Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, January 17, 1875, Page 7

¥ * - THE CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE: SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 1875,—SIXTEEN PAGES. AMUSEMENTS, Chicage Theatres, and the Actors Who Appear at Them, A Compariscn in Which This City Does Rot Come Gut Second-Best. The Diabolical Curse of Slow Music. = De Bar a3 Falstefi---McOullongh’s Ar- rival. ; The Italian Opera, CHICACO AS A “SHOW-TOWN.” A TRUE STATZKENT OF THE CASE. Chicago has always enjoyed the reputation of being o-e of the best “show-towns” in the United States. Teoanily there has been some || dissatisfaction among theatrical people that the sity was no loager as raspohaive to tha claims of the drama ay it used ta. be, The charge is not based upon fact, The City of Chicago, it must pe remembered, is not as large as Philadelphia or New York, end yet it hes twice as many thes- trea as the former, and ‘nearly as many as the greaf metropolis itself. With s population of 500,000, it is an evidence of theatrical taste that seven theatres nnd & museum can exist at‘all. That they ara doing well in 8 dull season, while half the houses in New York are either clozed or doing nothing, is flattering. There are- ia Chicago two first-class star theatres,——MeVicker's snd the’ Academy of Music,—where, as the’ student of the play-bille will sce, the very best tara im tbe country play. While Booth, Oush- man, Ren De Bar, and Italian opera go to Mo Vickers, ‘Clara Morris, John McCallough, Toole, end Charlotte Thonipson go the Academy. -Then we bave two stock theatres,—Hooley’s and the Mussum,—both of them with companies of. rare excetlence, Hooley pays salaries which poly two or three managers in the country can think of, and gete such artists asO’Neil, Buckley, Miss Hawijorue. Mr. Ryer, and Mr. Crano; while Mr. -Piaisdell has Dillon and Seggs, Mre. Mrera, ana ‘Misa Mersb; There sre two variety theatres, ono of-themthe bandsomest in the country, making s seusslion among managers of no ordi- wary description,” and one minstrel theatre, sarpassed by none in the United States, either £83 hotso or inthe entertsinment given. Add totbis a meseum, well mauaged, weil arranged, and better stocked than any in the West at'aoy vrato, and it will be found fhat competition smong amusements in Chicago is rather formida- ble. Ageregate the receipta of all the theatres ‘in this city, and if Ciucego ia not the leading stheatrical city in the country, we are mistaken, ., Including the Museum, we have eight. reputa- ble pisces of amusemeut. New York has thir- teen. These sre, Booth’s, the Fifth Avenue, the Umon Square, the Grand Opera-House,- the Lyceum, Nuiblo’s, the Olsmpic, allack’s, ‘Wood's Museum, the Pars. the Brosdwey, aod two minstrel hails,—Bryaut’s and the Ban: Fraccisco. All these ‘placea of amuse- |. been open together ment have not Booth’s failed for want of for a very long time. patronage. Two of the others have dexenerated into not first-clasa variety theatres; two of chem areclosed; Daly is in straitened circumstances ; the Union Square is the on!y one doing’ paying business io legitimate directions. On the con- wary, all the Chicago theatres are dog pretty well Thereis no dangercf their closing this ‘season, for stars have always goue away estisfied, ang the stock thsatres are equally weil of. Witball the obtuseness shown by the pub- Lc, Hooley is many thousands of dollars ahead this season; Gard:ner and McVicker are perfect- dy satisfied, and have their trumps yet to play Blaisdell snd Peck do not want enything better, aud Payne and Aims got a big figure for their interest in the Grand Opera-House. A ‘There are two New York companies only which ean compaie with Houley’s,—Daly’s and the’ Tuion Square. “The former is famililar to’ Chi- cago people. It iano better than it-wan last summer, Itis weaker indeed by the logs of Mies Dyas, It bas Jost Fanny Morant apd George Clark, too, thom wa ‘have not seen in the West. The Union Square company is very’ strong, numbering among its members Mackey, Btuart .Bobaon, Charles Thome, Jr., McKee Ranlan. Rose Estinge, and Emily Mo!ville; but these in s group do not in any mnessarebly do- gree surpass our home stock company. ames O'Neil © will compare with artins to his own sdvantage, ‘and rot _ suffer. ‘by the side: of Thorne or ~-Raukin. Our juvenile men—Buckley, Mardoch, Weston.: and Webster—consticute an enormously strong team; they are young, and improving, ‘too, especially the latter pair. Our old tadies cannot, in a group, be equaled by any city in this comu- try or England, Where can be found sucha tno 2s “Mrs. Maeder, Mrs. Stuneall, and -Mrs. ‘Nelson Kueass?: Where can better old meu then - Byer, Bainford, aud Soggs be discovered? Gur leading icdies—3fiss Hawthornd, Mrs. Alian, ‘Miss Nosh, and Miss Mareli—are hard to equal in a group; and for soubreties and ingerues, -Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Frauk Murdoch, Mra. Myers, “Biss Dorie, Biss Marsden (who for some rea- zon does not play muck), wilh the other lesser lights, amply supply the city. Can “any two comediaus |ske. Crane end Dillon be found in cie city? or two cbaracter-actors like ‘Seymour acd Salsbury be surpassed? As a mat- ier of wdixputable fect, Cuicugo:peorle have better theatres and better companies than they know, and, fastidious a8 they are in such mat- ‘ers, they Snd tttle ceuse to compiain, With sll this talout. divided up among four le- gitimate theatres, aud with three other placcs cf “gmusement besides, is it wonderful that no ona ‘house is crowded suis emer Deduct from our ‘Population a large class of Gormana who attead the three German thenires, au . talk about build- ing 8 fourth. abd who Isave their nu:nerous sing- ing societies besides, and the remainder do well. enough to support eight tlaces of amusement. If noty-weghould not have such companies as. we lo. ~ Philadelphia has, beaidesseveral minor variety -whows, two. sheatres aud an Academy of Music. One of the theatres is closed sll the time. They exilit'a Jonah. ~~ San Francisco make the bisgest showing of in the country. But there is only ove ‘hate there, and Jchn MeCullongh runs it. There is no dther outlet but thé Minatiels aid ‘Maguire's Taestre, and thacs o:fer little opposi- tion. MecColiongh produces a piece probably than any manager in the country, endruns the classical Shakepssrean and romautic drama for wevha. Stars go to San Francisco, and may dake fortunes,—if they play at the Calizornia Theatre. Boston alone can compare with Chi- ‘cago. She ins the Globe, the Buston ‘Theatre, the: ‘Museom, and superb theatres they in. ther way; but they are only three, for tho Howard Atbenzum ig none too choices place. St: Louis, Baltimore, Ginciunati, Brobktyn, are all bebind Chicago in : the matterof amusements. Why, then, complain \ that Chicago is ‘not as good a “shon-rown” a8 . itwas? There is no prospect of another thea- tre for s year or s0, aud meanwhile the others ‘Fill fll to overflowing. With 60 much competi- Hoa, and with & variety of entestiinmenta, it abe abeurd to expect any one particrlar Manager to retire with the wealth of Sharon at the endof esary season. : : " “SLOW MUSIC, ° ET ré-vaniez from Ton rade. * "Onutom,” ‘says Carlyle, ‘*has made doterds ‘of usall,” aud if he had predicated the remark ‘upon | theatrieal customs alone, he would Lave had. ample occasion for it. ,Custom makes do- tards not of actors alone, bat of play-goers also. ara 2 de cuatonl Palsies the intelligence of a man so hat be cnrinot say, “Come, It us go in togoth- &.” without striking an attidude, and invoking heavan to witness ths swfdl resolation, itso ‘Dilihids thé audience to the grotesque absurdity of fhe thing that.the tragic oxcismation awakes 3 Yeund of applause. If custom makes an actor en the etage always an actor, with, in general, only afew faint gleams of nature about him, it _bereavea the pubiic of that sensibiliry which 48 easential to the rectification “of the ,@norinity. Custom on the stage .makes @otards in & very short tims Of evers- body. It makes rantets and- contortionists; it “fettera genins, and cramps its flight; it props. mediociity, and drobs actual inanity with 4 slovenly coat of pigment which may. be any- thing, and prases with the vclgar for merit. It inthe mother of monstrosities, and preserves. ‘Upoa the stoge in cur dotage thas-cruel, moan- hopeless, berrowing- monster, slow. ‘Whon Juliet forty with Romeo, sensitive nerves gro tortured with slow music; when Ophelia comep upon the etage, distraught end helpless, slow musio conveys something or other to the audience, Principally a desire to es- cape from the house. \when Camille resolves to give up her lover,-and when she dies; when, in fact, anybody or anything occurs which cannot ‘bp emphasized with a shout ora contortion, slow mnusto is peceassry, It gerves tha purpose on the staze of N. B., or an exclamation poms. It is universal in its application, and might therefore be universally omitted. ‘Lhere was, probably, in the egriy days of slow music, some sort of theory that the dismal whin- ing of a viohn strained the sympathies of the au- @itor; that music, being the universal language, was accersory to the art of the actor, agd ‘aided the inter; alation of his lines. 1s there an artist who reties upon the scraping of a violin to color ascene? Is there remaining a veaiige cf the orig- ‘| inal idea tha: the emoticnal fountaing conid ouly bo uniocked by as:neak, or dreary succes- sion of squeaks? “Perhups como highly-necom- plished musiciga may be found—Loesch, for in- Stance—wio can give areason for -this sort of tio, But will Looach, who really isan artict, atrempt to - tind musio in’ that com- biuaciun of gounde known as: slow music? ds it music ap sil? Low many peopie are to be fuund in the audieuce who do not by their manner, and even by their expressions, protest \Sgalout it? Elow music has no softening affect. Dotard-making Gustom bas not yet so deadened the senses that it dces not exasrerate them, ‘Next to « gas-bill; or tho loss of an umbrella on # rainy day, slow music is tho most piety-amash- ing, conscience-troubling entity of modern times. If man is a bundle of nerves, ia more or lesa good condition, does that afford the fiddle- scraper 8 plea for raspicg them all at:onca? _ Practically viowed, the whiue is gneartily, It. suegests nothing. ‘Lhe piece that derives hene- fit from such accessory, the actor who can hold -an audience speliuound only through its moana, cannot berated high. When by the spell of his most potent art and depth of sympathy tho actor - has’ won ‘his ‘hearers, and is holding them breathless, ear- -pest, dimly couscious pf their own existence, end absorbed 1a that depicted bofore’ them, are they to be rntblesaly recalled from the ideal to asbocing seuge. of the hollow actuality by the droning and.equeaking of cat-gut? Anything “extraneous, In écones of such intensity ag some tetage-magicians can conjure up, shocks the estnet anse, and siow music, above all, is ex- -traveous apd shocking. When the possesgor of a monkey hungers to exhibit that ready imitator at his best, he sets him upon’a goat or s bariel- organ, and grinds out doleful strains ta eucaur-: ago him. ‘The mousey really needs muaical sup- port, Without the grinding to stimulate his nerves, aud drown the cursing of big trainer, the mopnkoy exhibition woula be a failure, Hence, in monxes-shows, sword-swailowing exhibitions, Amazon marches, trapeze-porform~- ances, aud pantomime, muuic of an appropriate’ description ty neceasury. But the acior is not, theoretically at least, a monkey, a sword-swal- ‘lower, a gymnast. or a clown, and musical accom- paniment is a vulgar intrusion upon tha sanctity of his art, especially suck music as it is custom- ary to apply to quiet scgaos of sorrow or death, If we mast have the agony of decay pictured on the stage, we are not buund to endure it un- utterably horrified by.the groans of the orchestra. Oniy once has it Leen our good fortune to hear slow mosic appropriately used, and that was at the Museum last woek, When a droning acoom- paunnent to tho attack of jim-jams endured by the hers of the play added co its unpleasantness. ‘This being so, let slow music be restricted to scenes of delirium, and Ist thosa people who. cannot enjoy a scens without slow music prac- tice *‘ Old Hunared™ wita one finger on the pi-. ano previous to.going to the play, and come ready primed, 3 THE DRAMA. ‘THE THEATRES IN GENERAL. - During the past weex thers lias ‘been: a very fair averege attendance ollround, and this m the face of two circumstances, which would gat-. , urally interfere to prevent both .s large aggre- gate attendance, and an even distribution. Ona of these was the Arctic westher, and the other. the opening of the Adelphi The stars of the. ‘past two weeks have’ been of no insignificant lustre, and Lave been well received. - ‘The stock thoatres were runuing, ove the second week of a, Piece, and the other-s sensationel drama none. -400 popular with the ordinary tneatre-going class of the community.» . bey fe : M'VICKER’S THEATRE. - ‘ Xn taking leave of Ben De Bar_a few words ‘should be added to those already uttered in ref- erence to this actor’s impersonation of Falstaff’. We have seen him represent the character in its two phases—that of the reprobate wit in ‘Henry’ TY.,” and the amorous old rogue in ** The Merry - Wives of. Windsor.” Too much praise cannot be given to his charsctorization, Ji is a warm pic- ture, lifelike, modest, and forcible. Itis not overdrawn a whit, nor. does it appear to lack any .of that deiicate, sudtie toaching-up which gives @ creauon the Mereouedtie effect which only great actors can achieve. It is many yeara since : Falstaff has been played bers, end Chicago au- dienoes would have been satistied with something meacureably inferior to that which Mr..De Bar “has shown them. Ho plays with s full appreci-; ‘ation of the charecter, aud colors it with iatinite care. Peyhaps if were is anythme lacking it is to be acoounted for by his evident desire to overdo nothing, to retain the gracious demeanor of the Knight in the rascality of the: awashbuckler and cut-pyree. Ic is sensuality so glossed over with refinement aud wit 2s to disgust in no manner, Sud ite bumor is Bo Teitshabie that it leaves noth- ing to be desired. Tne feeling is merely one of -regret that: there is not moze of it; that Fal- staf doos not occupy all the pages of the BSbakspearean historical drams.- De Bar's Falstaff is a: tit successor to that -of Hackett, :. snd,-_ though it bas not. and probably for porscnai reasons willuot achieve tho fame of the gieatcst of modem Faistaffs, itis a memorAbie creation, and uuigue witial. Little of Hackett’s. “ business" is wed, and that little it Is legitimately takén, not per- -haps from Hackett, but from that ‘samé source anieh supplied Haokatt,—tradition. If Mr. De Bar is weeking the bubble reputation, he haa “the Means of procuring it. THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC. --John HeCuilougli, tue most satisfying and pleasing of modern tragedians, pays Chicago an- other dying visit of a week. It was boped. that -he could be obtained for three or four weeks, but the Fates forbid it. He gives a round of he- roie charactera in- which be is caloulated to shive, in hich he has won thé phiudits of the East and Far West. Heopens with * Virginius,” which will be repeated Tuesday night; Wednes- ‘day and Thareday nighta he will play “Jack Gadé;"* Friday and’ Satarday nights; - “Tho Gladiator;" Wednesday matinée- ‘+ Katherine and- Petruchio; and Satarday matinee ‘The Gladiator.” From his former’ exploita ‘we are, led to anticipate a briliiant week—thé most brilliant the Academy has bad thisseason, There is no auzer on the American stage who possesses insuch full depres the element of personal sweetness aud amiability to cvlor his creations and win the sympathies of his audience. He elevates a character like Spartacus