National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-02-20
Light Reading for the close Of the Week.
The Opera-Its Inventors - General
Spinner-UIster OyercOats-FOur
Babies-Mrs. williams and
Mrs. HilIyer - Art
and Artists.
The Opera Season.

and Artists.
The Opera Season.
The production Of Italian opera at the National
theatre next week naturally suggests Q few
thoughts in connection with its history and the
names Of its inventors and first patrons. Long
fellow chants:
H4od sent his singers upon earth
With songs Of sadness and Of mirth,
That they might touch the hearts Of men,
And bring them back to heaven again."
And all agree that the gIftof music from the
great source Of harmony is one Of the dearest NOR
opera, are the supreme results Of inspired inven-
tors and composers. It was nearly four hundred
years ago when three young musicians, natives OF
Florence and greatly gifted, received from celes-
ta influences the idea of reviviRg the lyric style
Of defamation which echoed from the streets Of
Athens over the waves Of the AEGEAN sea. They
communicated their idea to friend by the name
of Rinucci to compose o nbretto, having for Its
plot the story Of Daphne.
Pest, and the performance of this new creation
took place in the palace of Count Oorsi The
composition of the opera consisted wholly OF reel
tatiops There were no airs in 1t, and the critics
of that time pronounced 1t bore. "Eurydice"
was performed In 1900, in honor of the marriage
of Henry ~. of France and Maria de 'MedicI,
and in less than hundred years from that time
opera was established in the principal cities Of
Italy. In 1910 1t was transplanted to France by
Cardinal Magarin, and in i7IO it was first heard
on the London stage.
Francis E. Spinner.
One CT the most conspicuous Of the throng Of
politicians moving about the corridors Of Will
lard's last night was the venerable form Of the
Treasurer Of the United States. He was greeted
by his friends with heartfelt cor duality. As q
man, an officer of the Government, and as the in
ventOr OF a chirOgraphy inimitaole, General
Spinner is known throughout the country. His
official accuracy, ac1men and integrity are never
and useful public service has won for itself the
appreciation Of grateful country. Decided in
stoned Of p-eJudices, the General yet has the re-
pute Of consideration and kindness for all who
seek him-Rnd thousands do that every month
for some favor, aid or application.
Although Gen. Spinner has earned the name
of representative American, he is Of German
parentage, born in New York. Within the last
few years, when indulging in rest Of mind and
physical recuperation, during tour in Europe,
he visited the localities of the romance Of his
parents love and marriage, which deprived the
Church ofRome Of priest and a serge-clad nun,
and brought them to this country In search of
peace and independence. The Generals presence
would have delighted Lavater and George Comb;
q head large and splendidly developed, and
face in whose strongly:marked features shrewd-
and bonh0mfe ind peculiarly confused express
sion. Many a sorrow stricken woman knows that
his breast is as tender as that Of dove and many
a strong man knows that his iron nerve is invincf--
bic as o thunderbolt. Without detraction from
laborS due his immense public charge, Gen. Spin
ner has cultivated aesthetics to a high degree, as
attested by the ornamented walls of his beautiful
rooms, with their framework OF leaves, ferns,
flowers and moses, most dexterously and exqui-
No one ever denied to the old General rare
eye and taste for beauty, but only his intimate
friends know with what deIfcdtenSe the fingers
which have wrought the calculations of nations
finances have immortalized the tiniest beauties
OF our country's fora, and arranged in pleasant
relief and harmonious order "Rocks OF Ages"
images OF beryl and topaz, bronze and marble
statueltes Of heroes oil paintings Of local scenery
imperial photographs, books in blue and gold,
sits among his clerks like patriarch Of old amid
his tribe, beloved and reyerenced.
Confirmation.
Just now the Episcopal young ladies Of WASH
ington are addressing themselves with most be
coming propriety to the great supplemental act
of their baptism, confirmation. Having passed
through with heroic iortitude the demands made
upon them in the way of dancing and ice cream
eating by the gallants Of the marine corps, they
naturally enough now wish to be strengthened for
the fulhllment of their Christian duties by the
grace therein bestowed by confirmation, as the
priests have It. There is great deal to be avoided
In being confirmed, for the market is overcrowded
with confirmed hirts, gossips, dolls and stupids
while great dearth exists in confirmed house
keepers, breadmakers, helpmeets and sensibles.
