The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-22
m u wy o n KTs M q
Pro-s Our OsD Correspondent
Nuvv Xopu Tale 90 fo,n

Death by Piano.
Piano-drumming is an ism of the United
States rather than of New York, but it has pro-
badly its highest point of development here.
There is no other city of the Union where the
scales are more mercilessly run, the gamut more
implacably persecutedi than in New York. If the
census-takers would only put down the num-
Der of piano-players they would crafty the
curiosity and receive the thanks of hundreds
OF invalids. I believe that many GONZALES
cent has been pianoed into relapse, and thence
to the grave. Many q moribund has been has
tened to the tomb at q much quicker pace than
he would have otherwise been by ''Days of Ab-
sence" executed by one digit. More than one
brain fever has been generated by long course
OF 'Shoo-Flv." There be nervous sufferers who
will not survive captain Jinks of the Horse
Marines" dare say typhoid has been promoted
by walking Down Broadway" and have little
doubt that mental imbecility has been caused by
''Tasses on her boots" ! do not know that the
piano has ever figured in heath-office returns as
a cause Of death, but have my suspicious that
as many ole from il every year as from sun
stroke or drowning. You cannot treat ii as you
would fat boiling establishment and indict it
as a nuisance. You may gag over the me odious
death, but you have to swallow it whether you
will or not You are like the drunkard whose
physician Furnishes him by condemning
MN 10 nave tue laSte anu CSSGuCe VI WHISKY
inserted into everything he eats and drinks.
With every mouthful swallowed his disgust
grows more intense until he frantically begs to
be given his natural food again. The confirmed
piano practiser-and / verify believe there are
more of them in New York than in Philadel-
phia and Boston put together-is like the deSpot
who ordered his slave TO be put to death by being
deprived OF sleep. He beats the brains of sum-
Der out with his iats and sharps, and naturals
and frightens pleasant dreams away with his
perpetual loud pedal.
Amusements-FloatIng Fragments.
It is softly whispered through the lobbies of
the Grand Opera House that that great aud
good man, Mr.. James Fisk. Jr., who is notorious
for two virtues-devotion to the public and alb
negat.on OF set-is shortly to welcome to
Twenty-third street and Eighth avenue no less
novelty than old Offenbach himself. The "old
man" having refreshed himself in and around
Ems for some weeks, is pronounced by this time
sufficiently we'll to mind his Us and qS and to
return to business. 1t is reported that Mr.. Fisk
has almost completed arrangement with him
and offered him q sum large enough to induce
him to lead the orchestra in person, with per-
haps-a very small perhaps-Schneider to do
the principal soprano singing. Irma is very
confidently named as having been engaged, and
an early date in September is mentioned as the
commencement of the opera boufe season.
At Waack's Mr.. Emmett, whose performances
until yerv recently have been confined to Dutch
speCialties on the minstrel and mis- scellaneous
stage, is nightly appearing in that magnificent
masterpiece by Mr.. Gayler entitled Fritz. In
all the stupendous works of genius to which Mr..
Gayler's mighty brain has given birth, nothing
quite so degrading and disgusting has yet been
apparent Much Of the plot consists in the
efforts of the villains of the piece to drug in
concert saloon. an innocent girl whom they have
captured, and this intention is presented again
and again to the attention of the audience in all
the most prurent forms short of outspoken in
6ecency. Under the summer regime Wallaclis
suffers greatly. In the topmost gallery the
soda-water bottles pop as perpetually as at the
Bowery, aud the enthusiasm of the public over
the blunders and triumphs of 'Fritz' and over the
havoc he makes among the idoms Of the Eng
lish language is of the loudest description.
Some months ago it was proposed to give q
grand benefit to old George Holland, who is
now in his eightieth year Some of the rea-
sons given for it are curious in their logic
When Madame Bishop returned to this country
after an absence of no one knows how many
wears, her friends endeavored to create fur0re
in her behalf on the representation that, during
her tour around the world, she had been exposed
for thirteen days in an open boat That was
very good reason for our extending oar SYM
pathies TO delicate woman, but scarcely one
for giving our support to pdSSee prima-donna
who was never irst-class. In the same way
with Mr.. Holland. He has been popular actor
for more than fifty years, and has had ample
opportunities for laying up sufficient sum of
money to yield him good deal of comfort in his
old age. He has been paid as well as any actor
of equal ability ever was and ought to have saved
something's every one ought whose means
are above those required for the absolute neces-
saries of existence. However, far be it from me
to wish to detract from the good opinion in
which he may be held in Philadelphia, or from
the interest with which any piece Of good for
tune happening to him would be received there
Only DO not see why veteran actor who has
neglected to provide forhis old age should meet
with more sympathy and assistance than vete-
rams in other professions.
Balm for WorkIng- Women.
The question whether the working-wOmen of
New York are so badly off as they are repre-
sented to be- or need remain so if they are is
one worth considering. For instance, in many
the stores on Broadway sixty dollars are
asked for an organdy dress, the material for
which cost only one-third that amount and
which had only three days labor bestowed upon
it. woman who has little money to invest.
instead of taking boarders 60 boarding how
many crimes committed in thy name y
might hire some very modest premises block
or SO from Broadway, pay woman from two
dollars and fifty cents to three dol
lars and fifty cents per day for MAX
such drassaa which sba