Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-01-31
THE ROWING FIDDLER


have now from the pen les lively description
of the nshtside Of social and artistic life in Melbourne
MstBoUSSE. Jane Is. 1895.
Lf resembles here the carnival OF Venice Il does not
move In measured time and step but whiris oisly about
Whoever likes msddcning hustle and loud mth will feel
happy at Melbourne but he who cheshes higher aspi-
ra"ns. who delights in arts and science aud refined
cisl rnjoy will scarcely find satisfaction
ut, in fact Is practicc in the prossc way "A bu-
ness The theatres aud concerts are always filled any
musical and hstonc artists cannot anywhere els. in the
world reap plentiful harvest aud richer ma.ri, ~
ward Hut 1t Is only the tnsc the false iu-tc which
pea>cs this population it l. artificial execution which
eAeitcs applause, not the high OF art.
Since my arrival in Australia have often thought to
myself when wearicd by the mad hustle OF the public
put fiddle into its well there can he nohing
mere tor in the way OF adventure !" hut ON com
ing to another town, have always found myself mis,a
Ken Perhaps even rowing fiddler should have his se
cret II not from policy. from artistic vanity But natu-
raj frankness always vanity with me and so
down SO all my impressions into my diary without dis
guisc.
Obliged to throw myself upon the manager of theatre
Tor found on my arrival that all the rooms were
already hired bound myself play him ON IL sue.
cessiNe nights NV first appearance take place In
the last days OF Nav and the newspapers having pud
me enthusiastically for weeks and public curiosity being
raised tn the highest pitch. the house full soca
ton ballet was To procce the concert and all the pro-
teSsonal singers, the Misses Ocava Hamilton Olympia
Montgomery, and Donna Aurcia Babictta the Spaniari
were ready to join in endless tr csdences and rouaes
while besides them an cpic gentleman engaged TO
read Mltom aud Sgnor Botessni with his sublime baso
was to sing till the welkin rang
The curtain French dancer an elegant sunni.
Young lady, ofno great beauty but much expression
apparently ON perfectly good terms with herself appeared
ON the scene in her short acedes received by
burst OF applause and by the martial t-mpcts Of the
chesra But from the other side a youthful bloom.
lug Spanish Creole, with beautiful eyes large soft;
her complexion ROSY. her figure tal-in fsc-he very
mpcrsona,ion Of Tcrpischovc She bowed modcsty
her hst appearance at Melbourneand the enthusiasm OF
the public surprised by her beauty manifested itself
hcmcnt cheers.
The dancers struggled for the palm Of victory in
tNO oils h,,s
whi'led around accompanied by music and applause
The mcrcura Partisan made of all her seductive
welc OF her most refined piruuett other enchan
ting attitudes; but the Creole seemed paroniScd 10y the
Graces themselves laundering applause encouraged her
and ~ often she forward with her graceful mod
eStv noSesays and rings and bracelets thrown at
her feet The French lady struggled with her last strength
against the triumph of her rival until, dsheartened and
| exhausted, she fell to the ground.
The Creole approached her with compassion to raise
her when suddenly the Partisan darted up and with looks
full of hate and fury boxed the of her rival The
audience Missed and hootcd while has exclaimed with pas
sion: The wretch trpped me-" The poor Creole declared
with dignity that she innocent othc mcanness: but
vulgar wnri, which slipped of the lips of the French
dancer against her suddenly roused all the passions of the
south in her BOSOM and singular struggle began The
two excited ladies rushed upon each other and wreed
and and pulled one anothcrs hair while the thun
crs of the gallery made the whole atmosphere ybrats
! never saw more natural performance The better
classes of the public did interfere but seemed rather
To- he amused by tese not entirely Olympic exercises
I'll the Creole bleeding aud aintng carried from
| the scene.
Some officers who, from box had Witnessed the spec
tacc rcyOed the copuct of the Partisan
for the police her. hut her friends collected and
resisted the constahcs riot ensued portion of the
public rushed the stage they jumped the oches-
tra the hddcs and bass vios broken; ladies were
fiintinG; children cryiug and IL took INV heels with
my fiddle, and Runaway without stopping till reached my
hotel.