to a height of moral grandeur equal to that of Brutids, sod sustains it without @ strain. Virginius and Jack Cade will be interesting eubjects for close study, nodoupt. Spartacus wo have seen him “play, and cau speak of definitely. fea? HOOLEY’S THEATRES: “Tost in London” rdén ‘for two weeks at Hopley's with success, The present wesk, the drama upon which considerable preparation bas been bestowed will be given. ‘‘ Magnolia” is strong in picturesque effects. lustrating as it does life on the Mississippi, ix gives opportuni- ties for scenie display which, with efficisnt stige ‘diteotion and scene painting, should be riohin- deed.:, Among the incidents of :the pieca’ is a steamboat race and its ueudl concomitant an explosion, with tiewa of the “Mississippi snd startling tableaux. It is in five acts with s pro- logue. The cast is as follows: Mr, James O'Neal if. B,J. Backicy secseeenbir. Wells '. Alise Louise Hawthorne iiss Minnin Dorie Airs, U, F, Meeder Miss Gallagher E THE MUSEUM. The thrilling lotal temmpérauce lesson ‘ Three. Years in» Man-Trap” has giten such satisfao- tion to the general public that the management bave decided to retain it dnring the present The effect upon adjacent man-traps Tould probably be dainaging but for the openin of the Adelpti, which has some way frustral the charitable purposes of the authors. So far asannounced there will be mo change inthe east, + nie figure ie . opening of the Adelphi iy night was uly reoorded; and tha performance at that time daly noticed, The business during the week was 48 good as the management anticipated, ‘and the working of the house is reduced to the requisite smoothness and precision, The bill for the week has undergone considerable change. New acts are introduced, and the specialty artists are exhibited in different phases. The burlorque of “ Cinderella " has. given place to one of Bur- nand’s Lighost efforts, “ Ixion,” which will be -given wita ujl the appointmenta and resonrcea of the Adelphi stage, including the large com- pauy in thoir new and gorgeous attire. : THE GRAND OPERA-HOvaE, -having pessed into the hands of G.. HL. Jones & Co., will continue te give thp usual excellent minatrel entertainmant. ‘The management of fhe stage bas been given ta Mr.-Kelly, who, with eon and the company, will continu to please their audiences nightly. : ; PERSONAL, Mr. Gearge Miller, the former advertising agent of the Grand Opera-Hougo, has goverad his con- -Bection with tho theatre... It is stated informally that Mfr. Piorcy has left the Academy of Music. Mr, Piercy was impray- ing rapidly, and mating many friends at the ‘Acafemy, and patrons of the house will regret hia departure. E Mr. Aims is looking aronnd: for another’ theatrical venture. Itis not probable that he -will build a new theatre “this scason. But he finds Chicago so pleasant that he will not returo to Pittsburg, : Mr. Balshury bas been. victimized by a yory pevere attack of illness, and, though be ia able to be around and will play as usual, be looks delicate, ‘ Mr. Buckley left the Academy of Music just tov soo to support Mr, McCullough. He playad with him for years, and understood him perfectly, a is _dvgppeintment to the genial vagedian to tind hig ald-time nian at: dadther theatre. we eee) THE LECTURES. .. STAR LECTDRE COULSE, Acpording to the custom of the managers of the Star Course, to introduce exch scason some now “star” to publio notice, they’ this year an- nounce ag the two new ‘candidates for public fayor the Hon, William Parsons and W: 8: An- drews—the former of whom will appear Thurs- day, the 28:h inst, Qne of: the most delizhtiul Surprises of the lecture season last spring was ithe introduction of Daniel Dougherty, who, although unknown to lecture-goors here, was the favorite orator of Boston and Philadelphia. ‘The msaagera promise the same pleasant surprise in Mr, Parsons’ locture, * He has been a great star in Now Englana for the past three seasons. Like BMr. Dougherty, ‘he is of Irish descent, and pre-, serves bis country’s gift of eloquence, and isgaid ta be a fiery, fervid orator, of the electric schol, of public speakers, imparting his own anthusigsm to his audience. Perhaps as impartial avidence as can be presented in favor of his claim to popularity is the staloment that he has lectpred ifcy tiazes in Boston since his firat public address there, and has fifteen times delivered his lecture on ‘Michael Angelo,” in which he ig announced to make his debut/here, and which is pronounced ‘his most brilliant’ platform effort. Ny. 8. An- d:ews, the humorist, follows him on the 2d of February. DINE LEcTUnES..""~ The Young 3fen’s Christian Aesociation, sinca their new hall has been completed; have ar- ranged for a series of dime lectures to be’ given in.it every Tuesday evening for two'or three | Months, tq be called their “ Popalar Leoture Course.” In so doing, they ara supplying. a Jong-felt want, and should be liberally .patron- -ized, ag the feo of one dime will hardly pay for the expenses connected with them, yot it will allow eny person fo attend, no one being de- barred on account of the prices. The second fec- |: ture in the course will be given Tuesday evening in Farwell Hall, by Prof. £, Colbert. ‘Subject : A Visit to tho Stars.” By tho aid of a» laige magic lantern, views of the prominent constells- tions will be thrown aoos a screen, and there will also bs views of several pianeta as seen. through the telescope. A description will follow of the stars, their distanve, size, material they are composed of, and some notes on the gradual Erowth of star-lore and mythology. This will ‘prove a very interestiug lecture to al! interested in the starry firmamoat, and Farwell Hall should be packed, aniehow the managers that their efforts are appreciated, "THE ATHESRZUM PROGRAMME. Monday evening the fifteenth Iecture'in the free course will be given by Robert ‘Hervey, Esq. Subject: “ Walter Bott... Tuesday éven- ing the Bev, Dr. Thomas will tead the class in English literature. Subject: “Buckle” Per- ons not members are admitted to this class on psyment of semall ‘admission feo. Thursday, at3p.m., Dr.’R. N. -Fovter wili give the third lecture fn tha afternoon dime course, Sub- Menta! and Physical Economy.” ‘AESERNOON LECTURE socrerr. James Parton has been engaged by the Sunday ‘Lecture Society to ‘deliver his great lecture on’ -“ Our Bcandslous Politics.” Mr. Parton-is one of the most popular end distinctively American of onr writers, and his’ lecture will be one of the most attractive of, the scnsan. Its delivery in New York was 8 great event, and it will be heard for the first time ‘in Chicago Sunday afternoon, in the Grand Opera-House. Pricé of admission,: ——— : MUSIC, 2 5 THE rvaLIAN OPERA: ‘The only évent of interest in‘the local musical world is the season of Italian opeta which com- eit mences at McVicker’s Theatre to-mcrrow: even-' ing: .. The repertoire, so. far as. announced, is «Traviata for: Monday evening, with Heil- bron; .