The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-21

sincerity. roar with laughter at the gaucheries
of"Private Fritz" The effect of only pursuing
one line OF studies. or only contem plating one
artistic model-even II IL be of the highest char
aoter-is ow-mindedness and mental stag
nation. Different grades OF intellect will take
pleasure in different kinds of art and literature
but the best intelects, II not warped by preju-
dice can enjoy art that is not OF the highest
kind equally well, or even better, than those
In whose minds high art exoites no emotions
whatever.
The Opera Bouffe was successful because It
put people in q good humor and gave them
something to laugh at. In producing this re.
suit O6enbaoh's music was only one item to be
considered among many others. La Grande
DuchesSe dc GerolStetn and La Belle Helene were
brought out In style OF elegance and artistic
completeness that had never been equaled on
the American stage. We have seen scenery,
dresses. and appointments more costly than
were exhibited in these pieces but never the
same perfection and excellent management In
all the details. All things were just they
should be, and the mere pecuniary value of the
decorations was an entirely secondary matter,
besides the good taste that was everywhere
apparent. In La Belle Helene, particularly,
the scenery, the grouping OF the characters on
the sage, the elegance, without gorgeousness.
oftbe dvesses, the combinations of colors and all
the little niceties which produce an effect with
out appearing to do SO. were in an eminent
degree attractive and satisfying to the most
fastidious and critical eye. Toe public were
quick to appreciate the merits of the entertain
ment considered merely as show, which ap-
pealed only to the sense OF sight, although
many, perhaps, did not take the trouble, or were
unable, to discover wherein the. excellence con-
sisted. Besides the appointments, however,
there u we'll trained troupe of accomplished
performers, and leaving Tostee cut OF the ques-
ffov t,,M GnfT
Leduc we had four of the best purely comic
actors who have ever appeared in this city
With these facts before us 1t Is easy to under
stand why the Opera Bouffe made hit, and
why 1t is likely to keep the position 1t
has obtained in our list of amusements
SO long as 1t is presented in the same style Of
completeness that 1t has been heretofore. Often.
bach's music was so in accordance with all the
rest, and 1t was SO lively and inspiring, that 1t
is not matter for any surprise that IL became
immensely popular. II we were obliged to make
q choice between Mozart and Ofenbach we
should, of course, unhesitatingly dismiss the
latter, perhaps with a pang of regret; but fortu-
nately, we are not called upon to make any
such decision, and we can enjoy the one without
any detriment to our partiality for the other.
That Ofenbach's music will ever supersede that
Of Mozart is an idea too absurd to be worthy of a
moments consideration; on the contrary, we
iiful music OF La Grande Duchesse and La Belle
Helene as likely to be of important service in
cultivating the taste of the public, and in bring
ing about q greater degree of appreciation o.
the more difficult compositions of the great
masters.
1t has been charged that Ofenbach Is tnde.
cent, and that he has given glamour TO lech-
ery." On this point we take issue. There can
be no such thing as indecent or immoral music,
and IL is not in the power of Offenbach or any
other man to suggest improper ucentious
ideas by his melodies. II there is anything OBJ
jectionable in either Of his works which have
been given in this city, Ottenbach is not neces-
sarily responsible for it. How far he may have
Influenced the writer's of the libretu OF La
Grande Duchesse and La Belle Helene we, OF
course, do not know nor is 1t pertinent to the
subject at present under con sideration for us to
inquire. AS we remarked in q former article, IL
is the critics duty to censure indecency and to
use his best efforts to purify the stage. There
is nothing however, which requires more tact
and discrimination; and 1t is deplorable that so
few writers of dramatic and musical criticisms
seem to be endowed with the good sense and
good judgment which is SO necessary In dealing
with this matter, If the cause of virtue
and morality Is to be subserved. There
is one scene in La Grande Duchesss
which is in some degree Objectionable. In an
English version of the piece, which was brought
out at the w alnuJ SCreeC Tneatr6 last winter by
Mr.. and Mrs. GOmersal, the indelicacy of the
situation was more apparent than 1t was In the
French performance at the Academy of Music
where 1t would not have been noticed had MOI
attention been specially and repeatedly called
to IL. With this exception there is absolutely
nothing in the plots of either of Ofenbach's
operas, which we have seen, that can be fairly
found tault with on moral grounds. II the plot
of La Belle Helene Is offensive to morality,
then is Homer's ''Iliad" also and we have
not yet found the critic who has the hardihood
to make this assertion. 1t is charged, however
that in the original French versions
of the operas there are double
eatendres and indelicate allusions which
should not be permitted upon the stage. II
such exist they ought certainly to be con-
demned, but ninety-ntne out of every hundred
persons who took pleasure in Witnessing the
Opera Bouffe performances last winter, would
never haveknown anything about them If news
paper writers had not taken particular plea.
sure In dragging them into the light, and In
holding them up for the inspection OF the
public from every point OF view. That such
criticism was conducive to morality, or any
thing more than exhibition of offensive
| prudery which takes pleasure in contemplating
the disgusting side OF things under pretense
of super-virtuorsness, we do not believe. 1t
| is not little strange that Offenbachs works
| operas like Don Gtouannt and RtgoletLo
| are allowed TO go unpunished. There is pro-
baby not an Objectionable word or phrase In
| either OF them, but the plots of both are so
grossly offensive that, In spite Of the music of
ant nx,d nrdf NI,nxT