The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-03-05
HOW Prfrna Donnas that Wont sing
are Matle to sing--A fearful senG
and n Heavy Tine--A Despotie Cap
a;siu.Ganerus.
From the New York Times.

The Cuban way Of treating capricious and
unsatisfactory singers and actors is summary,
but it has it's advantages. The prima donna
OF the opera at Havana the other night re-
fused to sing because there was n thin house
assembled. The audience, quick to claim Its
rights, made q great cutlery IN consequence,
and called on the Captain-General, who was
present in his box, to make her sing. lie
accordingly sent her word to that effect, but
she still persisted in her refusal. Thereupon
the Captain-G General fined her 500, and sent
two officers to conduct her to the stage and
make her sing. The prima donna, thus eE.
forced, appeared on the stage, but in tears,
and though compelled to yield was still un-
repentant. But lovely woman's tears affect
even hard Havanese hearts, and those who
had been loudest in calling upon the Captain
General to force her to sing now deprecated
force, and begged that this lyric Niobe he en-
cused. But the Dictator of the island was
resolute. What he had undertaken he would
carry through, in spite of the tears of the
prima donna and the weak relentings Of those
who had urged him to compel her to do her
duty to the public. So Madam Prma Donna
must wipe away her tears and sing her. part
| through. But, the opera overland here
comes in Havanese poetic justice--the Cap
tain General, enraged at the position III
which he had been put by the vascillation
OF those of the audience who had de.
manded his interference, and then had re-
Tented, and asked that he should back out of
] what he had undertaken at their instance,
ordered the arrest Of the leaders of this vas
cillating crowd, and when our informant left
| Havana they were still in prison, painfully
atOning for their weakness. es.' ...-
Another instance to show the really Asiahc
power Of this Captain-G General: A famous
juggler, well known in this country, whose
great feat is to make it appear that he cuts
off his own head, by advertisements in the
journals, posters, and handbills, drew great
house to see the exciting performance which
he promised. The cutting off of heads natu-
rally appeals very strong to Havanese
| tastes, and so on the appointed night the
fashion, beauty, and bravery of the town as
sembled in eager expectation. The pre-
! liminary feats OF the jugger were not alto
gether satisfactory to the audience, but they
bore them with comparative patience, hoping
more from the sanguinary trick which was
to close the performance. But when this
was reached the house detected the ma
chinegy of 1.-THE cutting of was not rea,
enough-and loud were the outcries in con-
sequence. The poor juggler was in sad
distress; mobbing seemed imminent; he
bad been accustomed to less eXacting
houses, and had learned from sue
cesSful experience elsewhere that a tricked
audience might grumble and growl, but
would not carry matters any further. In
Hatana he found it different The dissatis-
faction meant something here. It meant
danger to himself possibly certainly to his
prospect Of making money. And now again
the Captain-G General was called on to inter
ifcre, which he did right promptly. Mr. Jug
gler was fined five hundred dollars, and COM
PEELED in addition to disgorge all the money
he had received for tickets. He very natural
" left Havana forthwith, devoutly thankful
that the punishment had been no greater, for
'sions Of the garTote haunted his mind, and
!, not likely that he viii again return to the
If the Captain General. ~
w H. summary way of dealing with those
Ipe. dertake to amuse the public has cer-
,h0 ~ utages, and might perhaps be pro-
In ad - =, 7lied in more northern attitudes,
ably o. gnant purchasers of tickets to.
here int Z which are not carried out as
srfornance ,uld sometimes hail the inter
lyertised W. acaptain-general, to defend
,sition of even en- cayalierly regarded by
cir rights 80 Off III 4 Il VA 90, ~
anagers. --------7---'-
-.----,- hong the replies to
MIMI yeUn sToPs. A. ale committee for
advertisement Of q rlu. ,1usic teacher,n
! candidate us orgsnist i, a by the or
/, o vacancy having occurs following. .
nist's resignation, was the tisement
aentlemen,-I notice your adsa 'ady or
nroat1ief and rnt,ein fs,ao o;f1, Sf x,n,.u1