270 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



Itt and Br mm. 



GOSSIP OF THE WEEK. 



BY T. B. THORPE. 



THE opera under the management of Mr. Strakosch 

 has, for the last week, been a continued surprise 

 and a sort of apparent success. The glamor, however, 

 does not conceal the fact that, while we have had more 

 good artists of fair ability at one time on the stage, and 

 consequently smoothe and more complete performances 

 than heretofore, there stands out the usual and melancholy 

 rumor that financially the entire season, so far, and to the 

 end, will be a decided failure. It is difficult for lay mem- 

 bers to understand the charm of running in debt for the ben- 

 efit of these foreign singers, but still more difficult to get 

 at the way money is obtained finally and easily to settle the 

 bills, for we are not aware that any operatic season ever 

 closed in any other way than in disaster. But the mana- 

 gers keep on the uneven tenor of their ways, and go to 

 Europe in the summer to ransack every important capital 

 for "distinguished artists," which, when found, are im- 

 ported in the fall to this city to fill up the hotels and small 

 boarding-houses in the vicinity of the Academy of Music 

 with colonies of persons, the majority of whom look like 

 organ-grinders enjoying a holiday in not unclean but juanty 

 clothing. The professional "critics" meanwhile sharpen 

 up their pens and commence, and continue indefinitely, 

 long articles for the press that have, as* a rule, the same 

 amount of real information as a string of onions without 

 its continuity, yet like the onions, capable of bringing 

 tears to the eyes of any experienced opera-goer or any 

 good musician. And so goes on this struggle, the really 

 interesting part being the opportunity it gives to "wicked 

 men" of seeing congregated hundreds of New York ladies 

 in full dress, presenting a combination of rare taste, rich 

 costumes, splendid surroundings, and surpassing personal 

 beauty excelling any similar gathering in the wide world. 



Speaking of" the sex, we propose for a moment to allude 

 to the two most interesting that have appeared this season 

 — not among the audience — but before the footlights. We 

 allude, of course, to Mme. Nilsson and Miss Cary. We 

 have no desire to detract from the artistic reputation of 

 Nilsson, when we say, that from the day she was an- 

 nounced as engaged for our market, she has been the best 

 managed operatic recipient that ever honored us with a 

 visit. A great many superficial-thinking people go into 

 ecstacies over the wonderful sagacity of Barnum as a man- 

 ager, but the business man of Mme. Nilsson has far sur- 

 passed "the Phoenix" in all legitimate and allowable prac- 

 tices. On Nilsson's arrival here all the resources of our 

 "best society" were brought into requisition, and an attempt 

 was made, with some success, to liken her to the immortal 

 Jenny Lind. Gradually the scales are beginning to fall 

 from the eyes of the multitudes, and the suspicion is grow- 

 ing apace, that Nilsson is not the greatest artist that ever 

 lived, and beside not quite equal to Lind in those graces of 

 the heart that induced the Swedish songstress to contrib- 

 ute much of her public life to deeds of Christian charity. 

 Whatever our public may lack in critical knowledge of 

 music, it is always alive and affected by high personal and 

 moral attributes, and once let it be understood that a pro- 

 fessional, claiming the highest position, has no other inspi- 

 ration than dollars and cents, this selfishness soon obscures 

 even great merit, for talents, however brilliant, will never 

 take the place of high moral qualities. Our people can un- 

 derstand perfectly liberality, generosity and sympathy, and 

 through these charming mediums professional talents can 

 only have the best and most appreciative, admiration. As 

 a rule, persons of true genius and genuine art are not mer- 

 cenary; they are spontaneous and most often improvident. 



Miss Cary, who has sustained herself so nobly under the 

 trying comparison suggested by membership with Stta- 

 kosch's trouj*e, is an American, and if we can get clear of the 

 prejudice which presumes that our native throat cannot equal 

 any in musical accomplishment,then we have in her a person 

 equal to Nilsson in the capacity of reaching; a standard of 

 superior excellence, and it rests with our fashionables who 

 profess to make opera a specialty, to take up this young 

 lady and pay her the social respect which seems necessary 

 to place her where she belongs. What reason have these 

 people to wait upon Mme. Nilsson and neglect Miss Cary, 

 socially and morally her equal, and in professional capacity 

 will possibly prospectively be her superior? Miss Gary, 

 from a quarter where we look for but little spontaneous 

 criticism, nas been unequivocally and properly pronounced 

 "one of the few great contralti of the world." This judg- 

 ment is in accordance with the change which is taking 

 place in musical sentiment, that the contralto notes of 

 either voice or instrument have the power of moving the 

 passions that the altisimo (Nilsson's forte) and bass are en- 

 tirely destitute of. In other words, those actors who have 

 produced the greatest effect before the Lyceum, Congress or 

 Parliament, have been masters of the lower notes. It was 

 the voice of Burke and Henry, of Clay and Sheridan, even 

 more than their eloquence, that threw women into ecstacies 

 and robbed men of their judgment. The contralto is a 

 gift as valuable as it is rare; where there is one rich voice 

 like that of Miss Cary, there are to be found twenty or 

 more soprani. 



