Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, January 6, 1878, Page 9

= : USEMENTS. Some Parting Remarks Concerning " %0ur Boarding House” and Jo Murphy, The New Drama, *“ True Women," to Be Presented at.Mc- Vicker's This Week. Baffalo Bill and His Sioux Chiefs Coming to Haverly’s Theatre. Dramatic Notes and News at Home and Abroad---Aimee’s Diamonds-— Rankin and Meredith. i‘reneh Opera-Bouffe at Heoley’s To-Mor- row Evening---Other Musical Announcements. THE DRAMA. THE HOLIDAYS ARE OVER, the hollday attractions are exhausted, the holi~ dsy plavgoers are satisfled, and the managers pave counted their gains, which, taking the two weeks together, have been cousiderable. Chi- g0 has outstripped all other citivs this year— witn the exception, perhaps, of Boston—in tne liberality of its patronage. Jo Murpby car- ries off his share of some $12,000, the recelpts for the eighteen performances, while the «Boaraing-House combination, which had for some time been floundering helplessly in the maud through the small towns of the West, has been ensbled to plant. itself once more on firm ground. B Concerning the merits of the performances hich sppear to bave amused the people 50 mightily, there is little to be said that has not already been said over and over again during their continuance with us. The public are pretty well agreed that the best of them Lave been little more than wiid extravaganze,— we except the comedy of * Simpson,”—but that 15 precisely what the public wunted, and it hos badits fill. As to Mr. Grover’s play, we cannot bot regard it 2s a clever illusion,—a screaming farce in the guise of a comedy. The chief merit of the plece is one that will be more readily ap- preciated by the actor than by the spectator. It isfullot *‘business,” using the word in its technical sense, the parts being so ingenfously distributed as to afford almost evers member of toe cast an opportunity to exhibit some pecul- farity. In no case, however, dues it rise to the dignity of character painting. Elevator aud Gil- iypod are oot even caricatures; they are merely 2pair of Merry Andrews; and the laugoter ex- dited by their extravazant antics is of the kind defined by King Solomon as *“ the crackling of thorns under the pot.” This is probably the object of farce, and it bas been the aim of most of thke. recent farcecomedies to keep up this empty gigzle, at the expense of common sense. ** Who pepoers the highest fs surest to please.” The funny situations in “Our Boarding-House ™’ transeend the bounds of the ludicrous. If they were located in an fosane asylum they would acguire an sir of probability, in which case the effect would be simply saddening. One is inclined to suspect that the class of plays of which this is a con- spicuous exampleis gradually driving the more thoughtful class of people away from the thea- tres altogether, and leaving them to cater to a clase that are not much_worth amusiog. The ouly excuse to be offered by the caterer is that one man’s dollar is as zood as another’s, Cor- rect, from a purely commercial point of view; oty dox’t let us huve any cant abouat dramatic art in connection with such performances. Will any one undertake to say that Jo Maur- phy’s pieces are 1o be classed as dramas? Yet they are, cominercially speaking, more success- ful'than the average. Such a string of clumsily put_together “ secnes and incidents ™ could hardly be imagined to entertain an sudience of tommon iutclligence. Disconnected trom the & plot,” these sietenes are clever enough of tneir kind, as done in the less pretentious prov- Iuce of the * nigger *' minstrel or the variety thow,—ag, for instance, the capers of Mr. Mur- pby §0 the gampling-house, whicn is nearly as rood as Pat Roune well-kuown character sketeh. The plays written with 2 view to ex- hibit these oceasional freaks of a clever vari periormer are only a form of producing it terminable eocores, which ure the breath of life lo “artists *” of this class. It is indicative of the prevailing taste, which we deam 8s 8t present Lot verv appreiative P genuine comic art, that without some fash- ionable attracuon, in the shape of a loudly- ‘rumpeted star. such mad work as Maum Cre " wd the “Kerry Gow ™ are preferred toa comedy lite that which Mr. 3cVicker has presented durig the week. Aund, had it not been Jor the wectacular burlesque which followea it, Mr. McVicker's compauy would not have plavea to 1 corporal’s guard. There is some hope that the present year may witness o reaction against these theatrical fool- eries. Dion Bioucicault bas undertaken the task—now that his success as a playwright is on the wane—of instructing the rising generation inthe art of dramatic composition. . Let us see what frait it will bring. LOCAL NOTES. “Lost in London " will be brought out next week at McVicker's, introqucing for the first time bere Mr. J. P. Anderson, who will play Job Amroyd. Haverly announces for the 14th, “John A. Btevens and his combination in the Eastern suc- s play ¢ Unknown.’” For an interpretation of the nbove appiv to Fitzsimmons, the great bill-writer of the Northwest. The last performance of * Our Boarding- House will be given this evening for the ben- L&Bt of the suthor, in commemoration of the fouth anniversary ‘of the opeuing of the .&dd‘g}‘}. It scems qui'e appropriate to offer * Mr. Grover such a testimonlal on the occasion, Inthe house that Len built. ; The Callender Georgia Minstrels bave conclud- ¢ toremain anothier week at the New Chicago Theatre. Thenewest attraction will be the banjo auce of thie celebrated Boter Brothers, *hose song and dance diversions are said to be 'ml&:l)& Thuy issue 2 challenge to the world in #8010 £10,000 to produce any banjo-player Yhocan excel them, the offer to remain open Ul the 19t A benefit of extra excellence will be tendered 103r. J.B. Corey, the Treasurer at the New ghfuzn Theatre on Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 3 The attractions offered are numerous, and hearti.ts in the first rank of their cluss. = The % fiurmnnce opens with the first part by Callen- D s Minstrels, and in the olio are Messrs. w:{‘b“-”"' and Tengler, Barry Maxwell and ted West, Moliie_Willlams, Lillian _Daton. “Thornton, Ida Granger, Billy Kersaods, Tohee Brothers, ' Harry and Fanoy Woods,— + Baarly fifty volunteers. “aTrue Woman ™ is the modest title of thenew Plarto be produced to-morrow evening at Mc- cier’s Theatre, It is from the pen of Alr. Fred- &ick Clark, of New York, a gentlemau who is 10 vossess rood _literary quulifieations and ‘dnmum e instincts. It is a comedy drama, in bugg, & commingled elements of ¢motion and umor, The plot is of a serious nature, the firthe eme being a mother’s love. Perhapsa Pty recommendation to our perusal may lic Far efat thatit isa strictly American play. O¥ing are the names of tie characters and Iy uwre assignments: vaqhcoln, the family physician.. Harry Pearcon ggrflnmln. his nep}:{&.{. . G. & Learock hushand to Alice Som- .......G. W. Wezsels withone e areeeeenn.s ... ROI20d Reed heory, an entomologist, Tog i Rission. . Harry Leo Vipurosvenor, ‘suitor 10 Clara, Dm]cm e ... Isadore Davidson 'Mgfi cotch servant, troe to the Llgeons of his race, ... J.B.Everham By, pach the truest of women.. Annie Graham ¢ Emm'{;" daughter, known as ¥n, T ates, . .. ... Geraldine Maye eremypecivelt, 2 good friend to Mieg Popopleoees coeoene oon Clara Stoneall . Zhn\gxnhm' 3 flirt of the past....Alice Hastings mphun:fl:} flirt of the precent....Laura Don Ty be supplemented by the farce ”n:‘? th‘; Good—fnr?;\' othing.” 