The New York herald., 1862-11-13
Our Amuxcm and tho War.

places of D. oilc amusement. Nearly every one
of these enter ailments is most satisfactorily
patronizcd. Managers OF all kinds and condi-
tions report croWxlsd houses and replenishcd
exchequers. 1t is astonishing, during war
like this, that SO many people sho,fd have the
means and the inclination to pass their evenings
at the Opera, the theatres and the concerts.
There seems to be something prophetic in this
singular and costly popular indulgence in
amusements. 1t appears to demonstrate the
general confidence of the masses that tho end Of
the war is near at hand, and that the sad
troubles Of the country approach their termina-
tion.
The Academy Of Music was crowded both on
Monday and last evening and the audience was
even moved to little bits of enthusiasm by the
performance Guerrabella, the prina donna
Of these occasions is capital actress and
very enjoyable singer Her popularity is
doubtless of that sort which follows.
rather than precedes, her appearance. With no
preliminary putting, she made decided i'm
preston, and may achieve great sensation as
her powers are more fully developed in other
operas. Certainly her face and figure are in
her favor, and her perfect sefcontro4 and
knowledge Of the business Of the stage show
the finished actress. Besides this, her history is
romance in itself, and she has been a greater
heroine in real life than upon the boards Of the
Opera. All these recommendations to public
interest cannot fail OF their effect, and La Guer-
rabella may yet win her way to a furor as she
has already secured success d'estime Brignoli
sings better than ever. and Is always thoroughly
enjoyable. The other parts in the operas are
well sustained. The fear Of the draft has
doubtless scared some of the able bodied male
members of the chorus into enlsting for the
war, and the female members do not make a
very good show in old dresses, some too large
and others too small for them; but on the
whole this department is satisfactory. For tie
orchestra, it is sufficient to say that Muzio leads
That little giant Ullman, divides himself be-
tween selecting the scenery and attending to
the numerous goats who apply at the stage door
for an engagement in "Dinorah." With SO
good company, and such excellent audiences,
Grau cannot but be prosperous and delighted,
and he consequently dresses much more
stylishly and unlike poor Greeley than ever.
The theatres are by no means behind the
Wallack and his comedians are nightly greeted
with crowds Of bosom friends. At the Winter
Garden Booth makes the theatre blossom like a
rose with fashionable toilets and brilliant bon
nets. Laura Keene reaps good and sure har-
vest at her little theatre. The Ravel troupe
delights the young folks at Niblo's. Forrest, in
very heavy tragedy-this great actor must now
weigh over five hundred pounds-and Matilda
Heron, in her unique Camille are outrival-
ling Beeoher, the low comedian, at the Brooklyn
Academy. Barnum's audiences are as great
curiosity as anything else in his Museum.
Woods and the numerous other minstrel halls
are filled to overfowing The Bowery theatres
are crammed and jammed with invincible de-
mocrats, and please their patrons nightly.
The German Opera is as successful as it de-
serves, and it deserves great deal. The pri-
vate amusenrents of society are equally -four
ishing, and balls, fetes and soirees are as nume-
rous, as expensive and as magnificent as ever.
Looking only at the enjoyments of the people,
therefore, the city would seem to be engaged in
q vast carnival. Contrasted with the horrors
| and terrors Of the war now raging, this mirth,
this gayety, this costly dissipation. seems the
more wonderful, and the philosophical OBJ
server earnestly seeks to discover the cause OF
this phenomenal jollity. The people have not
yet become Indifferent to the war; for the recent
elections dsprove that theory. There is, on
the other hand, no such senseless giddy excite
ment here as that which ragged in Paris during
the French Revolution, and drove the people to
the theatres for refuge from thought May not
this popular gayety, then, bo the result Of an in
stinctive and unconscious feeling that the war
is nearly over and that peace will soon again
bless the land? If this indeed be the true
cause Of the universal rejoicing, we can only
hope that the popular prophecy may speedily
come true; that the rebels already driven to
deliberation, may quickly decide to lay down
their arms, and that we may shortly have
permanent, rectified Union.
GREELEY's Gun CoNTRAcrs.-There are still
q few people who profess to regard our asser-
tons that Greeley & Company, of the Tribune
are interested in gun contract as very good
Joke We assure all such persons that the mat
ter, if joke, is very serious one, and that
our charge is based upon official Congressional
documents. The evidence In regard to this
contract business will be found on page l65,
section g. Of Secretary Stanton's published |
report in reply to a resolution Of the House,
passed December 23, 1861. The whole Of the |
evidence in the case was also published and rs-
viewed in the HERALD Of April 20, 1862, and
may there be referred to by those who are I'M
able to procure copy Of Secretary Stanton's |
report II is thus matter Of official, docu-
mentary evidence, and not Of mere rumor or
hearsey, that Greeley obtained from Secretary