The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-08-06

goitIes is 0-S2 per cent. 1t was M. Saussare's
opinion that cretinism did not exist in places 1000
metres, or $3.50 English feet above the level of the
sea; but this is entirely disproved by the commits
sioners, who found numerous cases of cretinism in
localities elevated 600 metres or PAS feet above
the sea. Indeed, in one village possessing this ele
walton, so cases of gore and cretinism were found
in every 1000 of the population.
Theatrisals In Europe.
The temperance of Madame Pasta, says the
London Spectator, OF the 18th nt. In the concert
room and on the stage of her Majesty's Theatre
the scenes Of her trumpbs in former days-was
deeply interesting, but somewhat melancholy. No
one dreamed of such thing il had been known
for some time that Pasta was in FL gland, but il
was said that she had been drawn from her retire
ment mainly by solictude to watch the progress of
her young friend and pupil, Parodi This, we
believe, was truly the case but, breathing once
again the old atmosphere of the opera-house, she
has been unable to resist its intoxicaton. She
gave concert on Monday night, for her own
benefit performed some scenes of Gamma Bolena,"
on Thursday; and sang yesterday morning at a
concert at the Royal Italian Opera, for the benefit
of the Italian exes in this country. Those-and
there are still many-who remember Madame Pasta
in the days when she was the Siddons of the mu-
steal stage, must have heard her on those occa-
sions with singular mixture of pleasure and sad
ness. In their perceptions the past must have been
blended with the present. In the form and face
before them, however changed by time, they were
still able 20 discern the noble head, the Girecian
features so full Of intellect and power, the lofty
air and graceful movement of the Pasta of former
days; and in her voice, even in its decay, in her
faultless sly in her exquisite manner of rounding
and finishing every vocal phrase, in the classic
purity Of her ornaments, and above all in the gran
deur and beauty OF her defamation, they recog-
missed the greatest of her age, and
Of the greatest in any age. Even among those who
had never heard her before, and to whom her name
had become historical, there were some, doubtless,
who could Judge, from what was, of what had been;
who could discern, in the decline of her powers,
what had been their original strength who, like
the Cuvers or Lyes, could mentally reconstruct
the perfect creation from the contemplation of its
remains But these were the few, capable Of as
sistiDg their perceptions by plastic imagination
The multitude must (and, as far our observation
has gone, did) listen TO this ilus,rious woman with
disappointment; and those even who retained the
most VIVID image Of her past splendour would ra-
ther that II had not been disturbed and dimmed by
this reproduction. She was cordially welcomed
and warmly applauded; the applause proceeding,
in many instances, from admiration of the high qua
lites she still exhibited. But the signs of decay
were so evdent-and, in particular, her intonation
was so constantly and so dsuessingly false-that
her Kind reception must, in great measure, be re-
gaTded as tribute TO her past glores rather than
to her present efforts. Pasta is one of the many
who have diminished in some degree the lustre OF
their name by indulging in the longing, lingering
look behind" which is not peculiar TO performers
on the stage, though il is more fatal TO their fame
than TO most other celebrities. The records of the
stage are full Of such instances, Siddons threw
ing on the stage long after she ought to have left
1t, and when she did retire, by ayang herself Of
new occasions Tor coming again before the public.
Mara, after career much longer than Pasta's, and
as brilliant, came again to London, TO be object
Of pity and sorrow to her old admirers. Grassini
committed similar error. John kemble and
Charles Young showed uncommon good sense in %
retiring absolutely, before their powers were at all
percept,by impaired.
The same paper has the following For some
weeks past the appearance in one Of the boxes Of
her Maiesty's theatre Of lady Of color, has caus-
ed much conversation in the Hobbies, and the rumor
that this was the same lady who, under the name
Of the BLACK Malbran," had created great sen
sation in Paris, contributed much "a increase Gu
riosiy. Biographies too, have been circulated, by
which we learn that Donna Anna Marin Loreto
Martinez de Morena-such is her brief name--is a
representative Of the national music Of Cuba and
Spain, having been born in the dependency and VIZ
siied the kingdom, and having studied music in
both. She was announced twice last week, but
hoarssness was proclaimed. and she did not appear.
This week she presented herself. however. and
proved CONTIGUOUS failure. advertisement
was spt cialy got up for her Turkish sultan Is in
his hsrtm, surrounded by his favcrites who are en-
tertanibg him with sports and dances. A veed
stranger IL introduced by the attendants who, her
veil being removed, appears 10 be black female,
richly aired She Is seated on an ottoman in
'front.' Of the siege, and, a guitar being handed 10
her, proceeds 10 sing national ballads, which are
iniermixed with dances. At length the sultan
rises, pays her the homage Of alteration, delivers
Ucr tne ndDukelCnttf. WINE the eN-faNorlte eN-
presses jealous reQc-and the curtain falls GAN
thn,' says a contemporary, was in bad taste,
and there was nothing 70 redeem Il in the lady's
performance. The ballads he'd nothing of the 70.
mantic grace end beauty Of the Spanish national
music. Thew were f low class. akin 10 the negro
songs Of the Ethiopsn serenaders, and by no means
superior 10 them in quality. They had little or no
sustained melody, bat were light and quick, inter-
mingled WIN spoken phrases and abrupt exclama-
tons, sometimes harsh and uncouth. Their effect
was quaint ard ccrous, and they were probably fail
OF character; but, regarded music they must rank
very low The lady sings neatly and iluently, and
accompanies cleverly on the guitar in the Spanish
fashion, producing much more sound by beating the
instrument than by playing upon it, She was loudly
and evidently Of n questionable character II we
are not much mistaken, the prevalent feeling was
hat the entertainment. clever enough In its way,
was out Of it's place in her Majesiy's theatre.
Madame Gavaudan IL dead To many il win be
necessary to explain that Madame Gavaudan was |
in her time one OF the most iayorte singing ac- |
trcsses and acting snncstresses belonging TO the
OJtra CoBiiguc Of Paris; and that, after many |
years of popularity, she retired from the stage IN
ls23i 10 put u otherwise, before the career Of her
successor, Mdllc Jenny Colon, began-she, too, |
has now been deed some years and almost be- |
fore Mdllc Darcier, the present Gavaudan OF her |
theatre, was hCrn. a daughter Of Madame Ca |
ago appeared in England with success as a concert
3 niger.
The first doctors degree in music ever bestowed |
BY ihe University Of Jena, has just been awarded
10 M. MsyeTbecr.
Madame Sontar appeared At her Majesty's The |
Atre IN character in which il was supposed She \
would run great rish-thc Flqla dtl bcruncn- I
10 heretofore considered The cole properly OfJen-
" Lad. The success was astonishing. The morn |