The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-28

were not disposed to advance more money, and
there was a proposition to establish triumvi-
rate government. The French and Spanish
fleets continued at Sacrifcios; but it ia not
stated that any attempt had been made to favor
the church party by enforcing demands upon the
constitutional government in Vera Cruz. On
the whole, we think that the game of Mexico
must be played while longer by the Mexicans
themselves, and that the time has not yet come
for our government to endeavour to settle it
either wifi, Mexican railroad projects or Mexican
protectoratcs.
The OPERA-THE PICCoLoMIM FCRoRE IN
BosToN.-The Piccolomini troupe arc expected
back from Boston by the middle Of next week
their last performance-"L Zlngara"-being
fixed for the Sd Of January. Whether this arrange
ment will be adhered to Of course depends in
measure upon their continued attractiveness,
which, up to the present time, has exhibited no
indications of falling of. Their success thus
lar in Boston has surpassed the most sanguine
expectations Of the management. In about two
weeks and half Mr.. Ullman has Melted upwards
ofshirty thousand dollars-a receipt which nearly
equals that of any similar period during the New
York season. Considering the difference in the
population Of the two cities, it may therefore be
inferred that, great as is the popularity Of Mile
Piccolomini with our New York audiences, it is
exceeded by the favor in which she is held by
the Bostonians.
What have the hungry critics and other jealous
dctractors Of this admirable artist to say to
this fact? What have become of their
sneers and inucndocs pointing to special in
huences and manufactured excitement as being
the origin of her successes here. Leaving aside
the fact that no manager, however adroi, can, by
any means known to theatrical operators, secure
the success of particular artist, the Boston
triumphs of Mile. Piccolomini have, we think,
fully demonstrated that universally of power
which We claimed for her from close obserya-
ton of her career. In Turin, where we first
heard her, and where fhc audiences are colder
than in Florence, Milan or Rome, she excited
just the same Juror that was created by her per-
formances in the other Italian cities, and subse-
quently in London Dublin and New York. It is
clear that no reputation that was not sustained
by the highest order of talent could have passed
through such ordeals without losing its prestige.
Whatever, therefore, may be asserted to the con-
trary, Mile. Piccolomini's triumphs in all the
great centres Of refinement and musical cultiva-
ton in the Old World, as well as in the New,
prove her to " an artist whose gifts, such as they
are, arc held in the highest estimation by the
public
The dissent from these opinions manifested by
a few small journalists here can only be attri-
buted 10 the fact that they do not understand or
appreciate the qualities on which Mile. Piccolo-
mini s success is founded. They do not seem TO
be aware that on the lyrical stage other than
mere vocal gifts are required to raise an artist
TO fame. Almost all the great names that have
been made on the Italian stage have been ac-
quirod less through the perfection Of their voices
than of their dramatic powers. The world re-
cognizes in the combination of fair share
OF both point Of excellence to which
IL Is given to but few to attain.
Had Mile. Piccolomini happened to be
what is conventionally styled by the critics
lyrical hogoiiene. there are so many standards to
compare her with that her position would have
been at once fixed by them, and the denizens OF
Grub street would have had no difficulty 10 COM
pretending her. II IL because she belongs TO n
different and rarer class Of lyrical artists who
can pass readily from serieus to light opera, and
from the most pathetic dclincations TO the oppo-
sitc extremes Of coquetry and humor, that she Is
an enigma TO them. We're they to witness the
performances Of the French actor Boufie, he
would alike be incomprehcnsibe to them; for,
having neither feeling nor Imagination, they
cannot rise 10 the level of genius which plays
upon all the different chords Of the human heart
with q facility which nothing but the highest in
telligence can impart
To the public, however. who a1 always ready
TO acknowledge the impressions made upon
them without the reserve Of jealous critical
susceptibility, always on the look out for de-
fects, the success OF such an artist az Mile. Pic
colomini can be no puzzle. Whatever difficulty
they may find in Analysing the means by which
those impressions are produced, they admit, by
the enthusiasm Of their appreciation, that they
can only be the result Of rare natural gfls 70
WHICH CuiHshtion mas auueu tne little THAT re-
NAMED TO be bestowed. Mile. Piccolomin IT,
as we have before said, little prodigy who can
not be Judged BY any Of the ordinary rules or
standards Of criticism. Combining beauty, CO
quetry, vocal power and dramatic intclli-
gcncc TO a greater degree than any artist
who has preceded her on our stage, her
success has consequently been greater than
that Of almost any Of her predecessors
When she returns here, on her way TO Phil,.
delphia, we expect to see the matured feeling of
our New York public towards her marked IN
manner still more demonstrative than on the oc-
casion Of her first performances. AS the troupe
can only give few representations prior to the
folflment Of its engagements IN the former city,
it is probable that the Academy will next week
r,rosent scpnps of eager thron0inv and cycitn-