The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-23
MECENAS MASHED.


Not even the tuneful associations of the
Grand Opera House have avaled to restrain
the belligerent propensities of its martial pro-
prietor. Not even the lifelong habit of con-
Quoting refractory orchestras and ruling re-
bellious fiddlers has taught the fiery Maretzek
to restrain his own impetuosity and to con-
duct himself with harmony and discretion
These saddening truths were on Wednesday
abundantly confirmed by the news columns of
the W0rld, wherein we set forth the fierce bat
tie between the fighting Fisk and the musical
Maretzek. Into the merits of the conflict we
do not propose to enter. The admirers of
tinanciering genius or the lovers of lyric art
will scarcely find heart to ask whether the
military spirit of the French forces now under
the command of the Prince of Erie drove
that potentate into the conflict, or whether
the aggressive disposition of the German
leader forced on the battle. Whatever may have
been the cause, no musician can take pride in
the spectacle of the conductor beating time
to imaginary Wagnerian overtures upon the
genial countenance of his manager nor can
the fnanciering mind regard with compla-
cency the attempt of the king of the gold
ring to possess himself by violence of the
stock-not to mention the accompanying
garments-of the former leader of the forlorn
hope of the Italian opera. Art can but suffer
on account of this unhappy display of un-
had everything to hope from the association
of the wealthy patron and the experienced
artist. Mecenas had once more struck hands
with Horace, and an Augustan age of opera
bouffe seemed about to be the joyous conse-
quence. But, instead of pleasant partner
ship, celebrated by a yearly symphony
composed by the musical Horace and dedi-
Gated to the railway M@cenas, we have
the unwelcome sight of belligerent Horace
violently assaulting his astonished M@cenas,
and performing the mysterious and, it is to
be presumed, metaphorical operation of sup
plying his portly shoulders with superhu-
Gus head There is no precedent for this
sort of thing in the annals of the Augustan
era. So far as history speaks upon the sub
iect, We hear only of respectful attendance
by the poet at his patrons dinner table, and
| of melodious verses composed by him in
praise of the giver of eleemosynary baskets
! of Falerniap wine and charitable secondhand
togas. Had he, on the contrary, suffered his
| angry passions to rise, and permitted his
wayward hands to grow unpleasantly fami-
| liar with the nose of his pr9sidium et decus,
Macenas would, of course, have at once cut
| off his supplies, and Horace would have
written nothing but reyengeful satires upon
the pompous and pampered aristocrat.
somewhat similar revenge is within the reach
of Maretzek, who can henceforth harass his
enemy by serenading him with that body of
musical attractions known as the orchestra of
| the Grand Opera House; but it is to be
hoped that he will listen to the promptings
| of humanity, and stop short of SO merciless
| and barbarous an outrage. Whatever may
be his future course, il is, however, now
plain that the partnership of money and art
is at an end. Mecsnas will no longer supply
the sinews of opera to the musician who has