of a few years, and amongst the most successful are the supplements to the two leading illustrated j>apers, The Graphic, and the Illustrated London News. Both of these issue supplements with colored plate, and so great was the demand for the former, that a copy was not to be had a full week before Christmas Day, and the Illustrated was nearly as bad. The pictures as a rule are certainly rery Rood,. and if I be a judge the proprietors will not make too much out of them, the public getting a really good and big shilling's* worth. , . Oh you happy New Zealandera, what a treat it is for a nation as well at for an individual to hare credit. Why yea come to our London money market, and positively get more offered than you want. Doubtfully asking fora loan of £6,000,000 you are offered twelre, but unfortunately baring promised certain things for the firer you cannot take more. Maybe you'll hare more impudence next time you come, but in the meantime here's a health to you all " A happy New fear, and may the fire millions be well spent in the well being of New Zealand," which includes of course a district known as the Thames. „. la the matter of pantomime we are rery strong this year, there being no less than nineteen now being played in London alone. All our old friends turn up in new forms year after year. We hare Eobinson Crusoe, AH Baba, Gulliver, Sinbad, Old Mother Hubbard, Bluebeard, and goodness gracious knows what besides, so we ought to be merry and gay. Besides this variety of Christmas fare, a many of the Theatres hare made no change in their bills, thus we still hare " Les Cloches de Cornerille," and "H.M.S. Pinafore" by two 1 companies, one of adults and one" of children, the latter really wonderful, -nothing strained or forced, but natural talent, ana I might almost say the genius, in some of these youngsters, make it at any rate one of tbe most enjoyable entertainments in the towfl. Then of course we still hare "The Merchant of Venice," "Drinlo," the great moral play, "The Old Lore and the New," and so on almost, ad infinilum; add to these the different Music Halls, two companies of firstclass horse-riders, and you will then .wonder with myself, where does all the money come from to keep these going?' The advancement of science reminds me 01 another 1 fright that shareholders in Gas Companies hare had. It is no " light" matter to hare shares drop £2 or £3 per day for a few days in succession, but Mr Edison is continually at work and the latest news is that he has discorered a way of distributing his light so as to make it useful for household purposes. The idea is not yet quite perfect, and the details are not giren but may be, I can tell more nextr month. Another system was tried in London the other day called the " brush " light, after the inrentor, and : was a success. A small 8 horse engine produced sufficient power for 16 lights, equal to 16,000 candles, and the cost was stated to be about Is 4d per hour. This quite puts the gas " into the shade," does'nt it ? Then the lights on the embankment have been extended, the original engine which worked for 20 lights is now producing power easily for 60 lights and it is proposed to add another 20 lights, making SO altogether. Some of the railway stations, sereral of the large public halls, and some few manufactories have the electric light now in use, so it has at last got a firm foothold, and certainly will not easily be " blown out."..