Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1873-07-10
VENTILATION w. AUDIENCE,
BY MARIE FLAAoKE.


or Patti, but the fresh young voices
sounded loud and clear upon the close
night air, and were marked with COM
mendable precision. The leader de-
serves much praise for the careful in
struction which the performances gave
evidence of. Little Lucy was the per-
sonifcation of childish beauty and in
noeence, and her distinct enunciation
was remarkable for SO young q child.
The other solo fully merited an encore,
and the audience would have been
much pleased to have heard several
songs by the same vocalist. The in
strumental duets were skillfully per-
formed, though the pianists had poor
instrument to exercise their fingers up
on. The duet from "ll Troyatore, !"
(piano and corneD was highly pleasing.
Its only fault was its brevity.
On the whole, to use a stage express
sion, the affair passed off finely ; and I
sincerely trust the managers were amply
rewarded for their exertions in behalf OF
the school. One needs but to glance at
the pleasant, genial superintendent to
be assured that it is under the manage.
ment of the right person.
Elizabeth possesses greater musical
skill than we are fully aware of. I
should think it would be an easy mat
ter to form q musical club, either in
strumental or vocal.
The performers would speedily estab.-
lishs tAsis~claim to public consideration,
which would doubtless appreciate an
exhibition of home talent.
There was one unpleasant feature
connected with the evenings entertain
ment, however, which sadly marred
everybody's enjoyment. I refer to the
poor ventilation. In regard to the heat,
censure can be attached to no particular
person but as neither duties or taxes
are imposed upon fresh air, there can
no possible excuse for its exclusion.
From personal observation I've de-
cided that Library hall and the Opera
house are nearly allied to the black hole
of Calcutta. They are superior only in
space.
The atmosphere, on the evening in
question, was oppressive even out of
doors. Naturally, in well-filled hall
it was still more uncomfortable. !
don't mean to say that we had no air
whatever, but the ventilator fur above
our heads served only to favor us with
a slight taste of what human nature i'm
peratiyely demanded.
Sitting is mild term for the sensa-
ton. Fans and handkerchiefs were in
contant requisition, and the poor NOR.
tails who were debarred from using eth
Ell useful article, must have literally yer.
flied the quotation of "dripping from
every pore"
AS for the audience-well, judging
from the appearance of others, and my
own feelings, it will be an easy task to
describe how the majority of the persons
assembled there enjoyed the. hot, close
room.
\, In the way of standing and breathing
space, small people are always imposed
upon; and being one OF tho much
abused class, I'm fully aware of the in.
convenience. Perhaps if portray my
surroundings, you'll conclude that I had
reason to complain, and will offer, moi
only to myself but to many others in the
same uncomfortable position. your heart
felt sympathy.
In the first place, the seats are all on
the same level, and one has to contend
with the vexatious tall person who in
variably sits just in the way of your
range Of vision. OF course tall gen.
tleman sitting few seats in front OF
me, was continually moving his head in
the wrong direction. Then, q gentle
man of Falstaffian proportions occupied
the chair directly before me, and one OF
aldermanie dimensions sat at my right
hand and to add to my distress, two
stout ladies seated themselves behind
me. Candor compels me to confess
that the gentleman in the front seat
favored me with breath of fresh air
occasionally, when he slowly welded
his fan, but he would persist in looking
back in search of friend, showing when
he did SO, such flushed, moist counte.
nance, that 1 almost dissolved from
sheer sympathy. 1t had to be endured,
however, so l consoled myself by para.
phrasing Hamlet to slight degree, in
saying, "Oh that this too solid flesh
wouldn't melt, and resolve itself into
dew p
Now, my case was but an illustration
of many similar TO it. Can't something
be done for q suffering people in regard
to ventilation ? It's the same, every.
where, in church, hall, or concert room.
In winter, one can bear impure Dir with
less discomfort /; but on close sitting
evenings oil pleasure and interest in a
performance yield to the feeling of suffo
cation and perspiration. Its rather an.
noying to be compelled to leave q hall
simply because your lungs refuse to in
hale the poisonous atmosphere and it's
by no means agreeable to feel as if your
respiratory organs were being slowly but
surely imprisoned in the grasp of that
stealthy enemy-foul air. And there's no
possible reason for such state of affairs,
either. Fresh air is plentiful, and not
at all expensive; yet from its scarcity,
one would think it was unattainable OF
ruinously costly. Will the lessees of
places OF amusement, or rather all pub
lie places, ever comprehend that poor
ventilation is q serious detriment to
their receipts ? 1t is quite time that
that they awakened to the fact, and ex-
hibited slight amount of care for the
comfort of their patrons.
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