THE RETURN TO COLD AND DARKNESS. 495 



December 22d, Wednesday. — Though the sun yes- 

 terday reached his greatest southern declination, and 

 commenced his return, I do not notice any difference 

 in the amount of light. We have had dull, gloomy 

 weather, dark as a pocket, and very depressing. 



December 2iih, Friday. — Curious weather. Fluc- 

 tuating barometer, extremes 29.85 to 30.03. Very 

 hazy, lowering, dull weather, and a nearly steady fall 

 of fine snow. 



In the evening we had a minstrel entertainment in 

 the deck-house, somewhat improved over last year. 



GRAND OPENING 



OF THE 



NEW" JEANNETTE OPERA HOUSE, 



Corner Forecastle Ave. and Bowery, 



Friday Evening, Dec. 24, 1880. 



Doors open at seven o'clock. Performance at eight. 



Complimentary. 



The success of the evening, however, was Sharvell as a 

 young lady, in an after-piece. Gortz, as costumer, had 

 made out of our calico a fine dress, with paniers, etc., 

 complete, and found means to construct a beautiful wig 

 of long blonde hair. With these, white stockings and 

 low shoes with blue rosettes, Sharvell transformed him- 

 self into a very comely young English miss, quite calm 

 and self-possessed. A feature of the evening was pre- 

 senting each guest, on entering, with a little button- 

 hole bouquet of colored paper leaves. 



The jokes were of the usual order, some broad ones 

 being inevitable. The conundrums were rather feeble : 

 " Should Melville give an alarm of fire, what place 

 would it remind you of ? " " Melville Sound." " Why 

 was Chipp like McClellan? " "Because he was liked 

 by his men." " Why was Danenhower like his native 



