Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, October 27, 1878, Page 11

THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: SUNDAY. OCTOBER 27, 1S78—SIXTEEN PAGES. n THE STAGE, THE DRAMA. “arpiss.” ess the effort now being made by John M,.Dnngngh and his fricnds to deprive Miss Mayhew of her rizhts in *‘Milss™ prove suc- * eccful, there is every reason to believe that the ‘hes talicn upon e good thing. To' speak in rase, there are outcroppings ou the yers surface which indicate the existence of 3 paying lead which only needs some in- ellectusd capital to developit. Yes, and per- snother Kind of capital, too, for itis not, jmpossible that, without that, the claim may be successfully, and the little woman e dinto abandouing it. Messrs. Green aud Thompson fnto whose bhands the original committed for revision, have 3¢ a bad botch of the business act. snd, had it not been that there “_ggumndn-imliv.y in the piece, they might ‘pave succeeded I killng it outright. As long gethe inspiration of Bret Harte’s sketch 1s s it s clearly fn the fizst two scts—the érams 15 full of vivid poetic interest. But wncnlhflfl‘f‘"mm' undertakes to countrive o o ational endin all oub of bis ows head, the e folsmitl's Pocker immediately coases to jpterest us- Decanse she is no loneer herself. Miss Maybew evidently feels this keenly, ana per acting BLOWS a painful struggle to preserve the outlines of a picture which has been dis- Soured by a clumsy hand. There is tich material left, bowever, as already said, out of to evolve o delincation ol ecarly Tal ces 196¥ minjog PY jumped which Californis life as geouine and full of pature a5 80F that has - yet been inspired by the picturesque surroundings of that memorable ¢poch. Jflisgis atrue child of na- ture, 2 genuine product of the wountains. She isa gister of Fauchon, and it Is surcly bestow- ing cops;derabie praise on Miss Mayhew to say that in her gdmirable presentation of the char- scter she fs a6 thoroully ori al. as Maggic Mitebell; without 2 trace of jmitation of that srtlst, whetler in her method or her maoner. The etory of ¢ lisy, as related by Bret Hart, i3 very dosely followed in the play, with necessary amplification of incident, and the introduction of chorecters that do not enter into the sketch, while the ralient features of the character are frasped Uy M ss Mayhew with wonderfal skill Her childisn srtlessness, the unconscious revelation of her love for the school- master, Which is indicated always indirectly in her hatred of a fancled rival, the alternations of vehement passion, wayward caprice, tender, womanly affection, and filial de- votion—combine to make up o portrsit at once 2aptivating to the cye and heart, and redolent Sibe pare mouniain breezes of the Sierras. 2heh 3 daracter could not bave been evolved but amid the remote solitudes of the early mining_camps. There Is just enough of the cviiized vlemens there in the person of the schoolmaster and the mincing Ciytie to afford a virid contrast and sct the portrait of the little ‘heroine in a strong lizht. There is nothing in “The Danites” to compare ifi -freshoess spd truth _witn this admirable repre- sentation. Onme would say that, could fiiss have Dbeen in some way made ihe principal fizure in the Danites ™ instead of that whining Ditly Piper, it would have rounded that picce into completencss. As it is, the part remains little more than brilliant sugzestion, and when Afiiss, in the cencluding act, is torn sway from the natural surroundings and made 10 play a part in a commonplace melodrama, £he at once sinks into mediocrity. ‘The original thouzt isnot pursued, the juspiration is zone, a5d we fecl we are only watching the unwinding ol some trashy piot concocted by Oliver Dond. Ttis probable that Miss Mayhew will goon find a ‘anof sepse who can scize the best points of her phy. and transform it uto something Sty of her really brilliant acting, Meanwhile, with all "its crudities, it is wonderfully spistic sense of an intelligent audience. Among 14 secondary roles in the dramashould be meu- tioned & vigorous and strikinely original deline- ation by Mr. Charles J. Edmouds of Yuba Bill, which forms in some respects a companion pict- wetothat of Miiss. Mr. Edmonds succecds in portrayine this part with thorongh naturalness, and shows admirable self-command in never al- lowing bimself to fall into the common error of overdoinz it, There is a pictaresqne villain in- troduced—anue! Torres—who quite naturally telongs to such o comrmuaity, and this Gumdter s assumed by Mr. W. F. . imonds, who plays it gracefully and Wil Miss Annie Graham also "merits wuse for her conscientious ‘presentation of a part which i nsually diflicult to interpret,—a woman of natarally good iustincts led astray into the paths of vice, who becomes the unwill- foginstrument of a designing scoundrel. To Mr. B;:E Pearson has been allotted s character which is certaiply beacath him, but it is diflicult tosee who gould have done it with more fidel- its. And Roland Reed, who took the part of 1ie Judge, infused a deal of his irrepressible ‘fhumor into the delimestion, exalting it indeed itoa really zood bit of comedy. Those who bave not fcen the play will be pleased tolcarn that it is to be given here for anotlier week. Toe superb mountings and the fine Detorial embellisuments for no light addi- tion to the pleasure of tae _entertainment, and call for & vote of praise to the menager. ROBSON AND CRANE bave met with a second week of success in 1heir most’ enjovable comedy of ‘‘Our Bache- Yars,” the peculior merits of which it is now euperfluons to speak. It has won its way to Dermavent fecogmition as among the few recent American plags which can be said to have uined the ear of the public. This islargely dne to the iresistible lLumor of ‘*‘the cherabs,” which is strong emough to filuminate even a weaker production. but the play itself contains the essential elements of saecess, and could be rendered, if not o well, at least with acceptance, by almost any two actors possessing'a reasonable aporeciation of the fan of vood situations. Thesc two devoted sons of Momus, bowever, will in ali probability hold on 10 it for come years to come, and make it contine to yield.a rich harvest of dollars to themselves and pure delieht to the public. * HAVERLY'S COMBINATION of minstrels, =5 was ‘fo be anticipsted, has captured the public” this Jast week. ‘There bas been heard of late a general expression of regret by the lovers of the black art that 1t was gradually dying out of favor. If such'is the case Mr.” Haverly certainly means to make it Cie game, for he has gathered in from various quarters some of the best talent in the profes- :L"eui_:“d orzanized one of the laruest shows of ncunl:‘l %fln heve vet been presented to the peosle. But it is not true that minstrelsy is ving onl, and the result. of this latest experi- ment sufliciently shows that it is as alive and :;%Jlxev..; asever. There have becn betier shows i nm?{n e:g:b}‘x:h;imes gore by, but proba- = number of Wlurmi r;‘.] one aggregation such OTHER ENTERTAINMECNTS. pothe Academs of Masic and Hamlin's Theatre ive been devoted to variety bust this last week, aud Welr entextanments e been 1>- erally patrouized. Mr. Emmetts protiy ditorium 00 the Wes B oy conses car- ries off the palm, which fs L: bu oeetcd. a8 e has b e expected. as e has been considerably ahead of his down- tawn rival in sceuring at the coms P 1R oot vhe e & the commencemeat. o : n of the variety talent of the country. Hamlin was unf t o o lesitate ot the opeatue of . piace 80 10 ‘shetherbe should 2w for the- egithmate or . now he v Mt abide the mn:;g;:m that overdboard, he LOCAL NOTES. Ml ™ s, Al ig“éeefi'" be on the boaras at McVicker's Ada Gras, yith her i Eotiatiag with ohe of :wnccq:nbmnunn. is ne- m“"mw,: e ot m\;‘sr.d{;:nga theatres for M. B, Curtis, comedi: 3 ian, has just purchased fl’nm‘!Ierl; “il .-\..‘.‘\les(n;cr Llis 3‘2!\‘ guL'.'L‘SS"\’fl titled “*Hoodlumj; or, Life in Califor- Do He intends bringing Chicago thearsee ringing 1t out at one of our WH. Soutliard, Wil ., William Liosd, John Marble, 203 Yrs. Crisp, of Chicago, accoipany Rovon Sour oF ‘Jle With “Our Bachelors™ on a short ol Michiga, opening o Monday in Grand ~9ids, theace to Detroit and Toledo. 