The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-10-12

THE OPERA WAR-WHAr IS TO BE Done
WITH THE ACADEMY We are requested by
several young ladies to inquire what is to become
of them If something is not done for the perma-
nent establishment of the Italian Opera? We
have received numerous letters upon the sub
ject--dear delicious. heart breaking, rose tinted
new mown hay perfumed billet dei1-and we as
sure our fair correspondents, one all, old and
young, handsome and ugly, that no efforts on our
part shall be wanting to bring about the success
of the cause nearest and dearest to their hearts
and hoops
What" asks one of our correspondents, "is
existence to the woman Of society before the
party season commences, without the Opera?''
What, indeed! life without motive-a dreary
waste without vernal shrub-a desert without
single oasis. If something is not done for the
Opera very shortly, we may expect to hear that
some ornament of fashionable society has severed
the thread of existence with the bell cord Of her
own boudoir.
Truly, the operate sky looks cloudy. Phalen,
the First Consul of the Academy, and Colt the
Second Consul, hold consultations with all the
other Consuls, while the ex-empresario finds his
Elba at the Assembly Rooms The Fifth
avenue is in great tribulation meantime, and all
the splendid opera dresses are lying unused in
dusty wardrobes, while all the young ladies and
old ladies mourn, and, ike Rachel, refuse to be
comforted. The terror has even spread to the
great dry goods shops, the chief losers by the
close of the Academy, which was better place
for the display Of their wares than even Stewards
palace ITSELF The Broadway dealers would find
it a good investment to subscribe something hand
some for some enterprising eatrepreneur to make
the ftieth attempt to establish the Italian Opera
upon permanent basis. Something must be
done for the young ladies' North and South, before
the Union is dissolved.
What is the prospect? The terrible losses OF
some of the former managers seem to have struck
terror into the hearts of the most daring specu-
lators. Yet the Opera pays somebody. One
manager-Mr. Paine-lost, they say, from eighty
to hundred thousand dollars, and yet some of
his employees bought blocks of brick houses,
made European tours, kept fast horses and other
wise initiated those oficeholders who make large
fortunes out of twenty five hundred dollars per
annum-spendiDg at the same time five thousand
a year. This is a most splendid exercise of that
fnanciering ability Of which we have had 80
many remarkable instances of late In spite of
all these risks there are, we presume, some rash
individuals who will, like Quintus Curtius, jump
into the chasm and save their country's Opera
The Chevalier Wikof, upon whom several
young ladies hung their hopes, hangs back
He is flying higher kite. Until he has demo
lished Palmerston and given Louis Napoleon that
splendid puff, he withdraws himself from art
The sad plight Of the Opera has his sncerest
sympatby-he mourns over it, and even shed half
a tear, but that soon dried up. Ullman, who
might be expected to come to the rescue, is get
ting ready the concerts Of Thalberg, the king OF
pianists and he cannot come. Maretzek won't
pay the rent, and the executive committee is dis
eusted with his oratory. All these chaps are in
The position Of the guests who we're hidden to the
wedding feast and pleaded a previous engage
ment as a reason for their non-attendance.
In this dilemma we would suggest that Sigpor
Fry should have another chance. Give him
fair field, and prc6ting by his past experience he
may yet permanently establish the Italian Opera
and save the Union. His brother is distin-
guished composer, and together they might form
combination that would be invincible. At all
events, Mr.. Phalen, let them try the experiment
We advise the Consuls Of the Opera to apply at
once to Mr.. Fry Give him chance.