The Georgetown news., 1856-03-13
Scene In Australia.


The violiniSt, Miska Hauser, writes as
follows of recent theatrical scene i'll Aus
! tralia:
Since my arrival in Australia / have oft
en- thought to myself when, wearied hy the
mad hustle of the public, l put my fiddle
into its case: We'll, there can be nothing
more new for me in the way Of adventure
but, on coming to another town, have al
ways found myself mistaken. Perhaps even
a rowing fiddler should have his secrets if
not from policy, from artistic vanity. But
natural frankness OvercOmeS vanity with
me; so down go all my impressions into my
diary without disguise.
Obliged to throw myself upon the mana
ger Of theater-for found on my arrival
that all the concert rooms were already
hired-I bound myself to play for him for
twelve successive nights. My first appear
ance was to take place in the last days of
May; and the papers having pulled me en-
Enthusiastically for weeks, and public curios-
ity being raised to the highest pitch, the
house was full to suffocation. A ballet was
to precede the concert; and all the profess
ional singers, the Misses Octavia Hamilton,
Olympia Montgomery, and Dona Aurelia
Babletti, the Spaniard, were ready to join
in endless trills, cadences, and roulades;
while besides them, an epic gentleman was
engaged to read Milton; and Signor Botte-
SIM with his sublime baSSO, was to sing un-
til the welkin rang.
The curtain rose. A French dancer, an
elegant, supple young lady, of no great
beauty, but much expression, and apparent
" on very good terms with herself, appear
ed on the scene in her short lace-dress, re-
ceived by an outburst Of applause, and by
the martial trumpetS of the orchestra. But
from the other side came youthful bloom
ing Spanish Creole, with beautiful eyes,
large and soft; her complexion rosy, her fig
ure tall-in fact, the very impersonation of
TerpSichore. She bowed modestl y-it was
her first appearance at Melbourne-an the
enthusiasm of the public, surprised by her
beauty, manifested itself in vehement cheers.
The two dancers struggled for the palm
of victory in graceful tarantula. Like two
glittering butterflies they whirled around,
accompanied by music and applause. The
mercurlal Partisan made use of all her most
cites, of her most enchanting attitudes; but
the Creole seemed patronized by the graces
themselves. laundering applause encour-
! aged her; and as often as she came forward
with her graceful modesty, nosegays and
rings and bracelets were thrown at her feet.
The French lady struggled with her last
strength against the triumph of her rival,
until, disheartencd and exhausted, she fell
to the ground.
The Creole approached her with COM
passion to raise her, when suddenly the Pa
risian started up, and, with looks full of
hate and fury, boxed the ears of her rival.
The audience hiSSed and hooted, while she
exclaimed with passion-'the wretch trip
ped me' The poor Creole declared with
dignity that she was innocent of the mean
ness; but vulgar word which slipped out
of the lips of the French dancer against her,
suddenly reused all the passions of the South
in her bosom, and a singular struggle be-
gan. The two excited ladies rushed upon
each other, and wrestled and tore and pulled
one anothers hair while the thunders of
the gallery made the whole atmosphere Vi
orate. never saw more natural perfor-
nance. The better classes of the public
did not interfere, but seemed rather to be
amused by these not entirely Olympic exer-
cises, until the Creole, bleeding and faint
ing, was carried away from the scene.
Some officers, who from box had wit
messed the spectacle, were revoted at the
conduct OF the Partisan, and sent for the
pollce to arrest her, but her friends collected
and resisted the constables. A riot ensued;
a portion of the public rushed on the stage:
they jumped across the orchestra; the fd-
dies and bass viols were broken; ladies were
fainting, children crying, and II took to
my heels with my fiddle, and ran away with
out stopping till | reached my hotel.