80 many sjplicants have appeared recentl! for the lttfe of tise Folly Thml?:‘ formeriy rh)t; okt I“ Meesrs, McGraw & Downey, the S 10 the building, bardly kuow who to e, :‘ued crowd as its occupant. They bt b!dwdeutnn?."x" ano the lucky one will DA(; Hamlin's Theatre this week *Pinl Dom- temeopabes verelon—willbe prescyted. aud 3 feries of rariery eketchis s peoylc emivent in s l'“" of ‘the profession. Ddlehraty and b= fie tr and some of the favorites of isst weck it be among the pumber. Mr. W. . Grifliths lenact the character of Joshua Brown in inis Dominoes.” lexT'l-"f Salsbury Troubadours will open at Boo- “‘:1 _L\unlxc Lo-murrow it in their diverting tXvazanza of - The Biook, or the Jolly Pic- ) which, it will Le remembered, was origi- hally produced 1 Chicago at the same theatre, o An:ha_t time the cowpany have mede the tour 3 erica and Ausiralia, and bave met every- where with unbounded success. Bostol d 3 n re- Eentl) gave them a splendid welcome, and they dfie Jus closed a brilliant engagement in that < Dow that tey comeliome agaln they will undoubtedly receive a cordial greeting. The ‘r"é?l?fa':-’ i;a'gmnaosl:vflt of i\'nte Salsbury, John ] ¥, John Webster, Nellic ) 2 etede Doy er, Nellic McHenry, and At the Academy of Music Josh Hart? : Y art’s combi- nation . will bepin an _enragewnent in a drama gr}flm} 1y produced at Wallack’s, and rearranged T}xi.s r't,u.\: uordon, entitled “ The (0’Donovans.” This company met with much success last sea- son in New York, and ss it is its first visic to g hicagro §n the present shape, the patrons of the cademy will be interested to look at them, The Pat. Rumlc\'('umhln_ileon will begin ah en- y’s Theatre to-morrow in gfi] entertainment composed of comedy sketches, lads, character sketches, -song-ana-dance, and the other usual accompaniments of a *nov- elty show.” Pat Rooney heads the list of en- tertainers, and he is to b sided by 2 company %e::‘r:um all well known in the world of amuse- In order to give tbe non-German speaki X - peaking portion of our cilizens an opportunity to judre of the excellency of his splcudid comedy and ojera-houfle company, Manager Wurster, of the New Chicago Theatre, has decided to give a short season of opera bouffe. Tne brilliant operetta, ** Girofle Girofla,” by Lecoque, has been selected for this evening, and will be re- peated every evening of the week and Wednes- day and Saturday matinees. The preparations have been on the randest scale, and something cxtraordinary may be cxpected. The scenery is all npew, and the costumes bave bcen zotten up regardless of cxpense. The orches- tra consists of the eighteen best musicians of the Chicago Orchestra, and will be under the leadership of Mr. Adolph Liesegane. Mi: Alvina Heynold, the excellent opera-boufle actress, tukes the leading part, and the other characters are in the hands of Mesdames Claus- gcu, Anl, Tietz, and Jantzen, and Messrs. Scho- ber, Schmitz, and Wasserman. The latter, who apears as Marasquin, is one of the fluest tenor singers in the country, and this is his first ap- pearaunce in opera bouffe. ‘I'be chorus 1s com- posed of the best German singers in the city. . Although Robson and Crave are still achiev- ing and still pursuing a warvelous success with “Qur Bachelors,” it is well known That they are at the same time keepinz a keen lookout for avything iu the shape of a play that " shall fit their peculisr capad- ties. Since their present engagement in Chicazo began they have as usual becn over- wheimed with proposals and loaded with manu- scripts, all of no nse to them. We are at liberty to state, however, on-the best autbority, that they have accepted a new play by a weil-known mentleman of this city, and that they lave ex- pressed their utmost confidence init asa work® of lasting merit. It is entitled “The Bond Fiend,” The author is Mr. Ed O'Brien, who is snid_to have contrived some situatious of wonderful ipgenuity. In fact. itis mainly the situations thay " Mr. O'Bren has _con- ceived, for we are given to believe that “both -Messrs. Robson and Crane hiave contributed a considerable part of the dia- logue. They are both somewhat reticent about he matter as yet,—probably for fear some one iy jump in before their rights are secured,— and the most that could be zatbered from cither of the gentlemen was that they were thorough- 1y confident of its success. Thev went as far as to divulge the names of the two leading charac- ters. Mr. Crane plays the part of Zimothy Bondsaiter, and Robson that of Jeffrey Coupon, and the scene opens in the Sub-Treasury De- partment. Mr. Robson declined to outline the plot, but he says Le feels assured there’s mill- ions in it. = READINGS, ETC. Mrs. Scott-Siadons will give a ryeading at -Farwell Hall on Thursday cvening aud Saturday afternoon, Nov. 7 and 9. . ‘3 serics of popular lectures will be given at the Unlon Park Congregational Church, the first being on_ Thursday evening next by the Hon. George R. Wendling, who will deliver his reply to Col. Robert Ingersoll from a secular standpomnt. Dr. Frank W. Reilly, who went as special commissioner with the relief expedition to the afflicted cities of the South, has been invited by 2 number of prominent citizens to tell the story of the work in whick he took so active a ghare. ‘Accordinely, Dr. Reilly will_deliver “The Story of the Relief-Boat” at Hershy Hall this evening at8o'clock. The tickets are 50 cents. Prof. J. K. Mcaflerty, the clocutionist, at the request of some of his pupils and friends in En- wlowood, eave a reading Thursday cveniog at the Presbyterian Church to quite alarze au- dience. selections, frowm the poets—particu- lariy Poe’s “ Raven,” Wcolson’s ** Kentucky Belie,” and_Hood’s ‘* Lost. Heir "—were well Teccived. Hewas assisted by the Englewood Quartette. Miss Jessie Couthoui will open the Enzlewood Lecture Course Nov. 8, at Tillotson Hall. She will be assisted by Mr. William Lewis and other well known artists. _The people of Euglewood are indebted to Mr. L. C. Straight, for the com- Dletion of arrangements for & curse of eizht Jectures and entertainments which will compare favorably with similar entertainments given in the city. The “Just for Fun? Dramatic Club gave an entertainment at the Oakland Conaregational Church on Friday evening for the benefit of the vellow-fever sufferers, and a large and appre- Giative audience greeted the causo and club when the curtan went up. The entertainment consisted of reading by Mr. H. S. Stoudard, zitber solos by Mr. S. Ettlinger, music by the Uriental Quartette, solo by Mr. E. M. Smith, and & drill by the Lackey Zouaves, the whole concluding with the farce, ** A Quiet Family.” Prof. Cromwell’s art entertainments at Me- Cormick Hall hose proved 4 source of real atification as well as instruction to the public gflrlng the past week, and the audicnce las been gradually increasing in size. Indced, it only requires a slight acquaintance with the Professor’s - interesting way of ciperoning you inroneh the picturesque scenes and art treas- ures of Europe to provoko the desire to attend the entire course. 1t will therefore be a real fratification to know “that he s to prolonz his visit, and that his fltustrated lectures will be continued everv evening this weck. GREEN-ROOM GOSSIP. The Turner Combination are traveling in Mis- sourd. Mr. Heney, Irving is going to play io & new drama called * Martin Luther,” and written ex- pressly for him. The J. W. Wallack company, with Dillon and Blaisdell as stars, are reported to bedoing a fine business in Texas. J. H. Huntley and compaoy are at present in Tennessce and . taking in county fairs through that State and Kentucky. {,vdia Hastines, the popular reader and elo- cutionist, begins her fall and winter scason in Allegar, Mich., LO-IOITOW. Lew Benedict, with hisnew theatre in Mil- waukec, has found bis place too small to accom- modate the crowds that apoly for admission. Magsie Mitchell is reported to have played to 26,000 people in one week in New York,—some- thing unprecedented in New York tbis scasoo. A French paper says that hereafter ¢ Camille should be announced as_“a drama_in five acts by Messrs. Alexandre Dumas, Jr., Worth, and Jouvin.” Harry, Epgland at present. with 0. B. Collins, Holmes Grover. Murray & Godwin opened the Mctropolitan oY Minncapolis, lost Mouday with the play “3Married Life.” " They intend to play an entire scason there. Harry Hunter, The Lone Fisherman, is be getting tired of his loncly angling, it is atleged, hooked Miss Venie Clapcy. are engaged—to be married. Miss Jennie Hizht has purchased the right to oroduee Conquest and Pottit’s new dragia eu- titled, * The Green Lanes of Enaland,” now blasing at three of the Loudon theatres. e St. Louis Comedv Compauy, with Julis and O, W. Blake as stars, are doing lowa, They, onen to-morrow at Cedar Rapids with o drama entitled, ** Estranzed; ory Faise and True. Yankee Robinson’s Combination ure doing a fair busiuess ag Cedar Rapids. _ They propose to T i tho priicipal towus in Towa, playlug the icces, ~Asa Dunison and ‘Sassacus.” The Finch and Webber party, Wi b of " Nip and Tuck, are now in Kansas. 