The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-08-01
SCELLAN EOUS.
wILLIs's LETTERS FROM LONDON.
[rrom tAe n. Y. E,enIng mirror

NV DEAR MoRRIs: was taking my slow-paced
walk Yesterday afternoon, on the sunny side OF Re
gent street. thinking of little except the sore IRON
wires not vet physicked out Of my brain, when, in
a shop-wndow, / CHANGED to spy placard of the
opera In large letters read "Taglioni in the Syl-
phideln If YOU remember my description, in 'Pen-
cilings by the Way" Of the gerry first performance
of this ballet, (Which had the good fortune to
witness ten or twelve years ago, on my first arrival
ia Paris } and my enthusiastic description of Tag
lioni, you will easily fancy how my blood was STIR
red with the chance of re-sseing the enchanting
pcture---the same ballet, with the matchless
woman as the enchanress. AT five o'clock p m.
within an hour of my prescribed bed-time--and
the opera commences at eight, and lasts till twelve
but I,osnt Let me make whole letter about the
evening Of which thus ''did" the doctor
do not often gup very hard at the price of a
thing want; but the charge of eight dollars Ia gui-
nea and half for seat 10 see one opera--in the
habit as am ediiorally of paying nothing for the
same commodity--certainly made me say ''eheml''
The seat got for this little price in the middle
of the first bench behind the orchestra, in the pit
that is TO say in of the "stalls" or elbow
into which the first four or five benches of the pit
are divided "The pitt, so called, which is sepa-
rated by bar from these privileged seats is so I'M
comfortable and crowded, that, in my weak condi-
ton, could not venture it, especially with the risk
of standing all the evening. So, away went the
price of--many good thing you think of!
lfI had been charged for the moisture of the En-
gllsh climate, because my hair curs tighter here than
in America should net have felt more like scratch
ing my head after the payment.
No one is admitted TO the London opera except
in full dress; but took my cloak my arm, fear
full ofthe draught Of cold air that CONES over the
warm pit when the curtain is lifted. The door
keeper stopped me- "You cannot your cloak
in, SIR" said he.-"But am sick man, and re-
quireit "a gains the rule, sir!"-"It is very hard
that one who has a stall to himself, and one to
incommode, should not be allowed to keep himself
from taking cold!"-"Cant be done, sir" So say
ing, he took off my cloak, and charged shilling
for taking of it!-Some nice things about Eng
land
i found myself seated between a lady in full
dress, and very MISUNDERSTANDING old man,
whose seat was elegantly cushioned, and who evil
IDENTIFY had it by the season. He turned out to be
useful neghbor; for, overhearing me askinga ques-
ton ofthe musician before me, which showed that
IT was my first appearance at the opera, he remark
ed TO me that l was apparently stranger, and
seemed TO take great pleasure IN pointing out to me
the nobilites of the stage and audience. am glad
to mention 1t as an exception to the usual English
reserve.
The opera was the "Roberto Devereux" ofDoni-
zeth, and the prima donna, who played "Queen
Elizabeth" was novelty in London-Madame
Ross Caccia 1t was her second appearance. My
first impression of her very unfavorabe. She
came forward in solo, in which she drew her voice
30 sharply fine, that it pricked the uncomfbrt-
ably; and, in the red hair and other unbecominga-
bles ofQueen Elizabeth, her looks, which are halt
the music, were also against her. AS the pot Deep
ened, however, she showed passionateness of
acting, which helped both voice and beauty, and l
began to discover that she had mouth like crack
in leaf big eyes full of darkness and voice
that was mellow when she forgot the audience.
She was immensely applauded; but | assure you
that thought her very inferior to Pco, both an
actress and a singer.
Moriani, the famous tenor has the person of
ships boatswain, and voice exquisiely soft as
an Eolian harp, and with ones eyes shut, he is a
singer who gives one delicious enjoyment--but
will not bother you with more about the opera
As the curtain fell after the first act the men in
the stalls all straighten themselves and take
stare the house; and for the first time, it oc-
CURED to me to inquire if the Queen was present.
'You are looking straight at her Majesty" said
my neighbor she is talking to one of the ladies of
her bedchamber; and Prince Albert in the back of
the box, talking to the King of Belgium" The
box i was looking into was directly at the end of
the stage lights, and of course very near me-
had seen the Queen come in, without recognising
her, though had studied her face at court when
] was presented to William Nv. years ago,
and of course see portraits of her every day She
locked far younger and pretter than any picture
know of her. and her manner to her maids of
honor, and their evident ease, made it look precisely
like an agreeable private party. There was no mark
to distinguish the box she occupied and the fact
that / had nsensiby looked more at the Queen
than at anybody else, thinking her remarkably
pretty girl, and feeling curiosity to know who
she was than who were in the other boxes / trust
the royal atmosphere forgave my proiane admi-
ration
AT the close of the second act, the Yiennese Dan
GERS trpped upon the stage. These, you know,
twenty or thirty children apparently from five
years old to ten, who dress and dance like full
grown dancing girls, and produce astonishing ef-
fects by their well-drilled combinations. They are
curiostes if it were only for the robust develope-
ment of their little bodies. Seen through mag
nifying glass, their short petticoats, &C., would
hardly look decent; but children the plumpti-
tudes which they expose by every movement
humorously beautiful. They must have been
drilled with wonderful patience to make such sud-
den and exact transitions. At one instant they pile
up into hower--the next they revolving in
many-sroked wheel--the next they are brading
themselves in complex waltz. They seem to
swallow each other and re-appear, multiply and
diminish, swim and fly, with one-mndedness, a
grace, and an of countenance and motion, that
is wholly incomprehensible. And, withal. their
little faces are as round and rosy as Cupid's in
picture and they look happy that it is contagious
quite made my wcl-bred neighbours stare with my
n-London-y laughter. Perhaps | should have
been excused, however, il they had looked at the
Queen, for her Majesty quite leaned out finer box,
kept time with the music with her head and bou-
quet, and watched the little magicians with con-
tinlIal smile throughout.
The curtain drew up at last for the "Sylphide,"
and Taglioni glded to the chair of her sleeping
lover. looked at her lady-like face with the same
feeling of admiration for its modest unconscious
as before, but--alas. for what il costs beauty
to stay in this wicked world! | would not record,
if i were writing for paper that would ever reach
her eyes, how much missed from her shoulders
how much from, her limbs, how much--but | will
not dwell upon her losses. She was herself in all
her swift motions-n all her more powerful efforts
1t was in the slow poslngs, in the pirouettes, in
those parts of the dance which require more than
graceful bounds the stage, that she show
ed where the lessened muscle had lessened her
charm The bill held in my hand declared that,
with the five nights of this engagement, she was
10 take final leave of the stage--and was sorry
she had waited till the world though il was time!
Queen Victoria left the opera before the curtain
drew up for her TO appear.
And now, having made rather a long letter, III
90 out for my short walk. Adieu for to-day.
Yours, faithfully, N. P. WILLIS.
MRS. CAUDLE'S CURTAIN LECTURES
IEran ha a,Ja D..-