304 



KLDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



October, which last until after the fowls havo be- 

 gun to lay in the spring. 



If two boards are kept, one can be filling and 

 the other emptying at the same time. This is an 

 exceedingly good plan for those persons who keep 

 a few fowls for the supply of eggs to their own 

 family ; but would perhaps, not do so well for 

 those who keep a large stock of hens, as it would 

 take up too much room. I have endeavored to 

 account for the admirable way in which eggs keep 

 in this manner, by supposing that the yolk floats 

 more equally in the white, and has less tendency 

 to sink down to the shell than when the egg is 

 laid on one side. Certainly, if the yolk reaches 

 the shell, the egg does spoil immediately. "W ill 

 some of your correspondents favor me with their 

 opinion? — T. G., Clitheroe. 



We take an early opportunity of cautioning our 

 subscribers against the tricks practised by per- 

 sons advertising the eggs of Cochin China, and 

 other varieties of expensive fowls. If wanted for 

 the purpose of breeding from, they are in most 

 cases, we are told, scalded before being packed 

 and forwarded. The embryon is, of course, there- 

 by destroyed. The seductive prices at which the 

 eggs are offered, would of itself confirm the fact 

 to which we call attention. No persons should 

 deal with any but well-known and respectable 

 tradesmen, and the eggs should be in all cases 

 " warranted," — or the money to be returned. 



PUBLIC EXHIBITION. 



WOODIN'S CARPET-BAG, Etc. 



MTRIOGRAPHIC HALL, PICCADILLY. 



We have just been to take a peep at 

 Mr. Woodin, in his new and elegant quar- 

 ters — late Salle Robin, Piccadilly ; and here 

 indeed he is " at home !" It may seem late 

 in the day to begin talking about what half 

 the world has already seen, and the other 

 half are hastening to see. Yet must we do 

 an act of pleasing duty. 



We shall not attempt to tell our friends, 

 young and old, (for all must pay a visit here), 

 what they are going to witness. Oh, no ! 

 That would be impossible. It would also be 

 unfair, even if possible. Only let the curtain 

 rise, and that " Carpet-bag " be seen, accom- 

 panied by that tl Sketch-book," — and expec- 

 tation will do the rest. 



Of the performer, we may remark that he 

 is young, of the most pleasing address, figure, 

 and manners, and prepossessing to a degree. 

 The moment you see him you like him, and 

 feel assured that his delight to amuse you 

 fully equals your anticipation of being 

 pleased. He speaks, and you smile ; he 

 " illustrates " what he says, and heigh presto ! 

 you are introduced at once to the World and 

 his wife— under changes innumerable. Your 

 pleasure is augmented by finding that the 

 " principal performer," although sometimes 

 " unavoidably absent " is yet always in the 

 company. He glides in quicker than a 



Spirit-rapper's ghost ; and converses, too, 

 without an alphabet. 



The beauty of all acting is, — repose. Mr. 

 Woodin is quite alive to this. Hence the 

 coolness and method, without any apparent 

 effort, which prevail throughout his entire 

 performance. He is " everything by turns, 

 and nothing long." Sometimes he is before 

 us as a Scotchman, sometimes as an English 

 baronet, sometimes as a Frenchman, some- 

 times as an American. Sometimes we see ts 

 mere stripling ; then again, a man old as Dr. 

 Parr. Sometimes Mr. W. is a boy ; some- 

 times a girl ; sometimes a woman. And 

 excellently well he looks and acts as a wo- 

 man. His " make-up" is admirable. We 

 need not be too minute, but we really did 

 seethe indispensable and "palpable fact " 

 supporting his female attire. Then his 

 voice, gait, and assumption of domestic 

 importance ! These were all true to nature, 

 and " told" well with the audience. 



Mr. Woodin possesses extraordinary 

 power over his countenance, as well as over 

 his voice. It is impossible, sometimes, to 

 recognise him under his many disguises. 

 Indeed, we heard his identity disputed more 

 than once during the evening. This is the 

 highest praise we can accord him. 



All who love to indulge.in a hearty scream, 

 which folks rightly say is sometimes " good 

 for the system," should go and see Mr. 

 Woodin personate '"the punster" in a pic- 

 nic party. His jokes, "let off" under the 

 brim of a most excruciatingly-droll-shaped 

 shallow beaver, really double one up. That 

 jolly punster was fairly " one too many" for 

 us. His " Now for a regular good un I" still 

 rings in our ears. 



In our early days, we saw Charles 

 Matthews in his " At Homes." We have 

 since seen many others, and been pleased with 

 all — more or less. But not even the great 

 Matthews himself could ever do what Mr. 

 Woodin does. Mr. W.'s characters are more 

 numerous and diversified ; and, what is better, 

 they are all " finished sketches." He does 

 not depend so much upon rapid changes of 

 dress, as upon presenting his characters well 

 dressed, and individualised. Yet is the 

 rapidity of his movements extraordinary ; 

 and when we take our leave of some half 

 hundred individuals — all personated and 

 "auimated^ by one man, we justly pro- 

 nounce that man a wonderful man. 



Mr. Woodin is a wonderful man, and he 

 well deserves the fame he has earned. His 

 " At Home " will ever remain popular ; for 

 whilst the amusement it affords is consider- 

 able, the most fastidious may take their 

 children to witness it, without any qualms of 

 conscience. He sings nicely, acts nicely, and 

 is, in a word, everything one could wish. 



May the contents of that " Carpet -bag," 

 and thai " Sketch-book" never be exhausted ! 



