The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-14

that s'the war was failure, and this coming
November national election will finally settle
that question in another promotion Of General
Grant. He is the man.
Opera BOuiis and Other New York Amuse.
ments.
Bateman announces for this evening at
Pixies Opera House the opening Of the second
season Of what he calls ''Bateman's Opera
Bouffe." Now, we must allow his claim to be
the first who successfully introduced opera
60st6e into the United States, but both Grau
and Offenbach might well demur to any claim
to exclusive proprietorship in this favorite
fountain of music and mirth. However this may
be, the temperance Of the inimitable Tostee
and of Duchesne, Leduc, Legrinonl, Lambele,
Guidon and the rest, reinforced, if not by
Irma, at least by Aujac, one of the best
French tenors, and perhaps the best French
actor, who has ever appeared in America,
can stage. Pixies elegant and spacious opera
house, the improved arrangements OF the
stage, the gorgeous if not particularly appro-
pirate drop curtain, and the new scenery and
costumes, would suffice to attract crowd.
But the fine opportunity which will
be presented Of comparing the two rival
Grand Duchesses who are competing for the
SURFACES of citizens Of the great American
republic will be the main attraction. Nile.
Tostee will, Of course, spare no pains to con-
vince us that both as the incarnation Of fun
and as thorough musician she can amply
compensate for the misfortune of possessing q
less powerful voice than some Of her competi-
tors. She may count this evening on hearty
and loyal recognition as the Grand Duchess de
Gerolstein. Duchesne as General Boum, and
Leduc as Prince Paul, will be no less warmly
welcomed.
Grau, with characteristic energy, persists in
bravely contending against all odds in the
opera 60nfe war which RACES at present with
even more fury than ever. It must be con-
ceded that the representations Of the "Grande
Duchesse" at the French theatre have steadily
improved. The fresh voices, the brilliant cos
tunes and the fine scenery at the renovated
fashionable audiences, and the principal men,
bers of the company having recovered from the
anxiety which led them at first to exaggerate
their respective parts, act more harmoniously
in unison. On Thursday, we understand, a
third rival Duchess will be brought forward
in the person of Mile. Desclauzas, who
may not despair of success If she
proves as capable of sustaining such charac-
ter as she was distinguished at Paris in that of
Prince Charmant and other male characters.
We are also to he favored with new Wanda.
Ere long it is probable that ''Genevieve de
Brabant," an extravaganza still more extrava-
giant than the sGrande Duchesse," the 'sBelle
Helene" or the ssBarbe Bleue," will be pro-
duced at the French theatre. The opsros
comiques which have been promised at this
theatre may possibly be more popular than
any Of the operas 6ou6es which have been
amusing the town.
When IL is remembered that between twenty
and thirty places Of dramatic and musical en-
tertainment are now in full blast in New York
and Brooklyn, the statement of recent Eng
lish tourist that our metropolis offers pro-
portionally larger and more enthusiastic
theatre going population than either London
or Paris seems to be well founded. What
with high tragedy at the hands Of Forrest,
Janauschek and Booth; with Italian opera
music from Miss Kellogg, with innumerable
concerts, with dramatic readings from Mrs.
Scott Siddons, with genteel comedy at Wal
lacks, with the attractions Of Brougham's
new theatre, with sensation plays and panto-
mime, and minstrelsy and farce, and the most
multiplied varieties of the burlesque almost
everywhere; and especially with the charms
OF the golden-haired beauties who, together
with other members of Miss Lydia Thomp-
sons excellent troupe, have taught the town
that Woods museum and theatre, which once
would have been considered so remote, Is now
accessible by several lines of cars, Is, In fact,
the only theatre past which railway runs,
and, moreover, that success is far more de-
pendent upon novelty and superiority than on
any amount Of pudery on the part OF Bo-
hemian critics. What with oil these various
and numerous means of supplying the de-
msnd for theatrical amusement, the coming
winter promises TO be the most brilliant dra-
matte and musical season which New York has
ever enjoyed. But novelty" and excel
lence" must become watchwords for the man
ayers Of all the New York theatres, or the pub
lie expectations will be disappointed.