We bespeak then for Miss Cary because she has won 

 such a great success by sustaining herself so splendidly 

 this season, that fair consideration to which she is en- 

 titl«d. The best European musical judge stated recently 

 that the Americans have the more promising pup ils in 



Europe of any other nationality. Our airs, as they blow 

 from heaven, are not necessarily pernicious to the voice, 

 as we have been made to believe, and we must get 

 clear of that tradition. Adelina Patti «was born and 

 brought up in what is now one of the obscurest streets in 

 this city — she is unrivalled. Let these foreign song-birds 

 have just a fair show and no more. 



We are getting a little bit tired of their assumptions and 

 manners, quibbling and growling of everything that does 

 not please them. Driving ambitious managers into bank- 

 ruptcy, disappointing audiences, breaking engagements 

 with impunity, and treating us as if we were un- 

 der any especial obligations to them, and all this, while 

 they are the needy recipients of a much enduring public. 



— The presentation of "Aida," Verdi's last composition, 

 before its performance in any European capital, marks 

 an era in this city of luxurious refinement, or desperate ex- 

 travagance. Novelty, for the time being, has taken pos- 

 session of admiration, and we regret the operatic season is 

 not long enough to thoroughly test the genuine popularity 

 of what is claimed to be Verdi's best opera. This much is 

 certain, that an event which in Paris or Vienna, would at 

 once have set the musical world of those great capitals in 

 an excitement, has not created a ripple in New York. The 

 press has given the event less space and less enthusiasm 

 than it usually expends on the most common place sensa- 

 tional play, and the amount of type and fine writing that 

 hails the revival of the "Ticket of Leave Man" leaves the 

 greetings of "Aida" in the shade. 



— Edwin Booth ended on Saturday an engagement of 

 four weeks, in which time he performed in fourteen plays, 

 including the subliniest tragedies of Shakspeare and the 

 best plays of the modern school. His success was almost 

 unvarying. If any unforseen accident compelled Edwin 

 Booth to retire from our stage, tragedy would cease to have 

 a genuine presentation. This monopoly makes the miser- 

 able support he alwpys has from the stock company at his 

 theatre an endured evil. Suppose it was possible to an- 

 nounce the conjunction, once so familiar in New York, of 

 Junius Brutus Booth as Otliello, and Edwin Forrest as Iago, 

 and the next night Junius Brutus Booth a3 Iago, and Edwin 

 Forrest as Othello. "How would stand the record of the 

 time?" Echo would answer, "Edwin's presentation of the 

 play of 'Othello' was rather weak." By comparisons, we 

 sometimes can get at the real poverty of the stage. The 

 greatest scene in the combination we have alluded to was 

 when the physically little Otliello seized the physically great 

 Iago by the throat, and by his mental power and sublime 

 genius for denunciation seemed to be a giant compared 

 with Forrest. 



— Wallack's is nightly crowded by a delighted audience, 

 the attraction being the most offensively named play, the 

 "Liar." It is admirably performed. The passages which 

 brought together Mr. Wallack, Mr. Gilbert, and Miss Lewis 

 were given with charming effect. Miss Lewis must be- 

 come a great favorite; she commands sympathy and admi- 

 ration at once. 



—The "Wicked World," at the Union Square Theatre, 

 surprises its warmest friends with its constantly increasing 

 popularity. The reason must be the beautiful scenery, the 

 charming faces, and the emotional acting of Miss Morris, 

 for the play is apparently without a plot, without a moral, 

 without anything except fascinating scenes, which pass and 

 repass like the brilliant combinations of the kaleidoscope. 

 If the two "roughs" (Thorne, Jr., and Rankin) and the 

 idiot, that represent the male characters, were left out, we 

 see no reason why the "Wicked World," with a little 

 change, as a refined spectacular piece could not run the 

 whole winter. 



— Daly's new Fifth Avenue Theatre, Twenty-eighth street, 

 near Broadway, opened on Wednesday night. Its pre- 

 sumptive popularity was so great, that the majority of the 

 seats appear to have been sold before the ticket office was 

 opened. The theatre will be a success. 



1 



Cincinnati, November 29, 1873. 

 wood's theatre. 



