The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-05-13

Z, MAY Is, 1866. -TRlPLl
Mexico was so bad that the ''only remedy was
the substitution of constitutional empire for
that farce called a republic" But he thought
thus when it seemed possible that he might
secure high position in the empire. He bid
for that high position by the most fulsome and
abject laudation of the foreign prince; but
they would not trust him. 1t was remembered
too well how recently he had betrayed the
confidence reposed in him by the United
States; and France kept him out in the cold.
Then it was that he gave the world the benefit
of his rhetoric in his denunciations of Maxi
milan.
Full confidence may, doubtless, be reposed
in the present hostility Of Santa Anna to the
energy of one scorned and disappointed by it.
So far he is, perhaps, honestly its enemy. But
can he be trusted as q friend of the republic
merely because he hates the empire! Is he who
is republican for no higher motive than this
worthy the confidence Of people striving for
|
means an active participation in Mexican affairs,
this question should be fully weighed by the
friends of the republic.
Our New Theatrcs-The Dawn or a New
Era for Opera and the Drama.
The inconvenience of theatres and opera
houses of immense dimensions has for some
time been well understood in Europe, and the
experience learned has led to an innovation in
the construction of the new Paris Opera House,
on the Rue de la Paix, which will no doubt be
found of great advantage, although at present
it provOkes some adverse comments. While
the building covers . vast space it appears
that the room is devoted mainly to The stage
and the corridors, while the space allotted to
the auditorium is comparatively small. We
regard this, from our own experience, as an
Improvement upon barn-like opera houses,
which it was OF late years the fashion to con-
struct Look at the New York Academy of
Music, for instance, which is the terror of
European artists, because they know that one
season there has a more ruinous effect upon
the voice than ten years singing in properly
constructed theatre.
The disadvantages Of these gigantic houses
are manifold. They are not filed tbree-fourths
of the time, and nothing is more dispiritng to
artists than large empty house. 1t is equally
disagreeable to the small audience. Then il
requires constant strain upon the attention,
as well as the eye and the ear, 10 keep pace
with the effects of the performance, and it is,
in fact impossible to follow them at all
We are glad to notice that the new theatres
now going up here will possess these fea-
lures which are so desirable. The interior
construction is planned with view to
comfort, to acoustics and social enjoyment.
The artists will get fair play, and the audience
will have an opportunity to obtain what they
60 to the theatre for-the pleasure Of hearing
| good opera or good drama. The Academy
WILL Of course, be henceiorth appropriated TO its
proper use. Political gatherings of too large
proportions for Tammany Hall to accommo-
date will find ample space in the Academy. 1t
will answer very we'll for Sunday evening re-
| ligious meetings. Some of the anniversary So
| cietiss, too, can be very comfortably accommo-
dated there; but il is not likely that any more
artists will have their voices destroyed by over
straining their capacity to fill half empty
house, in which the "carpenters' gallery" and
the amphitheatre absorb more than half their
vocal powers
We learn that the new French theatre will
open on or about the Gath inst with comic opera,
the Doctor Of Alcantara, by Jules Eichberg, q
brilliant and amusing work, being first on the
list. An excellent company having been Sc
cured, under the direction of competent
manager, we have every reason to expect that
the season about to be inaugurated at this house
will furnish us with all that we desire in the
way of opera for the present. In the fall
Manager Grau will take possession, and intro
duce the grand Italian tragcdienne Ristori, aud
after her fresh Italian Opera company, which
he is about going to Europe to organize. The
other Fourteenth street theatre will probably
be ready for q brisk fall campaign of new,
light and pleasant dramas, a character Of per-
formance which, with the exception of two or
three theatres, has been entirely excluded from
the programme of amusements. Thus there
will be no dearth of that class of theatrical re-
public. We will not be compelled to pass our
evenings in a barn in order 10 hear the music
Of the great masters; neither shall we be
obliged to submit TO the martyrdom of listen
ing to their compositions horribly mutilated by
overtaxed artists. There is happily bright
day coming for opera and the drama in the
metropolis.
WINDING UP OF THE MAY ANNvERsARms.-
The periodical gathering in this metropolis Of
the preachers, philanthropisis, negro and white
orators, missionaries, and old women, both in
pantaloons and pettiooats, to reform the world
has just taken place. The May anniversaries