4 on. W F. Cod: b theatrical cog- Iy ly, whose theal cog: "0 i Buffalo Bill, will appear at the by Moy W-morrow eveuing in 2 drama written . A urt, entitied *¢ Mav Cody;- or, b The Buifalo Bill combination =~ € gon of Spotted Tail, Two Bears, = Carries-the-Sword, and Cha-sha-sha-o- ndian scout, who are to their trained broncho ponies. Lnedie [eTena, 5o od fop, Theophilas iy 4 (B e - Austin Brothers astonishing feats in rifle-shooting, = such n‘s! souffing a candle held in the hand, shnotmz tne fire from o (:legr held in the mouth, ghootinz an apple frum‘the head, curning and firing ut the word three, and shooting apples from cach other's headssimultancouslyat a given signal. Frank Skifl, the scenic artist, bas pre- pared new scenery for the plece illustrative of the Mountain Meadow massacre and the home of the departed Prophet. . NEW YORE NOTES. Johu T. Raymond succceds Sotliern at the Park Theatre to-morrow evening. Sothern is going to England, and the Count Joanues fs subsiding. No more practical stage Jokes for a scason. The good impression made by Mme. Mod- Jeska on her first appearance is said to have been deepencd by her subsequent performances. Cazauran Is busy at work. translating D'Ex- nery’s last play, * Une Cause Celebre,” the manuscrint of which was received last week. It will be produced at au carly day. _“The Man of Success,” an English adapta- tion of Octave Feuillet’s *‘Montjove,” has oroved only a partial success at ' the Union Square. The managers of this theatre are said to have in contemplation a revival of * The Two Orphans.” The Park Theatre Company, with Sothern as the head-light, starts to-morrow on a tour of seventeen weeks, They will, with the exception of three nights, play only in the large cities. The tour lasts until May 3, and on May 4 Mr. Sothern sails on the Britannic for England. The cast for Booth's newadaptation of * Rich- ard IIL,” with which bhe ovens his New York will perform some season to-morrow evening, is an exceptionally strong one. It includes Mr. Joseph Wheelock a8 Richmond. Mr. Milnes Levick as Clarence, Mr. Frank Evans as Zuckingham, MSFrauk_Pleree 88 King Edward, Mr. C. A. McManus as Hastings, Miss Eleanor Carey as Quecn Elizabeth, Miss Wells as the Duchiess of York, Miss Lizzie Rich tas Lady Anne, Mrs. Emma Waller us Queen Margaret, avd Messrs. M. J. Jordan, H. Rich, W. H. Collings, F. McVicter, H. Picrson, J. R Davis, C. Dade, J. L. Mason, A. Jagues, J. Hogan, and W. Carpeuter. 1t will be observed that four of the leading parts are filled by actors who have been identified for vears h the Chi- eago stage,—W heelock, Levick, Picrce; and Mc- Manus,—to say nothing of Frank McVicker. An 0ld acquaivtance bas turned up in an un- fortunate manarerial adventure in New York— Mr. Charles R, Gardiner, whilom of the Acade- my of Music, Chicago. A picce called “Sula” was brought out r* Booth’s Theatre on Monday last, but no second performance was permitted. Mr. Tweed, the attorney for the estate, thourht the piece s0 execrably bad and low that he re- fused to allow its production a second time, and would not even gceept anv morerent. ‘The uct- ors were disinissed without pay. None received 2 dime except 2 few of the ballet girls, who zot §1 cach. Mr. Gardiver sald be intended suing Mr. Duff and Mr. Augustin Daly. Miss Jennic Hughes was so thoroughiy dissatisied with her part after the one performance that she deter- inined to throw it up, aud entered the theatre to resign. She wasnformed that the concern had burst. She asked for her pay, but could et no satisfaction from any one. ‘The company had been engazed for one week in New York, gnd then it was intended to travel. Evidently there is no roow for Charfie Gardiner in New York—not evena ‘‘dead room.” ‘The proposed benefit to John Broucham in New York has already a definite and practical shape. ‘[wo performunces are to be given, on the afternoon and the evening of Jau. 17, at the Academy of Music. Mr. Wallack, Mr. Soth- ern, Mr. Boucicault, Mr. Fechter, Madawe Mod- jeska, Edwin Booth, Jobn Gilbert, Mr. Coghlan, Mr. Montazue, Clara Morris, Agnes Booth, John McCullough. Briznoti, Miss Abbott, and ‘many others have sienified their consent to tal partin the performauces. It is also probable that Mr. Jeflersop, Mr. Willlam Warren, and John 8. Clarke wiil particivate in Wwhat must prove s brilliant and memorable occasion. Tie New York Tribune pays the following deserved ute to the veterau autnor, actor, and man- Mr. Brougham, oppressed by the infirmitics of advancing age, and disabled by sickness, is aléo in poverty. These circuinstances are not exceptional; but it happens, in this case, that they assail un e: ceptional mun. and that. for various™ reasons, it is possible to mitigate the distress they have cansed, Mr. Drougham lizs bad a lone, useful, honorable, und brilliant career. s works are full of zood~ nese and mirth. 1lis life has been one of virtue ana benevolence, His influence hus alwaya cheered and aided bis fellow-creatures. In private he has been the untiring servant of charity—always with all his heart, and very often with il his purse. his public. professional career he has wiven jnno- cent pleasure to_thousands—strengthening, in all hearts, the priuciples of rectitude and the flupulses of kindness. Iis pame, accordy is one that the puolic, throughout the jand, knows only to honor, and remembers only with respect und atfec- tion. . GENERAL NOTES. “The Geneva Cross will soon be revived at the Boston Museum. Maggie Mitchell has bought Meilhae & Halevy's play, “The Grasshopper.” Mr. Joe Jeflerson’s children are called Josie and Joe. Jocseemns to have Joe-cosely named them all Joe. A Joe-vial family. Miss Muy Howard begins an engagement to- morrow evening at the Academy of Music, Montreal, her opening piece being * Miss Mul- ton.” D'Ennery, the author of the * Two Orphans ™ and the latest Parisian success, “Une Cause Celebre,” is over S0 years of age, the oldest dramatist living. George Rignold, Lawrence Barrett, Frank Mayo, John E. Owens, and Fanny Davenport arc among the stars that revolve around the New England Circait this month. Mr. B. E. Woolf has sold his interestin * The Mighty Dollar,” and all his rights to royaity in its performance, to Mr. William R. Deutsch, Mr. Florenee’s manager, for $2,500. Harry Jesepbs, of the * Evaneeline ¥ party, fell overboard into the Mississippi at -New Orleans a few days since, but was recovered. He now sings *Into the water we go "'with more intelligent aporeciation than ever. A Buffalo paper, speaking of Rignold’s en- gagement there, says: “The audiences have not been very large,—not surprising; for holi- day week is almost always a poor oue for theat- rical managers.” So much for Buffalo. Chi- cago managers can tell a very different tale. The dramatic obituary for\}?le year 1877 in- cludes the names of E. L. Wavenport, Edwin Adams, Mme. Tictjens, Matilda Heron, John Oxcoford, Lucklle Western, Mosenthal, Ben De Bar, Georze L. Fox, Johan D. Stockton, Tom Plucide, Compton, Eph Horn, and J.V. Zimmer- mano. The ‘Exiles ® still holds the staze at the Boston Theatre, and is evidently booked for a long run.. During the holiday week the rail- road companies chanzed their time of running late trains for the accommodation of the public, and all the horse railroads furnished special ears for the benefit of suburban residents. 1t is reported that Messrs. Goodwinand Clarke have come to an amicable arrangement rezard- ing the Walnut Street Theatre trouble in Phila- delphia, through Mr. Clarke practically backiniy down in the stand_he had taken. The result of this peace will probably be the production of the Boston saccess, the ** Exiles,” at the Walnut. “Two more Boucicaults in the field. Cheever Goodyvin’s new ** American *’ opera-boufle called «Pippius” is taken word for word from Tal- fourd’s extravaganza ** Atalanta, or the Three Golden Apples,” a copv of whicn can be pur- chased apvwhere for 25 cents. And Ltecle Mackaye, who clahned that * Won at Last vas origiual in thought, blot, and dislogue, turps out to have simply adapted it {rom a Ger- man story called “*Gluck Auf” (Good Luck). Tose Estinge company have gone farther m}; lrcarcd ‘worse than they did in Chicazo. Ac- cording to the Detroit Free Lress, Miss Eytinge, Mr. Boniface, and the company *‘guved” the entire performance. * They cut it down to an liour and three quarters, ‘gasged’ the best scenes, and otherwise demonstrated their unfit- ness to stand_before an_intelligent audience of play-goers. Miss Ea'tinzc wore one dress for all e acte, and both she and Mr. Boniface bebaved with vulzar clownishness.” It the writer of the above