The New York herald., 1868-05-06

ana 10 lntlate new departure III party Or
ganization with the one distinctly grand,
honest, national figure in all this turmoil most
prominent in mems thoughts.
Rise and Fall Of Amusements In New York.
: One striking popularity of the American
people must be confessed to be their passion
for novelty. Like the Athenians, they are
forever on the outlook for something new"
Even the French, with all their proverbial
ickleness, are more constant in their attach.
ment to certain amusements than the Ameri-
cans have proved to be. Thus, for instance,
the pretty ceremony Of browning the r0sisrs
at Nanterre has survived centuries and revolu-
tions; and innumerable other instances might
be adduced. The opera and the ballet have
always been steadily popular at Paris ever
roast beef and horse racing have long been per-
manent institutions But in America, and
especially in New York, there has been per-
petually Kaleidoscope variety of attractions,
each of which has caught the popular eye only,
as It were, for an instant. Many years ago,
when horse racing became so popular that q
once prominent Journalist, now an old gentle
man exiled to South America in some diplo-
matte capacity, used to rig himself up as
Jockey and gallop up and down Broadway.
everybody In New York ''talked horse" az
General Grant has been reported to do at
present. But the rage for horse racing in the
days of Eclipse lasted for comparatively .
short period. The fury Of speculations in Wall
street succeeded II, and those who had accu-
mulated thousands and hundred Of thousands Of
dollars In the regular lines of commerce and
trade rushed to risk their wealth in the gambling
operations Of ''the street." Recently the fond
ness for horsefesh has revived, and some Of
the most conspicuous bulls and bears betray
decided propensity for such equine sports 40
are offered by Bloomingdale road, the Central
Park and Jerome Park.
When Palmo built the first opera house the
town was opera amitten until Palmo's failure
dashed cold water on the temporary enthusiasm
of the public. At length, after prolonged
eclipse, opera shone forth again, and there was
time when nothing was talked of by pleasure
seekers but "Norma" and "Ernani" and the
rest Of the operatio attractions. The vast, cool
and well ventilated Academy of Music has been
sometimes so crowded as to encourage the wild
hope that italian opera had found an abiding
home in New York. But the selfshness and
short-sightedness of the one hundred and
ninety-nine and half stockholders and tho
bad management of the "so-called" managers
infused subtle poison, like the fatal poisons Of
the East and Of Italy, into the veins Of operate
prosperity, end slow death was its destiny.
The "Black Crook" gave too the ballet such
an impulse as 1t had never before received in
this country. Its unparalleled success lent o
prestige to the ''White Fawn," which, in its
turn, has caused Niblo's Garden to be nightly
thropged for months. But even the ballet
seems to be on its last legs, and the multitude
is growing weary Of the spectacular shows and
the indecent nudities which hitherto they have
eagerly crowded to see.
Bateman's Introduction Of the opera boufe
has been the most permanently attractive
novelty Of the past season. The "Grands
Duchesse" bequeathed her destinations to tho
Belle Helene" But even the sparkling music
Of OfFenbach will begin to pail upon the ear ofs
New York audience unless II be married to ad-
litional novelties. Happily the repertory Of
Ofenbach operas is still far from being ex-
hausted.
The managers of our theatres should take
special warning by the lessons suggested BY
he history Of the sudden rise and sudden fall
,f amusements in New York. Even Wallacks
.heatre, with all its legitimate claims on public
interest, must expect in due time to be deserted
4 the only novelties which It intersperses occa-
,ionaly among fossilised old plays are con-
,tructed after the style Of Bowery blood
and lightning sensationalisms. Il
should aim at presenting novelties not alto
yether unworthy of the sterling comedies Of
English literature which It has sometimes %
admirably reproduced. The New York public
raves something good as well as something.
new. What Is good will be heartily apprs-
slated but whether good, bad or Indifferent,
i is indispensable that the attraction ,,e new.
If likewise II be good, all the better !; but how
ever good II may prove II must be feplaced by
else as soon as the p6pular interest
In II begins to ebb ACCORDING to the regular
Tide laws Of public ap.Aomepis in New YoriL