Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-12-22

WESTERN MAN AT THE OPKRA.-The CO.
itcr of the Racine (Wir.) Journal has been
to see the Opera at Chicago, and thus de-
scribes it:
We suppose il is due to our readers that we
give learned criticism upon the opera, but we
cannot do il; we do not understand the proper
terms used by the modern critics. They are not
in Webster's old fashioned spelling book, nor in
the Bible. and, Of course, they are outside of
our reading. But We will do the best we can in
our own way.
Well, after sitting there about an hour, some
Of them hit the old triangle behind the curtain.
and out popped about forty men, more or less,
In front Of the stage. Some had one kind Of an
instrument, and some another. We think they
had all the kinds there is, except the harp of
thousand strings, They spread themselves out
about hundred feet, when out popped chap in
white kids, with q small stick IN his hand, and
got upon to q stool and commenced to thrash
around. Presently one of the musicians footed,
and then another. until they all got to going If.
al on discord. not the slightest approach to
harmony, no more than there would be with
lot Of earthquakes, thunderstorms and lorna
does all mixed up together.
Well, the curtain at last rose. and there stood
of fancy filings on, made Of calico, velvet, rags,
lace and feathers. OF course, all the little dou-
ble-barrsled things were leSeled st them Pres
entity one chap, with a sort Of a jug-shsped face
and cst-fashioued eyes, turned up his head and
gave q short howl, a sort of a cross bet Hixt the
wolf and the dying wall Of stuck pig. Soon
another, then two more with immense bovine
voices struck in, and they all struck in, and
made night hideous with their trashy discord.-
About this time the soups left the stage. (They
were dressed in sort of q butternut rig. and
looked like q sorry lot of rebel prisoners) They
were followed by the gev-gaw crowd, with the
exception Of the cat-eyed chap and a squslly
looking woman. Then he commenced to howl,
and bark, and below, and crow and she screech-
ed. and mewed, and purred and csckled; they
ran up toward each other, and run back. Then
came in gay looking fellow with letter, and We
must say that he had the sweetest little face We
ever saw stuck on q boys shoulders, and he
how,ed very swectly; we soon discovered by the
things be walked on, that he was not boy.
Well, that was about all there was to this
round; the curtain went down amidst q good
deal Of stamping. After sitting there another
hour, the triangle sounded, and the iddlers pop
ped out, and the curtain went up. This time
there was nothing on the stage but an Id squsw
who seemed to be making soap. She had large
eauldron kettle in an arch, underneath which
bright FIRE was burning; at her feet was skull,
and other human looking bones, which satisfied
US that she had been compelled, in consequence
Of the high price of all kinds of grease, to work
up some old lager beer fellow. The soap was
ues, y done, for che was dipping in her paddle
and holding it up to see if it would string Gust
as our mother used to do,) but she soon had TO
leave Der soap, for the fat woman came out. and
they both went to screening The squRw could
come the panther to a dot, and as we thought,
the 50 law was enough for the fat woman; soon
out came the chap that we knew was not a boy,
and made q noise that sounded some like sing
ing; then the cat eyed fellow came in, and they
al went in on the screech. The last we saw of
the cat eyed chap. he was lying there dead,
bswling as loud as he could scream; the curtain
went down and the thing was over.
So far as operas are concerned, we 20 in with
Parsou Hatfield After all, we are glad we went;
we have drawn lesson from the four hours
misery that we suffered on that occasion that
will be Of service to US in our down hill of life
We were led TO see that the gifts Of Providence
are net 90 unequsly distributed, after all; al
though He gives to some wealth and position,
he also gives to most of such persons folly and
vanity, which entirely destroys the happiness
that they might otherwise enjoy. You poor peo-
pie that sit quietly by your own freside after
the days work is over, and read the Racine
Journal or the Bible, say your prayers and go
to rest. know but little of the agony suffered
by those (who think they are rich. at least,)
whose whole life is spe,t in round of folly and
in making themselves miserable in trying to 20
somewhere with more clothes on than their
neighbors. and do something that nobody else
can.
Yes, you ought to thank God that you don't
have TO fuss all day to get ready 10 90 10 the
opera and sit four hours In misery, sll the while
trying to make yourself believe that you are
happy, and like it. We say to you that pleas
ure is more evenly distributed than you i'm
agine.