The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-11-11

Mon list was thin, nor were my houses much better. Bat
after some two weeks MORE the supposed Duchess Of De
completely astounded to find such report in circulation
From the day OF her arrival announced that should
accept OF no more subscriptions the season. and
raised the prices Of admssi exactly handre per
cent This last fact dispeled all doubts Of her superin
this, with such rival attraction Jenny Lind in the
market had not been morally certain OF her success
Well, she appeared Norma TO crowded house, and
you know she had talent enough to sustain the fepu
tation which my agents and friends had manufactured
for her. To the Of the shs continued 70 draw
excellent houses and, instead Of being ruined as my
self had predicted with full determination were it pos
sibe to alsify prophecy carried three operate
seasons in New York. Philadelphia and Boston, 20 tr
umphant close being enabled 70 pay the debts OF the
season. and TO close my campaign withsome profit
We cannot conclude our extracts without quoting
the following characteristic trait related of the &C.
centric Havana in,presario:-
DON FRANCISCO MARTY rORRENs {:
II has been told that the Captain general Concha
had time determined upon depriviog
privilege OF exclusively dealing in fish, He had therefor
obtained the revocation Of the grant from the Spanish
Ministry. The worthy Sener Francisco had, however,
besn informed Of the proceedings with this view by his
agents, and had acted in accordance with the inte
genee. When summoned by General Concha 10 the
palace and notified by him that his privilege had ceased
~ command Of the Queen he very cooly asked the
was handed him Marty looked at it ami drew auo-
ther from his pocket which was dated exactly one day
later.
IL revoked the former and rensated Don Francisco
Marty Torrens all his former rights aud privileges
The General for the moment thundersrucK Marty
Your Excelency not appearing to have received the
communication, believe me- shall feel most happy in
n % ~a' hs sns and his influence.
Marty not liked. The proud Castilian nobs OF the
leland absolutely refused to tolerate the and
6sh seller in their society He therefore determined
upon forcing them to swallow the fish and digest the
negro. To do this he built splendid opera house,
gagged first rate opera troapes, and became his own
mansger.
At first, lovers of song all spaniards are they
Enraged at this Don Francisco committed an act the
egotism OF which intense that it almost amounts
genius
public but retained the company.
The performances were continued for himself
There he sat- but for few friends in solitary grandeur,
listening to and iepoyng the music Almost aloae Now
he would applaud this hiss that artisthere he would
give raptrous e,eore-there he would throy magaif
cent bracelet upon the stage to pretty pinc dOnG-
he himself representing in his own person axe the pub
he the management the critics and the dead heads 1t
strikes me, my good old friend, that the grand cynicm
Of this conduct has been equaed For this alone
do confess that almost venerate the senior francisco
However, the artists made acquaintance, and these
acquaintance wished to hear them in opera Marty
heard il, and doubtless chuckled inwardiy Externally,
he was inexorable
This strange and it seemed to the majority of The
public in Havana unaccountabe behavior raised their
curiosity 70 the highest pitch After interpreting many
and II appeared insurmountable difficulties, Marty,
perhaps Of his solitary Sybarsm, consented
with the alistocracy of the Cuban capital
vided number of them wou buy up the boxes of his
houre certain series Of years, and provided they
would make up purse each season the management
he willing to throw open the doors OF the racon and
furnish first class operate performances As the Spanish
Senoritas exceedingly fond of music and
partial to display the Spanish Senores obliged by
the love of melody and the OF their better halves
comply with these terms. Don Francisco had his
first battle with the Havanese aristocracy.
From the extracts above given it viii be seen
that we have not exaggerated the novel and highly
amusing chara tier OF Mr.. Maretzek's first literary
effort. 1t is individually aggressive, it is true
than contemporary works usually are, but it is for
that reason all the more spicy and piquant The
writer, it must be recollected, has not been over
enderly dealt with in his time and we must MOI.
therefore, be over-nce in our appreciation Of the
Taste which has suggested it. 1t has one strong
Recommendation in eyes, AMI that is, that it in
Hicts well merited castigation upon the wifnl-
uness, the capricious folly and the extravagant
bectations of foreign artists which have done more
o retard the progress OF scientific music in this
ountry than all the other causes to which the non
uccess Of Italian Opera is ascribed