‘*Lucia” on Tuesday.evening for Albani’s debut;” “Faust”. on Wednesday. evening, with Heilbron ; and “ Loliengrin ” on Thursday evén- ing, with Albani as Elsa,'which ml be the first performance of this opera in Chicago. - As most of the artists are new-comers, we have prepared short biographical notices of the.mcre prominent of the strangers, which will serve as their intro- duction to our opera-goers in leu of any further notice: 2 ALBAN ~ oe 5 ‘Tho history of Mlle, Albini (Emfly La Jeunéise) is generally known, Sie was born of French-Cauadian parents, aud was educifed at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, fn Montreal, Her ntus{cal tiledts wera early developed, and whilo she lived at the nunnery ‘abe becamé an aocomplished orgaulst. She first ap- peared in: opera at’ Covent Garden it 1873, with great success, ud afterwards sang at the St. Peiersburg Opera-Honse,” Afr. Btrukosch says of her, according to the Arcadian: “ Bhe is young, good-looking, has a fine Yolee, and sings well, A great deal has been said about dispensing with ‘aétar,’ but that is all nonsense, ‘The public is not yet educated up to that point, It is very ‘well for a few aust clans to aay all that is wanted is ® good ensenbie; but audiencea .want an attraction, Uf Tani asked, itr, Slanager, where is your attraction? it ia nselese forme to point tomy company, : I must have some well-niown name to put forward, Now, all thé best trima donna in Europe after Tiet- Jens, Patti, and Nilzson, Patti will not_come, and ‘Pietjens is old and never was beautiful. To succeed here a ptima donna mo:t be young and pretty; and then it requires very judicioua manszement to make her a popular favorite, . Look ut the cise of Lucca; sheis'a really grest arst, but it will never pay 3 mun- ager in this country . to give her a large salary. You know T fried her as thie close of last season, but I could not regain the lost grotind.” Mlle. Albai’s repértory ingludes “ Linda ai Chamonnix,” “La Sonnambula,” 4 Lela,” “ Mignon,” * Rigoletco,” Doh Giovani” (Zertung), and “Hi Barbiere” (Zosnay, __ HEILBRON isd native of Brussels: Suc entered the Royal Con- servatory ut the ayo of 12, and nt theend of the first year carried off the prizes, At the ago of -16 she began Studying “with Duprez ‘ind mado her debut at the Opers Lomique in tha sinter of 1889 in “La Grande Tante ” written for her by Mussenct, She zosdoa gredt success zs & high soprato, and unmedistely a sang in thet Holland Roydl theatre, where she was received voth with popular aud Royal favor. She returned to Paris in 4871, where she appeared in “Don Giovanni,” “Lucia,” and “Traviata” At the losoof the se.son sho went to Milan to study the Italian style, Uyoti her return to Paris ale wus secured by Maurice Strskosch, aud made her debut in 1873 a8 Violeta in Traviata.” Iu April of the present year she made her English debut with success, and mot with the same success in New York this winter, CARPL Of Signor. Carpi, the tenor, Appletons) Jotirnal says: ‘Tho query haa been answered very aatiafsc~ torily in the engagement of Signor Carlo Carpi, 3 len- ere reoudto of, the pure Italian seliool of vocauization, and unusually fine dramatic talents, Managerial ex- thusisam is not always trastworthy in such matters, |, but this time it bas not ahot far over the mark. Sig- nor Carri, during his first week. sang iudanies, in “Aids,” end the title role in “Feust,” In voth of these He approved himself a highly-gifted ringer and a strong dramatic artist, His yciea ia singularly pure and even throughout its whole range, and the fact thst be sang such music as that of “ Faast ” without once daperting from a pure, perfect chest-tone is auf- ficiently eloquent, Hix miezzo toce lacks that liquid thrill and sweetness which marked tne voice of Cum- panini; and in the high notes we do not find the ring of the last year's tenor's voice—the aplendid aforzando effects with which he would electr:iy the audience, Bat, in leu of these, we have an even, healthy purity ‘of tone up to the very top notes, with au absolute con- trol of hia resources, in which Campsnini sometimes failed, an@ mone of’ that “throatness” of tono that sometimes disfigured some af the most effective pas sages of the litter artist,” YIORINL ee Bigner Augusto Fiorini is » native of Bologus, Italy, 2b, ora and Osiris,” chorus from 1, Overture to “ Promethans ”... Whose appearance 18 always and sbout 38 years of age, Ho ranks witi: the fore— moat basal of the day, After studying under the cel- ebrated Maestro Luigi Zamboni, he made his-debut in Rimin{, in the opera of “ Sappio," and next appeared in “Pariaina.” The splendid tmpression ereated by the depth and volume of his resonant organ immedi- diately gained Lim an eogagemont at La Bcala, Milan, where ho sang in conjunction with the prima’ donna Gallet] and the tenor Allorino, When “Lafit- 3” was first produced in Italy, the part of Do: .-20 was, st Myerbeer’s special request, confided to Signor Fiorin{, In Loadon he fulfilled a’ two ve.rs’ engige~ ment, appesting regularly in opera with Patti, Nils- gon, Tietjons, tnd Di BMureks. His Lenore!ls was hailed by the Jondon amateurs as the best embodi- ment of the part since the palmy days of Ronconi and Formes, Last year be mado his debut in Paris, in “Don Pasquale,* aud aa Basilio in the “ Barbiote,” nd the plone foulllstoniste extolled his voice, methad, and acting, snd Ukened him in man: ta Fayrergoerty glorious cf base!, Lallacke, Pe ‘WE LIFDERKRANZ CONCERT, The following is the programme of tha con- cert te be given at the North Side Turner Hall, next Sunday evening, by the Liederkranz Society: * PARTIE 1, Overture to “ Egmont ”,...-.,e0e4 +-Boethoyen - Orchestra. “The gic Fiute *, “4 Br. (, Kock and Liederkranz, 3 3. “ Bel Raggio,” cavatin’s from f Semiram{do” Rossini. ae Hiss Hannah McCarthy." ~~ ‘ £,, Concerto for jisno and orchestra....,Q, M, y, Weber Mira, Chartea Weiser "ne © 5, “ Hast Da mich Lieb "—Song. 5 Aliss Hannah McCarth; 6, “ The Glory of Bod Panta, - Second act of “ Zuctezia Borgia,” in costam with complete orchestral secompantment. ‘Di Don Aifonso.... Donna Lucrezia -Donizetti weMr, T. Koch ile. “Anna itosett fr. Juliua Huuemano Mr, Theodore Schultze THE MUSICAL—COLLEGE CONCERT. -} The grand concert to be given by the students of the Musical College will take. place Fab, 18, at McCormics Hall, with the follawing pro- gramme, which is one of the best ever offered ‘a Jhicago audience : 3 Orchestra, 9, Boone and aris from “ $. Concerto, with orchestral accom: * “paniment... -Norbet Burgmuller i ‘ir. Lowis Geaterie, 4 “With Verdure Ciad” from “The Crea tan "oe. oeecee +oeesHaydn 6. “Dal Profando del’ Obito”. Alisa . 1.. Capriccio briiliante, with orches! Mise fda Rosina, - ‘Waltz, from “Romeo end Julict ”, dirs. W. B. Foote, Concerto, with orchestral accompaniment -:-Hummel Of this programmie we -shall' have more to say hereafter, 23 016 of the moat remarkatle in ex- cellence which has been presented for s long time, Tho soiree, given last’ Monday eveniug, was one of tho beet of tho whole sericx, and was attended by a yery large crowd, showing that classical music is appreciated here, The noxt) regular eoiree will be given ‘at the College par- lora, Feb, 8, on. which ‘occasion. new song, » Thy Voice, Ob! Wind,” rogently published by Church & Co., of Cincinasti, will be sung. ‘The rtickets of tho orchestral coucert of Feb. 18 will be in the hands of the pupils this weex,.and, as’ the price is only 50 cents, and. 45 cents extra for reserved eoats, they: ought to be dis- posed of very rapidly. bs a TRE APOLLO CLUB CONCERT. te, Hest poner of the apo Ciyb will take place sarly ian February, when many attractive features will bo introduced that will tend to make it one of the most pleasant and enjoyable con- certa-ever giyen by the Club. Among the nom- bers in reheargal are a quintette from “The Blagic Flute," with choras accompaniment ; ‘Glorious Apolio,” by Webbe; duet for: ‘two sopranos with humming chorus; aud. Hunter's Chorus,” from ‘ Freischnerz.” As the Club has never been in better condition, the coming con- cort will be ono of unusua! interest. The pro- gramme entiro will shortly appear. In coneidera- tion of the many requests which have been re- ceived, asking that dancing may be added to the programme a@ observed during the past two, zensons, the Board of Managemeut have the mat- ter under advicomant, and as this feature proved such an xgreeabia and pleasact finale to the en- tertainment last season, it is pcssible, if gener- rally desired, thas it will be adopted during the present season, % y : SUNDAY CONCERTS, Next Sundzy evening Mr. S. G. Pratt will give & sacred coucert at the Church of the Mosstah, corser of Miclugan avenus and Twenty-third street,, in conjunction with the cboir af. the church and tho assistance of Mr. William Lewis, the violinist. The members of the choir aro: Mrs. J.C. Jones, soprano ; Misa Rosa Charlotie Kelluer, alto; E. Schnitze, tenor; Mr. Good- willie, Dass,-—ladies and gontlemen who are al- ready