The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-12-28
THEATRICAL Excrrrnrsr-rnr FIN, ARTS IN

sublime work OF art, still to be seen In the So
ciety Library Rooms, has kicked up revolution.
One Of the most extraordinary excitements has
been produced in this city, among various circles
in consequence of singular tmeate which took
place on Sunday evening last, at Pinteux's Odeon,
in Broadway, in which several beautiful women
are concerned, who call themselves models Of
art, and who have been personating the Greek
Slave of Powers, and all the tableaur of holy
scripture, from Eve in the Garden of Eden, down
to Esther in the Persian hot BATH We have
| already given an account of this singular and
amusing affair, in our paper ofyesterday, and we
give further particulars to-day, in our theatrical
intelligence, or perhaps IN the police news.
| Theatrical matters in New York, during the
present season, have been in an extraordinary
position. The old Park has shut up, and has
been consigned to horses, which, it is ex-
pected, will draw, in some shape or other.
High tragedy and classic comedy have
been abandoned by that class of society
who frequent porter houses, saloons, target
firing, and annual balls. The high people of
Opera House in Astor place, and produ ,ed great
excitement there; but there is large mass of in
telligence, beauty, wit and humor, Of both
classes of New York, who have no taste for
opera, but who are fond Of the fine arts-who
care nothing for Italian singing, but yet have a
wonderful liking to the Greek Slave, in the shape
of a tablsau viuant
This taste for the fine arts, among certain
classes of our population, has been dormant in
this city for many years past, like the coal mines
of Pennsylvania, the gold mines of North Caro-
hna, or the iron mines of New York. But at
length the discovery was made. Dr. Collyer,
celebrated savan, acquainted with human
nature In detail-both male and female
was the first to introduce, at Palmo's Opera
House, this new movement in the fine arts, by
the exhibition Of living men and women, in al
most the same state in which Gabriel saw them
in the Garden of Eden, on the first morning Of
creation. This movement struck at once the
public taste. The exhibitions were crowded by
all classes-others saw the ingenuity Of Dr.
Collyer, and Immediately followed his example;
so that there are at this moment, probably, q
dozen different places---taverns, hotels, sa
looms, and other drinking houses where
young men and women are exhibiting, as
tablcaur uipants, in every form and shape, and
for every price, from sixpence up to fifty cents ;
but Pinteux, of the Odeon, seems to have
created a greater sensation, as much by
the beauty of the females and the muscle
of the men, as by the singular emeute which
took place there on Sunday night. The idea Of
opening theatre on Sunday in New York is
certainly curious; an idea that never was ~
tended, and could not be carried into practice
under the law as it is But it has produced so
great a sensation in every place, in and out Of
New York, in the streets and byways, that we
do not know where it is to end. The whole
world of the under crust of fashion seems to be
in state of great excitement on this subject,
and everywhere model artists are announced, at
every price, and they are all crowded to suffoca-
ton; but Pinteux's above all.
This most singular matter will probably end
in the same manner as the masquerades did a
a few years ago. We remember the time
very well. Some person conceived the idea
Of giving a masquerade at the Park Theatre,
and il was given. A number Of Mosques
attended, and some fashionable people went to
the boxes; but it was cooly received. The
second night was better-the third night the
boxes were filled with masqueraders, and some
respectable and fashionable young persons went
on the stage-the fourth night it became crowd
ed-the fifth it was jam; and by the ninth night
it rose to one of the greatest excitements we
ever saw. The whole world went to the
masquerades-every porterhou in town-every
drinking house, every fighting house, and every
tavern in town, got up masquerades; and the
consequence was that the moral sense of the
community became shocked-memorials on the
subject were sent to Albany, and the legis-
lature, in one day, passed a law prohibit
ing the whole thing. We very much fear
the rage for model artists, now rising
throughout the city, will fare the same fate.
We don't care much if it does, for we have
heard of instances end exhibitions of such a
character, that can't be named, and hardly be
thought Of in private, without causing blush.
The exhibitions at Pinteux's and some other
places, are represented to be extremely classic
| and beautiful, and we believe they are so (; but
| there are some of those exhibitions IN some of
the BY streets, that are an outrage to human ma
| ture, and we verify believe they will increase
and become more outrageous before month is
| over.
| This is the newest excitement of the day 1t is
one of those excitements which has destroyed
the classic drama in this city, closed the Park
Theatre, will probably shut up the Broadway,
unless there is a reaction in public opinion, and
leave The fashionable world, the respectable part
of the community, to 60 entirely to such places
as the Astor Opera, the Bowery Theatre, or
other places, where they still give exhibitions of
| the good old and respectable drama, in all its
| varieties.
| OCEAN STEAM NAvIaATfoN.-We learn by tele-
graph, that the steamship Hibernia, Capt. Ryrie,
left Boston yesterday afternoon, at two o'clock,
for New York. She will probably arrive here
early to morrow morning, and immediately take
in her coal and cargo, IN order to leave for
Halifax and Liverpool on Saturday next.
This steamer will be the pioneer of the Gu
nard steamers to run between Liverpool and
New York, to touch at Halifax, until some pos
tai arrangement is made between the United
States and Great Britain. The arrival of the
Hibernia, at this port, is only the beginning of