paragraph had inquired beniml the scenes he might have bad an explanation of RMiss Estinge’s bebavior. She came near bring- ing her engagement in Chicago To en abrupt termination_oue nizht becaus Betty Rigl was called before the curtain. znd o sal she wanted to cut Miss Rigl out of altogether. ; Easiii nny Lee, the clever youngz Engl ncfl:‘fisoi] e]’air J:: of Tow-all-Alone’s, bad a great deal of trouble in getting the broom she uses in the play. She went about London strects tryiug to bargain with the crossing- sweepers for a well-worn broom3 but cunniogly enough, while she could get dozens of compara- tively new brooms, not an old one would the £weepers part with. They knew the trade value of aworn broom to an actor, ior they were themselves actors of long experience. A.fl.cll; ‘mauy failures she espied wretched little A::i residing over a dirty crossing with a very old room, near Westminster. She astouished the urchin’ by offering him five snillings for his broom. With an incredulous grin the Arab said, *¢ You don’t mean itd? Said t.sxvcf {ady, “Don't I though here's the moner ™ uu{’utc.r some amusing parley, she got posses- the bill peiace 1b KT ¢ day at rebear-© slon of the dramatic “property,”—or rather the boy promised to bring it to herresidence for the fi illings, N a _hrnam. and S S PSR o Lt “ated " SE i stae countless times as Poor Joe. THE RANKIN-MEREDITI ROW. A correspondent of the New York Zimes gives- the following inside history of the Rankin- Mereditlf quarrcl: y The Indirect cause which led to the sssault oc- curred u year sgo. It scems that Meredith and oo friends were dining at a_restanrant, when Rankin entered, Intoxicated, and struck Meredith 3 ecrere blow, at the same time inviting him to drink. _ Meredith refused, whereupon Rankin abused hin rounaly, and was at last ordered out of the place. Shortly after this Meredith had occa- sion to kend some manuscripts to Rankin, and when the latter opencd them and ascertained who tie vender was, he addressed himeelf to Ar. James W. Norris and M. Charies Stanley, who were &t the timc at. the Chestnut Street’ Theatre bere ' Do you know who sent these? Why, that— eredith. This was repcated to Meredith, dnd added fucl to the flame. On Saturday last they met in a saloon, but did not drink together. Rankin inculging with a friend and all the time casting glances at Meredith, as if to provoke bim. “The lacter went fo the theatre, and there leurned that Rankin last week drew off his coat for the purpose of whipping Mr. Page, one of the stock actors and a persunal friend of Meredith, Just then Raukin caine up Ninth street. Meredith advanced toward him, when he said: ‘*Well, what are you going to do?” and Meredith howed him. The ubove is the inside or sccret story of the affair. Mr. Mereditn says that he struck Rankin on the impul¥e of the moment, and that_be would not have demeancd himself by a pugilistic en- counter with any one. e also says that for a year past Rankin hus not allowed any opjortunity 1o sveak disparagingly of him to pass. Mr. Meredith expresses to the public, through the Dramatic News, his regrets, ackunowleduing that he **acted like an ass,” and adds: **If any one can think worse of me to-day than Ido ot myself, let bim make his fhoughts public. The work was that of an fustant; bad work it was, such work as drunken ’lougshoremen indulee in, and unfortunately 1 can mnake no other atonement thun tu express rewrets, bey for fair v and another trial, and beg pardou of every bl: one but Ranki 4 GOOD JOKE ON AIMEE. The Dramatic News vouches for the authenticity of the following anecdote of Aimee: She was traveling in the South some two years ago, and stopped in one of the large cities 10 thy 4 week. As usnal, nota few were conquered by the charms of tne little French donna. One gen- tleman particularly appeared to be completely carried away. ile called upon Mile. Amee and was politely received, which only added to his absurd infatuation. It so happened that this gentleman was very wealthy, and had but recently married 8 charming and beau‘iful eirl. One day, while looking in a jeweler's window, the gentle- man asked Mlle. Aimee if there was anything there she cared for. Mlle. Aunee pointed out u magnificent bracelet set in diamonds. The gentle- man priced it and found that its value way §7,000. He calied severai times at the jeweler's and en- deavored to beat m down, but the jeweler said $7, wus the Brst and “last “price. The gentleman offered $5,000, but to no par- pose. A day or two' alterward Almee called I ut the store, and asked the jeweler whether any rogress hud ‘been made in “the purchase. The eweler told her the gentleman bad offered $3,000, but he would notletit zo for less than S7.000. Mile. Aymee thereupon put down 000, and told the jeweler if her admirer called again to let him have the bracelet at his price. He did call again and aguin, ofered $5.000, and it was ziven lim. Wlile huerying on bis way 1o Mile. Aimee's hotel, he met a friend, to whoi he showed the precious Dauble. The friend naturally asked what he was going 10 go with it, and our friend told bim, The other, who kn=w both the gentleman and his fam- ily, reproached him with such an_aosund waste of money, pointed out 10 bum the joy such a present would ive his young wife, and spoke so well th like » sensivle man, the purchaser of the brag went straizht bome and handed the 87,000 bru let to his better half. MUSIC. THE RIVE-KING CONCERTS will be the: prominent features of the present week, as they will, indecd, of the whole musical season. They will be griven at Hershey Hall on Monday evening, the 7th; Thursday, 10th; Friday, 11th; Saturday, 12th, two performances; aud Monday, 14th. Upon these oceasions, Mme. King will be assisted by Mirs. Clara D, Stacy, the well-known soprano of this city; Miss Abbie Whinoery, a vocalist of Boston, who will make ber first ‘apoearance here; Mr. W. P. Tyrrell, a Cincinnati basso, also first appearance; and Mr. H. C. Eddy, the organist. The programmes have been made out with great care, sud present a remarkable sclection of music for oran, piano, and voice, thus promising = rich treat to lovers of music, while to the general public these concerts appeal with peculiar force, be- cause they are given in the interest of the Toundlings’ Home, one of the nobdlest and most deserving of all our city charitivs. Those who misstheseconcerts will miss something they may always regret, as such programmes as these are the exceptions in our musical entertsinments. In our last Sunday’s issue we gave a full outline of them, o that it is_only necessary now to ap- pend that tor the first concert, LO-ImOrrow even- ingr, which will be as follows: Thiele... ............Concert Satz in E flat minor H. Clarence £ddy. Meyerbeer +++-**El Monico™ Gounod.. Maid of Athens™ dtrs, Clara 0. Stacy. Schumann. ....a. Sonats, G minor, opus 22 (frst movement) . Opms 25, No. 2 e- King. $0, Mad I Jubal's Lyre ™ ifis3 AbGie Whinnery, a. Nocuurae, F flat major, opna®, No. 2 Chopin ...{ 5. Impromptu, A Hlat, opus 20 c. Rondo in E flat. ophs 16 Mpme. Julic Rive- Ki Wallner.... .. 5. Romang Mme. Julin Handel.. sirs, Stacg. Randegger.... ... *-A Mariner's Home Is the Sea™ W. P. Tyrrell. Sonata, D minor, No. 1 oduction, allegro, pustorale, finale. 