familiar to our pondere golne pubhic, and eartity welcome. Mr. Pratt agsures us the selections ehall bo sa- cred and appropriate to the day and placu, and, with Mr. Lewié to aesist-him in the instromental uumbers, which, awing to the conditicn of the: organ, will be given upon a piano, the pro- gramme will ‘be varied and intoresting. ‘ This. event iss notable innovation io this city, although in Bogton sacred Suuday evening con- certs have been. frequently given iu churches, it ig » movement in direct’ opposition to ‘the ‘Taroer Hall eloment, agit is intended that the excellence of the concert shall attract our yourig men and pive them an oppo:tuaity of enjoying the best class of music under circumstances of the plessantess kiod, whero the influence will be moral and elevating. In this regard it: will be welcomed by. our liberal Christian element, and the general public nced havo no diffidence in at- tent . Tickets will be issced and placed on sale at the music stores, the prico being 25 cents, certainly sniall énough to cemimand’ popular wupport. The programms will'bs pnnted next Sunday moraing. | TURNER HATL, _ The following ia the Turner Hall to-day: 4, Overture to’ The Water—Carrisr 6. Potpourri— Gerlin at Night” (no 6. Bolo for cornet, ... - = ‘. Helma, Zi 1. Overture—“ Morning, Noon, and Night tn. Vienda”, nae Suppe 8) Pantaste—“ Buotshes from Life™ (new). 9, Waitz— King’s Songs” 10. Quadrille— Pilgrim » HUSTCAL GosstP. ? f The Young. Peonle’s Association of the Plymouth Congregational Church gave avery Pleasant “*musicat” and socialle ‘Thursday evening last, at thé residence of Mrs, William Chisholm, 955 Prairie avenue, which was more a Ly particularly characterized by the brilliant piano playing of Mrs. Dr. V/ataon, a recent acqaisition to our resident talent,.and one in which the pro- feasion may justly feel proud. On this occasion Mra. Watson played the ‘E polonaise,” by Cho- pin, @ most masterly work,and ose requiring tha most ‘finished technique. The lady conquered all the difficulties with artistic ease, fully estab- lisbiag lif Claim as one of the leading pianists of thecountry. The singing by the Misses Bane and Foster, as well as the dialogue py Messrs, Steele and Cole, were very pleasant features of the evening. The-regular Academy of Music concert for. this evemng has been postponed, as the house was previously engaged. The third concert will be given next. Sunday evenivg, upon which oc- casion Mr: Stanley, recently of thé English-Opera Troupe; will sing. - The Paris correspondent of the New York. Times enya: “A more agreeable topic is the marriage of Mile. Giulis Strakosch, daughter of Mr: Maurice Strakosch, and nieoe of Patti, Mar- quise do Caux, with M. Ernest Bourdillun, 9 young and tising advoca‘e of the Cour d’'Appel. ‘Phe friends of the parties agteo in calhag it a splendid maték,—s love-match in the bargain; © thing not always found in France. M. Bour- dillon ig a haudsowio young fellow, of very polished ‘manner, and will certainly make bis mark. Mile. Strakosch ia saweet and winning young lady, who inberita the musical taienta of her parents. A vary large and fashiohable da- sembly aseisted at the ntiptial benedictioti yeu terday at tho Charch of St. Augustine,” _. The Mendelasoho Quintette Club has left Bos- ton fora three months’ Western tour, and may be expected here before long. - , Harry Gates, formerly of this city, is concert- izing very successfully in Boston. 2 Add now comes Adelside Paillipps adopting the Olive Logan business. Says the Boston Saturday Evening Gazelle: ‘*Misa Adelaide Philipps is very sncceesful 1n her Southera tour. She has just received seme exquisite tuilets from Paris: one especially, » dress for Rosina, in the “Barbor,’ baa brougat tears to the eyes of some New York mocistes who wore permitted to seo it befora it was worny It will delight the discrim- inating eyes of Boston audiences some time in April. The Berliner Tribuné announces that Strausa has signed a coutract to give concerts in América next fall. < Our readers will learn with regret, on tne au- thority of the Afusikalisches Wochenblatt, that the rheumatic attack which fof some time past has prevented Mme. Schumanu froin appeating in publio has not bean removed by her recent | pany aa . Visit to the batns at Toplitz, and that there is no Prospect of her visiting this country, or ‘indeed Plaving at concerts at ali, during the present aeason. The musical snd dramatice! entertainment in the Gatholic Library-rooms last Tuesday for the benefit of the Hous of the Good Shepherd was artistically and financially a auccess. Tho ama- teur actors were vert creditable, whila the vocal music by Mre. Dr. J. F. “Sullivan won for the lady the warmest plaudits. Tne receipts of the even-ng reached nearly $150. oniruany. Death has been very busy among the musiciins during the past month, the following having died within that time ; Hejurich Schaeffer. tha well- known soug-writer. at Hamburg: Joseph Noll, the violiuirt, a musician of great talent, who was at onetime connected with Thames’ archestra ; Wilhelm Ulrich, concert-master at Sondershau- sen, and famous throughout Europe as 4 violin virtuoso ; Weidemann, an operatic tenor in Sax- ony ; Justin Cadaux, a French opera composer,: at Parig; Muchael Topler. music director at Brubl ; Bertha Haha, operatic «ingor and pianist at Konigsberg ; J. N. Wolf, teacher of music at Munich; and BF, W. Grund, fonnder. of the * Sing-Akademie" at Hamburg. In addition to tha above we may also record the death of Cephas Church, member of the firm of George M. Guild ~& Co., Boston, pianoforte manufacturers, which took place last week. ‘ OPERATIO GosstP. Tha Kellogg English Opora Company will con- elude their Philadelpina season this’ week. Their repertoire for last week was {1 Trova- tore,” *‘Maritana,” **Blarrha,” ‘! Zrnani,” “‘ Mignon,” ©“ Fra’ Diayolo,” and ‘*Dop Giovanni.” ‘'Ernani” seema to haya been added to their repertoire since they were in Chi- cago. Next week- they commence’ a season at the New York Academy of Music, - The Soldene Company have already become popular favorites in Philadelpbis. ‘The Arch- duchess” and ** Madame Angot’s Daughter” wore given last week, Mis. James. A. Ontos 4nd her comic-ppors company commenced an engagement at De Bar's ‘last Monday night, with “Madame Angot's, id,” . The Holman English Opera Trompe began an engagement at the Boston’ Howard Athoneum -last weok, appoaring in’ ‘+ Barbe’Bloue.” ‘The company consists of forty artista of acknowl- edged merit, with Misses Salle and Julia Hol- |, man at the head. St, Lonis is rejoicing over German opera, home manufactured by Thoodore Habe}mann, but yo- fortunately St. Louis is not altogether satisfied. The Democrat says of the performance of “The Marriage of Figaro ¥: - - ‘Tho cat of the opera is certainly the strongest that hhas been presented in the city by rf Gen obera: com- peor It includes Miss Drome, Mis Roemer, Mrs. La fontaine, and Theodore Habelmann, Such a com- @ ought tobe able to produce any opera croditably, and, as far as these aingers were concerned, “Le Nazze dt Figaro ” was produced creditably. But ali praise ceases here. The choroses (fortunately there are but few of them in thiq opera) were sung very badly, and resembled s sericg of howling discords: with one exception, the final of the third act, they were allexerrably sung. The orchestra, too, failed in avery respect; at times {twas very unateady, and did not answer the baton of the director, who was evidently doing his best to remedy the evil, Now, these aro faults which can be easily remedied, and therefore aro the more deserving of decided censtre. Theodore Habelm’nn has it in his power to make of the material now in lis hands a very effective company, with a ca- pability of presenting the Lest aperaiic works better than they bave ever before beengiven here by what may be termed a stock company, and if he does #0 he miy rest assured the St, Louis public will da as thes always havo done, liberally