, 1873-02-09


THE OPERA SEASON.
The spectacle in McVicker'o Theatre, on Mon
day, Wednesday, and Friday evenings, WAS not
calculated to impress q stranger with the belief
thet money is tight in Chicago. It is impossible
to get at the exact figures, but it is only few
dollars out OF the way to say that On Monday
evening there wcre $4,000 in the house; on
Wednesday evening, $4,000, and On Friday
evening. sG,2oo; and an Average of these three
GUMS yesterday. Tho gross receipta Of the week
will probably reach e25,0Co. This result has
not been surpassed in any city in the country.
The Friday night receipts have never been
eaualled before in this city. On Friday even
ing and Saturday afternoon, indeed, II the
theatre had been larger, the audience
would have been larger also, as many
came who could not get in. The result shows
that Chicago to-day is, as che always has been,
the most munidcent patron OF opera in this
country, and that no entertainment suffers here
il it ia Of good quality There is no city which
detects sham more quickly, or let's 1t more &C.
verely alone, and there is no city which extends
3 more royal welcome to real talent. Miss
Charlotte Cushman, during her recent engage
ment. more than onco acknowledged that ahe
had never met in all her long and varied stage
life, q moro elegant or cordial reception than
she had here. The 1noralists may mourn, and
tho financial economists may weaTe theories Of
profit and loss az much as they pleaso it still
remains truo shat Chicago is bound to bo
amused, whether tinas are hard or not, and there
is quite as much sound philosophy in this deter
uination IS there is in playing the Phariseo, Or
shaking like Faint Heart, in every crisis. The
fair little Berliner will find compensation in this
recognition for all the privileges she has forfeit
ed in breaking her contract with Frederick Will
iaun's Superintendent Of Opera. No pent-up
Utica now contracts her powers. sho now be-
longs to the world, andi in her cosmopolitan famo
Chicago claims g generous place. All that is
now necessary for her happiness in this world Is
IN investment in corner lot here, which will
weld her snug fortune when her hair gets gray,
and her voice begins to quiver, and all her ope-
ratio triumphs are souvenirs Of glorious past
Nilsson. Adalina Patti, Carlotta Patti, Pareps,
Kellogg, Grau, 6t1akosch, and Maretzek, have
all anchored g deposit in Chicago real
estate against foul weather. There is nothing
like it, It is an Investment which pays. 1t cen
never be disturbed by P1ussian edicts or Mallin-
ger cabals. When the year 1000 has turned
round the corner. all the artist-ownorB Of real
estate are coming heze to reside on their proper
tv, and compare notes on the seasons at Croe-
by's md Mcvickers, and help on the prima don
mas Of the day, who are now in swaddllng
clothes, within moro suggestions Of music about
them than arise from the prick Of pin or
empty stomachs.
The SUCCESS Of the opera hero speaks well for
the general culture Of Chicago. It is inevitable
absurd as it may be-that italian opera shall
be accompanied by the whim6icalities Of fashion.
It is inevitable, perhaps, that people
| must go in carriage; must wear
purplo and fine linen, and make opora an
expensive luxury, but this is not necessity Of
| tie opera. It ia only another a1emplifcation Of
| tho fact. which has been true since tho days OF
Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Brown are determined not
| to be outdone by each other in raiment and
etylo Leaving out Of the question, however,
all the surroundings Of opera, and coming down
to it's actual merits, it cannot be denied that it is
missionary Of culture, and that its tendency il
to improve tho average taste and etiquette, and
| elevate the standard OF music. There is
| no higher standard OF art than mn9sic
and the drama combined, and VIXEN that golden
time comes, when managers can so arrange sala-
rics as to provide troupe Of equal merit
| throughout, We may then look for even better
| performances than now, and at reasonable rates.
| Meanwhile re advise "Unsere K1eine Paulina !"
| to read the real estate advertisements in The
TRIBUNE this morning, and attontiEely etudy the
| lesson they teach