— The promise made to the public by Manager Macauley, 

 that the play of "Divorce," at present at Wood's, would 

 be given in an entire new dress, was fully redeemed. It 

 was handsomely mounted, and in the last scene the stage 

 was gorgeous. "Divorce" was given by the Furbish Fifth 

 Avenue Theatre Company. The fact that they have trav- 

 elled for two entire seasons, playing this one piece, shows 

 that the people appreciate their rendition of it. It will 

 be followed by "Article 47." 



— At Robinson's Opera House we have been enjoying a 

 week of light comedy — "Dundreary." It was presented by 

 E. A. Sothern, assisted by his son Lytton, Mr. Vining 

 Bowers and Miss Minnie Wolton. "Dundreary" will be 

 followed next week by "Sam" and "David Garrick." The 

 largest houses are expected next week to witness the latter 

 piece. 



— Harry Robinson's Minstrels were here and gave three 

 performances to rather large houses Monday and Tuesday 

 evenings and Tuesday afternoon. 



— On Monday evening Mr. Charles Bradlaugh gave a 

 lecture on "The Republican Movement in England," at 

 Pike's Opera House. It is rumored that he will return 

 soon and deliver a lecture on Ireland. 



—Mr. Charles Drew, recently connected with the com- 

 pany at Robinson's, has returned to the Mrs. Oates Opera 

 Company, of which he was the leading tenor for several 

 seasons. W. L. 



\tw publications. 



{Publications sent to this office, treating upon subjects that come within 

 the scope of the. paper, ivill receive special attention. The receipt of all 

 books delivered at our Editorial Booms will be promptly acknowledged 

 in the next issue. Publishers will confer a favor by promptly advising 

 us of any omission in this resvect. Prices of books inserted when 

 desired.'] ' 



BOOKS. 



—The long evenings are now coming, and the children should have 

 good games to help pass them pleasantly. "Avilude," with its birds and 

 their descriptions, is the best ever published. Sold by all booksellers and 

 toy dealers, or sent post-paid on receipt of seventy-five cents, by West & 

 Lee, Worcester, Mass. 



"From its meritorious character deserves the widest circulation." — 

 Banner of Light. 



Three Thousand Words. A Pronouncing Handbook of 

 words often mispronounced. By Richard Soule and Loomis J. Camp- 

 bell. Boston: Lee & Shepard. 



When we took up this little multum in parvo, and carefully examined 

 it, we found our memory rapped many times, and we were made quite 

 sensible of the value of this little four-by-six manual of ninety-nine 

 pages, corrections of some three thousand words very freqneutly mispro- 

 nounced; also notes upon allowable cases, in which the reader or writer 

 has an optional choice in the selection of words or phrases. We have 

 much larger, more elaborate, more costly works upon similar subjects, 

 but we do not call to mind one of more real value than this little pocket 

 companion. Lee & Shepard are in the habit of publishing a great va- 

 riety of good books, "great books," for the people, but this little correc- 

 tor of mispronunciations should lie side by side with Webster's and Wor- 

 cester's big dictionaries . 



The Portrait. A romance of the Cuyahoga. By the 



author of "Bart Eidgeley," 16mo. Boston: Nichols & Hall. 



The author of this book opens with a life picture which will be long re- 

 membered. The lessons of death, come when they may, and under what- 

 ever garb they appear, should teach us our own mortality; for it is in 

 vain to try to escape the trials, temptations and vicissitudes of life. The 

 hero of this work enters life under the shade of a bitter experience, the 

 death of his beloved mother. The hero at a very early age finds him - 

 self motherless, homeless, and his young life burdened with a great 

 doubt, that grows stronger and stronger as he grows older. He enters 

 the service of John Green, a tavern keeper, as his bound boy. His mas- 

 ter joins the Mormons, taking our "Fred" with him. Here he, after a 

 short time, runs away from the former tavern keeper, Green, and finds a 

 home with a kind-hearted farmer. His first trial takes place here, in 

 hearing the farmer's wife say he "was nobody's son." He then leaves 

 his employer, and seeks a home with friends m a neighboring town ; here 

 he a few years after establishes himself a "counsellor at law." Here he 

 makes the acquaintance of a young widow, who has visited Europe and 

 traveled much, and had seen the portrait of an American gentleman 

 whose lineaments were almost precisely like those of Freddy. She 

 knew the whole history of that portrait, and from that knowledge a most 

 charming romanoe is formed. This plot, original in itself, is not so well 

 wrought as it might have been from the many materials at hand to make 

 it a more perfectly finished work. 



The history of Mormonism years ago will be found quite intersting. 