support that which is de~ serving of it, - : A competitor with opera-bonffe has sprung up . ip Now York in the shape of the opera-comique,’ which bas been inaugurated at the Park Thoatre.. The opening work was Bazin’s ‘Le Vorago en Chine,” and after the performance, the Express says: ‘*The piece employs but nine characters. in its representation, but each of tliese was 80 carefully and capically played last evening that the performance recalled those bright days of the French drama in New. York, when Juignet bad his matchless little company at Niblo’s Saloon, or when- Mr. Bateman introducad his more pretentious one at the Theatre: Francais.” Pauline Luoca has fpltilled her engagement in Vienna, receiving 10,000 guldons for ten even- ings. The endeavors of the’ agénts of the Berlin theatres to.e: gage her wero fruitless, though from 1,060 to 1,209 thalers per evening were gaaranteed her. = . On the 7th of Decamber Mme. Patti mace herreappearguce at the Imperial Opara of St. Petersbarg in Verdi’s ‘‘La Traviata.” “Le Domino Noir” has been successfully re- vived atthe Oners Comiqua in Paris, The new opera, by Mailbac, Halavy, and Offen- | brea, for Schneider, is in three short acts. Itis called “ La Boulangere a des Ecus.”- : Jobann Strauss’ latest onera.te called **Cag- |. liastro in Vieona,” and was brought out early in this month in that city. . MUSICAL WORKS. . The last number of the Musikatisches Wochen- bdlau givéa a detailed criticiem of tho recent par- formauce by. the Hiedel’sche Verein at Leipzig of Friedrich Kiel’s oratorio ‘‘Chnstus.” With reference to the work it saya; “ iiel’s oratorio doos not belong to those creations which eur- prise through originality of invention and nov- elty of- conception; but, on the other band, it is a proof how s thorgugh comprehension of the subject can lead, even within the limit of tredi- tioral forms, to achievements of real effective ness... . . We must add that Kiel’s oratorio is not in all parts majntained at the same heisht of excellence; nevertheless, it is as a wholes work which few of its claex will be found to equal.” . pee It,is intended to erect in. Nivelles (Belgium) a Mmonument'to the old musical theorist Johannas Tinctoris, the author of the first musical lexicon, entitled ‘‘ Terminoram: Musicas Diftinitorium,” who was boro in that town in 1415. The second yolume of Prof. Ritter’s * His- tory.of Music * 18 aonounced, bearing the im- print of Ditson & Co., Boston. : A committees at Dortmund, Pruesia, offered a prize of +750 for a musical setting of a hymo in honor of Bismarck. They have received 150 re- plies, inclading more than 100 compositions for soli, chorus, and .full orcheatrs, 25 songs with pidno-forte accompaniment, four large “instru- mental works, eight marches, and‘ oné sonata for piano. The successful comipetitor has-not yet been announced.. Ei REART-ECHOES. | . Trometimes wish that we bad never in : “That our two pathd hed ever been apart; - That I’d ne'er known the witeh’ry of thy charms, Or ahrin’d thine image deep within my heart, * Bright were the visions that my fancy fram’d - Of future bias when thou to mo wert near; And foiid the hopes that ever tlirilled me when ‘by voice’s music, low, fell on my ear, Leaw thee—lov'd thee, From that very hour _ , Lknew no pleasure that spoke not of thee: Life wes a dream,—a blissful dresri,—and thou ‘Wert all the world held near and dear for me. But that is past, Thy pledges were as naught,— ‘Thy warmest promifss But & soulless vow; And yet I trusted and belisy'd thee true, ‘And loved thee,—yex, and luve thee eren nom, Owxx M, Witsom, Jn, — The Lawyers in the Great Scandal Case. . From the New York Sun. Is was said last evenitg that six lawyers are employed on various branches of the defense . who have not been identified with tho public trial, Bir. Beach, ex-Jadge Fullerton. Mr. Mor- ris, dad Geo. Roger A. Pryor havo contributed their services to Mri Tilton, who is without means. ‘There is a mortrage of over $5,000 on the Livingstoh stieet property in favor of some wards of Mrauktin Woodenff, and ins only reve- nue is-26 cents a volume on the sales of “ Vem- pest Tossed.” Ha has procured.a loan. on hia phintings, and by thishe has paid the current skpensesof bis ult. Mr. Morris told Mr. Tilton before the Investigating Committee were through with their work that he would serve him if fe nééded legal counsel, add when Mr. Tilton was arrested. and taken before Justice Iiléy, Mr. Morris was-retained. Ex-Judge Fullerton en- tored the case through Mr. Moulton's influence, aud then a sénior couns! was deeded, and Mr. Beach waa applied to, ho said that in spite of Mr. Tilton’s inability to pay a retainirg feo be would enter the case. Mr. Moulton is paying none of the expénsss of the suit. “We Are Pnined to Learn. From the Louisville Couner-Journal,. A Louisville reporter, having accimutated » fortune here, resolved to abandon city life, with its, glittermg shams, and he wént South, where ho got a situation on a country newspaper. The village being rather dull, he bad only seven or eight items when the week was abont to close, and.one or: two of. these were puffs of turnips which had been left at the office. Thes were, however, well written, be thought, and he handed them to the editor. As each of the-tarvip pars- graphs came under the editorial eye, a anile of approval lit up the editorial countenance, and continved to light it datil the last of the items was reached. Here the editorial-visage undér- went an awfal change. The item was about ax accident that happensd to » ‘well-known citi- zon.” Reading 1t over several times, as if to gain time to check the indignation which seemed to be boiling. within him; be turned upon the re- porter. “Young man,” he thundered ‘your Wervices aro ho longer required ; I can’t have apy man abont me that doesn't say at thes beginning of his paragraphs, ‘We are pained to lsarn.'” THE HUB. King David’s Reception by Orthodox Boston, The Railroad Fight---Wendell Phil- lips, the Labor Question, and the Free Religionists. The Spiritualistic Whirlwind-—The At- lantic Monthly and Its Re. cent Dinner. The New Athenian Club, Special Correspondence to The Chicage Tribune, Boston, Jan. 13.—Chicago—who, whether she knows it or not, is rathor.celebrated in tna East— ern States for being nearly equal ta the Orientals in her politeness to her guasts—may now open her eyes in wonder at Orthodox Boston’s first at- tempt at entertaining a King. By f " OBTHODOX BoaTON Imean that portion of it ropresented by the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions, who, immediately upon King David's arrival at’ the Hub, invited him into Beacon Hill parlor, and there, as the most appropriate thing they could think of to do witha tired traveler, read to bim an addreas, tho following extract trom which will show its goneral spirit, ‘and will at once enable the polite Chicagoan to interprat my bint: : Fifty-five years ago, a company of missionaries sailed {rom this port for the Hawalizn Islands, What they found there, the aunals of those esrly times will have told you. Of the changes which have taken plaice since their arrival, you have been on oye-witness, It was with great” can Board felt suthorized, many yoars ago, to an- noance to the civilized world that tue Hawalians had bocome a Christian nation, Your Mafesty will remem- ber the words spoken in Honalulu at the Jutuieo of June 15, 1370, by ane who is here this evening, then ts now the repr-sentative of our Government to yours. “In 1825," said the Hon, Henry A. Plorce, ¢ Havrallans were ignorant and debaaed, though amisble and hos- pitable, and possessing greater intaligence than other Polynesian races, In 1870, we see them advanced toa hign degree of Chri:tisn ‘knowledge, general educa~ Hon, cavilization, and material prosperity. ‘The happy result is due for the most part, under God, to the labors of the American missionsries,” : KING DAVID must bean emiable fellow, or with an amszing amount of tact; for he received all thie showing upof bis ancestors’ barbarity with great oquan- nimjty, and reaponded in a neat little speech of thanks, which might or might not conceal a different state of feeling. Of course, there ia no denying the facts which: the honorable Poard presents ; but it a new so- cial dispensation when ‘ ‘THE ENTERTAINERS TWIT A GUEST with such family-facta as these, and make the process a vehicle of communicating their own virtuous efforts in bringing about a better state of.