The New York herald., 1873-12-04
. A M U s E M E N T S.
Opening OF the New Fifth Avenue Thea.
trc-Thc Address Of DIR. Oliver Wendell

Holmes.
The new Fifth Avenue Theatre, in Twenty eighth
street, near Broadway, was opened last night to
brilliant audience. The house was the subject OF
thousand comments, universal admiration OF It's
beauty in every detail finding fit expression.
The auditorium is, indeed, gem. Perfect
In form and finish, 1t Is the realization OF an
ideal theatre. The double riers OF proscenium
boxes, richly decorated and adorned are the most
beautiful OF any place Of amusement in the city,
and the French boxes in the rear give finish to the
parauet. Overhead is a dome which Is the periec-
ton OF fresco painting. The sky Is as fine as any
that poet ever saw or painter endeavored to exe'
cute. Amid such surroundings the first audience
gathered in the new theatre last night, ieeiing
that in these surroundings alone there was
sufficient to satisfy them for any shortcomings
which might follow. At the time announced for
the beginning OF the performance the theatre was
iun number OF persons being accommodated
with seats camp stools in the centre aisle. There
was some delay IN the beginning, but nnauy MISS
Fanny Morant appeared at the footlights and be-
gan to recite the opening address, which was writ
ten by Dr. Oliver Wendell Homes and was as
foIlows:-
Hang out our banners on the stately tower
1t dawns at last-the long-expected hour!
The steep is climbed the srarlft suhimit won'
The builders task the artists LABOR done;
Before the finished work the herald stands,
Shall rosy daybreak make US all forget
The golden that yester evening setY
Fair was the fabric doomed to pass away
Ere the last headaches born OF New Years Day.
With blasting breath the fierce destroyer came
And wrapped the victim in mis- robes OF naine
The pictured sky with redder morning bushed
With scorchlng streams the nalad's fountain
gushcd
With kinding mountains glowed the funeral pyre,
Forests aplaze ana rivers all on fre.
The scenes dissolved, the srlvelling curtain Iell.
Art spread her wings and sighed a long farewell
Mourn DER the player's melancholy plight
Falstar in tears, 0Jhello deadly white
Poor Romeo reckoning what his doublet cost,
And Juliet whimpering for her dresses lost
Their wardrobes burned, their salaries all IN
drawn,
Their cues cut short, their occupation gonel
.Iie there In dust" the red-winged demon cried,
''Wreck OF the lordIy city's nope and prideW
While DER the embers leaps the ftfuI blaze;
when, 10 a hand, before the startled train,
Writes in the ashes ut shall rise again
Rise and confront its elemental foes ~
The word was spoken and the wall arose,
And ere the seasons round their briei career
The newborn temple waits the unborn year.
Ours was the toll OF many q weary day
Your smiles, your plaudts only can repay;
We are the monarchs OF the painted scenes,
You, you alone the real kings and queeDs
Lords OF the little kingdom where We meet,
We lay gided sceptres at your feet,
Place in your grasp our portals sivered keys
With one brief utterance-We have tried to please.
Tell US, ye soveregns of the new domain.
With no irreverent gances look around
The realm you rule. for this Is haunted ground!
Here stalks the sorcerer, here the fary trips,
Here limps the witch, with malice working lips;
The Graces here their snowy arms entwine,
Here dwell the fairest sisters OF the Nine
She who, with jocund voice and twinkhng eye,
Laughs at the brood OF folnes as they ly;
She OF the dagger and the deadly bowl,
Whose charming horrors thrill the trembling soul.
She, who, truant from celestial spheres,
In mortal semblance now and then appears,
Ill
Sontag or Nilsson, Lind or Malibran;
With these the spangled nouri OF the dance
What snait dangerous as her melting glance,
AS poised In air she spurns the earth below,
And points ai0i. her heavenly minded toel
What were our life, with all its rents and seams,
Stripped OF It's purple robes, our waxing dreaInsY
The tinselled shows that cheat us on the stage,
Lead all our fances captive at their-xi.l;
Three years or threescore, we are chlldren Still.
The little listener on his iather's knee,
With wandering sinoad piougns tae stormy sea,
With Gotham's sages hears the bnlows roll,
Industrious trio OF the venturous bowl,
TOO early shipwrecked Tor they died too soon
Tracks the dark brigand 10 his mountain lair,
Stays the grim giant, saves the lady fair,
Fights all his country's battles o'er again
From Bunker's blazing height TO Luudy's Lane;
Floats with the mighty captains as they sailed
Before whose nag the Naming red cross paled,
And claims the oft told story OF the scars
scarce yet grown white that saved the stripes and
Stars
Children OF later growth, we love the play,
We love its heroes, be they grave gay,
From squeaking, peppery, devdefying Punch
TO roaring Richard with his camehunch
Adore its heToines, those immortal danes,
Times 0nlwrivas, whom he never tames.
Whose youth, unchanging, lives while thrones
decay;
Age spares the Pyramids--and Dejazet;
The saucy-aproned, razor -tongued soubrette,
The bond-naired beauty with the eyes OF jet
The gorgeous beings whom the viewless wires
Lift TO the skies IN strontian CT insoned fires,
And all the wealth OF splendor that awaits
The throng that enters those Elysiau gates.
See wnere the hurrying crowd impatient pours
With noise OF trampling feet and tapping doors.
streams 10 the numbered seat each pasteboard its
And smcoths Its caudal plumage as IL sts,
Waits while the slow lscians saupter in,
Til the bald leader taps his violin,
It'll the old overture We know well,
Zampa or Magic Flute or William Tell, 80,
Has done It's worst-then bark the linking pehl
The crash Is overtime crinkling curtain iurieu,
And 10 the glories OF that brighter woriul
Behold the offspring OF the Thespian cart,
This iuil grown tempe OF the magic arr,
Where al the conjurors OF illusion meet, 4
Aud please US all the more, the more tney chca''
These are the wizards and the witches TOO
Who win their honest bread Dy cheaunR you