11" Clarence Eady. Gailmant. Intr ..2latin Song ..V ffe Ts Coming " Jfies ‘Alibie Tiiiinnery. Rubnstein.... <.o. .....VDise, Allcmande Mme, Julia Rive-King. THE AIMEE OPCRA-BOUFFE SEASON. As will be seen by her advertisement else- where, Mlle. Aimece will grive a week’s season of opera-boufle at Hooley’s Theatre, commencing to-morrow evening. Therepertoire will be as fol- Monday, “La Jolie Parfumeuse ”'; Tues- ¢, “La Marjolaine”; Wednesday (matinge), *La Fille de Ame. Anzot”; Wednesday (even- ing), “Les Cent Vierges”; Thursday, * Girofle- Girofla”; Friday, “La Reine Indigo,” for Aimee's benefit. Of these operas, Leeoeq’s “La Marjolaine™ (* The Sweet Marjoram™) and Jobann Strauss’ “La Reine Indigo’ (“Queen Indigo ™) have never been given bere before. As this will probably be the last time that Aimee will cver appear here, ber season ought to be a success. Those who delight in opera-boufle certainly ought to pay a handsome farewell tribute to the best obera-bouffe per- former, all things considered, who has ever been here. The cast for the opening night will be as follows Madelon . Justine. Lise.. Poirot.... .. La Cocardiere. Genmain.. LOCAL MISCELLAN Mme. Rive-King will play in Milwaukee, on the 15th inst., for the benefit of a charitable fustitution. R. W. Cross, the leader of the Fifth Presby- terian choir, was presented with a silver set by bis choir duriug the holidays. We learn that the Chicago Music Company are going to issue the music of Planquette's ** Chimes of Normandy " shortlv. The next rehearsal of the Beethoven Soclety will take place on Tuesday evening, Jun. 8. We are requested to urze members to attend. D. V. Bell, a newphew of Digby V. Bell, for- merly of this city, has made a successful debut at Malta as the Count in *‘Sonnambula” fle will shortly return to this country. ‘The busioess manager of the Boston Philhar- monic Club was fn the city last week, seckiog to effect an eomazement for the Club. but. did noj succeed. It IS no likely we shall Licar them before April. Mr. 8. G. Pratt, our well-known musician, has returned to the city, and will resume his pro- fessional duties at once. He may be consulted ar No. 1317 Indiana avenue, or at Lyon & Bealy’s music store, where he will receive pupils. Was there ever a term 5o horribly_abused as “artist™? The St. Louis Giobe-Democrat, a paper which ought to know beiter, - say: ‘l' at. ryer’s Grand Opera Company, which opens eBar’s on Monday, is composed of 100 artists.” There are in reality two artists and ninety-eight sinzers in the troupe. The other ficisco” paper announced ¢ Mrs. o e of Torty artiste.n There 15 owdy ot artist 0 that troupe and thirty-nine sticks, Welnwter defines-an artist #s oae In whom scjesce and taste predominate. E The _#ourteenth Pupils’ Matince at the Her- shey School will take plave next Wednesday afternoon. Miss Sarah E. Willlams, Miss Stella Riordan, Miss Ella Green, and Miss Bettie Cossitt will sing for the first time on this ocea- sion, and several choice organ and piano num- bers will be given. . A pleasant featurc of the recent Beethoven Society Reunion was the first appearauce of Miss Suggett, a young lady from Cleveland, who has 3 very rich and fresh soprano voice, excellently trained. We believe she contem- plates remaining here. Should such be tne case, Chicazo will add to her musical circles a most excelient singer. ‘The vrogramme for the regular Turper Hall concert this alternoon will include Chopin’s Po- lonaise in C minor, C. Bach's *“‘Jubilee Over- ture,” Vicuxtemps' “Reverie,” Mendelssohn’s * Midsummer Nighit's Dream ” overture, Intro- duction to the fifth aci- of Reinecke’s ‘‘Man- fred,” Bilse’s fantasic “En forme de Valse,” selections from Meyerbesr’s * L Africaine,” over- ture to *Fra Diavolo,” (Strauss’ “ Arm-in-Arm Mazurka ’ and “ Goomen Polka,” and Parlow’s * Herofe March.” Weare glad to know that the orcnestra, under Mr. Locsch’s admirabie di- rection, is making for itself a first-class reputa- tion, and gaining high praise. ¢ ‘The thirty-sixth of Mr. Eddy’s series of organ recitals was eiven at Hershey Hall yesterday noon. with avery interesting programme, includ- ing Richter’s Prelude and Fueue in C minor, op. 21, No. 1; Spohr’s Larghettoin B flat, from he duet for two violins, 0p. 150; §. B. Whitney’s rocessional Murch,” op. 25, played for the first time in Chicago,—a very scholarly composition and destined to become very popular; Markel's Prelude, op. 100, No. 8, on the chorale, * Allein Gott in der lobsei Bbr? 5 the overture to -*Stradella,” und that wounderful illustration of Buch’s contrapuntal skiil,the Canonie Variations in C, on_the_chorale, *Vom Himmel noch da Komni Ieh Ler. ¥ Aprovos of the latter, it might be remarked that in the interval between sStradella” and these * Variatious,” pretty near- lyall the musicin the world 1s included. It wasa tong jump for Mr. Eddy, but he took it grace- fully._That very promising voung singer, Miss Mina Romumeiss, sang iu exceilent style Markel's Hymm, op. 57, ** Show Tny Merey, Lord7; and Geibel's Song, * The Watcher.” ™ At the next recital Mr. Eddy will play Johann Schneider’s fantasie and fuvuz in D “minor, op. 3; Best’s Councert Andante in E flat; the Nocturne from Mendelssohn’s *“Midsummer Night’s Dream," and Rheinberger’s Sonata in A minor No 4, op. o 'THE STRAKOSCII OPERA SEASON. Strakoscl’s [talfan opera season commences to-morrow evening at the Academy of Musicin Philadelphia with Verdi’s “Aida,” which will be cast as follows: “Phe King. On Tuesday evening Mile. Marie Rozc, the sreeat English prima donna, will inake Ler debut. as Leonora fu * Favorita.” The season will last one week, the remainder of the repertoire, in- cluding * Un Ballo en Maschera,” ** Mignon,” “ Faust,” “Trovatore,” and “The Bohemian Glrl ¥ (fu English)! - WHEREABOUTS. Hess' Euglish Opera Troupe were in St, Paul last we The Kellogg-Cary Troupe sang in Bostoa on the 30th and 31st ult., and in Provi- dence on New-Year's Day. * Miss Thursby is at the head of another troupe, including ‘Teresa Carreno, Alfred Wilkie, and Clarence E. Hay. ‘They suug at_tartford on the 81st ult., in Bos- 1on on the 1st and 3d inst., and at New Haven outhe 2d. Fryer’s German Troupe will be in St. Louis this ~ wer St._Louis heard ** The Messtah*? on the 8d. The Boston Philharmonic Ctub and the Barnabee Troupe are coucertizing in Massachusctts. The Mendelssohn Quintet Club have already made one successful tour westward. and are to visit us again the coraing month. They will leave Boston again on the 20th of Javuary. Theodore Thomas’ Orchestra is aunounced for a concert in Hartford, Couu., on the 17th. MUSICAL NOTE3. Mr. Maurice Strakosch bas arranged a concert tour in Hollaud for Minuie Hauck, Franz Rum- mel, and Ole Bull. Rubiustein has started “on @ tour to give He will re- recitals in Belgium and Holland. turn to Paris in January. Dr. Damrosch purposes producing Deethov- en’s th Symphony at the last of his Satur- day matiuces in New York. The Handel and Haydn Society, of Boston, gave their G03tn concert last weelk (Tuesday). 1t was the sixty-eiwhth performance of “ The Messiah” by the Society. Mlla Aunpa Belocea is, however, on her way to Spain, and the Capital will then have the op- portunity of hearing for the first time the Drilliant young Russian artist. A nocturne for orchestra. illustrating a scenc from Louglellow’s ** Riawatha,” and composed by Mr. C. C. Maller, of New York, was played with apolause at a recent Harvard Sympuony Concert in Boston. A Washington girl, Miss Paaline Monte-- giffo, who is studying at Milan under Prot. En- rico Bolis, instructor of Cary and Aibani, writes to her fricnds that he prediots for her 3 great luture on the Iyric stage. The great success of Miss Von Elsner (Mlle. Litta) has brought Madame de Lagrange into fashion as a teacier. She is_now overrun with ritne donue, all begging to learn of her, in the ope of achieving a like future. At Vienna, Wagner, the irrepressible, has been successful in his Iawsuit agzinst the musie publisher, Her Adolph Furstner, who has been condemned to refund the sums received from the Imperial Opera-Iouse for sthe new music in the Venusberg. 3 One of the stipulations Dr. Von Bulow made when he accepted the post of conductor at the Hamburg Opera-House was, that he shouid be allowed to_sclect one opera for production an- nually. The choice of Dr. Von Bulow has !