The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1849-05-31

men whom they may see in the close
of pit and boxes. To look
on these is more than half the pleasure OF
the evening, and link of human sympa-
ty with the circle to which they belong, is
insensibly welded by the habit of ap-
pro aching them thus nearly. Without
this opportunity, they see this class of
ladies only i'll their carriages or in the
and with no possible
community of feeling-and the dangerous
consciousness of a class from achich they
are entirely eut off is Extensively height
ened. As we said before, they have guar
ded, in monarchical countries, against
such needlessly palpable chasms between
classes which are, after all, mutually de-
pendent; and how much more important
is this policy, for the spontaneous cohe-
sion of interest and sympathy which alone
binds a republic!
Perhaps the influences should be named,
which, though trihes in themselves, were
still strong enough, In combination, to
make the Astor-Place Opera as exclusive
as an Almacks' Ball. The respectable
and economical class are as refined in
their taste for music as the swealthy and
luxurious and are as willing (going oc-
casionally) to pay the first price for
ticket. But the best seats being taken for
the season by the fashionable subscribers,
they were competitors for none but secon-
dary places, and were ofenest obliged,
though paying the highest price, to take
seats in the Pit, against which, as the more
promiscuous part of the house, there is an
habitual prejudice among ladies. Then
the etiquette of toilet at the Opera became
so compulsory that the use of a carriage
was necessary, besides more trouble and
outlay of dress than was reasonable or
convenient; and these-though neither
stone walls nor formal exclusions-were
still barriers enough to prevent thousands
from ever en oying the most refined luxury
of the city. We may add that the man
ners of the dandy youths in the lobbies
(as we have formerly taken occasion to
show were wanting in that general polite
ness which reconciles persons of homely
taste to the elegancies of the more luxu-
rious; and, being seen without the mollify-
ing admixture of plain hammered and
plainly dressed majority, the offence was
without its usual overbalancing abatement
We do not think this offence against the
tastes of the simple and economical is a
trife which should be unnamed The
work of the historian may sometimes be
instructively anticipated, by taking new
Iy turned pebble, and showing what pres
ent stride, In the march of National Pro-
gress, has given it motion. Explaining ii
as we do, TO be the more remote encou-
ragement of the riot, we think those who
are looking on from distance will recog-
nize in ii curious, but still natural stage
of republican history protest of the
middle class at the degree too much of os-
tentation by the wealthier. 1t may serve
at least, reasonably to start the question
whether, in a republic, there should MOI
be, eUeryaohere oat Of priUafe houses, a
certain maintenance of republican simpli-
T city. Might there not be feeling encou-
ragged, that, in dress and etiquette, when
! in public places, the spirit of the country
exacted that there should be nothing to
offend humble tastes or arouse inconve-
nient emulation! What men have legal
right to do, anywhere, with the advanta-
ges of fortune, and what it is considerate
and republican to abstain from doing, be-
cause it excites irrepressible envy, would
put very different limits to the ostentation
of luxury. In the matter of an Opera
quite as good one, and at which no class
of people could take offence, is Just as
practicable; likelier, indeed, to be profta-
BILE, as the patronage of the excluded class
would be added, and their presence is no
drawback to the attraction.
*"Thcre should be Pit proper, cheap and
spacious. We think no refined public amuse-
ment ought to exclude, either by price or usa.
ges of toilet the lovers of music who are poor.
| There is very large class of cultivated men
who are compelled to live and dress economi.
cally; and these men. below the level of kid
gloves and dollar tickets, should rightfully
have all the advantages, both of hearing the
music and seeing the audience-foreg going dis
t play only, as the considerations for a cheaper
Home Joufaai FEB. 27, 1917.
Expedition 10 the Great Salt Lake.
The following, which we find in the
st. LouisSRepublican, will be read with
: great interest:
We understood, that the expedition foI