The New York herald., 1862-11-21


special projection, Greece, with all Turkey. will
soon sink into Russian vassalage, and become
another Poland added to the already gigantic
proportions of that vast and spreading empire.
VeTou?0 sap.
Trouble Behind the Scenes OF the Cabinet
and the Opera.
The President is not alone in the misfortune
Of a divided Cabinet. What with Seward and
Chase, Blair and Stanton, Bates and Welles,
President Lincoln has bis hands pretty well
Glled; but there are other people in the world
ouite as much bothered about such matters as
himself r Honest Old Abe belongs to that
school of philosophers who believe that misery
loves company and solace themselves by re-
gardng the misfortunes of others, let him look
at Grau, the snlpressorio of our Academy of
Music, and be comlorted. Grau, like the Presi-
dent, wears smiling face and good clothes; but
he has secret grief nevertheless. Somehow
or other. Glau has caught the Presidents COM
plant Ills Cabinet is no more united than that
at Washington. His generals agree about as
well as tbc Kilkenny CATS Lincoln has his
Meplis topheles Chase. Grau has his Mephisto-
phelcs MuziO
Sincuiariy enough, the troubles Of President
Lincoln and Manager Gran arise from causes not
dissimilar A peep behind the scenes of the Opera
therefore, may very likely give us a hint of
what is going on behind the scenes Of the Ca
binet 1t appears that Madame Guerrabella was
rchcarsing one morning, with Brignol and Susi-
nj while Muzio accompanied the singers in his
unequalled style upon the pianoforte. The utter
ances and the hearts of the quartette were in ten
der harmony. Guerrabella, with one other bright
est smiles. complimented Muzio by saying that
she would like to sing one Of his compositions, in
order to show her appreciation of his merit as
q composer, conductor and man. Muzio, as
is we'll known, is the nephew of the great Yer
di and can writo quite as good music as his
uncle. His songs, his fantasias, his barcaroles,
his melodies, are most delicious If he were
not already universally celebrated as a conduc-
tor, he would be illustrious as a composer.
With his accustomed grace, therefore, he con-
sented to write charming bit of music for the
beautiful Guerrabella, stipulating only that she
| should furnish the Italian words An arrange
ment more satisfactory could not have been
devised for Guerrabella is capital linguist
and can compose, as well as look, poetry in any
language from French to Russian. The party
separated in the best possible humor with each
other and themselves. Guerrabeia retired to
invoke the muses.. Muzio, who is Independent
of the muses., went to work single handed to
embody in music one Of those exquisite concep-
tions which seem always floating through his
brain and Frightening up his countenance with
remarkably enchanting smile
| The next morning Guerrabella, while ponder
| ing over her poetry, received the music from
Muzio but with it came note which drove all
| the poetry of the affair out Of her head. This
note stated that Muzio's irrepressible ardor had
Induced him to sit up all night to finish the
music. and enclosed bill for one hundred
dollars as the price of the composition. A
| development more unexpected cannot be ina
! ginod OF course piece of music over which
20 admirable a composer had burned the mid
night gas was cheap at one hundred dollars;
but then the lovely Guerrabella did not want
the music, and had only offered to sing it out Of
! compliment to Muz;o. Decidedly she would not
pay the bill, under these circumstances, and
50 sent the music back. Muzio taking diff.
fcrent view of the affair, locked up his rejected
melody, and calmly awaited the opportunity
for his revenge. Wednesday night came, and
Guerrabela appeared for the first time in the
Daughter Of the Regiment" Muzio smiled
grimly, waved his baton and started the orches-
! ira half note too high. The consequence was
that the singers aud the orchestra made most
terrible discord. II was as If two operas were un-
/ der way at the same time-the drdmatis persono
singing one and the orchestra playing the other.
The glorious Guerrabella strained her voice in
vain. Brignoli-the best tenor we have had since
! Mario--loJked rs indignant In Tonio's soldier
clothes as il he had been Unexpectedly drafted,
refused TO sing any Of his beautiful romanzas.
and finally stalked of the stage in disgust.
! Susni who seems always jolly, came out strong.
ike an operate Mark Tapley and did the sing
| ing for The whole company Mephistopheles
Muzio persisted in bis half note too high. and
the curtain fell upon tableau Of disorder.
! Only the initiated can imagine the scenes
which ensued Mephistopheles Muzio, laughing
in his sleeve, kept out Of harms way. Guerra
bella initiated Niobe, and became all tears.
Brignoli vented his wrath upon poor Grau, who
| understands only The receipts OF the Opera, and
does not know or care whether the musical
notes are too high or too low, 80 that the bank
notes are sufficiently numerous. The redoubt.
| able Ullman. who knows Ill about music, but
oabnot manage money, eadeavoged to compro.