The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-03-12
OUR BOSTON CORRESPONDENT
The Effect of Belknap's Fall ON tho New
Hampshire Election-Titiens In Opera
The Condensatio of Stfmalants-The Ice
CroD-Bisecging Bivalves at the Howard
AtheHanm.
BosroN. March 6, 1876


Dear BuQetin-The startling news Of felknap's
fall came to me like flash OF lightning out of a
clear sky. / was in Concord, New Hampshire,
attending large Democratic meeting when the
news arrived. You can easily imagine the sensa-
ton it created among the politicians present.
For long while back the whole Administration
has been under cloud Of suspicion. Tie Prasi-
dents peculiar associations, his stubborn adhe-
sion to thieves and scoundrels, the mystery
OF the whisky ring, still unexplained,
the power of the kitchen cabinet shown in hun
dred ways, the doubtful support glvea to Secre-
tary Bristow, all have been sufficient limitations
Of rottenness, which patient investigation would
sooner or later discover. 1t was publicly stated
on the streets that Robson would be the first
to fall victim to the investigating committees,
but now that it is Beiknap, old Secor's turn may
come next. The prevailing opinioa among the
politicians, both Democratic and Republican, is
that the disclosures Of corruption in the War
Department will enhance the chances Of sub
stantial Democratic victory in New Hampshire on
the 14th inst. While the Republican speakers
endeavoring to make the issues OF the late un-
pleasant, living issues in this campaign, and are
melting the prejudices of their followers against
the Southern people, their Democratic neighbors
are showing up with good results the corruption
of the party in power, and attribute the fall of
Belknap to the moral enervation in every depart
ment of the government, and to the low tone all
about him, tina. made high sense of honor
more apt to be ridiculed than commended A
leading Democrat of Manchester said to me the
other night: This afflir is going to have great
effect on our State election. We are going to
have one of the most heated contests that New
Hampshire has seen for years. 1t is Centennial
year and Presidential year. The cry against the
corruption in the ,party in power mas been
raised with no slight voice. Babcock has never
explained himself satisfactorily, Robson is I'M
der cloud Of suspicion, ana even the garments
of President Grant are tainted with corruption.
There are numbers of thoughtful men who very
often stay at home and take little interest in
politics, who will be influenced to vote the Demo
cratic rather than the Republican ticket, and it
is this uncertain vote that is gong to tell in this
close pinch we are to have election day.
The chief musical event Of the past season has
been the appearance Of Mile. Theresa Titiens in
the operas of Norma" al Trovatora," and
" La Favorita," at the Boston Theater. Her per-
performance in Norma was grand effort, but
was occasionally marred by slight huskiness in
her voice. In the declamatory music preceding
the Casd diUd, and even In the great aria itself,
she was not as impressive as there was reason to
anticipate she would be but in the succeeding
scenes, however, and notably in the grand duets
with Adalgisa and Pollione she reached high de-
gree OF vocal excellence, as we'll as dramatic pas
sion: it seems to me she s not singer who daZzle5
by soma brilliant show ofvocal pyrotechnics only
to fall back to lower level, but she is great at
all times. There is no trlckery In her singing.
She is an artist who can afford to hold her grand
est powers in reserve until their exercise Is de-
manded by the situation OF the music, rather
than to indulge in momentary Outburst for
mere meretrcious display. In her performance OF
the role OF LeOnora, in Donizettls 'La Fav0rita,
her display of histrionic talent was such as to
call forth from the critical, during the waits,
nearly unqualified appreciation, while in the
auditorium the enthusiasm over the lady's sing
ing amounted to calls for frequent repelitions.
These requests, however, were not responded to,
save in q single instance, when the demand for
an encore was so persistent that it could not be
denied. This was on the occasion OF the scene
between Leonora and Alfonzo, in the second act,
where grand singing and splendid portrayal OF
pathetic feeling on the part OF Mile. Titlens
raised enthusiasm to a height which would not
suffer the opera to proceed until the scene had
been repeated. the rose to even greater heights
in the song, 80 milo Fernando" in which the
conflicting emotions of love, doubt, joy and grief
were wildly simulated. Perhaps her grandest
effort of the evening when receiving the curse
from the Monk and in the ensuing ensemble, where
the concentrated feeling Of shame, despair and
terror which she evinced was almost Overwhelm-
ing, even to the spectator; though it is perhaps
difficult to declare the excellencles of this su-
perior to those in the death at the close OF
the musical drama, in which the singer was for
gotten in the contemplation OF The artist.
An English gentleman told me the other day
that he had discovered process for the conden-
a1a.. / l.aA1 /. 1,.zI
barrel Of beer can be reduced to gallon without
njuring it, and that then it can be amplifed and
expanded back at will into the original forty gal
Ions without impairiag it's quality or flavor. That
this wonderful invention will in time be extend
ed to liquors OF all kinds, no thinking person
doubt for moment. And when it is,
what vast convenience it will be
to humanity Then man will be able to
carry the jimjams in a gill measure, and years
solid drunk in his vest pocket. And who knows
but that the divine intention may, in time, be
extended to solids as well as liquids? In which
case man might convey his daily bread around
under his thumb-nall, and a whole provision
store in his stOve-ppe hat
Throughout the past winter statements have
been made in the papers Of the Southwest pro-
phesying short ice crop, and consequent en-
HANGED value Of this production during the COM
ing season. The mild weather of January and
February, and the failure to profit extensively by
the opportunities offered during the cold snaps
of thu early winter, gave some color to these
assertions But within the past few weeks changes
very favorable to the formation and LECTION Of
ice have taken place in all the New England
ponds and lakes, and at present an almos. I'M
limited supply is not only in hand, but an I'M
usually prosperous season for the business
is provided for, while the work of cut
ting and storing is still going on. In Maine
over 100000 tons had been stored up to
the middle Of last month, enough to load 1000
vessels of the class generally used in its trans
portation; and since that time the business has
been prosecuted with vigor never before
equaled in that State. There need not be,
there ought not to be, therefore, any fears at the
South Of increased rates for this necessary the
score of scarcity, since no such thing will exist.
Besides the amounts already stored, account
must be made Of a large amount left over from
last years supply. Help has been easily pro-
cured in securing the crop at very favorable rates
of wages, and any attempt to advance prices
under all these circumstances will be ,tery with
out warrant, and ar evidence Of unlimited bust
ness " cheek"
novelty in the pubic exhibition line took
place last evening at the Howard Athenaum,