3 propose making 2 tour of that State, tie Indian Territory, and Texas, reaching the latter State about thic holiday' Mr. Fred Williams, the accomplished stoze manager of the Boston Muaseum, bas accepted he position of Professor of Histrionism in Mr. Norercss' new Academy of Elocution and Dramatic Art in Boston. ‘A Philadelphia reporter recently handled and priced all Janausenek’s jewels, and found them 10 be worth $15 . Husband Pillot was standing by him all the time. Curious to re- Iate, Janauschek has as many jewels now as she had besore the inspection. The Bishop of Manchester, in 2 speech at Shef- field about the'stage and its eflect upon public morals, spoke in terms of the strongest con- cemnation of filthy plays of the * Pink Domi- BoP yaricty, but said that be did not altogether D ieve in.layinz the responsibiiity for these productions at the doorsof the monagers. 18 Linden, the comedian, is sojourning in He was in Liverpool mtc‘lf' Kste Raymond, and J. said to having, They debased and fmmoral public demanded dirt the supply was sure to be forthcoming. The reformation of the stage was devoutly to be wished, but socfety must be revolutionized also. Indccency would vanish from the stage % frowned upon by the public. __Among the theatrical people who bave died i New Orleans_from_yellow fever are: Joc Woods, Minnic May, Viétoria Ross, Charles E. Johnson, Aboie Farnsworth, Carrie Hlayweod, Martin K. Lonir, Clara Morton, Harry Fletcher, Prof.-Louis Davis, and Sadie Jackson. ) Jefferson’s Cincinnati engagement was not a financial success, and ong ot the -native critics thinks that Joe had better go to sleep for twenty years till a new generation arises. By that tinie business may. have revived, and the people wouid not stickle 50 at extra fares. Miss Geraldine Maye, who plaved a successful enzazement at McVicker’s Theatre last scason, -has_joined the company with_ Mr. J. B. Boouwn, William Davide, and Mrs. John T\ Raymond, which leaves New York this week, to play in & That Lass o’ Lowrie’s " and other picces. Mme. Von Stamwitz is described by a corre- spondent of the Cincinnati Euqu.rer as “a pie- tordal player, with a voluptuous fizure of ample dimensions and heroic proportions,’” who ¢ be- lonks to the Bessic Darling school. She fillsthe stage, but it is with her person, not with her porpoise.” A New York paper says that Denman Thomp- son’s Uacle Josh has beeome au institution at the Lyceum, and the lesitimate successor of Solon Shingle, and that he has rescued that the- tre from threatencd oblivion. e is now enter- iug upon another * run,” which promises to be among the longest on record. Joseph Proctor, the veteran tragedian, opens at Cinciunati this weels in * Richs also preparing to give his Biblic: “Saul; or, The Witch of Endor,” with Locke’s music. A new play entitled * T} ¢ Jibbenainosay is also spoken of as beine in his repertory. 1t is claimed to be the work of Boucicault. Janauschek ssid a while azo that she would not visit New York again professionally on ac- count of the lack of appreciation shiown her Quring her last engarement here, but she has chanzed her mind. She now thinks it was the line of characters she appeated iu and the un- popularity of the theatre ehe enzaged at thut Caused her partial failure, and when she returas she will try and have a good hearing in & popu- Tar play and at a popular theatre. There is in the November number of the At~ lantic a poem _entitled *There Came Three, Queens from Heaven,” by Mr. W. W. Young, which is extracted from and forms the basis of an oriinal play, * The Judzment of Paris,” for which the author is now secking a production. Sunie notion of the theme may b2 gleaned from the following extract from the poem: And Paris said, **1 cho Yea, with o mixbty, passionate, strong cry V-Sweetare the dreams of Power; sweet is Fame; But, sweeter yet than all swect tings that ve, Wonether on carth, in Heaven, sea, or air, 0O Love, take thou my youth!™ Col. Goshen, the genial giant of Barnum's show, was robbed last Sunday of all his priceless decorations and silverware, which included a dress coat, cighty vards broadcloth (off same Piece Priute of Wales was married in), by Poole. of London, $200; one- cross of the Lezion of Honor, presented by Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria for valiant couduct * on the field of Solferino,” value priceless; onedecoration (blue aud gold), for valiant conduct at Alma in the Cvinlea, value priceless; one decoration (e son), for valiant conduet at Balaklava; eold eross, studded with jewels. presented by Mar- shal St. Arnaud_for chivalric_courage ‘at tbe storming of the Reaan, June 18, 1855; walking- stick, presented by the Abkoond of Swat prior to his demise; also 300 tons of hay and proven- der; also a blooded colt that only wanted a little feeding to moke bim sell for $1,500. The crossesand jewels werescattered along the high- roud between Middlebush and New Bronswick. The Colonel says that they will “pan out™ better than on Arizona mine after the first *salting.” A fresh sensation is furnished in the New York Aquarium by shooting a vouug woman from a cannon. The cannon scems to be made of wood, and is mounted alter the mauner of & mortar. 1t stands at tle front of the stage, pointing at an angle of about thirty-five or forty degrees, between the upturned faces of the spectators and tbe rafters overbead. At the close of her trapeze act, Miss Geraldine comes down the rope, head {oremosté by vwining one le around it, and with her disenzaged toe de- scribing au_Archumedean epiral. 8be is then assisted to the raised muzzle of the cannon, into the bore of which she slips, feet first, lyinz on her back., Her head anl meck are just visible when the zun is charged. Then she cives the word, thercport of the cannon §s beard, and she flies toward the spectators, going some twenty-five or thirty feet in a straight line Detare she drops to the net soread to caten her, when she azain steps upon the staze and smiles her acknowledgment of the applause. Her bright garments are nmot at all blackened by powder. a fact which is doubtless due to the in- terfor mechanism of the cannon. Still harping ‘upon poor Montarue. In ex- planation of Lord Newry’s attachment on his life-insurance polit;, an’intimate friend of the late actor says: '‘Montague got iuto Lord Newry’s debt while running the Globe Theatre. When he revisited London, instead of callinz on Lord Newry, as he might bave done, and mak- ing some sort of exnlanation, he—very foolish- Iv, us it naw appears—keot away sud oever went pear him, it's human nature, you kuow, ~a man is_very apt to want to kecep clear of s creditors. There is no doubt that the money is actually due, and Lord New- ry has resorted to these measurcs, possibly not knowing how small ihe cstate really is. 1'have no doubt that when he comes to realize that by seizing on this Jife-ipsurance mouey he will Toave but very litslc indeed for poor Mrs. Mann, he will not require much persuasion to be more Jenient.” Another gossip comes to the front, and, after denying Olive Lowan’s story of the 4 gweet young Enelish girl to whom he was en- gaged,” says: *:Montazue was unhapoily mar- Tied. '1do not know the inner workings of his domestic affairs, and even if T did would not drag them before the puolic gaze. Enough to Say that be bad a wife, and that a child 9 vears old survives him. There is Do doubt but that Montagae really loved Rose Massey. Iam told that witen that beautiful hu hieartless blonde Leard of his death she fell down n a dead fainc in the Folly Theatre, and was unable to play for several days. She knew that she had lost her