Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-08-12
WILLlS'S LETTERS FROM LONDON.
THREE.

-NUMBER THREE.-
Tdglioni in the Sylphide.-Price of o
pera ticket-Ncc things Gbont England
A usefal neighbor.-An erccptioa to q
general rufe.-Doai=cut' era Of RoG
erto Derrreur.-Ffrst Impressions o
Rosei Observation-Disclosures Queen
ofMe opera-Priace Albert. Hing o.
Beigium.-- Ladies of the Bedchamber.-
M lids of hoaor.-Ihe Royal atmos-
phere.-Tae Vie mese dancers.-W The
Queen's admiration ofMe Lille Nagi-
Clans TVhat it costs beauty to stay in
the rorlL.-Vhat Imisscd in Taglioni.
Her last appearance upon the stage
Sc, &c.
London, July 3.
My DEAR MoRaIs:-I was taking my
slow paced walk yesterday afternoon, on
the sunny side of Regent street, thinking
Of itlle except tie sore ironed wires nol
yet physiced out oil my brain, when, in
shop window CHANGED 10 spy placard
of the opera. In large letters read
"TAGLIoNI IN The SYLPHiDEt If you re-
member my description, in "Penciil ngs
by the Way" of the very first perform
ance O. this ballet. (Which | had the good
fortune to witness len or twelve years ago
on my first arrival in Paris,) and my en-
thue astc description OF Tagiioni, you
easily fancy how much my blood was stir
red with the chance of re-seeing the en-,
chanting piciure-.he same ballet with
the same matchess woman as The enchant-
ress. 1t was five o'clock, p. Nj. within
an hour of my prescribed bedtlme-and
the opera commences al eight and lasts TIL
twelve-But l irent. Let me make u
whole letter about the evening of which |
thus did, the Doctor.
| do no; often gulp al the price ola thing
want, but the charge of eight dol5ars) a
guinea and haIf) for seat 10 see one o.
pera in The habit as am edltoullly OF
paying nothing for the same commodity
certainly made me say 'ehem - The
seat got for this little price was in the
middle of the first bench behind the orches-
ira, in the pit-that is to say in one of the
'.stalls" or elbow seas into which the first
lour or five benches of The PIT are divided
"The pit" SO called, which is separated by
a bar from these privileged seats, is so un-
comfortable and crowded, that, my weak
condition, could not venture ii, especially
with the risk of standing all the evening.
So, away went the price oi-many
good thing you can think of If had
been charged for The moisture of the Eng
lisi climate because my hair curls tighter
here than in America, should have felt
more like scratching my head after the
payment.
No one is admitted to the London opera
except in full dress, but took my cloak on
my arm, fearful of the draughl of cool ar
that comes over the warm pit when the
curtain is lifted. The door-keeper stopped
me. "You cannot wear your coax in,
sir p said he. "But am sick man. and
require it," "Agansl the rule, SIR p
- lis very hard that one who has stall 10
himself and no one 10 incommode, should
not be allowed to keep himself from taking
co!d''-"Can't be done, STRIP So saying
he took Of my cloak, and charged me shil-
ling for taking care Of ,!-Some nice
things about Englind.
found myself seated between lady in
full dress, and a very fine, arlslocra;lc-
looking old man. whose seat was elegantly
cushioned, and who evidently had it by the
season. He turned out 10 be u useful
neghbor, for overhearng me ask ques-
ton Of the musician before me, which
showed that it was my first appearance al
the opera, he remarked to me that was
apparently Stranger, and seemed to take
great pleasure in pointing out TO me the
nolabilities of the stage and audience. !
am glad 10 mention as an exception TO the
useful English reserve.
The opera was the Roberto DevereuX"
of Donizelti, and the prima donna (who
played "Queen Elizabeth'') was novelty
in London, Madame Rossi Cacca. 1t was
her second appearance. My first impress
sion of her was very unfavorable. She
came forward in q solo in which she drew
her voice so sharply fine that it pricked the
ear uncomfCrtab!y; AID, in the red hair and
oILer unbecomingable of Queen Elizabeth
her looks. (Which are half the music, )were
also against her. As the plot deepened
however, she showed n passionateness Of
acting, which helped both voice and beauty
and | began TO discover that she had a
mouth like crack in rose leaf, big eyes
full OF darkness, and voice that was mel
low when she forgot the audierc e. She
was immensely applauded; but assure you
thought her very inferior 10 Pico, both
as an actress and a singer
MoRiANI the famous tenor, has the per-
son of ships boatswain and voice as
exqusitely as an Eollan harp, and, with
ones eyes shu0 he is singer who gives
one delicious enjoyment, but | VIII not
DO; her YOU with more about the opera.
As the curtain fell after the first act, the
men in The stalls all rose 10 straightcn them
selves and take stare over the house; and
for the first time. it occurred TO me 10 en-
quire If The queen were present. "You are
looking stragh, at Her Majesty" said my
neig Dor; 5 5e is talking TO one Of the la
dies ofhe bedchambcr, and Prince Albert
is in the b1ck OF The box, talking 10 the
King OF Belgium The box was look
ing into was directly at tie eud of the
stage lights, and OF course very near 10
me. had seen the Queen come in with
out recognizing her, though | had stud ed
| her face at Court when / was presented TO
William ". some years ego, and OF course
see portraits of her every day. She look
ed fIr younger and prei:ier than any pic
iurc know OF her, aid her manner TO her
/ Maids of Honor, and their evident case.