The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-02


THE ACADEMY OF MUsIC,--If all that we are
told is true, the history of the Italian Opera,
both in Europe and the United states, is q long
record Of pecuniary disaster to the managers
wto have endeavored 70 cater 10 the taste of
the public in this branch of art. The Grand
Opera In Paris, alth ough heavily subsidized by
the Government, and largely patronized by the
nobility and wealthy classes has ruined every
manager who undertook to carry 1t on. The
same story is told of London and other cities
and an impressario who will confess TO having
msde money out Of the Italian Opera is such q
rarity that he deserves to have a monument
tcted to his memory when he leaves this
mundane for another sphere where publics are
not capricious, and where diV2s do not demand
higher salaries than the receipts will cover
Doubtless many of the rumors on this point
are exaggerated; but when the cry of the suf-
ferers is constant IL can scarcely be otherwise
than that they have good cause for complaint
The Philadelphia Academy OF Music is one of
the finest opera houses in the world, and IL Is a
satisfaction to know that 1t is an exception to
the general rule as a pecuniary investment
For q long time the stock of the Academy was
far below par. but Of late years 1t has increased
in value and Is now held at premium. The
Academy, it is true. Is used for all kinds OF ex.
hibitions, and comparison with those esta-
blishments which are solely devoted to operatic
performances is scarcely fair. Good manage
ment in the financial department., how
ever, could alone have prevented the
institution from being burden on the shoul.
ders of the stockholders and directors. 1t was
never contemplated by those who built the
Academy that they would derive any pecuniary
advantages from 1t themselves, but their idea
was rather to furnish Philadelphia with q first
class place of amusement. and to place her
on par with the other great cities of the world
in this respect. Whatever profits have hitherto
been derived from the receipts OF the Academy
have been devoted to paying of membranes.
improving the property, and increasing the
stock of scenic appliances. The public taste
for the better class of amussments is increasing
every ear, and there is every reason to believe
that the entertainments at the Academy Will
pay even better in The future than In times
past. AS far as the Italian Opera is concerned,
we believe that it has been supported more
literally in Philadelphia than In almost any
other city; and we doubt whether any manager
who has put operas on the stage In good style
at our Academy of Music, with competent
singers. has ever lost money by the operation
CRIME IN FRANCE.-Some interesting statts-
tics of crime in France are given In a report
published by the Marine and Colonial Depart
ments. On December 81, 1867, the number OF
convicts in the "Bagne," of Toulon, was lOl6
During the same year ll2S new convicts were
sent In and l706 came out. Out OF these, So died
in the hospital, 2 were drowned, l was
smothered, 80 left, having done their time," "a
were pardoned and 80 obtained communications
20 sexagenary convicts were transferred to q
prison, according to the law; 426 were trans
1erred to Guiana and HOO TO New Caledonia; 5
escaped, and was taken to a madhouse OF
the l0l6 convicts at Toulon at the end OF 1857,
SS5 had been sentenced TO hard labor for
q fixed period and l3l for life. The dura-
ton of punish ment for the former was
ENII-, 20
years; 500 senien ced from to 10 years; 6S from
IL to l5; POO from 16 TO 20; from 81 to 80; and
from 81 to 40 years. AS to the different sorts
crimes, 465 individuals had been condemned
for theft 1877 for murder liz for rape As for as
sassinstioD, As for incendiarism, ii for forgery
10 for uttering false coinage 10 for poisoning, b
for assaults, 3 for parricde, for fraudulent
bankruptcy, for bigamy, for military crime,
and l3S for several of the above named crimes
Now, as to the age, social condition. and deg rec
Of learning of the convicts, the report gives the
following information:-50 were aged from l6 to
20 $40 from 81 to 30; 269 from 81 to 4O 22l from Al
to so; and 1876 from 81 to SO. There were SOL
bachelors, 377 married men, and 20 widowers
528 convicts knew neither how to read nor
write; 3l3 had an imperfect knowledge Of read
Ing and writing ITO possessed complete know
ledge Of the same; and had enjoyed q superior
education. The professions OF The various con-
victs are thus detailed:-273 plough laborers or
gardeners. l5l workmen, 80 servants, 81 shoe
max ers, % cart or cab drivers, 10 shepherds. 10
bakers, l6 clerks or employers, 48 fishermen or
seamen, "a tailors, etc. Algeria alone furnished
242 convicts out Of the l0i6 mentioned in the
report; foreign countries gave birth to 81, and
the department of the Seine furnished only Al
How KINGS ARE BURIED.-Some interestin
particulars are given In the London Times of
various royal interments. The body OF Henry
1 was buried at Reading. stephen was buried
at Feversham Abbey; but at the Dissolution
his body was taken up and thrown into the
river. Henry II was inferred in his royal
habit and with his crown, In the Abbey OF
Fontevrault. Richard II was buried with his
father, clad as represented in his effigy. In
1897 the tomb of King John, at Worces-