The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-01-15

Canada and Cuba might be bundled together and
accepted by the United States. But these events
are yet long way off.
great deal has been said about the cordlalty
existing between Mr.. Clay and General Taylor.
1t has been said that General Taylor invited the
Sage of Ashland to visit HIM before the departure
Of the President elect for Washington. Perhaps
| Mr.. Clay may wish to conclliate General Taylor,
| and smooth down any asperties that may have
been created by the events which took place before
the election but perfectly satisfied that all
| the advances towards renewing warm friendship
letween them, have been made by Mr.. Clay, and
that they have been courteously but coolly receiv-
ed by General Taylor Mr.. Clay will have but lit
| tie influence with the new administration, If the
feelings Of General Taylor are consulted. In re.
gard to Mr.. Websters position, we are not able to
| give much information. His position is somewhat
doubtful. That he will not be taken into the cab-
net seems positive. What his fate will be, time
only can tell.
On the whole, there still exists great deal
Of mystery about the incoming administration
The President elect does not talk as much
as some of the letter-wrters represent; and 1t
seems more likely that, in selecting his Sec
| rotary of State, he will give him carte
blanche to fill up the rest OF the programme
He will make all his secretaries and public officers
responsible ior the management and conduct of
their several departments, and will endeavor to
eform the whole administration OF public AFFAIRS
and introduce economy into many branches which
have, for long time, been sources of waste and
under. 1t will be positive wing administra-
ton; and all the odds and ends of parties, with the
independents included who formed the advance
guard in the movement that carried HIM into the
presidency, will have to fall into the general
| movement, under the new regime. Thus matters
| stand at present When change takes place In
he position of things we shall advise readers
Grand Charity Bal Masquo for the Benefit
of the Italian Opera.
Vast preparations are being made for the grand
fancy ball, which Is to be given by the Opera Com
mtee and some volunteers, to the fashionable
world, on the eighteenth instant. The costumers
and fancy dress milliners all over the city, have
their hands full of business. A number Of
fashonables from Baltimore, Philadelphia, and
Boston, the same class of society that gave SO
much fclat to the balls at Newport and Saratoga,
during the last summer, will also be present on
this great occasion.
This fancy ball will be great affair, according
to present appearances. 1t is got up principally
from the most charitable motives imaginable
for no less an object than to supply the deficiency
of the opera management during the present sea-
son, and with the view of making an appeal to the
kind feelings OF the rest OF the community, not
fashionable, to aid and assist our millionares and
fashionables in establishing the Italian Opera IN
this city 1t is very true that but little generous
feeling was shown in the recent attempt to get up
a concert for the benefit of the family of the late
Mr.. Simpson. 1t might have been supposed that
the patrons of the Opera, and particularly the rch
wealthy, and fashionable ones, would have
crowded head over heels to the Aston Place Thea
tire on such an occasion as the one referred to.
Poor Simpson, almost twenty-five years ago, tried
to establish Opera in New York, and many made
attempts since, but his attempts only met with
hall and half support from our ar,stocracy, who,
although they wish very much to establish
the Opera, and have all the choice places
to themselves, do not wish to pay the
prices which are paid by like classes in England
or enjoying the same kind of amusement In
London and Paris, the elite, the fashionable, the
wealthy, the mlIllonares, the nobility, the arsto-
cracy, who form the first classes of society, sub
scribe most literally and abundantly to the sup
port of the Italian Opera, and occupy their private
boxes at corresponding prices; but here, In New
York, the select classes of society who wish to be
entertained in the same way, want the cheapest
kind of management, and the cheapest kind of
Opera Now cheap Italian Opera is the worst
kind Of entertainment. If our monaires and
fashionable people want to make the Italian Opera
permanent in New York, they should pay from
three to five dollars ticket each night, instead OF
the paltry sum OF one dollar. Then their generos-
ty and liberaty would correspond with their
high pretensions and exclusiveness, as compared
with the rest OF the community outside.
Instead, however, of those generous feelings
actuatlng our aristocracy, they persist In keeping
the best seats at the Opera exclusively, and of
merely inviting the rest of the community, whom
they consider low.minded, vulgar, and the canaie,
to come and see them, or take the second best
seats, in order to help them to keep the Opera on
its legs. The grand fancy ball isfor this purpose
to enable the Opera management to get on The
leaders of our fashionable society will assume a
distinct character on the night in question, and
perform on the boards OF the Astor Place Theatre
in place of the Italian troupe in order to raise the
wind 1t will be performance, in bal co tune,
Of the fashionable society of those four great cies
for the purpose of refundng what has been lost by
bad management, and continuing the Opera tor a
little while longer on Its legs.
This being the case, we hope the rest of the com.
munity, who get up so many elegant private balls,
and who attend so many of them at two dollars
ticket, as well as all the fequeners of the other
theatres, will abandon all those on the night IN
question, and come forth and pay tEeir SIX dollars
apiece, and they will be very politely admitted on
the floor of the Astor House Theatre on that occa-
sion, and have an opportunity of seeing how fash.
ionable society IN New York, and also how the
grsettes Of France, dance the sublime and beauti-
full polka. The price ought to be considered no.
thing, because it is the permanent establishment of
the Opera which is IN view, as well as its continu-
ance for few weeks longer during the present sea-
son. Those who do not wish to participate in the