The New York herald., 1868-04-30

only weapon We u3Vo W uCtcHu o"A7oi'e'
with against unscrupulous corporations.
Tho French Theatre Maddie.
After long and prosperous reign the sceptre
Of the French theatre departs from Bateman,
and the irrepress!ble Grau again mounts the
throne. The kings of Greece and rAon'ne q Ia
pomame himself are indignant that the charms
Of ''La Belle Helene" were not potent enough
for the unimpressionable trustee who repre-
sents the mild-mannered and inOffensive stock
holders. LIE bouilyant Aclsille threatens to
crush with his heel the bank whereon Sherman
and Duncan flourish, and Calchas invokes the
thunder of Olympus on the daring offenders
heads. On Saturday next the army Of "La
Grande Duchesss," with Bateman and the
kings of Greece at their head, and Birgfeld,
rear, will retreat from Sixth avenue and eva
cuate the stronghold in which they 80 long
maintained themselves, to the discontinue OF
every other opera troupe. 1t is not definitely
known whether they will make any attempt to
spike the guns Of the establishment in their re-
treat. The first halting place of the Often
bachian army will be at the Academy, but,
fortunately for them, their stay will be ''for one
night only" Otherwise the Juggernaut of
opera would soon add them TO its long list OF
victims. The circumstances which led to this
revolution at the French theatre are amusing
and interesting. King Duncan was elected
chief of the establishment. His eloquent de-
scription of it is well known
This castle hath pleasant seat the Air
Nimbly and sweetiy recommends Itself
Unto our gentle senses.
This gentle prince appointed viceroy in the
person of the gentle Grau. who again dele
gated his powers to the bomtta7t Bateman.
The momenlous period arrived when those
powers were to be renewed for the space of
five years, at the annual tribute Of twenty-five
thousand one hundred dollars. A council of
war was held at DemOnicO's by King Duncan
and his court the result of which was that
the irrepressible Grau became once more
''Thsne of Cawdor" and manager Of the dis
puted theatre The wrath of the 6ouiuaaH
Acht,te was terrible to behold; but the in
exorable decree had gone forth, and the days
of TOstee and her merry attendants were num-
bered. The question now is, whore shall they
go? Can it be that they shall range them
selves under the banner of that fierce looking
Academy drum major who has led 80 many
gallant opera companies to ruin? Let them
beware of the fate of the dozen impresariS,
and especially the poor cynocephalus, whose
remains are inferred beneath the shadow OF
that Upas-like building. THE one hundred
and ninety nine and half stockholders, in
cluding the General Boum, who represents
them by the fraction, would prove worse to
those enfans perdus than King Duncan and
his amiable constituency. The latter suf-
fered them to depart in peace, with all their
baggage and munitions of war; but once in the
power of the Academy drum major, and there
is no hope for them. In the meantime Ristori
succeeds Tostee at the French theatre, and the
melancholy history of ''Sor Teresa" replaces
the rattling dialogue and music Of ''La Belle
Helene" Saturday night will be a remark
able episode in the history Of the Academy. 1t
is whispered around that there will be several
features introduced during the performance
is expected, will be danced by the one hundred
and ninety-nine and half stockholders, and
the drum major will sing, ''Piff, paf, pouf!
tara, para, poum" An incarnation scene, in
which the ghosts of departed managers and
voices will appear, the central figure being the
cynocephalus, surrounded by red fire, will
be the grand finale of the performance.
Altogether it will be an interesting reunion of
the past and present of opera in the Academy,
and may be productive of happy results