-things. When, now and then, certain Bos- tonians commit a bumptious blunder like this, certain . other. Bostonians, whose sense of hu- mor, and of ‘what is due to others, has not been quite extinguished by the shadow of the State- | House, immediately fecl like acknowledging in s bumper ail the small sins of which the Hub socially stands accused. At leaat this latter class at once recognizes and understands why Boston has got herself guch a bad name for brag and bounce, and that holier-than-thon-ativeness reputation in her attitude towards others, Weil, she thing is dune, and the King bas gona on his way,—rejoicing, I have no doubt, to ba freed from all this solemn sight-seeing of mill- ponds, school-houges, and what not. The only really ilvely piece of entertainment which hag been farnished him was by Mr. Arthur Cheney, who invited him to his beautiful new Globe The- atre to witness tho Fisnch opera-bouffe. And, apropos of theatres, a New England paper pro- fancly saye,that, while ‘Gothamites took Kal- -auaua to see the Black Crook, the New Haven fathers Jed him to Centra Church and tald him bow they civilized his anceators.” By this it ap. pears that Boston was not quite alone in allusion to family history, though the Now-Havaners had rather tha best right to that aort of talk, in view of the Centre Church. ‘The Hing mads himself. VERY AGREEARLE wherever be met our people, eithcr sociably or in |} suight-seeing way. At all the parties and recep- tious, be proved himself so charming to tha feminine portion of the guests that ders com~ plexions bave immediately gune up in the scala of sppreciation with the fair Bostonians; and drobably not since the Jubilee, when that hand~ some little Johano Straugs was besieged by mill- ions of women for an autograph, has one man’s name been written on so many autograpb-hunt- -ers’ pages. One of the railroad kings in Massachusetts is setting all Boston aud vicmity by the ears, by an attempt to coerce the patrons of the road into showing their tickots before they paas the gate which bars the entrance to the platform-inclos- ure. As this includes all the season-ticket-bold- ers, and as that includes some of the best-kzown men in Boston, who live slong the line of the ‘road, there isa GENERAL INDIGNATION AND OUTCRY. And, the other day, our orderly city saw a demonstration by some of these citizens, in the form of along proceasion, bearing baubers and various placards, burlesquing the arbitrary order, which ageails the integrity of the ticket-holders. and at the same time inconverionces them to such tn extent tuat they often lose their train. ‘There is 80 much feeling and determination not to be ruled in this despotic manner, that acom- mittee has been selected bya larga body of thesa gentlemen, to consider the building ot another Branch road. Wendell Phillips, who, threo or four ars ago, thundered forth his soathemas at the Traany. ot -rallrosd. capitaliaes, ia tus: labor: speechee, will doubtless make practical use of this demonstration of it in his next labor lec- ture or address. And speaking Mr. Phillips brings ay the Sun- day-afternoon lectures at Horticultara! Hall,— THE FREE RELIGIOUS COURSE, — in which Mr. Phillips 1s to appear next month to speak on “Some Aspects of the Labor Quea- tion.” It is a little curious td see how the course of events takes ita way. Four or five yeais ago, Elder Somebody-or-Other, representing the ex- treme Orthodoxy, stood in the doorway when the Free-Religioniats held their first meetings, and distrinuted little tracta of warning ‘as the audienca passed out. A quick-witred Free Re- ligionist matched this by distributing tracts of another description fo an Orthodox andience. The lively war which ensued ended, of course,. in the first s¢gressor’e going to the wall, and so thé matier bléw over. it id fanny to remecdber all this, and then to mark how this Free Relig- ious Society bas settied down into a settled fact in the community, and numbered smongst ite speakers, now and then, distinguished géntle- men like Mr. Phillips, who bava no leaning of love for Radicalism in theology. Mr. Phillips calls himself a Calvinist, by the way, aod on oc~ casions, in private, jocosely terms the Free Re~ ligiomats Free Irreligionists. When it is re- membered that these lectures ‘are on Sanday afternoons, it will be seon that the world moves in Pantanic Boston, where such stringeot Sun- day laws were held ia force so few years ago. One of the excitements now, ins good many circles ontside of the one to which it seems specially tu belong, is ‘THE SPIRITUALISTIO WHIRLWIND concerning the accredited Katie King fraud. Mr. Robert Dale Owen’s long, circumstantial account of this spiritual yoans woman, in the January Adantic, and his positive faith in her as a spirit, bave given the matter 8 world-wide in- terest, and everybody was on the qui-vive whoo the rumor rcse that the whole thing waa a fraud. The thoronghgoing believers in Spiritualiam here don’t seem to be much disturbed in their faith by what bas occured. By some, Mr. Ower ia considered’ s8 premature in giving in his card acknowledging that he had been deceived; and not only premature, but acting without sufficient proof. These persons, of course, still cling to the reliof ip the spiritual Katie, and de- nounce the accusation of fraud as a fraud itself, and declare that as euch it will ne proved. But theré is no doubt that Mr. Owen acted froma sincere conviction. and with some painfal delib- eration of thought, before he came out with his card. It mus; have been » matter of great mortification, ag well as of real disappointment, toa man of Mr. Owen's recognized ability and carefulness of inquiry, to find that he had been duped after so much investigation. But the matter is stirring up good deal of spirit of one kind ’and another, and the newspapers. are bay- ing a lively time of 1t, with the war between cor- respondents, which might be called the Katy did and the Katie-didn’t war. What Tennyson somewhere calla the Faith and Unfaith Age Seema to have come upon us. On one side, wo have the greatest believers aince the undoubting Gaya of Catholic miracles. Op the other aide, the skeptics Tange in formidable array, and question everything, under the banoer af Scienca and Nature, And nowhere do we-find there two distinct clasaea in stronger number than in Boston. ‘The skeptics, at this issue which haw just arisen, ery out tram their side tq the other, in almost jeering tones, : “PROOF! PRooF!” and the believers, it is suid, are very confident that they can soon respond to thig cry sacie- teint Soother little you-did didn’t air And snother little you-did-and-you-didn’t mish had arisen in connection with THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY SALB. Shortly after the sale to H. 0. Houghton & Co., @ paragraph appeared in the. Literary World, stating tha: Houghton & Co. were alresdy de- siting to dispose of their new purchase to the publishers of Old and New, and that a margunce of the dilantic in that magazine would be.tha result. Immediately thereafter, H. O Hough- tan & Co.came out with = card denying this statementin toto. Last week, .Mr. Crocker, of tho Literary World, came out with another state mont, sticking to his tizst assertion in the follow- ing words: ‘It is rnde to contradict, but we cannot remain silent under the imputation of falsehood; and we therefoxe reaftirm our atate- ment with this qualification: The negotiations were conducted, not by H. & H. in porson, bu by a gentleman whose character