éhclfi 5;01::1' falicn upon Berlioz’s *‘Benvenuto ini. It is not at all improbable that Italian and English opera will be pitted_directly against eaciotber in Loundon, in February, both at cheap prices,—tiie one ut_Her Majesty’saud the otberat the Adelphi. The conlice will be teresting, and one which is likely to harm nej ther manager nor art. Verdi Is to pass the winter, as_ usual, at the Palazzo Doria, st Genon. and his apartments have been fitted up with every possible atten- tion to the comfort and enjoyment of the old musician, of whom every Italian fs so prond that any nostile criticism of his musie Is looked upon as & vational insult. At the coming marriages in the Tmperial fam- ily, which ure fo take place next February at Berfin, Mozart’s “ Clemenza di Tito” is t0 be revived, and Herr Carl Eckert has been ordered 10 compose a Fackeltanz to celobrate the event, Neither poetry nor music thus written to order is generally of the higzhest excellence. but it .must be remembered that Meyerbeer’s Fackel- tanz had its origin in a similar command. The London Athenceum says: ¢ Biblical musie- al dramas, with operatic mise en seeue, are on the increase, both in France and Germany. At Weimar, the three-acs vpera biblique * Sanson et Dahls.,” music by M. Saint-Saeus, libretio by M. F. Lemaire, bas met with greay success. The German version is by Herr Richard Poul. Frau- Icin Von Muller was Dalile (mezzo-suprano), Herr Ferenczy was Samson (tenor), Herr Milde, Grand Priest (bass). Herr Lassen conducted a fine baud. The cution was admirable style of the score is decidedly Waguneriun, Herr Bernecker's ‘Judith’ has “been produced at Konigsberz. *Samson et Dalila? is to be ziven now in_Paris, where audiences_have received favorably the *“ Mary Magdulen® and * Eve,” by M. Masseaoet, and the ‘ower of Babel,” by err Rubinstein. —————— A Fortune in a Few Hours. Fittayury Commercial. Tmportaat petroleum developnents are being made on the Riddle farm or Karns City, in But- Ier County. The territory is not wew,as for several years past several “third-saod wells have been operated on it. That of O. E. Emerson, smail and considered of little value, was recent- 1y drilled deeper, when a prolific fourth-saud rock was struck, and the well named ** Old Teaser.” This well, with machinery and five- acre Jease, was offered for 3,500, and, finding no buyers, tne owner, just for luck, concuded to drill the hole deeper. This was done, and in a few hours an unexpected rock ¥as strock. 1In one day the $3,500 property was increased in value to $100,000, and 1 sensation created in oil circles over thie aevelopment. Extensive prepa- rations were at once madeto drill the old wells in that neighborhood deeper, and work on new rigs commenced. Leases were in great de- mand, and fictitions prices pald. Tne great in- ceutive was the known value and lasting quali- ties of fourth-sund wells, 8s comparea with short-lived producers in some localities. On Friday last the Cocper well, on the lease ad- oining Emerson’s, aud the Thomas well, on the McClymond’s farm, adjoining the Riddle farm, struck the fourth sand, and began running at a rate tnat promised to eclipse ¢ Old Teaser,” FOREIGN GOSSIP. of Salvini, the ‘Great Anecdotes ¥ Italian Actor. An Attempted Vindicetion of Prince Albert by Queen Vietorie. Stodent-Life in Paris--1 HMerry Existenco at Very Small Cost. SALVINT. Parts Letter from Zuzy luoper te Phlladelohia Tele- ranh. T had the pleasure of meeting M. Salvini at dinner the other day, and was much charmed with the refinement and unaffected grace of his manners. Unlike Wis great compatriot Rossl, who is as naively vain as a petted child, he is not in tne lcast conceited, and is & brill- fant and enimated conversationalist. But he struck me as being a less intellectual man than his great rivel. Rossiisa profound and loving student of Shakspeare, and on the one occasion that I hadan opportunity ot conversing with him on thatsubject hisremarks wereat once forcivle and thoroughly original, besides betraying full knowledge not only of Shakspearc and Suakspearean literature, but of, the.drama of France and Germany as well. Salviui, on the contrary, told me that he never knesw hoir many and important were the scenes omitted from his version of “Hamlet” till he saw the pluy per formed at Bootl’s Theatre. e then had his own acting version changed to conform to that of the English stage. Of the comedies e scemed to Kuow nothing, a reference to Lenedick belug left unanswered. He gave a_very odd reason for never having played Kiny Lear, which he suid that he had studied, his reason beiug that no Italian actresses liked to play the roles of Keyan aud Goneril. In reply to some remark he made about the terror which his Othetlo is calculated to inspire, he said, laugbingly, that it was o very common oceur rencé for him to luve the Desdemona of the evening pathetically implore himn before woing on the staze, “Please not to hurt her.” “But I never do,” he continued, * the only person that I have ever hurt upou the stage is myself. Twice i playing Orosmane, in Voitaire’s * Zaire,’ I have stabbed myself in %ood earnest, and on one oceasion the ‘dageer penctrated to within half an inch of the heart. In neither instance did I know what I bad done until the perform- anee was over, but finished the scene with my stage robes dripping with blood. I bear the scars upou me to this very day.” Some ouc at the table then began to talk of thosc contretemps that occasionally occur upou the stage in the midst of the most Lragle scenes, causing dire distress to the performers, and much merriment to the audiences. An instance was cited of u scene which ouce took place dur- ing the performance of Lucretia Borgia by Lu- citte Western. In that scene, in the last act, wherein the wounded and dyine mother drags herself towards the dead Génnaro with the re- jected antidote, the waistband of the actress’s black velvet skirt came opeu, and as she crawl- ed across the stage she crawled slowly out of it. The audience burst into a shout, which she, taking for applause, left unnoticed, nor did sho perceive the accident that had oceurred till she had creot nearly aut of her skirt like a grub out of fts chrysalis. Uttering the pro- fane, but, under the circumstances, bighly matural, exclamation * of “ Good Lord!” with owne wild bound she stood erect before the audience, clad. beside her black velvet corsage, in a very short white petticoat, and a pair of scarlet morocco boots! “ A similar experience,” sald Salvini, at the conclusion of this anecdote, * only even more disastsous, occurred to me one might when I was playin Orosmane, who is, as you know, & Turkisia Sultan. My costume was very superb, the wide, flowing trousers in particuiar being covered with rich gold embroidery, and being in cousequence extremely heavy. They were drawn in full foldsaround the waistand confined withacord. Inoncof the importantscenes in the fourth act, while making a wild gesture of jeal- = Lousy and despair, 2 heard, to tuy horror, the cord give way. Immediately the trousers, pulled down y their own weight, began stowly to de- scend. I made n burried effort to stop them, but in vain. Down they would <o, and down they went, and there was every prospect of my tinishing the scene in the silk tights that I al- ways wore in that_character in place of chau- settes. A ripple of merriment ran through the audience, and that must be stopped at atf haz- arde. Foldinz my robe around me, I fixed upou them a fieree and tragie guze,"—and here Salvint assumed a scow] that might have seared any amount of laughers into sile and little ittle, little by little, I worked my way to the divan in the centre of the staze and threi myself upon it. A tiger-skin rug lay upon the floor; thus I picked up and drew over me, and thus seated I concluded the act. And no one langhed,’ he ended, tlashing upon us the biue lightning of one of his swift trawic glances. For Salviui, unlike the idea usually forined of him, and like Rossi, i [iir-haired and blue-eyed, the very t¥pe of a Northern Itatian. He then went on to tell us' how, during the Austrian occuvation of Italy, he was often Called upon to play with Austrian “supes™ who did pot understand one word of Itaiian. This fact sometimes gave Tise to very comieal com- plications. Thus, one cvening he was perform- ing the part of a hero who, at a given moment, is o rush uoon his adversary, but is hell by the atteudants, and who, frceing Limsel? with oie vizorous eifort. hurrics forward to accom- plish hils purpose. But the stolid Germans, in- stead of lettine him go at the given moment, clutched