est friend when Montague died.” George Fawcett Rowe was playinz his “Mi- cawber” recently at Springfield,.0., when some- thing unexpectedly ““turned np? which was not gt down in tue bifls. When it came time for Litt'e Emily (Miss Girard, otherwise Mrs. George F. Rowe) to appesr there was abad case of staze Wait, an awful, pause, and Wicawber, suddenly advancing, announced o the astonished au- Qdience tuat an accident had oceurred, rendering it necessary for the lady to withdraw. The cur- tain was then drobped, but, after another long wait, again went up, and the remaining acts were shutifed through with looseness. There were all sorts of surmises as to the nature of the accident, but the fact seems to be that the lady simply left the house and returncd to the hotel, where it 13 very certain there was a scene atter the close of the performance. The appearance among the audience from the opening of the plav of .sev- oral performers increased the mystery. Some of the newspapers having spread abroad | a rumor that the occasion of the trouble was a private quarrel between the husband and wite, ir. Rowe told a reporter of tae Anquirer that such was not the case. Mrs. Rowe was more virorous in her denials, “Did you notice that absurd story from Toledo?” she asked, with a scornful wave of her white band. “lt would be ridiculous If it were not so annoying and painful. The newspaper there said that George fot drunk, and I became so indignant that 1 tried to pawn my jewels to raise money to run awny from him. Why, it is preposterous. We ever liad a very serious quarrel in our lives.” T havo not taken the trouble to deuy these storics,” said Mr. Rowe, * beeause I Lave feared becoming involved in a controversy that would be not at all to my taste, but I assure you that they are all false.” MUSIC. IS5 MANIERRE'S RECEPTION. The reception given by Miss Eva Manierre at Hershey Hall last Thursday evening was very largely attended, and proved to be a very pleasant musical event. Miss Manierre, of course, Was the central figure of the occasion. She s ot altogether uuknown to the musical public, as she has appeared before in some small concerts, but she has not before played such important selections. Her numbers were the Chopin Rondo and Coucertoin E minor with Mr. Wolfsohn, Rall’s *Fileuse,” the Schubert-Liszt waltzes, “Soirces de Vienne,” and the allegro movement of the Beethoven C major ~ Sopata. They were sufficiently varied and severe to give us 3 good test of the lady’s ability s & piguist, and she sastained the test remarka- bly well, showing a good technique, steadiness, and evenness of playing, and very appreciative and intelligent readiog. We learn by a foot- note “attached to the programme that Miss Manierre will devote a portion of her time to teaching, and have no doubt she will meet with success in this direction. She was assisted by Mrs. O. K. Jonson, who sang Hiller’s beautifal | e Thou with e and Rubinstein’s Dy bist wie eine Biume,” and ** Es blinkt der Thau,” and by Mrs. Jewett, who sang an aria from Donizetti’s ¢ Betly” and J. Maurice Huo- pard’s * Mountain Bira,” the violin obligato to srhicn was furnished by the composer. POPILS' MATINEE. | On Wednesday afternoon the thirtieth pupils matiuee of the Hershey School took place, The following numbers were Yruscntcd: * Sonata Pathetique,” Beethoven, D aved by Mr. Lucius J. Henderson; * Boat of My Lover,” Gilbert, sung by Miss lda M. Gilbert; aria. * Al dolea cuidam},”_from Donizetti’s ** Anua Bolena,” sung oy Miss Victoria C. Adams; Ehrlich’s “Barcarolie was pluyed by Miss Alfce Skill- man, and Berignani’s * La Fiaraja” sunw by Miss Hannah Warnor, Miss May Wight plaved Jeasen’s * Happy Wanderer ™ and Henselt's “Love Sonz.” Miss Pauline Rommeiss sang « 0 thou afflieted,” from Benedict’s oratorio « gy, Peter.” Miss Hattie M. Adams followed with Mendelssoln's * Andante and Kondo Ca- Driccioso.” aud the matince closed with ¢ Re- . joice Greatly,” from Handel's * Messinb.” sung by Miss Grace A. fliltz, and the difficult first movement of Dudley Buck's Sccond Organ Sonata, olayed by Miss Carrie T. zman. THE PRATT SYMPHONY CONCERTS. It uow fcems likely that we arc to bave o successful series of symphony concerts in this city. Somauy efforts have hitherto been made \which eniled, if not in failure. in that kind of (doubtful success which has led one to regret that the result had not been.more pronounced, that it 18 @ rehief to look forward to a well-do- fined project which brings with it.a hope of sue- cess. Mr. Carpenter has taken the caterprise in hand, and under bis energetic management ihere need be no doudt but that the pledges made to the pubdlic will all be kept. It is his purpose to make the concerts musieally brill- fant and popular. The series will include three . symphony concerts and three public rehearsals, \ith an orebiestra of forty-siX seiceted perform- ers, under the musical direction of Mr. S. G. Pratr. Contracts huve aiready been made with the best musicians of the city, and rebearsals will be began at once, the first ¢ ert oceurring about the middle of December, and the Othrers of the series following during January and Februury, Some of tbe features Ilh'eml,y underlined for the frst concert are Beethoven's Fifth Symphonvand the * Coriolanas ¥ overture, Lisze's *Les Prefudes,” with some orchestral povelties, among which will probably be the performance of one of Berlioz's compositions for the first time in this country. In thie suc- ceediing concerts Schumann’s Fourth 9? minor) Srmphony, vortions of Kafls “Leonore” Symphony, the Vorspeil to “Cristan and Isolde” ‘and to ** Lohiengrin ' the “ Midsummer Night 3 Dream * muusic; Hungarlsn Dances™: an number of smaller compositions, will be pro- sented. From this outline ter of the concerts can be understood. Not the least interesting feature ol the concerts will-be the appearance of Mr. Pratt ou the conductor's stand, where, since his achicvementsin Berlin last sinon, 36 many of his friends in this city Dave been anxious{osce him permanently placed, and where he will-be given a full opportunity to assert, himsel asan orchestral leader. —Already, bofore any considerable publicity has been given {0 the enterprise, very cousiderable subscrip- tion-list has been secured, which, now that the concerts are zuaranteed, will be swelled by the additton of many who are in sympathy with the 1novement, but have been uncertain of its suc- cess. IHE APOLLO CLUD PROSPECTTS. The Apollo Club has issnedl its prospectus for the present season. It anuounces the addition to the Mmonerchor of & permunent auxiliary chorus of cighty ladies, and the re-ciigazement of Mr. Tomlins as director. The rezular season is to include four concerts, only available to as- sociate members. The programme of the first concert will embrace the first part of Mendels- sohn's St. Paul” and Handel’s pastoral, ** Aci: and Galatea,” with_Miss Fauny Kellogg, Abby Clarke, Mr. W. 11. Fessenden, and 3 Myzon W. Whitney for the solos. At the scond concert, in February, the Arion Club of Milwau- Jioo, sixty-ive volces, will be united with the Apollo. ~The programnme will embrace, for the fiest part, Max Bruchs cantata, “[rithiof,” and for the second part miscellancous sclections by the two Clubs, numbering 140 volces. The tfilrd concertwill bave a request programue, and for the fourth the **Messiah” will beiven, with full orchestra. ‘The subseription-fee remaing at 85, admitting two persons 10 the concert and. to the first rehearsal of the Club in cach month. Reserved seats for an additional fee of 25 cents cach, sccuring seats for the cotire cveniug, can be had three days prior to each concert, but no one will be atlowed to reserve more than ten sests at any one time. We are requested to an- nounce that there will be a fuil rehearsal of the mixed chorus to-morrow evening at the cluv’s roon1. LOCAL MISCELLANT. Tiie Strakosch Troupe will cominence 8 two- waeks? scason at McVieker’s Theatre on the 11th of November. Mr. Charles A. Enorr, the tenor, bas asso- ciated himself as salesman with the Chicago Music Company. A coneert will be given on Monday evening, the 23th, at the Temperance Church, corner of Noble and Ohio strects, in which the telephone will be used. Junea, for many years a favoritc basso on the operatic stage, who made his debut in Chicago Feb. 22, 1859, at