and standin, utterly forbid che supposition that he was n authorized.” So the matter remains, THE DINNER AT PARKER'S which was given a shart time ago to the coutri» utors of the Allantic, caused a good deal of cri gism of a not very cumplimentary eort, at the breach of gaiiantry in making it galely @ maseu. line festival, and thus entirely ignoring the well- known corps of feminine wntera \tho contribate to ita pages. The dinuer was given by the pub- lishers, of course, and not by the editor; and the reazon given by a friend of the affair, when tha moot-puict of critical attack was repeated to him, waa, that the dinuer, being at a hotel, was therefore not exactly “tho thing” for ladies. ‘This is a Boston notion eutirely, ana, like a good. many of our notions, the lega upon which it standa are very visionary legs. Tnero is no earthly reason why it ia not as entirely within the bounds of tho strictest etiquette and most Puritanic propriety fors dinner of this descrip- tion, given in a private dining-room at a hotel, to inglude Isaics, as for ladies to pre side “Bt kettledrum fairs, or to seok the Parker House public dining hall for daily lunchos, or for any of the hundred-and- ove ways in which women, as a matter of course, participate in the usval festivities or the ordimary occssions of life. But the old Puritanio law, which forbade such levity a8 a man’s kisaing Ina wife on Sunday, bas left a little of its leaven with us, even at this late day, and women are stili considered—ontside the Woman's Clad as made of rather perishable porcelain, which may easily receive mortal hart. Speaking of clabs suggests THB ATHENIAN CLUB,” which has just started. Ita namsa include jour- nalists, artists, men of letters, and publishers. Amongst these ara William Hunt, the prince of portrait-painters, and J, R. Ougood, the | prince oe publishers and gocd fellows. , with- its langly visitation, the railroad squabbleg, its literary skirmishes, and its new ciubs, Bouton keepyits bload sturring throaghogt the wickedest winter-weathar it hag known for a decade. BA MADAME MEURICH, Funeral Oration of Victor Hugo at ler Grave. From th? New York Evening Past, . An esteemed correspondent sands us the fol- lowing translation of ‘Victor Hago’s paoegyno upon Madame Meurice—** moved there:0," so ha writes, ‘*byrage aad grief 2: tha shockingly mangled version from » Londo: newspaper, “which 19 begiuning to go the rouna of the Amer- ican proes.” {Lhe wife of Paul Meurice, the brilliant drumn- atisi editor of the Rappel, was followed to her rave at Pere Lachaise on the Lith of November ¥ 20 immense cuncourse of tho people of Paria. The following is s tranalstion, necessarily in- adequate, of the oration yctered by Victor Hugo at the scene of Interment :} a ‘The woman to whom we come to pay the au- preme tribute has honored her ees: ahe was yahant and sweet; she bad all the charms for Jove, and all the sirchgth for suffering. She Jeaves pehind her the companion af her life, Paul Meurice, a spirit luminous and proud, ope uf the noblest men of our time. Lat us bow before this sacred tomb. * p Iwituessed their marriage. So pass the years. Teaw them both young, she so beauti‘:J, he eo radiant, unite,thejr future before the haman law aad before the Isw diving, and give thie hands to each other in hope and moruing. I saw that entrance of two souls mto love, which ia the true entrance iuto life. To-day is it the exit that we see? No: for the heart that remaing continues to love, and the soul that bas own continues to live! Doathis another entrance, not into mera love, for the love bolow was com- plete, but into more light. From that radiant hoyr of the begin- ning, to the stern hour where wa are now, these. two besutiful souls sus- tamed each other. Life. whatever it may be, 1s good, traveled tuus. She, admirable woman, painter, musician, artist, had received every gift, and was made forevery pride; but ehe was, above all, proud of the retioctiun of hia fame upon herzelf; sho toox part in his suc~ cezs; abe felt herself honored .by ths applause which hailed him; se participated, ing, in those eptendid orations at the theatre where tho name of Meurice was shouted. amidst acclama- tions and enthusiasm: she had the sweet pride to see unfold for the fnture, and triamph befero the mul:itude, that ser:es of works, strong and exquisite, which shall bave in the literature of our ages place of lght and glory. Then came the times of trial; she accepted them with etoiciem. In our day the writer should be at need acombatant ; woe to the talent be- hind which is not seen a conscienco! A poctry shou!d be 8 virtue. Paul Mearice la one of thora clear souls in whose depthsis seendety. He wanted liberty, progress, truth, and jastica, aud he bore theconsequéences. ‘This fs why, oneday, he went to prison. His wife compreneoded this new glory, and irom that dey ehe, who till then had been only good, became great. A And later, when disasters came. wher trial took the proportions of public calamity, ahe was ready for every abuegation and every devotion. The history of this age has some neyer-to-bo- forgotten days. At times, in humanity, # certain sublimity of the woman appears; 10 tho hours when Lissory becomes terrible, ons would say that ber soul seizes the occasion and reeks to give an example to the suulof man. Antiquity bad the Roman woman; the modern ages will have the Freoch woman. The siege ot Paris has shown all that woman caa be dignity, firmoess, sccévtance of privations, galety in anguish. The bottom of the soul of the French woman is an heroic mix~ ture of family and country. 3 ‘The generous woman in thistomb had all these grandenrs. I bavo been her guest in those tragic days; I have seon her. While her huaband did his double and rode taek of writer and soldier, she also rose berore thé dawn. Sho ir was yet night, in the rain, in the frost; her feet in the snow, to wait long. hours, like the other noble women of the people, at the doors of the butchers and the bakers, and she brought us back food and joy. : For the truest of all joysig duty performed. . There is an idea! of woman in Isdiah; there is another in Jnvenal; these two ideals the woulen of Paris have realized. They have had the cour- ago which is more than bravery, und the pa- tience which is more than courage. They have shown, before peri, intrepidity and sweét- ness. They gave to the despairing combst- ants the ,encouregement of tie amie, Nothing could conquer them. | Like thelr hns banda, hike their child-en, they ‘wanted to strug- gle to the Jast hours; and in tho face of a sav= age cuemy, under the grapeshot and the shells, under the furious blast of 2 five months’ winter, they retused, even to tho Seine loaded. with blocks of ice, even to famine, even to death, the surrender of theirtowu! Ah! lst us reverecca this Paris which bas produced such women sod such mep. Let us go down upon our knees be~ fore the holy city! Paris, by ita tremendous re- sistance, saved France, which the dishouor of Pans would have sisin, and Europe, which the death of France would have disbonured. Let the beautiful soul, ficva away, but pres- ent, who at tais momen: hears me, be proud; all venerations surround her coffin. From the height of the unknown serenity she can sco around her all these hearts full of ber, these friends who glorify her, this busband who mourns ber. Her memory, at once sorrowfal and enchanting, shall not be effaced. It mill lighten our twilight. A memoryipe ray. | Let the Eternal Soul in that hich dwelling- place receive this immortal soul. Life ms problem; death is the solution. I repest it, and itis thos I wish to. end this farewell, [nil cf hope: thé tomb is neither dark nor void. There is the great light. Tothathghtiet it be per- mitted the man who now speass, to turn. He ‘who, it may be said, no more exists here below —he whoue ambitions are all nov in déath—has Bnshtso Ball te nie decths: oF Se lasite ta @ sinistar and sublime dazsle lore, the imaense star, Gol! ss