Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-10-06
THE MASKED BALL.
now VERDTS OPERA OF TIT MASKED RAIL
CAMP To BE LOCATED N AMERICA.

THE MASKED BALL.
now vERDfs OPERA OF TIE MASKED RAIL
CAMP TO BE LOCATED N AMERICA.
-
Fsrdfs opera was frst performed in Italy, and
despite the obstacles which for q long time post
pOned its production, and obliged the author Of
the Gbretto 10 make numerous absurd alterations,
was highly successful. The history of the diff
rulhes encountered by Somma, the Italian Gbrct-
list, before the BdAO an MaSchcTa could be made
acceptable to the exigencies of the Neapolitan
censorship, under the late excellent King BOmba,
is both curious and amusing. 1t is, in the first
place, somewhat surprising that Signor Somna,
who Is an experienced writer FOR the italian stage,
and perfectly acquainted with the hyper-sensi-
tIveness Of Italian censorships, should have fat
tered himself with the notion of obtaining per
mission TO produce, ct Naples, a drama founded
ON the assassination of a king, at the very mo-
ment when EaSinand Il was adopting every
possible precaution to avoid perishing in exactly
the same sudden and unpleasant manner. Verdi,
himself, who was at Naples with his collaboration,
was soon reduced to despair by the innumerabie
and apparently insumountable objections raised
against The opera. and was twenty times on the
point of abandoning the struggle.
SOmma, however, never once lost hope, and
constantly assured the nervous composer that Il
the direction Of affairs were left entirely t0 him.
self, he would turn TO good account the friend
ship of the manager Of san Carlo, who, in his
turn, was 50 well known for his circumspcction,
the government relied fully upon his Judgment.
Al the outset Of the negotiations, Sonma thought
80 sO0the the impressaJio, by informing him that
the new work was " only a translation Of a harm
less french balrt-Opera; - which revelation had
an effect exactly opposite the one intended. Som
ma ought 10 have known that, since IS4S, mp 70
the fight Of Bomba II, French productions were
looked upon at Aaples, with q very moderate de-
rree Of favor. But, notwithstanding the applica-
ton OF an iTitant instead IF an cmollieut, the
manager declared that he really and truly desired
20 hTing cat the BaiIO "a Hasckcra, if every pos
ab-C pTeteXt for political demonstration could he
removed lrOm the piece and, to prove his good
vii, he offered 10 assist Somma IN making the
necessary changes.
10 ans proposition the hbrettist clieerfully as
scented, and the two commenced their labors
forthwith. Their first care was 10 suppress from
she dramatiS PeTS0Hae, the names Of all the
princes, dukes, baT0nS, ministers, OF f~avOTitcS, OF
any government friendly to Naples, from the
cUsades down 10 the present time. With thr
aid Of several historical dictionaries, this was
satisfactorily accomplished ia a few days. Then
csme the task Of supplying fresh names. First
came THE principal character Of toe opera, who
YVES, Of course, Gustavus III, King OF Sweden.
SigpOr SOmma, after various nights Of restless
reelection, hit upon what be imagined to be a
capital substitute name which might take the
place Of Gustayus without entirely violating the
probabilities Of history. OF he hastencd, al
once, 20 propose making the Earl of WarWick
the hero of the opera. 4 certain Earl OF War
wick was stabbed at a bali in Stockholm, and.
Scratch out the word Stockholm interrupt
Cd the prudent manager, " and call again to-InOr-
row. Meantime, l viii take your idea-Or the
rest Of it-intO serious consideration"
On the MORROW patient Signor Somma was
punctual 70 the appointment. Verdi however,
engaged passage on a steamer bound 10 Mar
settles, and was busy packing his trunks at tlg
moment his colaborat0r was vending his way.
buOyant with hope, toward the san Carlo.