McVicker’s Theatre. a8 Aifonso 119 * Luerezia Borgia,” died a few days 2go in aris. We have received from R. A. Saalfield, New Yorlk, the following new music: * Going Back to Dixie,” song, by ChariesiRudledyre; * Are You Dreaming of Mc?” song and chorus, by C. M. Crosby; and *To Thy Heart, Oh! Take Me Back,” song, by the same. A pleasant musical event of the week was the concert griven under the auspices of the Young People’s Union_of the Lincoln Park Congrega- tional Church Friday_evening. ‘The entertain- ments given by this Society exhibit good juda- ment in the selection of talent, and are becom- ifng exceedingly popular with the North Side public. On Wednesday afternoon last Mr. Frederic W. Root held his first pupils’ rehearsal of the sea- sop in Room 32 American Express Building. Amony those who took part were Mrs. Jewett, the Misses Bartlett, Anderson, Fitch, and Ho- vey, and Messrs. Coflin, Mc\vade, and Frank Root. Some remarks upon the vocal orzans Wwere offered by Mr. Root as a prelude to the singing. The Englewood Musical Socicty, which has had some drawbacks, is again_in working order, Under the direction of Mr. W, N. Smith, and management of Mr. A. Gastorf, President, aud the hearty co-opesation of the eutire Socicty, they aro accomplishing some good work. first-class concert is in contemplation, at which a number of Chicago artists will also take part. The next rehearsal will be Tuesday evening. The Turner-Hall programme for this after- noon includes the following numbers: Zickoll's “ Fouerwehr March™™; overture to ** Martha™; Strauss’ © Rudolph’s Klacnge Waltz?'; Meyer- beer's @ Fackeltanz 7 in Bj overture to Littolt’s “Robespierre"; Hardw’s ' Serenade 3 Vieus- temps’ * Fantasie Caprice 5 Conradi's * Vox Poputt Potpourri #; Strauss” “* Sylphen Polla’? and © Polks Scunell?; und Bacs * Tete-a-Tete Quaarille.” ‘The Nonpareil Club, one of the leading North Side orzauizations, will give o musical entertain- ment and reception on Friday evening next at Brand’s Hall. Miss Sarah I. Rézan, sliss Amalia Kicinofen, Miss Ettie O'Connor, the Misses Mageie and Theresa Cunniugham, Miss Virginia Tluze, Miss Augusta Lehder, Messrs, Engstrom, Eichenbere, Lrickson, Johnson, the Arlon Quar- tette, and the Chicagro Orchestra, will take part in the programme. The Orizinal Swedish Lady Voeal Quartette have just returned from their visit to their bomes in Sweden, and will next week coter upon an extended concert tour under the au- spices of Roberts’ Boston Leeture Bureau. Their tour throuzh the Wést will not be entered upon before January, as their Lastern engage- ments require over two months’ time to fill. The Quartette stands just as organized ia 1871, the artists having sung coustantly together since that time. A musical reception was_given by Miss Netlie Bangs, at No. 19 Bishop court, on the evening of the 21st, which was very Iargely attcnded. The singers who took part it the programme were Mrs. Fannie Moore apd Mrs, H. C. Gray, sopranus:_the Misses Nellie Mattheiws and Em- ma Blooxius, altos; Messrs, Homer Stone aud B. F. Foster, tenors; and Messrs. H. C. Gray and C. 8. Lee, bassos. Miss Bancs played Thal- berg’s ** Moise * fantasie, Liszt’s Tannbauser,” and Socdermana’s * Wedding March.” The Chicago Musical College has sccured the services of Mrs. Auna Cowell-Hobkirkas teacher of elocution and dramatic action. Mrs. Cowell was formerly one of the most talented and powerfnl actresses on the American stage, and 1§ capecially well known in Cbicago. During late ears she has devoted somc of her time Jo the preparation of dramatic students for the stage, and Bas had a Jarze ex- erfence in tbat aitficait work. Her mission Yn the college will be to impart the secrets of dramatic expressiou to those who are studying voeal music, and this wiil be of special advan- tage to those who are looking forward to oper- atic singing. It is also announcsd that Mrs, Sennie Kempton has taken the directorship ot the vocal department of the Chicazo Musical College, and she certainly brings ability, experi- ence, and excelient fnstruction to the position. Mrs. Kempton will he assisted by able teachers, and the new additions to the Facuity of the in- stitation will materially ivcrease fts usefulness. WHEREABOUTS. The Mapleson opers troupe brought out the musical charac- ¢ Carmen " last Wednesday, * Trovatore ™ o Friday evening, and * Traviata” yesterday afternoon_at the Academy of Music, Now York. The Strakosch troupe was in Phil- adelphia last week. The repertoire for the week was as follows: Monday, ** Il Trovatore ™ (Kel- lozg and Cary): Tuesdar, * Traviata” (Miss Marco); Wednesday, ** Un Ballo en Maschera® (Kellogrgr, Marco, and Cary); Friday, * Carmen.” “This week the troupe will be in Baltimore, and will give: Monday, ** Un Ballo en Maschera”; Tufisdn\', ‘¢ Martha”; Wedpesday, *Travia- ta”; Tharsday, * Carmen.”—Wilbelmj plays in Boston on - Monday and Wednesday of this week, assisted by Teresa Carreno, Miss Jauss, Tagliapletrs, and_ Max Lieblinz.—Oun Friday evenine fast the Roze-Mapleson troupe were in Soringfield, Mass. Thbey sing to-nizht in Boston.—The Alhaza concert trotpe was in Boston last weck.—Hess' opera troupe fs iu Washington.—De Murska Is singing iu Brook- lvn.—Ole Bull will playin \Washinaton next Wednesday evening, assisted by Miss Isabel Stone, of Boston.—The ' Messiah™ is to be given in Pittsburg on the, 1ith and 12th of November with Miss Whinnery, Miss Gomier of New York, Mr, Fritsch, and Mr. M. W, Whit- ney s soloists.—The Camilla Urso troupe is in Mnssachusetts doingz the small towns.—Mrs. H. M. Smith’s comjany is doing the same in ew York; likewise the Barnabee troupe.— Sherwood will give ten planoforte recitals in Baston, commencine Nov. 1, SYMPHONY CONCERTS [N NEW YORK. The New York Tribune says: . There will be no lack of symphony performanca: of one kind or another this wiater, announc ments being already out of more than tue pablic are likely to suppors. Mr. Cari Lanzer s to begin a series of four orchestral and vocal concerts fo- morrow evening et Chickering I1all, the programme including one movement from a symphony, and overture, ond a march. 'The concerts of the Symphony Saciety, under the direction of Dr. Dumrosch, will bezin at Steinway Hall on Saturday evening, Nov. 9, n public rehéarsal being given on the previons Thursday afternoon, Wilhelnj witl appear at the first concert and rehearsal, and r, Max Pinner at the second, in December. The Chickering-Hall series of symphonies, directed by Mr. G. Carlberg, will begin ou Saturday, Nov. 10, aud for these likewise there will be & Thursduy- afternoon rehearsal. The solo performer at the 1lrst concert and rencarsal will be Kkemenyi; at the second, Mr. §. B. Mills; at the third, Mr. Richard Hoffinan, The concarts of the New York Philhar- monic Soclety, under the direction of Mr. Adolph Neuendord?, will begin at the Academy of Muslc on Saturday, Nov. 23, and the public rehearsal will be as uvaal on the previous Friday afternoon. Finaily, the concerts of the Lrooklyn Phlibarmonic Society, conducted, by Theodore ‘Thomas, are ex- pected to attract a grest many people from New +York, and a ticket oflfice for them \\'l‘l orobably be ;opened 1n this city. THEODORE THOMAS' SEASON. ‘I'beodore Thomas has perfetted lns scheme of orchestrat concerts for Cincinnati. They will be twelve fn number, and will be given on Thursday evenings at intervals of Lwo and three weeks, begluning Thursday, Nov. 7. - Each con- cert will be preceded by a public rehearsal, to be griven on the atternoon of the Wednesdays just betore the concerts, beginniog with Nov. 6. In additiou to these concarts, ten chamber concerts will also be given. The composers whose sym- phonics will be performed are the following: Haydn, Mozart (G minor), Becthoven (No. 3, No. 4, and Pastoral), Schubert (No. 9 in C major), Mendelssobn (No. 8, Scotch), Spohir IWeihc der Tone), Schumanp (No. 4 D mivor), ubtnstein 30mu), Rafl (/m Walde), and Brahms. Willielm] will appear in two of the concerts, -The following is the programume of the first, concert: Symphony No. 2, op. 36. Air in G Minor. {Adapted for orchestra by Theodore Thomas. ] Intermission. Overture—Genoveva, 0p. 81 . Sercnade No. 3, op. & [Violoncello obligato String orchestra. Hunnenslachbt, - .V by Mr. Adolph Iartdegen.] Symphonic Poem— Kaulbach... The Cincinpatl Qazeffe says of the pew or- chestra: 5 Mr. Tnomas' orchestra is composed of the heat musicians in Cincinuhti, inclndiog the Professors at the head of the various string departments la the College. - Mr. S. E. Jacobson, principal vio- lin: 3r. C. Baetens, psincipsl viola; and Mr. A. Hartdegen, principal violoncelio, are at the head. of their profession in America, and have occupied the same positions nnder dir. Thomas in the New Yotk Orchestra, now disbanded. Active siudy has already begun, and it is confidently cxpected that the new Thomas Orchestra will soon meet the soverost requiremente, 3 did its predecessor. 