bin tizht and would not release him. In vain_dwd Salvim command and swear in choicest Italian. ver 2 word did they under- stand, and they Buug on more pertinaciously than ever. Putting forth the whole power of his splendid herculean physique, Salvini broke loose from the two unlucky ‘‘supes,”” and in so doinz pifched them clear over the footlights into the ‘orches- tra,—= feat which was hailed with immense ap- plause by the audience, who looked upon it as a new and original effect intentionally introduced into the play. On another occasion he was playing the part of a jealous husbaud who discovers that his wife has sold all her jewels, in reality to bestow the rocee n charity, while be suspects that she has given them toaJover. In the chief scene of the play the husband. wrests from his wife the key of her wardrobe, zoes to it, opens it, and discovers that the _jewels are zoue. But ‘when Salvini attempted'to open the wardrobe door the key would not fit the lock, nor could lie get the door open at all. But his presence of mind did not, desert him. Flingiug down the useless key, he eried furiously, ** Wretched woman? you have parted with your jewels and have tampered with the lock of this door to conceal from me the fact of their disappear- ance!” - . In answer ton q‘uesnlnn but to bim by one of the Faests, Saivini snid that his first appezrance on any stage was made at the age of 14, in the character - of .lasham, in n trapslation of Seribe’s “Verre d'Eau,” a part which, requir- ing neither force nor finish of ucting, could readity be filled by s lundsome, precocious boy. ())( his sojourn in the United States, Salvinl spoke in rapturous terms, dwelling with special enthusiasm on 2 visit he had made to Longfcl- low, whose noble and venerable aspect, geninl kindliness, and perfect command of the purest Tasean speech, had evidently maae g deep im- pression upon him. He hopes o return to Amecrica some day with a full Shakspearean repertoire, being particularly anxious to appear there us Zimon of Athens,—a character which is evidently a great favorite with him. One very odd peculiarity about Salvini is that ¢ stage he never cin remember 4 sinsle wre from any one of his many chara before the footlizhts be Is no louger Sal- he s the personaze that hie represents, and he remetbers not only his uwn part but ahat of every other character in the picce. To prove his.case he bezan repeating “To be or 2OE to be;” but came to an_ignominious stand- sull just after the ling, “To slecp—perchance to dream—" aud while we were all hanging spell-bound on his words. ALBERT DEFENDED BY VICTORIA. Philndelzhin Press. In the third volume of the *‘Life of Prince Albert,” just pablished in London, Queen Vie- toria has taken up the pen to vindicate him, her husband, from the generally-nceepted belief that heaccumulated a large amount of personal and real estate, which property, according to popular belief, was passed over to his widow,— Jow is not known, sceing that his Jast will and testament, which so prudent and calenlating o man most probably made, was never submitted to probate in the usuzl legal manner, 25 all other documents of that character must be and are. The Queen’s statement is worth quotin 1t may be conveuient here, ‘once for all, to dis- pose of perbaps the only calumny of the ‘many to which the Prince was subjected, which. so f2r a3 we are aware, keeps any hold upon the public ming, viz.: that he had amassed large sums of motey out of the income allowed him’ by the na. tion, part of which had_been invested in_the pus chasc of land at South Keasington. adjoining ! roperty of the Exhibition Commissivners, The E‘rince never purchased any land at South Kensing- ton either for himeelf or for his family. Coanect- ed s he was with the ncquisition of ground there for purelymauonal purposes, the thouent of ac- quiring propezty in the saue locality for perionul purposes wonld never have entered his mind, or the mind, indeed, of any hunorable man. Bat, in truth, the Prince never had the mesnsto make purchases of this natare. His whole income was Do more than suflicient to meet the salaries of his decretaries and other officials and servants, hi: public * eubscriptions and such _parchu yorks of ‘art as were expected from him. e was often blamed because these purchases were not on & larger scale. . The fanit was not with him, but in the very limited meana at his disposal; and, as to these, his only regret. was that they did not enable him to do ‘for art and science all that he could have wished. It was only by strict economy that the year's current expenditure was made (o square with the year's income, and the Prince died leaving absolutély no foriune: indecd, barely enough to meet his personal liabilitics. "And yet even recently we wers assured upon the authority of an eminent statesman, who survived the Prince many years, and who professed to speak from per- sonal knowledge, that he left behiux in one of his investments 10 less o sum than £600,000. The statesman in question was not always exact in his statements, and he never wus less exact or more in- excusably so than in this instance. Dat if & man whose position gave weipht to his words could prop- agate so mere & fable, it becomes necessary to give it, and all stories of the same kind, an em- phatic denial. This denial may be accented as rezards the purchase of regl estate by Albert, but the dec- laration that he *never had the means to make purchases of this nature’ is open to the eriti- cism of doubt. _Albert’s married life, beginning on the10th of February, 1340, and closing, with bis ‘death, on Dec. 14, 1861. may bo said, in round numbers, to have covered a period of twenty-two years. His ailowance from the 80\.\0hllc treasury was £30,000 per annum ($150,- ang asum total of £600,000, equal to ,000 in gold, but of this his expenses were fews he had a “houschold” of his own, consisting of a few paid and seyeral honorary of- ficials, the latter being men of rank and wealth, who were only too happy in being ullowed to serve the Queen’s husband. The Prince lived with his wife, of course, and they were models of domestic happiness and respectability, but itis scarcely to be supposea that the Queen made him pay for the *board " of himself and his retinue, whether biped or quadruped. Ex- cept wearing apparel, asmall outlay for char- itable purposes, and a little’ current pocket- moncy, the demauds on i salary were smal. Bis patronage of the tine arts was on a verv limited scald, and, fiving his own prices 50 low as he did, artists were reluctant to accept his patronage, which did not ‘“*pay.” Out of his Partiamentary allowaoce of £30,000 a vear, it was estimated that he did-not spend a third of it. Immediately before his marriage & Queen's message was ‘sent to Parliament desiring that body to grant ‘¢ suitable income” to Prince Albert. “In 1516, wheg his uncle Leovold mar- ried the PrincessCharlotte, of Wales, Parlia- ment voted him £50,000 a yeur, and, being a long liver, that fortunate gentleman received that amount for nearly balf 3 century, dying in December, 1865, A Ifke amount was asked for Prince Alberc in 1340, but only £30,000 per aunum was voted. The Queen, regarding this as u glight, was highly offended, and the Prince snoke of the reduction as *the truly most un- seemly vote of the House of Commous about my annuity,”—words strong and strange to be used by a gentleman, who, Prince as he was, possessed only £300 4 year of his own when he was picked out to marry his cousin Victoria. The Queen, hizhly irritated at the reduced thoueh still enormous annuity voted to Prince Albert by Parliament, let slip o opportunity of fdding to his income by lucrative sinecure ap- pointments. Two days before their marriaze sne gave this young gentleman of 20 & commis- sion as Field-Marshal, the anaual pay of which is $87,800 a year. In 1851, when be died. Prince Albert’s other eatra_emoluments, as stated in “Dod’s Peerage and Baronctage” of that year, must have been ‘considerable, for he was “Col- onel-in-Chief of the Rifle