The New York herald., 1870-02-06

OF Erie, at hts princey palace the Grand Opera
House. Is without precedent in the historical annals
thai make centuries notable and mems lives
sublime and deeds heroic. by the extent OF
hls invitations 10 his reception ano by his splendid
entertainment and princely hospitality the Prince
OF Erie showed himself worthy his title-a prince to
the manner born. But will describe the reception
IN the order OF is transcendentay glowing events.
FIRSTLY IN ORDER.
After months OF general and desultory preparation
and one week OF particular and exclusive prepara.
tion. preliminary TO presenting at the Grand Opera
House the Twelve Temptations, which has been
so long in process OF announcement and
40 long In process OF excited expectation
by the public, iI was determined to give
sort OF semldress rehearsal OF the piece last
evening. Circulars OF inviraton-the only open.
sesame on this 0ccasion-were liberallv sen; or
shown by the large number present. These circu.
lars promised full rehearsal but on arrival printed
notices were scattered about announcing that go
avoid any infringement on the Sabbath only
a lew oil the scenes would be introduced
Or course AL fully appreciated this regard for the
Christian sabbath, and the principle that II wOnld
not DO 70 look GIN horse IN the mouth, acquesced
without grnmbiing
THOSE PRESENT.
we nave sald that there was large attend
Select reaned and iashionapie assembaSe ser Huv IS
rarely gathered together in TINS city,, Con-
gressmen and ex.Congressmen, Governors and ex-
Governors, Mayors and ex-Mayors, Judges and ex-
Judges, millionaire merchants, men eminent
In the learned professions. artists, art critics,
and last, but not least gentlemen or the
largely represented Private boxes parquet
and dress Circle shone respondent with the bewtch-
ing smiles OF the loveliest ladies OF New York. Alto
gether there has never been gathered together q
more discriminating ana intelligent assemblage on
any similar occasion In this city.
PRINCE or ERrR HIMSELF.
Foremosty conspicuous was the Prince OF Erie
himself Clad In MS blue coat and brass buttons,
and with bis mammoth diamond pin flashing all the
prismauc hues from his shirt bosom, he
stood now ut the gateway to welcome the
coming guests and now he would be seen
talking with other prominent railway officials
each wearing dimlnutive cart wheel briants, and
now, at this point and that point, among the
by cot0rie OF particular personal friends In hts
private box-that box wnere 30 often his
the large and discriminating patrons OF this
proud and highly favored temple OF Thespis His
footing the ollls aggregatln2 1t l. said nearly as
through the State Legislature, from which their
magnitude may be imagined made 1t eminently pro-
per tnat he would occasionally be by the footgnta
and really natural though at the same time partly
proDematical his being In o box. His looks how
ever, Il there be anything IN looks, the sparkling
mirthfulneSS glowing IN his ordinarily semi.
s0mnolent eyes, the sunshine OF hope lilumining
every llneament OF his broadly capacious face. and
like AJAX defying the lightning revealing Itself
IL every word and movement all evnced tnat he
ielt especially happy IN the present and confident IN
the anticipatons built upon 1t, could read upon
that massive brow. as II written in letters living
fire. that memorable line OF that Old Latin poet Qutn
tus Horatius Fiaccus-
Exegi monumentum perrennus. (Isrie)
But we Will not follow the prince lie was ubiqul-
tous ana had word to say 10 thousands, and thou.
sands mad word to say to him, wishing him every
means his genius and DARING merited.
BEFORE AND BEHIND THE SCENES.
The hour announced for the rehearsal 10 begin was
eight O'Clock. BY this hour lOuSp led
quarter OF an hour passed and hall hour anu yet
the green curtain was not raised. The audience.
however. was o marvel OF patience. But behind
that opaque drapery OF display evidently there
., ,,, Strange range a. and se. sewers. noises ,.s.
And now diversity OF sound.
1t was, in fact q cOngIomeration OF sounds in
conceivable. There were vocal utterances. CON-
mands and imprecatl0ns and movements OF heavy
objects and shuliilng or feet and Kissing Of steam
The orchestra ut length, modifying agent played
some music. They stopped playing, still the same
dant from the ceiling to the stage as OF one OF the
great fixed iacts OF nature. Again the baud played,
and played well
Sweet airs that give delight.
An hour thus passed. At length was heard
behind the curtain, In stentorlan voice, the
command, Clear the stage everybody" there was
sounded, and at two minutes before nine O'Clock up
rose the curtain.
GRAND TRANSPORTATION scEsR.
This was the opening announcement on the pro.
gramme.
Now to the drama turn-ts motley sight,
What precious scenes the wondering eyes invtel
And how shall we describe The scene that pre-
sented Itself to the view OF the thousands OF
anxiousIy waiting spectators' 1t was certainly
transformation scene extraordinary-a spec
taculat scene equang In Drlliancy anything
exhibited in the Black Crook,n or ''White
Fawn;" or "humpty Dumplyn-the chief
aim OF the spectacular drama. ON either side the
stage were revolving cylinders 0l glass eacn en-
easing seml-apparelled lady OF bewitchIngy
beautiful lace and figure. Oriental plants or ali the
lug product OF fairy land bloomed In beauty
every ywhere. Gauzy curtains fabricated OF glass,
began to rise, and then coming up from the neither
depths OF the stage rose Two spheres OF glass,
sparkling with lustrous hues, on the top OF
each "a, young lady, likewise adorned In
very little Of feminine apparel. Underneath
each were three young ladies', respective
tros like Atlas bearing the globes above them After
these further PACK, rising to view, was an indie
scribable fabric OF glass, with three compartments
one ABOVE the other, the lrst containing three
ladies in white short.skirted garments, the second
proportions and the third dozen young ladies' IN
abbreviated pink costumes. 1t was beautiful sight,
Of one 81 % tine
sestSe Of i It's being G o the o earth sn ssrsny suT
been out OF sight being visible, defect, however,
that In future representations Will doubtless be
remedied: In appreciation OF its beauty the
Of the curtain second time.
TRANSFORMATION SCENE EXTRAORDINARY.
"A CrbublOTLudtoH bCcHe more luut5cTlUaOIe tDan
that we have just essayed to partially de.
scribe now ensued In the vestibule OF the
theatre. This was scene of feasting And
what . feast Champagne lowcd as freely as
water and was drank with more freedom than was
the aqueous mud. And there were oysters, ana
chicken salads, and cold meats, and sandwiches, aud
cakes, and ellies, and fruits, and Ice creams and
perfect caravanseray OF ediDles. IL was here tue
Prince OF Erie showed himself princely. And II was
thus Mr.. Page, the manager. showed in a state OF
peasingly progressive perfection his genius as
manager did Mr. Triton his extraordinary abilities
as spectacular scenist on the stage:-
Something too much OF ths
There's play TO night
Thus says Hamlet In preface TO the play IN q play
In the immortal aroma OF thai name.
FIRST ACT OF TWELVE TEMPTATIOSs.o
The entire or the first acs 0f the great drama, to
get an inkiing OF the beauties and effects or which
brought SO many together, Is next to be acted.
AS. the curtain rises the throng outside hastily
empty their goblets Of champagne and hurry
to their seats again. The grand spectacular and
romantic feature OF the drama speedily reveals
Itself. The scenery magnificent everything new
and splendid ana working with most admirable
sm00thness. The costumes are perfect.
Scarlet coats, black facngs long plumss,
Waving like SAILS shivered IA . storm,
Ger cooked hats
And brilliant brceches, bright y n cairnrorm.
or yellow Cashmere,