4USICAL NOTES. . Mrs. Osgood sailed for Engiand on the 23d. 1t is {n accordance with the eternal fitness of things that Tschaikowsky's opera should be named *“Jewgenij Unegin.” Remeayi, the Hungarian violinist, has been encaged to play at the first concert of the Mew Yori Philharmonic Society. A new soclety for the study of the works of Mendelssohn, to be called ‘the Mendelssohn Chorul Union, has Leen -organized in Boston. Prof. S. A. Emery has been entzaged as con- ductor. Besides a German version of Glinka’s * A Lifc for the Czar,” Dr. Von Buelow will produce in Hanover a translation of Berlioz’s opera *‘Ben- venuto Cellini.” When Dr. Liszt was director at Weimar he brought out this opera in German for tie first time. Tracy Titus, formeéily one of Mrs. Oates’ hus- bands, is formiug.an English_overa-bouffe con- R:my, of which” Catharive Lewis (a sister of efTreys-Lewis) will be prima donna and Laura Joyce contraito. They will open at the Park Theatre in New York City. The Maric Roze-Mapleson company has been recently augmented by the engagement of Mark Kaiser, a youug Awmcrican violinist of rare gifts, who comes from the Paris Conservatoire. Pease, the distinzmshed pianist, and Colby, ac- companist, bave also been engaged. ¥ROM PARIS. THE CONCERTS AT THE EXPOSITION. From Our Own Correspondent: Panis, Oct. 8.—The series of official French concerts at the Exhibition are gradually draw- ing to aclose. They are not likely to be re- gretted by any but the more obscure composers whose more or less iinmature and pretentious works have filled the programmes to the exclu- sion of our favorites. ln'itself, the idea of giv- ing the unkoown and deserving native art and artists an opportunity of popularizing them- selves at the Exhibition, was just and gener- ous. Unpfortunately, the sdministrative gods at the Trocadero, as in the Champ de Mars, did things all of a piece,—systematically, brutally, injudiciously. Programmes equally devoted to old and new masters would have been admira- ble; but the virtual absenceof the old—~tbatis to say, the familiar—elcment ruined the scheme. Nearly all the comoositions sclected for performance have becn most ambitious and Deavs,—symplionics, cantatas, or pasts of ora- torios. MNow, it is morally impossible to apore- ciate or understand a good symphony after but «one hearing; and nowadays symphony or sym- phonic composition is found in all French sa- cred musie. The number of works selected has made it imperatire to- allow only one perform- ance of each. Consequently, instead of enjoy- ing, admiring, or learning svything from the Trocadero concerts, onc comes away unsatistled, irritated, and weary,—in 3 good many cascs judging the poor cOmDOSErs far more severely than they deserve (though, L confess, threc- fourths of them are to-blame themselves). The Dinth of the ten concerts anuounced came off yesterday. I mavas well give you _ THE PROGRAMME IN EXTENSO, in order that you may realize what we have to endure. First came an overture by M. Louis Defle, en- titled “ Un Triomphe 2 Rome," of which 1 can- not say anvthing, as 1 missed It, except that it certainly was not light, if the descrintive text is 1o be belicved. Then two fragments ofa ¢ Stabut Mater™ by M. Bourzault-Ducondray,—an ** Eia Mater” (which 1 consider ane of the very finest relirfous compositions 1 ever heard), aod an & nflammatus ' (also fine, but spoilt by over- instrumentation and its tedious length). M. Boergault-Ducondray, I npeed hardly remark, is Dot - a mew-comer but I faney _ he is little kpown out of Paris. With these, Herold’s very puor over- ture 1o * Missolonghi” as a “preface to more religiosity: some excerots from M. Henrl Marechal’s oratorio, * The Nativity,”— bere and there pleasing,—and other excerpts from M. Leon Delahaye’s oratorio, “Danlel,” —dreary, tame, uninspired, vulgar,—mere scho- lastic exercises. in fact. Following these, wretched composition by a M. Hignard, who calls it a ** Mussulman Fete,”—a natae at least & suitable as ' A Fair at St. Cloug,” or any other suggestive of noise, riot, and cmpn{ mer- riment. The programme was closed by M. Bou- langer's overture to ““ Don Quichotte.” Now I think you will admit we have some rizht to grumble. OTHER CONCERTS. Three interestiug Russian_concerts have also been given lately, and a fourth is in progress as Trite. Yesterdny, too. Mile. Maric Tayan, the talented young violinist who founded the Saint-Cecile Chamber-Music Society here last year, insugurated her sccond season by a pri- Yhte'concert, at the Press Pavilion in the Exhibi- tion grounds. The programme Was very at- -cannot tell you. .ancedote tractive, including es certo Romantique ™ of enjamin Ge rising compaoser, o whom American musical associations would, I fancy, do well to keep their eyes,—for, unless 1 know nothing of art, he is one of the hopes of the French school. His melody is thoroughly original, without ever ceasing to be graceful and sweet; his harmoov is ingenlous and piyuant, and he is almost™ freé. Ifrom the influence of other masters. LACK OF NOVELTIES DURING TUE EXHIBITION. Now that our foreign visitors are beginniug to wing their fliznt homeward, the managers of the Parisian theatres bave suddenly roused themselves from the letharey in which they have been sunk ever since the opening days of the Exhibition. The fact is oot exactly fatter- ing for our auests. It looks, indeced, very much asif we considered our rubbish zond enough for them, and deemed none but ourselves worthy to enjoy the luxury of new plays or operas. For the last five months the theatres have been en- t ven up tothe stranger. He has reveled iu rvivals of the classics at the Francais; steepd himself in puerility at the Porte St. Martin, the Chatelet, and the Gaite; wallowed in stale indecorum at the Varletes and the Bouffes; yawned at the antique comedies of the Gywm- nuse; and been mude to swallow the old. un- varyinz repertory at the Opera. I should . like to know what our visitors think of the progress of the drama in France. They inust have sn idea that it has zone to sleep like Rip Van Win- kle since they left the city eleven years awo, il they ouly took programuics into account. What are the works that flrure on the bills now? “WOrphee aux Enfers,” * Faust,” *Les Sept Chateaux du Diable,” * Mareeau,” * Le Tour Moude,” *Les Cloches de Corne- *Les Danichefl” *“Le Petit is in_preparution at the Folies; sud—yes, 8s I live—the *Grande Duchesse' i3 to be hashed up aguin this week or nextat the Varietes. ‘The role of the amorous ruler of Gerolstein will probably be confided to the actress whose nume ‘is _so closely - bound up with it that any_other Duchess seems out of the question,—Hortense Schcelder. May the veteruns of 1367 pot be bitterly disappointed when they renew tbeir acquaintance with the fuir but framile dival Wio areto play the fantastic Gen. Boum and the simple #rir2, 1 ALBERT EDWARD AS “ GEN. BOUM." Apropos, this morning I read an amusing of “Coudere, the actor who first took the part of the Ceneral in the palmy uaéa of Offenbach’s tinselly triomphs. H. R H. Albert Edward, Prince of Wales and prospective Kinz of Britain, was as fond of haunting the second-rate theatres thenas he is now. One nizht he nappened o run up against Couderc behind the scenes at the Varietes. Catehing sizhuof the grotesque military headpicce wherewith the inpersonator of the {ltustrious soldier was adorned, the Prince laughingly saluted, observiue that he was bound to do as much to a General, being himself only a Colonel in bis_own countrs. Coudere, enter- ing into the spirit of the joke, replied, ** Well, Colonel, consider yourself under arrest, und. come into my box withme. We'll have some champagne together.” And, with his usual urbanity, the Prince—who objects neither to actors nor_to champagne—couscuted. For the nonce the helr to the Indies put his diguity in his pocket, and bowed to the bidding ol au opera-bouile General pour rire. 1f the Duches was of the party, Iam convinced he did ot re- gret his obedicnce. JUDIC AND HER RIVALS. But, before Schneider can reappear on the Varictes boards, ber Lopulnr cinulator, Judic, must disapbear, with the buthing-drawers which have drawn the public_to Nfoiche” for 250 consecative nights. And Judic does not care about making way for even her superannuated rivals. At the time Theo was Grst engazed at the Bonffes, some years back, Judic showed her sensitiveness on the point in the most unmis- takable manner, by committing an assault-and- battery upon the person of the intruder: and soon afzer broke with her manager altogether. M. Comte must have often regretted the bar- cain he made in substituting Theo for the fo- imitable JMo!da of the **Timbale &’ Arzent.” # HARRY MELTZER.. GOUNOD'S ** POLYEUCTE.” Special Correspondence of Tho Tribune. PaRi3, Oct. S.