The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-02-12


Pixies and the Academy-are drawn up in
line Of battle, with the artillery Of soprdni
tenori and bassi bristling on the ramparts OF
both opera houses. The first gun Of the CAM
paign will be opened at the Academy tonight
by Major General Strakosch, and Field Marshal
Pike.will commence operations on the west
side on Monday. Providence is said to be
always on the side Of the heaviest artillery,
and Strakosch has some big guns in the per-
sons Of La Grange. Brignoli and Phillips. But
Pike Is an admirable tactician, and he has
secured large force for the campaign
Marstzek's corps Of Italians and Growers
German veterans are expected to arrive at the
new opera house next week, and then the fun
will commence in earnest.
Among all the operatio generals that have
campaigned on the island of Manhattan the
most astonishing and Napoleonic is Pike. AS
he contemplates his wonderful success on
Eighth avenue he may exclaim with Cesar,
"Veni, pidi, vici" and the operatc public
will endorse him. But now the clouds
OF war are thickening around him,
and diplomatic relations are broken of
between him and Strakosch. .He issued his
ultimatum to the La Grange and Brignoli gov
ernment-forty per cent Of the gross receipts
or nothing-and the two hundred and fifty
stockholders Of the Academy, with Drum Major
Kingsland at their head, bore of the captive
Strakosch in triumph to their stronghold.
Every artifce was tried by them to gain over
the forces of the enemy to. their side. Reliable
gentlemen, intelligent contrabands, glowing
kilograms and veracious statements, like those
we had during the war, were put in requlsition
by the two hundred and fifty chiefs Of the
Academy. We have not the slightest doubt
that the Irving place opera house will be
crowded and that the campaign will open bril-
lian.ly for Major General Strakosch and Drum
Major Kingsland; for the house on the west side
was filled to its utmost extent on many nights
during the time that La Grange and Brignoli
badly fortified by the experience of past dsas-
tcrs. will make masterly disposition Of his
forces, and we await with breathless anxiety
the result OF the mighty conflict
The exploits Of Peter the Headstrong when
he marched against the Swcdes and the cum
the veracious Diedrich Knickerbocker, will
be eelipsed by the daring feats of Pike
and his myrmidons. Among the warriors
who hoist the Pike standard--"a flask Of
Bourbon rampant on o field of barley, gules"-
are the numerous forces OF Maretzck, who
evacuated the Academy some time ago, and
the valiant Teutons of Grover, beyond the
time OF whose debut in this CITY the memory OF
man runneth not Field Marshal Pike has
Others in reserve--perhaps Patti and the other
Strakosch-and he complacently awaits the
attack Of the two hundred and fifty from Irving
place. The Stuyvesant manuscript, slightly
paraphipsed for the occasion. can alone de-
scribe tho impending battle OF the inpresarii:-
/" Expectation now stands on stills The world
forgets to turn around, or rather stands still,
like r0und-bellied aldermen watching the
combat of Two chyalrous flies upon his jerkin.
Historians ill their inkhorns poets and critics
go without their dinners antiquity scowls
while even posterity stands mute, gazing in
gaping ecstacy of retrospection on the eyentful
fold. Now the mighty chieitains marshal out
their hosts Here stands the immovable Stra.
kosch, incrusted with stockholders and in
trenched TO the chin in Verdi, Bellini and
the breastwoIks Of the Academy in grim array,
and his great guns of soprano, alto, tenor and
bass calibre are ready 10 launch forth
cavatinas, arias and choruses on tho heads
OF the ASSISTANTS" On the other side
is the intrepid Pike, shouting his war
cry, "No siockholders Forty per cent
forever" and his terrible batteries of Italian.
German and Bourbon artillery are prepared TO
rake all the approaches to Eighth avenue and
annihiate the devoted stockholders. Or like
two modern gladiat6rs essaying their powers
according 30 the newly revised rules, &C., the
inlpresarii deliver terrific blows against each
others craniums. Now Strakosch throws.outa
left-hander in the shape of al Trovatore,v
which is cleyerly stopped by Pike with Wal
lacc's "Lurlinc." Then, after feinting with
"Un Bsllo In Maschera," Strskosch delivers q
sledge hammer blow with tho Prophet" and
Pike retaliates with "L'Airicaine" As in all
great wars there are free bands who fight indie
pendently OF either side, so In this operatio
conflict we have already partisan company
OF artists on Sixth avenue, at Lyric Hall, going
into the fight on Friday next.
At all events, the public will benefit by this
war Italian opera languished and almost
died away in London when there was only one
manager and one company. When Gye and
Mspleson entered the lists against each other
the opera revived and soon became Hourishing.
Competition Is the soul Of opera, as well A. Of
other branches OF business, and II will serve to
break down the monopoly and narrow-minasd
policy which has hitherto acted as an insuper-
able obstacle to the progress Of the lyric
drama