BriL.'mIe’ Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, Ranrer of Windsor Park, Lord Warden of the Stanueries, and Governor and Coustable of Windsor Castie. It was very possible for him, being notoriously a mau who looked after the pence and could let Lhe‘pounds Juok after themselves, to have laid by £600, in his twenty-two years of savings, and it is very probable that he did. It will be dutlicult, if not impossidle, for the British_pcople to accept Queen Victoria’s statement to the contrary. “Albert did not lay the money bv, what can have beeome of it?” is the question now. STUDENT-LIFE AT PARIS. Correspondence London Netcs. French student-life differs from that of En- glish universities in cverything. The students srenot such rag-and-bone fellows as Henry Murger painted in his ** Vie de Boheme,” but it would surprise an Oxonian or Cantap to sec on how little they live, and how merrily they et onwith tittle. Notwithstanding that the im- provements of the second empire swept away most of the Latin quarter, substituting board boulevards and blocks of tall white houses for crooked streets and gabled habitations mauny centuries old, there are still plenty of furnished hotels which lodge only students. The richer ones oceupy the firse floors, the poorer ones ard; other students for greater cheapness sake rent o room unfurnished, and buya small stock of second-hand furniture, wlich is passed on from tenant 10 tenant at _a yaluation so lome us it will last. The cost of students’ lodging is wencrally about £15 a vear furnished and £6 un- furnished. The studeut whose relatives allow him £120 a year is thought a Creesus. The ma- jority get on with about £80. and _urrange their udget as follows: Lectures, £6; lodgings, from £6 to £15, e above said: board in an cat- ing-house, from £2 to £3a nonth: and the rest goes in clothes, lighting, and pocket-money. Firing may Ue_left out of account, for in cold weather the student will spead his spare time at the eafe or in une of the pubiic libraries. The Bibliotheque Ste. Gienevieve, which accommo- dates about 100 readers, is of ‘ereat use to him. Ou winter evenings the long tables in tis place of public study arc crowded, aud, as silence is imperative, there {5 no reason way a reader should not accomplish as much work as in his ownrooms. But the cabinets de lecture are also welcome harbors, For a subscription of about £3 a year a student may o there every duy, toast hiis boots near the stove, and recreate his mind with newspapers, magazines, and noy- els. There are no clubs. Repeated attempts have been made to organize justitutions like the unions of Oxford and Cambridee, mivus the de- bating; but Government has always feured that debating would be introduced, aud has refused the nevessary licenses. Possibly Gambetta may alter this some day: meanwhile, students of a political turn assemble mostly in the studios of artists, and iuveizh azainst Church and State over pipes and canso! beer,—these convivialitics often being graced by the preseuce of ctudiantes, who are eithersempstressesorartists’ ¢models.” A good deal bf politics is often talked in cates and brasserics, where the waiting is done by young ladies in biueor red skirts and velvet bodices. The students cannot run in debt, for tradesmen are wary of trusting them, and even at the cafes their scores are uever suffered to exceed a few pounds; but they keep what hours and what company they like; nobody forees them to attend Iectires usless they plesse; and it is not accounted to them for shame if they attend the balls at Builler's casino punctually cvery Thursday and_Sunday evenings. of them do this, and acquire fu waltzes an extrzordinarily contortionate quadrilles the muscular development whici young Englishmen acquire from boatine and _cricket. The objec- tion to boati! hitherto has buen its expense. The French stucent is not aSybarite. He takes his two meals a day at some fourth-rate catiug- house, or at the table d’hote of some pension kept by u widow in decayed circumstances. Boiled beef forms the staple of the fure for din ner, and omelettes Zo far toward furnishing forth the breakfast. As a rule, law students re- wain three years in statu pupillari and medical students five, but these terms can be considera- biy shortened by students who work hard. The University offers norewards io the way of prizes or fellowships, but a candidate who passes his thesis—that 1s, takes his degree—with excep- tional honor often hes the fecs of all his termns remftted to him. The Prolessors are all distin- guished men, and their lectures are well attend- ed; but it is required, above all things, iu these entlemen that their opinious be of the soundest iberal grit. ————— CAPT. KING, To the Editor of The Tridune. Cricsco, Jan. 5.—Tue TRiBuNE’'S Washing- ton correspondent of Oct. 17 remarks “that some very extravagant stories are likely to be told about. the Mexican border during the next few months.” Such is not unlikeiy to be the fact when it is considered that they relateto a country whieh is just now attracting so larre a share of the public attention, since it is now and hus been for many years the theatre of a series of depredations, vommitted by the citizens of one country upon those of another, which have scarcely o parallel in history. Ever since Texas beeame scparated from Mexico, its western border, asis well known, has been in the eyes of Mexican malcontents a sort of dcbatable ground, when they were at perfect liberty to wive free rein to their .natural in- clination for crime and plunder. They have uever been able to disabuse themselves of the idea that the country of rizht still be- longs to them, and, in the handsof its present peaceable and industrious owners, {3 their legiti- mate prey and rizhtfully subject to their thiev- ing and plundering propensities. As an fn- _tegral postion of the United States it isin the nature of ‘thinas comparatively isolated and difficult of adequate protection, and here tha lawless clement of a country noted for its law- lessness and loose government has full sway in thievery and robbery, and in plundering and wurdering its defenseless citizens, with slizht resistance and small show of punishmeént. That tne United States Government is at last being fully informed as to'the true state of matters ou the border, and awake to the necessity of af- fording its citizens there needed protection, isa matter of gratulation, while it i3 also” to be hoped that a peaceable solution of the questiou may be found without resort to war between the neighboring Republic. B The country in question is one of vast extent, aud contains within itself magniticent resources, which, if permitted to be peacesbly developed, would make it one of the richest portions of the contment. Here are some of the finest grazing-lands in_the world to a great degree neglected, owiuz to their unfortunate local and the unioward circumstances above related. The, ranches are few and far between. The small farmer bas been enabled to obtain slight foothold; trum the 1acc that he is less able to protect himself, and tte more readily falls a victim to the Mexican marauder. Ranching on a larze scale, however, is more comunon, as extensive operations of that ‘character make necessary the employment of a large number of men, sutficlent of themselves to furnish pro- tection in some degree ueninst the incursions of thieviug banditti. “Still the business is attended with great difliculties and dsnzers, the_guard- ing against und surmounting which have devel- oped a class of men noble and heroic, snd possessing marked qualities of leadership. Suchan oneis Capt. Richard Kine, tue fore~ most stock-raiser of this country, if not of the world. Capt. King, bv the way, 15 not, as Is too commonly supposed, o rollicking, roysteriae, dare-devil Western borderer, with _character as- similated to the wild freebooters with whom, to their cost, he Lias been often brought incontact, and against whom he hus been time and nmain called upon to defend himself, his family, and property, but a cautious, self-possessed business = man, and withal 3 