—Polycucte, whether we con- sider him as the martyr canonized by Mother Chureh, or as merely the ceotral figure in a dull tragedy of Corncille and thelhero of two operas, appdirs to me a profoundly disappoint- ing and uninterestiog character. Why should he have been singled out for musical glorifica- tion by Douizetti and Gounoa! Why shonld the creat French dramatist bave preferred to cmbody the genius of Christianity in him, rather than fn the truly grand hero Stepben, or o thousand less immortal victims of Pagon persccution? The story of Polyencte, told shortly by Simeon of Coustantinople,—a gentleman who flourished about the middle of the tenthcentury,—iolorms , us that he was an Armeuian lord, and resided at. Melitene, the Capital of Armenis iv those days, With his wife Paulioe, the dangbter of Felix. ‘Pnis Felix.was the Governor of the province in the year of erace 25), under the Roman Empire of Decius. Polyencte scems to luve becn con- verted to the faith, partly by the example of his fricnd, Nearque, and partls by avision. He had, in fact, what is vulgasls termed “ta call,” and’ it is difficult at this distance to sce i what his call made him more ~respectable thon the Shakars or Peculiar TPeople, whom the police pounce down apon sv sharply nowadays 1o certain countries which shall be nameless. Atall cveots his zeal outran his dis- eretio, and his discretiou far outran his charity. Without even giving Nearque time to introduce him to the Cbristian community and get him decently baptized, he signalized his fresh con- version by an act as fmpolite as it was undenia- biy senselcss, though on the strength of it he succeeded in attaining two objects of his am- bition: A SENSATIONAL MARTYRDONM, and a place o the * Lives of the Saints,’—the first. at least, richly merited, whatever may be thought sbout the sccond. A proclamation of the Emperor bad been published and placarded in Melitene, outlawicg the infidel Christiaus. Polyeucte read the Imperial cdict, spat upon it, and tore it into shreds. Not coutent with this, he fell upon an uncffending processivn that was carryine some fdols to a neighboring tempie, aud overtbrew the heathen symbol, much to the astonishment of the bystanders, his friend inciuded, as Simeon ingenuously relates. For this peculior feat of ~muscular Christianity Polyeucte lost his head. Someare of opinion he must have lost it before lic upset the idols, but the suggestion smacks of - profavity. One may dimire the temerity of the martyr after reading tirls account, but none can reasonably condemnn the severity of the Roman anthoritics. ‘Their conduct coinpares very favorably with that of the Catholic Inquisition, for instance. Felix did all e could to save bis fanatic son-in-law. fic tried persuasion sud castigntion, hoping to bring bim to his senses (necd it be obsersed that to Pagan Felix Christianity was something worse ‘than folly), ia yain. When his prayers were_upavailing, he tricd blows; when both failed, he seat Pauline to move bim by her tears. Far from being in- fuenced, bowever, by any of these different appeals, Polycucte ‘st firm 10 the faith.” The sight of his wife strengtbened rather than seakened his resolution, and, as_already re- corded, be gollantly expiated his intcmperate and foolish—because uscleas—zeal for the cause he had espoused (about five minutes before). What became of his dis ate widow is not recorded. Corneille has a great dcal to say of one Severus, a_brave young Roman warrior, Yho had loved, and been beloved by, Tuuline before her marriage. Were there not good authority for supposing him a mere creation of the poet’s (unv;. I should iocling to the opinion that Mra. Paly- eucte mourned a decent number of mooth: and became Mrs. Severus. In theabsence of all data required for settling this delicate point, we had best suspend judgment. IN CORSEILLE'S OVERRATED PLAY rolyeucte has not much more_claim or hold upon our sympathy than in the Catbolic chroni- cles. His lack of buman feclings shocks more than the religious fervor impresses us. Doubt- Jess he is @ very proper character, but his propricty s too cold. Pauline, Severus, even Nearque, are a hundred-fold more toourtaste. In a play, hermits are less in- teresting than heroes, and very saintl; saints than mauy orders of sinners. Heatben Severus, cheated of his love by Pauline’s weak obedicuce fo a father’s will, yot stifling his natural resent- ment, and nobly striving to save is rival from the death that would perbaps have assured his own bappiness (~On revient toujours & ges premiers amours!”), is a magniticent con- ception. _Paulive ~ we caumot _but Dity. Neéarque, Polyeucte’s devoted friend, we esteent and honor. one_of them were the centr Sharavter in the play, it would certalnly be more attractive. 1 will not_trouble” you With a Jong analysis of the Corueillian tragedy. Suffice it to add that the poet alters the”true story of his hero in several cssential points. In- stead of beheading bim, hecastshim to the lions of the arena Pauline and Felix are con- Yertedat the close of the play, and share his fate. ‘The libretto of M. Gounol’s opera, writ- ten by MM. Barbier and Carre, in the main follow s the ouilines of Corneille’s ¢ Polyencte’; but, to admit of scenic disPlny, oceastonal di- ressions are made, while, fn thie final tableau, filu!ino is harried away to the smphitbeatre with, instead of ayter, her husband. On the Whole, the. book gains, operatically, by the changes. composed by M. Gounod—perhsps 8 - No opera ever produced in Paris within living IAS CREATED SO MUCH EXCITEMENT, or eiven rise tosuch anery and scurrilous dis- cussion, as_the new work. 1 go not intend going into the well-worn tale of_the composer's extraordinary quarrel with Mme. Georgina Weldon, or the o less ancient story of tha wranglings of M. Halanzier and Lemoione, the publisher, which have for some years past fur- nisbed such a rich fund for the scandalous and gossiping journalists of Paris to draw upon. We had’ grown skeptical about “ Palyeucte.” and thoroughly disbelieved it would ever have been mounted in our time. Nor did the pla- carded announcement of its coming production succeed in convincing some of my fellow-cor- respondents,—who, for their skepticism, wers excluded from the first representation. = M. Halanzier has not the delicacy to seud tickets to the foreign press, like many of his managerial brethren, He prefers aiding and abetting the theatrical touts, who invariably snap up the best seats (and, indecd, nearly all the seats) whenever an opera of importance is brought out. This shabby practice is a gross and inde- fensible abuse of the coutract in virtue of which he receives bis enormous annua) subsidy, 200,000 franes; but, whenever he i3 taxed with the fraud, ne takes refuge behind the specious plea that it is impossible to distinguish the touts from the gemcral public. It s very possible, thouen, for him ot to share the profits. of the swindling sys- tem. with - his mnavowed ogents, us- it is openly and positivety asserted be does. For the rest, the rcmedy lies in the bands of tho public. If they would leave off payins 50 francs for 10-Tranc tickets, and go to the Opera itsell for all the seats they want, instead of buying: them at outside offices, the abuse would soott cease to exist. 