However, we take 1t that Washington society
can name many young lady brilliant for her
wit, beauty and accomplishments who is quite
capable Of making the best wife in the world.
As we know men we would not marry every one
we meet If we were girl. The rule Is that the
women are quite as good as the men, and thou
are to-day If they had only taken the advice or
their wives. 1t would be good thing If one could
be confirmed against Jealousy. That, though, is
human nature The Inspired playwright has
said:
'Trifes light as air
Are to the jealous combinations strong
As proofs Of Holy Writ"
And society is as thick with tribes as the atmos-
phere lie Of molecules. There is only one way for
q woman to become supremely happy in this re-
gard-she must be o newspaper mans wife. She
learns right away not to grieve over misprlnt In
one Of her articles and after that she can fold up
her arms in perfect composure over things that
would put a less fortunate woman's soul squarely
on the ragged edge of anxiety"
the calendar, viii soon be here, and as It is on
that day that most OF the new combinations will
be made for the year, we are glad to know that
raiment they will wear. We like to see Easter
robes made Of white pearl gros grains, or white
cashmere, and on the back OF the head short
of India muslin will also do for q confirmation
dress. OF course no jewelry should be worn, ex-
cept one plain gold ring as symbol Of eternity,
and one small diamond as q symbol Of light.
Ulster overcoats.
It has been the mad ambition Of many Wash
ington youth this season to procure an Ulster
overcoat. 1t is a cheap thing, made from the
coarsest shoddy goods possible, and costs all the
way from seven to ffleen dollars. They were
originally designed for the use Of gentlemen
called by some emergency to go out In storm,
and as such they were really desirable and use
full. 1t was not long, however, before the drivers
Of 5 fSSh ag6 10 " STsqv gs gSSd
could raise seven dollars got one but this was BY
no means the limit Of the degradation mapped
men could stil wear 1t with prOpristy, especially
The Ulster got its death blow when the dancers
0f ha an rufff m md N n a n
They promenade in II, go to church and the opera
in it. eat in It and sleep in It, make calls in It, at
themselves generally ridiculous in il. It is the
browning glory OF dancer Of the German-the
one supreme delight Of his existence.
The following verses from an exchange are ap-
propriate:
Twas q lively time in sharkeyville;
Jake SWannycamp declared,
With eyes agog and mouth agape,
He hadn't been that scared,
Not since he could remember,
As he had been that night
By an outlandish critter
OfWhieh he had q sight.
tip rose his rustic neighbors,
Each from his bAr-room chair:
"WhRt was Il Jake7" How did IL look?"
Quoth Jake, "rWas like bear,
A Walkin' on his hind legs;
But II had more wool than hair,
As nigh as i could reckon
Along Of my derned scare.
"'Twas six feet high, with short hind legs,
And thick-sot round the waist;
But when i net IL lust at dusk,
/ lit out In such haste
That couldn't tell edzackly
Whether twas o wild baboon,
Or q monster, or gorilla,
Or Old Nick out for noon"
Out went those sturdy yeomen,
With various arms equipped,
Bent on the speedy capture
OF Jake's nondescript.
Lo, stalking toward the tavern
They saw the goblin come,
And then those sturdy yeomen
All wanted to go home.
Sixteen together tried to squeeze
Into the bar-room door,
While scramblinR at the window
Were half dozen more;
And Jim Mahoney dropped his gun
In his excessive fright;
The gun went of, and so did Jim
In panlc-stricken flight.
"Hold on Don't shoot r' the monster cried.
Those sturdy yeomeD heard,
And conscious that some cowardice,
Perhaps, might be inferred
From their recent trepidstion,
They made o grand attack,
And soon that clumsy mon ster
They laid upon his back,
And hereely asked him why he prowled