Arrived in INV room. Law comfortably down nv sofa
and lighted an excellent cigar. "Farwell Melbourne"
exclaimed l. and began revel in n world Imagination
full of the brightest hopes. India the land of wonders
Ill ~ rns. dream Ike
Arabian tale. In about thirty DAYS thought l. shall he
wandering on the sacred banks the Gauges whence the
-ei at length will carry me back to Europe INV
lear cOuntry-what happiness EniOving the thought |
jumped up from the sofa, cSclaiming- leave
Australia But at these words, the manager OF the the
atrc rushed into the
The deuce shouted he with voice which seemed
at the time that of bear YOU don't leave Mel
bounreif you DO shall have YOU arrested" lie took
agreement from his pocket and continued tapping
iercely with his hngcr-"llcrc is your signature Mr.
Nishka iiauscr; yCu snail escape me- booked him
monrniuy and requested him to spare for ca-; the
night pleaded headache and nervousness occ'l-
stoned by the scardnus occurrence in the theatre; but
the manager had no bowels than other managers
tic said the pusc insisted either upon the concert the
return Of the entancerc; that the had been quiet
"a 10y compromsethati say, 10y the of both
the dancers and that my absence would the
al OF the riot. With heavy sigh, took his arm, and
vent with him, like lamb 10 the with the
blue apron. In IL few minutes, stood on the fatal
bOirll
The overture of "Don Juan open the concert;
but of the performers could be found; in-tru.
meats Of others brukcn aud the conductor had
Sgnor Botessn the fayore sgner Melbourne tried to
calm the noisy public but in vain. lie listened
TO; misses and laughter received him; the excited public
demanded impcrOusy the overture and the manager had
| TO Weld.
At midnight therefore, after the dispeasure and mpa
thence Of the public had died awav had forward
and take the command oft edsabed nuscband. All eyes
spectaccs aud opera gas. turned towards poor
person and pre-occuped sid ling evil gave tho
signal Tor the performance In my CONSERVATION, I
scarcely heard how the work of the great Mozart dealt
fNa t.ff.s
appearlnced of the commander Undesirable noise of
hOotng aud shouting rent the air feared the ghost
tn" treaed Mozart had entered the theatre; but il
something more prosaic-the police-oicer who in the
name OF the governor, ordered the public retire The
stage filed with the police force; IN i've minutes
n the pit cleared aud nobody glad OF it ~
The next day. all the papers severely ccnsured the pub.
lie. what will Europe what vii the world think of US
said the Argus. iii artists who the for
sake, treated with little respcct-if art which
ought to elevate u, i degraded by rioous conduct -?
The Lesson have had it, effect a few days later
played, and was received With distinction piece,
!. "Thr Bpqnct4 NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Irish mcodc.-
made great sensation aud ronsed the exctabe and here
pretty numerous Ii-h population to tie highest pitch ol
national enthusiasm. The day before yesterday per-
formed n the Arsenal for the benefit Of the hospital aud
the receipts very brilliant the committee appoint
ed me lit-govcrnor. was honored with tochght
rcnai'. and other ovatious which, the playbl- say
r werr 700 tedious 10 mention
So yOu see, there the smooths well tho roughs
IL 40 Melbourne after ALL Even ordinary walk i ex.
cccinsy interesting. There are here about .Dupu Chi
ncse, VINO always Huusc greatly by their Oddities
O 10 walking through their srccs-thcy occupy quarter
II Of the town Of their find ourselves in a new
world. Before the hotel, where Chinese gourinaud-
c arc dining under the vrranda joint Of dogs
roast cits flied gra-4hoppcrs snad Of roacclvcs and
other peculiar dinties. among them i, Oc
currencr but IL is serious the mott the
. vsnquhcd loses his tail which remains trophy in
the hands of hs victorious Antagonist who then pavcly
rctire- from the battlefield At Of the corner. stS
book seller selling his books not according their va
uc or to fxcd price, but according to weight IT, or
weighing them, they too light. he cOolly
leaves from another hook and threw them into the scale
= The Chinese have here the curious custom Of making
ono another presents Of richly adorned collins tcsi
DC iuonia' Of their love, friendship esteem. Parent
take such present from their children a token Of fila
u affection.
L, But my letter becomes too long, aud must close
UARHIED.
81 81 Pauis Church. Richmond rs rt Rev Krrtie 70
iyuehhIrg. HENRY 4 CARRtVGTOV, ~ Charlotte county %