 The historical Joe Smith, Rigdon, and other old Mormon saints and ras- 

 cals step out of their frames, and these old dusty portraits become as 

 lifelike as in days of old. We think the character of Fred suffers from 

 the mystery that surrounds his birth. Yet this seems to be the necessity 

 of the author. Belle Morris, a finely written character, is just what we 

 would call "a very fine specimen of true womanhood," frank, sincere, 

 noble, and we do not wonder at the excited state of Fred's feelings at 

 the thought of losing her. We like this hook better than "Bart Ridgely;" 

 it possess more life, interest, and although not a perfect work, it would 

 be called at least a "good romance." 

 Adventures by Sea and Land ; Or, Perils by Sea and 



Land, and Hair-breath Escapes in all Parts of tbe World. Hlustrated. 



Philadelphia: Porter & Coates, 



This is a beautiful quarto, elegantly bound, and finely embellished. It 

 is one of the books that will find many Christmas and New Year pur- 

 chasers. It is just the book for the boys, as exciting as "Robinson Cru- 

 soe, "and very diversified in its contents. W e shall only give the out- 

 lines referring to the book itself for its illustrated contents. First, the 

 Island of Ceylon is spoken of, and its beautiful forests and sweet 

 clime, amply enjoyed by Templin and his confreres, and their first en 

 counter with the elephant, is finely told; a good surprise, some genuine 

 fun, and the final retreat of the "Big Elephant," is graphically given; 

 and finally, the encounter with the terrific serpent closes the tarry in 

 Ceylon. Then we have the "fire at sea," with its exciting incidents, its 

 perils, and escapes. Thirdly, in the desert, making the acquaintance of 

 the Indians; incidents; not particularly pleased with the savages, who 

 steal their wine, and get drunk on the same; escape; shipwreck snd star- 

 vation; with other thrilling incidents. The little Africans' wonderful 

 adventures; the Circassian war; theTschuttski; the Fair of Wishure; 

 Norogoiod, &c. 



His Marriage Vow. By Mrs. Caroline Fairfield Corwin; 



Author of "Rebecca," &c. 16mo. Boston : Lee and Shepard . 



Open this book without a determination to read it carefully and with- 

 out any other view than to be amused, and you may as well lay it aside 

 at once. It will do you no good whatever. How is this book to be read, 

 and how understood? is the great question in the mind of the reader at 

 the outset. "How far can a man pursue his pleasures, how far can a 

 husband go in his attempts to win the affections, or make love to another 

 woman, while he has an estimable wife at home?" This is about the form, 

 the idea, and as a palliation for this free love, this departure from true 

 marital obligations, a poor' sick, bed-ridden wife is deemed to be all suf- 

 ficient. Well, this is one view of the case, but it does not answer the 

 question, "Is it a sin, a wrong or not so to do?" Although we like some 

 portions of this work, we do not think the public would be benefitted by 

 adopting as a code of morals such sentiments as are set forth on pages 81 

 and 83. At least we should hope not. We should like to give a thorough 

 analysis of the "Marriage Vow;" and speak at length of that mythical 

 free love philosophy that pervades the whole. We believe in 

 the religion of love, pure, chaste, soul elevating, but we are dis- 

 appointed in this work, and to be true to ourselves and the public, we 

 must say that while it is amusing and interesting, morally it is not to be 

 placed before "Baxter's Saints Rest," and many other books of that char - 



acter. 



. -**-»- 



ANNOUNCEMENTS. 



Silver and Gold. An Account of the Mining and Metal- 

 lungal Industry of the United States, with reference chiefly to the 

 precious metals . By R. H. Raymond, Ph. D. 8vo. Illustrated. New 

 York: J. B. Ford & Co. Cloth, $3,50. 



A Good Match. A Novel. By Amelia Perrier, author of 

 "Mea Culpat" 12mo. New York: J. B. Ford & Co. Extra Cloth, 

 stamped cover, $1,50. 



Recent Music and ^Musicians, as described in the diaries 



and correspondence of Ignatz Mocheles. Edited by his wife and 

 adapted from the original German by A. D. Cole-iidge. New York: 

 Henry Holt & Co. 1873. 



Sounds from Secret Chambers, By Laura C. Redden, 



("Howard Glyndon.") 18mo, Red edges. Boston; James R. Osgood 

 & Co. 



Threading my Way. By Robert Dale Owen. Carleton & 



Co . London : Trubner & Co. 



Memoir of Fanny Fern. By James Parton. G. W. 

 Carleton & Co. London: S. Low, Son & Co. 



Little Wanderers. By Samuel Wilberforce. Carleton 

 &Co. London: Seeley & Co. 