"1Our expedient as regards the name" said
the impressGrio, " Is a good one. We don't Xix,
the English, and we viii take care 20 let every
body know that your Earl Of Warwick is au
Englishman. ! have thought the matter over
thoroughly; and II has struck me that the &C
casion IS an admirable one TO prove that divine
punishment is dealt out TO heretics, who, INSTEAD
OF harmlessly passing their evenings at the
opera, frequent such vile places as public masked
balls, and are stabbed Tor their pains. But on n"
account must the SCENE be located in Stockholm.
If you remember, / said so at once. Our rascal
y revolutionists would instantly make up tlei
minds that the Earl Of Warwick Is only a thin
disguise for the royal martyr, Gustayus Ill
Indeed, to avoid all chance Of comparison, it is
not advisable to lay the scene in any E~unopean
city
That IS the very thing | was about to sug
gestf" exclaimed poor Souua, who, in truth,
never supposed that lis HbIetto was 10 be pitt
lessly exiled from all Europe. 4" have thought
II would be a capital plan to murder the Earl OF
Warwick at''-nGming the first American city
which .-rtered his mind" Boston,
AT Boston"
"L4.aImy, my dear sir Why not You
are, Of course, aware that for many years pre-
vious 70 the war Of independence, the city OF
Boston was governed 10y different Earls Of War
wick, from father to son, during several genera
tons"
4" Indeedr' calculated the manager of san
Carlo, who accepted all this as evangelical truth
o. knew that signOr Washington was chosen
emperor by the Americans, but / really was not
aware that the Earl OF Warwick was governor
Of Boston How very fortunate for OuT opera
"Of course, Of course ~ continued Souma,
pursuing his advantage. "The Earl OF Var
wick, then, being Governor Of Boston, We easily |
suppose that a serile iBsurrcction breaks out.
Boston has a very large negro slave population,
andras everybody knows, some years ago threat
ened to declare war on Charleston, another State
Of the Union, if Der runaway slaves were not
Immediately sent back
why, my dear Sonma, / had no idea you
were so well read in American history -
"Oh, don't mention it, To proceed, then
A serTile instruction breaks on 1t Boston, and
at The head Of the plot we place two mulattoes,
who. if You do not object, shall be- called Tom
and SAM
Tom and SAM unused the cautious i'm
p~ressaTio. Yes, ! see 10 Political allusion IN
those names-T0m and sam viii do very well.
These twO conspirators -
Suppose we say these two maloontentsi"
oh, with all my heart. These two malcon-
tents succeed II opening negotiations with Re
nato, a Tesolute Yankee, the confidential SeeTe
tary Of Richard"
And who is Richard 2"
Boston"
"Oh! Very good
"kenato, the Yankee, has married a lovely
creole, Amelia, who has u weakness for Rich
Grdr'
Likely enough, siT-Hkely enough. Inlo-
ience is the Characteristic Of the c~reoles, and idle
ness Is the parent Of every vier.'
Richard is very supersttiois.''
Another good point. / have always heard
that superstition is q prevailing trait Of tie Amer
leans and the English-tbc natural effect Of
heretieal religion
beng a Drnever in astIoIogy, Richard con
suits a Gypsy f0rtuneIeler.'
A gypsy 4o4tUhcNAris erth"l>ncU at Boston,
is a happy idea!"
Ny s~orceress draws the Governors horoscope.
and makes to him a series OF extraordinary reve-
lations. One piece Of intelligence which She in
parts to him is not particularly agreeable. Ii Is
neither more nor less than that he viii be killed
by tie first person who shakes hands with him
A moment aIterward a startling dramatic effect
Is produced (on the uudiencs) BY the appearance
of Nj Yankee R0uato, who accidentally strols
into the grotto where the mysterious consultation
has taken place, and, meeting the Governor,
seizes his hand, according TO tie customary pump
handled style Of the Americans
Capital But isn't the conduct of Mr.. Renato
4 tiHe familiar"
Ny aear sir, the occurrences takes place at
BosfoE. remember that Beside, we must man
ace. in some way, TO keep the interest, and fore
shadow the accomplishment of the gipsey's pre-
aBut the Earl Of Warwick, though among a