1 stood for three hoursand a Lalf, in a broiling sun, outstde_the Opera, yes- terday, before J could get a nlace,—almost the worst in the house, then. There may have been . 1,500 people waiting with me. If we could have got hold of a tout. how cheerfully we would bave stoned him! But no,—the fellows keep just out of your reach. You hesr them eroaking their everlasting ‘“ Moins cher, r'sieu, moins cher gu 'aa burean * (which usu~ ally means five times plus cher); bat, like soms other vermin, they hop nimbly out of the way when danger threatens them. Well, it’s worth while to wait even thrce hours and & half for such an entertainment &s you get at the Paris Opera ON A, “‘FIRST NIGAT.”? " The bonse in front of the staze is a sighi as beautiful as anything they show you on it; a strange olla-poirida’ of all the **liong” and +tlionesscs ' of the day,—rich bankers, fash- jonable beautics, favorite actresses, foreign Highnesses, und pretty women not recomnized in good society. The tourist and rustic ¢lement disippear for the time being as utterly as though there were not a sinzle stranger in thecity. 1 don’t know whether the value of the judgments possed on new works i3 nx:{ the more respectworthy for it, by-the-by. I will not weary you by naminz all the cclebritics or notorietics—to coin a word—I saw in that splendid crush-room at the overa the other evening. A single exception, though: Darinz the entr'acte I rin upagainst Ambroise Thomus, who has just been remarried, to a sister of the Tavorite pianist, Mme. Montizoy-Remaury, now slaying in’ London, [ beifeve.” He wus without biskelfe; and I learn. by the papers this murn< ine Lhat, iv common With several other distiu- wruished persons, he was 50 vvercome with Mile. Krouss’ interpretation of J'quline that he fell | upon her meck and kissed her. How. many times, is not recorded. ‘This is a bad beginnioz, M. Thomas! And the hioneymoon haraly bezuu! But it is time we came 10 ** Polyeucte” 1 confess I feared, remembering * Cing-Mars™ and other of Gounod's_recent essays, that the ocera would prove a failure, * Polyeucts ' dis- appointed me azreeably. To be sure, it is tame very often, necdlessly iffuse occasionally, ana, in ome or Lwo laces, plainly the veverse of oriz- inal. All this Iadmit; but I differ most posi- tivelyfrom the Pariseritics in pronuuncing upon the work as a whole. The press here dnmnos it with faint praise. I consider it A SPLESDID, THOUGH UNEQUAL, WORK most distinctly the production of 3 genius; ot discreditable to the composer of ' Faust™ aud “Romeo,” and as superior to_*Cing-Mars’’ as Heaven is to Earth. Of the five zcts, the first _and last are the weakest. The second, third, and especially the fourth, are masterpicees. My opinion_was apparently shared by the pablic last night. e Vo To wo into details: The prelude (replacing the overtare) to - Polyeucte ' is, on the whole, writ~ ten in Gounod’s best style; but the chorale with \which it closes mizht be taken for a piece of pure Mendelssohn. In the first act I noticed a dramatic ensemble and a triamphal march,— the latter again o patent imitation of Mendels- ohn. The opening choruses, of this act and the Socond are terribly tame and colorlesss bus they are soon excused by Paulines lovely prayer, i Cpaste deese cn qui j'espere,” and a glorjoas. duo for JFauline apd Severus succerding, “Soyez genereux,” so full of gathos that it was justantly redemanded. JLuulings solo, *fPur comme cette flumme,” addressed to her old and only haifforgotien Jover, ~ soon - after, ~ I3 remarkable for its Iofty and noble style, and an Alr allotted t0 2 minor character, Seufws, wonid, I dare 3ay, be found charming if it were well sung, The second part of Act II. has vers generally been voted tedious by the erities. ““Trop de boz dieu!™ they'sny. I beg respectfully to disazrec. \with these sapient gentlemen. The scene in shich Polycucte is baptized by Simevn, for in~ stance, contains a short but extremely fize marcl, written chiefly for string fustrumentss. and tho hymn of the Christians, the sceac fol~- Jowing, and the chorus in uuison towards the end, whatever their defects from a dramatic: poiit of view, are musically irrepronchable. “Act 111, fs divided into two parts agaln. Tha- first bas o magnificent passage, sUnZ by Severue,: “+Pour moi, si mes destinis*’ 3 arand solo for: Polyeucte, Je les veax renvevser,” with as strikinz orchestral accompaniment,—restless,: moving, impassioned, and some MOST EXQUISITR BALLET-MUSIC,— the most beautiful of the four movements ho— ing tho first of a pastoral character, slightly sugzestive (as to the melody) of the opening ack fn Offenbach’s * Orphee aux Enfers” (strange 2s that may seem), but orchestrated _in s very different manner. Gounod has soldom beeu more happy. Nowhere has be written music more delicate and fancifal, more un- forced and graccful, or more tonching. It is instinct with the simple but beaatitul Bpirit of rustic Greece. Even aid the stage ool bring before us its dancing shepherdess. ité Bymphs, and_pogan Pao, the musie wonld soze gost them all. For the rest of tne ballet I cared less. 'The scenc in which Polyeucte and- Neargue break the idols was quite spoilt by the wenkness of the singers. So was..Polyeucte's fine solo at the commencement of the fourth act, the best and most dramatic in the opera. e have unhappily no yreat tenor here. Capoul 35 nearly exhausted; Viltarct is too old; and Salomon, who sines Po'yeucts, is coarse as weil as weak. The difficulties of modern music are too much for tncm all. Yet, to be just, Salomon did a great deal to redeem his shortcomings by initnitably lovely recitative in the prison-scene, & Jesus, dans c¢ temps-la,” with its faint, ‘m¥s- tic accoinpaniment of strinzs and oboes. Thei. tritics are very hard oo this, and deciare it only fitted to oratorio. So it may be; but it is & musical masterpiece, nevertheless, and might. Dring tears to the eyes of the critics. From this point, to the end of the act the fo~ terest GROWS STRONGER AND STRONGER. . We have o superb duo for Puulineand Polyeucte &~y thien another, and a graud finale, intensely ex- [ ating sod eilective. a3 Polyeucte is carried away to be sacrificed. The closing act of the musical tragedy does-: not rise to the level of its predevessors. Apart ¢ from a dramatie chorus, *Les Chretlens a lu mort,” it falls flat. The Credo is ridiculously spun out, and uot remarkable o any way. (Gounod has fallen into the same mistakes o3 his hero; he has forced his musical, 38 Polneucte does his muscular, Christianity npon us. Thers is a happy medium in opera ay in other things. The composer has forgotten it. Besides this, 3L Halanzler, for somne mysterioas reason, found it necessary to suppress the fual tableau, which was to have shown Zauline and Lolyeucle in the middle of thearena, with the ragine populace around them, and death in the sbape of the hungry lions stanng them ia the face. Ve leave the marisrsat the Amphitheatre gates (a iittle weary ourselves, perhaps, after the ex- citement of the fourth act and the Credo. of the fitth), and the curtain falls. % A word or two = 43 TO THE INTERPRETATION. Mile. Krauss sang the partof Puuline splendid~ Iy, —iving expressiop to_every subtle shade of feoling and acting asshe alwars does,—per= fectly. The role of Severus fell to Lassalle, who i3 by far our best baritone, now that Faure’ has left us. Salomon (tenor) did all he could with Polyeucte, but it was not much. The otber were sung diseracefully, except in the Fases of Simeon (3. Bataille) and Jveargue (M. Anguez). They say the mise-en-scene of tho opera bas cost $60,000. I don’t believe a word of it. The costumes are not nearly sorich as nsual, and the sensational scene of Severns® triamphal entry, with its four white funera} Borses (lent by the Pompes Funebres, anid the same, I understand, which drew M. Thiers> lifeless body to [Percla-Chaise!), is only zoologically wonderful. En revanche, tho gronpinzs, if not rich, are most tastefal; and that is better. The balletcostumes are charm< ing; and so is Allle. Mauri, a new dancer, who made her first bow and danced her first pas-seal before a Parisian audience vesterday. To sum up, * Polyeucté” is not a trinmph, but it is a success—or descres to be. = Hazzr NMmazeg- / the way in which hc sanz the.u: