Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-08-07

liner than any picture. The vast ampithe- {
ater Of signers, filling up the whole breadth ,
of the western transept, stretching off into {
space, and the simultaneous turning of tho
leaves of their music books was like the ap-
pearance of "an army with banners" or the {
rustling of the wind in a mountain forest.
We were so late that we could only cling to
the outskirts of the multitude below, and l 5
was fearful that we should not be able to
hear dstinctly-but l might as well have
feared not hearing tho thunder in a cloud
over my head Not only was the quarter
of mile of palace completely filed with
the waves Of the chorus, in every part, but
they spread beyond it, and flowed audibly
over tho hills for milo around. l kept
my eye on the leader, Da Costa, whose
single arm controlled the whirlwind. He
lifted it, like Moses, and the plague fell on
Egypt; he waved it, and the hailstones
smote, crashing upon the highways and the
temple-roofs; he stretched it forth and the
Red Sea waves parted, and closed again on
the chariots of Pharioh. He was lord of
the tuneful hosts that day, and Handel
himself, as he wrote the scores Of the i'm
mortal work, could not have more perfectly
incarnatcd its harmonios. Following him,
| trod in tho thunder marches Of the two
fold chorus and stood in the central calm
of the stormy whirls of sound.
There is no doubt that with the masses
of the English people, Handel is the most
popular composer. The opera is still an
exotic, not yet naturalized to their taste
but Handel, with his seriousness, his cheer
fulness, his carnestness his serene sell-reli-
ance and undaunted daring, speaks directly
to the English heart. His very gracos have
l the simple quietness of the songs Of Shake
sperc, those touches Of tender fancy Which w"i..ch
, glimmer like spots Of sunshine through the
= the cathedral gloom Of Milton The effect
: of the grand performance, however, was
t frequently marred by the sharp, dry sound
q of senselcss clapping, demanding an encore,
e which Da Costa sensibly refused whenever
c it was possible. We stood in the edges Of
= tho crowd wcre also greatly annoyed by the
:, creaking boots of snobs who went idly
d walking up and down the aisles, and the
p chatter of the feminine fools, who came
only to be heard and seen. In New York
il one might have the same annoyance, but by
# no possibility could it happen in Germany.
d Don GioUanni is having n great run in
>, both Italian Operas, Grisi and Piccolomoni
e being rivals in the part Of Donna lima
is heard the former and wondered at the
e consummate skill with which she managed
$, failing voice. Bosio was Zerlina, but
l. sweet and graceful as ever, she seemed to
L have lost something since she was in New
i York, five or sir years ago. Herr Formes
= as LeporeHe, was admirable, and Ccritc
o appeared in tho ballet scence with all hel
former grace and beauty; but the Italiar
4, Opera in London is now what it was il
e Lumleys palrny days. Entertainments by
t. individuals-single-string performers, play
st ing on "a harp of thousand strings"-art
a now very popular. Tho success of Albert
of Smith and Gordon Cumming has led the
y way to number Of solo performers, nearly
d all of which are very we'll attended. Mr.
/ Drayton ian American | believe) gives
20 what he calls "Illustrated Proverbs;" Miss
Ie P. Horton exhibits something of the same
o kind; Mr.. Woodin pours forth an "Olio O
IS Oddities" :" Mr.. and Mrs. Wilton announce
IS their "Evenings with American Poets" ect
# All the world crowds on Sunday to hea
in the Rev. Mr.. Spurgeon, who splurges in thu
ID Surrey Musical Hall. He is, | am told, o
" the Beecher school, but with less ability
l. and impresses principally by his earnestnes
ID and the direct, practical nature of his ser
c. mons. People seem to be agreed that hc
is is sincere man, though his face, as it ap
d pears in tho shop windows, is anything bu
a. an agreeable one to look upon--being rounc
" and full, with round eyes, flat, flabby checks
: a pug nose, and short lips, gaping apart t.
at exhibit some very prominent front teeth.
ID Mr.. Sumner is here, at Maurgy's Hote
el in Regent street. have not yet seen him
le but some friends tell me he is looking yer
n, well. No American has ever been NOR
81 popular in England than Mr.. Sumner, am
he is at present floating on the top wave O
e, London society, L heard the other day
s. good story of his arrival here. He enter
le cd his name upon the book as simply "Mr
ar Sumner, Boston," and was accordingly Sc
G. down by the host and his flunkies as an or
a dinary traveller. Tho next morning one o
h. the latter came to Mr. Summers room il
OF some excitement, and said "Lord Broue
IN ham is down stairs, Sir, asking for you."-
III To the walters amazcment, Mr.. S. quietl
or said, without exhibiting the least surprise
GO every well; show him up" Not long after
ii ward the former came, still more excited
le "Sir, tho Lord Chief Justice has called, ant
h he asks for youl' "Show him up" wa
y again the cool reply. After his LordshiI
b had departed the waiter came once more
l. bewildered and little aggravated; "Sir
N SIR, the Lord Chancellor of England ha,
d called to see your "Show him up" re
h piled Mr.. S.. These astonishing facts were
n no doubt at once communicated to the land
r lord for the next days Morning Post an
D, nounced the arrival Of "His Excellency tho
> Honorable Mr.. Sumner" Maurigy's Hotel
d An annccdote which l heard in Sweder
% and neglected to relate in its proper place
n recurs to me here. 1t is too good to be lost
% Last Summer an American, who was on q
al visit to st. Petersburg, happened to be
d walking in one of the narrow streets Of
10 that capitol, one muddy day, when he
e suddenly met the Grand Constantine.
e The sidewalk was not wide enough
S, for two persons to pass, and the street
e was deep in filth. Both stopped, and
g a moments awkward pause ensued. Sud
q denly the American, taking a silver rouble
}; from his pocket shook it in his closed hands,