cultivated gentleman, who would grace the best society or the hizhest sta- tion. Alongand intimate ncquaintance with him und his estimable family enables the writer to speak advisedly as to him and his past histo- ry, while frequent visits to the magniticent es- tate which he controls make him entirely fa- miliar with it and its surroundings. . Among the oldest and most prominent Amer- fcan residents of Western Texus are Capt. Richard Kine ana Capt. M. Kenedy. They vame tozether to Brownsville in early kife, and en- tered into copartuership. Possessing grreat eu ergy, and having the determination to succeed they did suceeed; and svon becsme the controll ing spirits in the steam navigation and the com: mercial business of thut region. With that sa- gacity which had heretofore characterized atl their” business enterprises, their attention was soon called to the rich plains and fertile valleys «ost of the Rio Grundein T fortunes which inevitably a cordingly made large purchases of Spanish land grants, and located them on and near Corpus Cnristi Bay, thus establishing a nucleus for their present immense estates. - During the late Civil War Messrs. King and Kenedy were pro- nounced Union men, and sufered severé losses ‘lly reason of their \\'?ll-kuuwn political procliv~ ics. Soon following the close of the War they dissolved copartnership, and retired to their respective estates, where they still reside. Capt. Kenedy’s is named Ranche de los Laureles, sit- uated near the head of Corpus Christi Bay, some twenty-five miles from the City of Corpus Christi. It'is a beautiful spot, overlooking one of the most charming sheets of water on the Guif Coust. His estate is large and valuable. Capt. King settled at Santa Gertrudes, forty miles from Corpus Christi, in the interior. Oue can scarcely imagine 3 more charming spot. The estate is very large, comprising at present several hundred ‘thousand acres, to which the owner is genrly adding by purchuses. 1t is composed of Digh table-land and rolling prairie, interspersed with oeautiful and fertile valleys. Scattered over it are numerous pretty lakes and an abundance of runuing streams, bordered by mcsquit, ebony, and other trees indigenous” to the soil and climate. Saota Gertrudes proper, more than one hundred thousand acres, is inclosed, at preat expense, Ly u substuntial board and wire fence. 1In this iniclosure are kept the choice stuck, vast herds of sheep, and droves of cattle, horses, gnd. mules, in which the hberal and enterprising owner takes great. pride. He yearly spends large sums of money in inproving the breeds on bis estate. At the invitation of Capt. Kineg, the writer of this started with kim one fine morning, aiter an early breakfast, to ride around the inclosure. The light carriave was drawn by four fleet, wild horses. It would be gfatifying to describo that ride and the team by whith we were drawn, their small, lithe limbs, glossy coats, cxtended nostrils, spanking gait, and wonder- ful powers of endurance: the beautiful lakes, valleys, and groves; the grazing thousands of cattle, and shecp;, and horses, their startled and frightencd looks as the steaming horses came bounding into their midst; the wonderful care and sapacity of the shepherd dogs watching their locks and doing the duty of herdsmen, almost savagely resenting our ngmuz intrusion, —ubut the pen can scarcely do justice to the subject. It was late m the evening when we returved, and yet the circuit of that fence had not been hall completed. Santa Gertrudesis o” paradise when compared with the large majority of ranches in this section of country, and its complete and clecunt appointments contrast strangelv with the rude surroundingsof most of the residences of the inhabitants of the border. Starting from any of the towns on the Rio Grande, from Brownsville to Loredo or Corpus Christione journeys for days over a rezionsparse- 1y settled, and coutaining few of‘the conven- iences and luxuries of modern civilized life. There are no hotels or places of entertainment en route, and the traveler is obliged to camp out by the way. When, after such a journey, one at last reaches Santa Gertrudes, or King’s Ravely os it is called by many, the traveler feels as if be had come to an’ oasis in the desert. The country he has just passed over is not weil cal- culated to please any but the rough and half- civilized fronticrsman who delights in danger and adventure, and bos no taste for the swects of ciyilization, but here he suddenly finds him- self introduced into 2 hume which would grace any society, a seat of elegant hospitality, where be tinds all sround him the. evidences of a cul- tivated taste and 2 high order of refinement. ‘The Mansion House is a large double wooden English cottage, finished off iu suits of rooms, and surrounded nearly on all sides by a plazza, in Southern style. The guests’ rooms, dining- hall, kitchen, and store-rooms are in a loniz brick building, situatedabout 100 feet in rear of the mansion. The whole Is furnished richly, as might be expected from the great wealth and guod taste of tne owner. The other buildings of importance are two very larze two-story buildings, stronely aud handsomely built, sur- mounted by large, roomy capolss, used for out- lvoks, and affording a commanding view of tho surrounding couutry aud the approaches from all directions. Oneof these is used as a stable, . while in the other are the offices, store, harness und carriage shop, and also other shops for the manufacturc of such tools and imple- wments a5 may be needed to carry on the ex- tensive business of the Ranch. All thesc build- ings are inclosed by a tasteful fence, an_in- closure within the great Inclosure. Capt. King is punctilious as to ctiquecte in_his house, an courteous in his demeanor to_ ladies, both thoso of bisown houschold as weil as strangers and guests. Members of his family and guests are always expected to_appear at his table u dress suitable to the meal, and at all other times to display and exercise the courtesies of polite and refined life. Capt. and Mrs. King enter- tain with the grace of the olden times, aud have the ready tact to make their guests feel at home. In winter it Is not unusual to find here o large company,— the traveled millionaires of the Northern citles, the titled foreigners, oflicers of the army, und young men secking their fortunes in this new country and aid and advice from the Cap- tain, invalids seeking health in this invigorating climate,—all_received with the same hearty welcome, and entertained with the same gener- ous Lospitality. In their religious views, Capt. King aod family are Presbyteriang, Mrs. Kinz being the daughterof an emlnent clerzyman of that denomination. Though the distance of Santa Gertrudes from Corpus Christi, the near- est settlement, precludes its innates from regu- lar attendance upon divine worship, the Subbath is nevertheless kept strictly sacred, and work is wholly suspended by the bhundreds of cm- ployes. “Two sons and three daughters com- prise_the children. Those who nave attained sutlicient aze have been or aré now being edu- cated at Northern schools. Capt. King, though extremely liberal, s not careless in his busiuess babits or reckless in his expenditures. No man controlling euch exten- sive interests looks more ciosely alter its de- tafls than he. He possesses a keen insight into human nature, and s the last person in the world who mizht be expected to be deceived in any basiness transaction, and those who know him may well be ineredulous as to any report 1o the cootrary. If a wor should ever occur between “the United States and Mexico, Capt. Kinz would occupy a prominent position, if in his day. The location of his cstate, between the Rlo del Brano and the head of steam navigation ab Corpus Christl, would place him directly in the march of our army, who would doubtless rofit much again, a8 it hes in days past, from Bl Wide-known iberality and kospitality. He is no politician, and secks no political notosiets, et few men have o stronger love for his conne ry and its insticutions than be. 7. P