The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-03-19

with the fact that the bark Grapeshot is off
in the pursuit of Baker.
The Fry OPERA LIBEL CAsE-DEc1sIoN OF
THE CoURT.-We give elsewhere q full report
of the very elaborate decision Of the Judges of
the Superior Court in general term, after
patient hearing of the arguments in this case,
by which decision the former trial and verdict
remain set aside, and the proceedings Of the in
teresting Mr.. Fry must commence de novO. So
another jury will be called upon to determine
whether the losses of manager in attempting
to establish italian Opera in this community,
are to be visited upon the press as the most
villanous delinquent in the case.
We believe that in some of his announce
ments, Fry stated that his losses during his
operate campaign were something over
$4,000, and yet he did not take Sebastopol.
But we should like to know if there ever
was an attempt to establish italian Opera in
any great capital of Europe or America in
which the enterprise paid its way and yielded
profit to the management In this city we
know that every attempt of the kind has failed,
and has entailed terrible loss on the unlucky
management. The first attempt was made by
the late Edmund Simpson in the Park theatre,
when he brought over the Garcia troupe. After
single season the Opera broke up in loss and
ruin. The next attempt was in 1888, when the
Church street Opera House was built at vast
expense, and the management entrusted to Rva
Finiola That came down with an amusing crash
The next attempt was made by the well known
and amiable Palmo, who had spent the best part
of his life in accumulating about $l50,OOO, by
keeping the Cafe des Mile COLONIES in Broad
way. That was terrible crash. After two or three
seasons he lost his $4,000, and is now glad to
be cook to second class restaurant somewhere
about town, at five dollars per week. The next
the Aston Place Opera House, which had just
beeE built up by the Goldfish arstocracy of that
day. Sanquirico and Patti had ii one season.
but they broke down before two-thirds OF the
season had passed. Fry then succeeded, and
with large corps of oyster house critics was
determined to defy destiny, and to command
success. Every one is acquainted with his un-
fortunate fate. Poor Fry was succeeded by fit
full and feverish attempts, made sometimes by
one manager, sometimes by another, but gen.
orally ending in loss and ruin. The new Opera
House in Irving place, splendid as it is, and
although opened by Grisi and Mario-two of the
greatest drtistes in Europe-has had no better
success than the Astor Place Opera House had
for before halt the first season had drawn to
close, the house was shut up, and was only
after wards opened by the grace of the proprie-
tors The recent attempt Of Ole Bull exploded
in fortnight, and the fragments are all scat
tered around US, in the shape Of cards, and re.
joinders, and expositions, and afiidavits, and
resolutions explanatory Of the general ruin,
and showing that Ole Bulls loss in his fortnight
of management amounted to nearly $4,000.
Probably during the last twenty-five years
four hundred thousand dollars, if not half mil
lon has been totally lost in these futile attempts
to establish Italian Opera permanently and sue.
cessfully in this metropolis; and yet that in.
stitution is still only in its infancy, weak and
ricketty as a sick child. If, under the high
pressure of violent harapgues before jury,
and of personal abase disreputable TO gentle
man, we are to be mulcted to the amount Of
$4,000 for the losses Of one manager, other
managers may as well start up-some from the
grave, some from oyster houses, some from one
place, and some from another-and charge
their aggregate loss of half million upon US
ard the New York press.
The absurdity Of the Fry verdict, and its
injustice and llegality, become more and more
palpable as it is examined and turned over for
public inspection.
Naval Intelligence.