The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-04-22

Of display than fox its musical triumphs. The
Litretto, by Mr.. ST. Ge5rges, is what ight have
cen expected from that author 80 La Mag,-
cienne is the heroine of the piece, and figures
in the libretto as Meluzire, Countess of Iusig-
nan, title that takes us back at once TO the
time of romance and the crusade s. Mr. Hale
vy's music is deliberately worked, but much
wanting ia melody. There are sesarai grand
and effective morcedur in the fourth ard fiftE
acts, which were enthusiastically applauded
The artists did their best, and Madame Borghi
Mamo and Mile Delisle carried off the honoss
OF the evening. An ingenious original ballet
representing game Of chess, the stage heing
the board, and the dancers filing Up their re
spective squares in The places Of kings, queens
castles, knights, &c., performing the moves
with astonishing grace and agility, made the
delight of the spectators. 1t was mach ap-
plauded by the audience, but the talent of the
author, composer, and performers, was thrown
in the shade by that of the scene painter and
the costamer. who may Justly claim the lions
share in the success of" La Magicfeage.'
The little comic opera, by the inusic-'over
and renowned critic, Prince Poniatowski, was
produced on Tuesday evening, and the Italian
Opera Honse was filled to excess by the leadS
ing fsshionables of Paris, determined to secure
success to the composition Of their friend. The
music is worthy of that popular amateur. 1t is
light, graceful, and pleasing, throughout.
"Don Desderis," the hero, is well-meaning
blunderer, unlucky in everything he undertakes,
ard, with the best intentions IN the world, ia
always bringing his friends with himself In the
most ridiculous misadventures. The poor Don
himselfi is in ludcrous distress, arising from his
mishaps, and at last entertains serious notions
of suicide; but matters all come right in the
ovxA L. = H. - Oh
straits The whole is an elegant trife,
bagatelle to vile away an evening agreeably.
The artists were in voice. and did honor to the
composition. Mario particularly was heard
with great pleasure in a romance peculiarly
well adapted to his fatigued voice. At the close,
the composers presence was loudly demanded
but the Prince had taken the precsution to
leave town the same evening, to be out Of the
way.
Before closing my musical gossip, i must be
allowed to give you little insight as to what
is going on among another class of composers
and performers. Two pianists, who have just
ly earned perfect success all over the continent,
have now met in Paris, squirting every nerve
to be pronounced the first and best of the epoch.
Litolf and Rubenstein are the mpetitors, and,
as is always the case in such warfare the pub
lie is divided into two contending parties. Tie
opinion of many is, that the latter, being the
younger, will carry the day, possessed, as he is
not only of a decided talent, but of charming
physique, with most agrees bic and winning
manners; whilst Litolf, perhaps the better
performer of the two, is so very repulsiye,
physically and morally, that he may have to
yield the palm to rival inferior in art.
Our "hue american prima DONNA" Nine.
Gueramella, is much noticed in the papers.
She has of late been singing at small concerts,
but from what l can CLEAN it would seem that
her beauty is more attractive than her voice,
which, though fine one, is not calculated ever
TO rank with that of the first singers of the day,
either in school or dramatic effect and tae
musical critics pretend to say they go to hear
Nine. de Gerbel to feast their eyes, and rot
their ears. We are sorry that Madame de Ger
bel Miss Ward that was) has Ita!ianized her
name, instead of anglicising it. Gueramella il,
Hsve-the'ess. more hdnid thsn Tanner WHICH
Is the literal meaning of her husbands German
name. If Miss Hensler has reached the de-
gree of perfection that was anticipated in her
second visit to Italy, she may justly rank her
self fret among the American singers OF the
present day.
MIR. Rarey and Mr. Fiume have been he
lions of the day. Mr.. Rarey has tanned sevs ral
Wild horses, and Mr.. Fluree has tanned so ne
refractory spirits OF ancient and modern die.
The former has offered his secret for sale at
100000; the latter, being less ambitious, Jas
offered to prove to lady the Immortality Of her
soul for a small annuity of 81, 900 year. 9he
sight of predous stones was made necessary
to tame that spirit, and the crednlons lady ro-
duced boih-a written agreement havirg re-
vously been made out ON stamped paper. Or.
Flume carefully packed the gems, poekeEed
them, aud vanished leaving the lady 10 ENJOY
the consolatory conviction of the immortality
of her soul.
NJ de Lamartine's friends have not succe ed
ed in obtaining the permission they solicited to
put up his estates to lottery consequently, tley
propose selling the estates OF Mily and Bon
cedur in small ADts SO Gs to obtain sufficient
amount of money to enable him to pay off the
greater part of his debts, which are said to be
no less than $4,000 and if possible leave
him the small estate of Saint Point.
Prince George of Saxony has just arrive in
Paris this afternoon. After short stay at the
Tuileries, he is TO proceed to London.
The famous astronomical clock OF the Ca he
dral of Strasburg reproduced by means OF its
machinery, with perfect accuracy, the VAR ous
phases of the recent eclipse of the sun. Ibis
clock, as is we'll known, in addition to dec Jar
ing the time, presents the heavenly bodies md
their movements. .
Accounts from Milan state that some den on
strations took place there on the occasion Of the
execution of Orsini. Several persons recei yed
anonymous letters, containing Grape bar de,
which they were enjoined to wear on their q ms
in honor of the deceased. The msjorit of
these letters were handed over to the police by
whom an investigation was instituted, WI ich
has led to the arrest of three former friend of
Orsini. One Of them had been condemnet, to
seventeen years of the galleys, but was par on
ed by the Emperor of Austria.
Gen. 7. Addison Thomas, former Assis ant
Secretary of State, departed this life on Sc tur
day, the 20th instant, leaving family of u ang
children, to the deep regret of all his coui try
men. The General apparently enjoyed pod
health, and, being of vigorous constitul ion,
promised TO outive many of his friends but
his career was suddenly closed by typhoid Fl yer.
His remains viii be taken to the United s. ates
| for interment.
The CRoAKERs OF SocIETY.-One of the
most melancholy productions of this cond ton
OF life, is the sniVeler-a biped that infes ell
classes of society, and prattles from the ate
chism of despair, on all subjects of human con.
Germ. The spring of bis mind is broken A
babyish, nerveless fear has driven the mt.
ment of hope from his SOUL He cring.s to
every phantom of apprehension, and obeyi the
impulse OF cowardice, as though they wer. the
laws OF existence. He is the very Jeremi b of
conventionalism, and his life one long and lazy
lamentation. In connection with his ma din
brotherhood, his humble aim in life is to s ,per-
add the snapetization of society to its civ liza-
ton. He sniyels in the cradle, at the SC ,ool,
at the altar, in the market, on the death bed.
His existence is the embodiment of W line.
Passion In him is merely whimper. He
clings to what is established, as q snail to |.
rock. He Gees nothing in the future but evil
nothing in the past but good. His spec Ell ia