The Leavenworth weekly times., 1878-11-21
A Plea for the Gallery.
Inter Ocean, Is i

A wear or two ago the Inter Oeean made
plea for the gallery in costly operatic and
dramatic performances. 1t urged then that
lovers of music and the Drama should not
absent themselves from enjoy able represen-
tatiops simply because they did not feel
able to pay the large sums demanded for
seats in the parquette or dress circle.
1t is happy augury, an indication OF
musical and dramatic growth and culture,
when the gallery is filled with an eager and
enthusiastic throng, such as has been wit
messed at McVicker's during the part week.
1t shows love for art that sinks the lower
and baser sentiments Of pride and fashion,
and tells that Chicago is fast becoming a
rival of Paris in the devotion Of the masses
to true artistic culture.
The people in the boxes, the orchestra
chairs, and the dress circle, moy be there
because they love the concord OF sweet
sounds which elevate the heart; but they
are Just as apt TO be in these places because
they have dresses TO display, or because it
is the fashion 10 attend the opera.
With the gallery it is different. The
habitues of that sky-parlor are not there to
sport good clothes, to nod to fashionable
acuuaintances, or TO rack with envy the
soul. of less wealthy neighbors. They come
for the music, and they enjoy it to the ut
termost. Moreover they are critics, and
know false note as quick as their more
elaborat.ly dressed brethern below. In
deed it is probable that for real cultivation
and an acute estimate of the true value Of a
performance, the gallery surpasses the low
er part OF the house at every performance.
Certain it is that the eminent artists of Mr..
Strakosch's troupe never had mere appre-
cIative listeners than the demonstrative,
almost boisterous, butart- Worship ing crowds
that ,hronged the third tier in McVicker's
during the past week.
False pride, desire to appear what they
are not; a morbid passion for keeping up
appearances, are evils common to every
community but they are peculiarly char
acteristic OF new and commercial cities.
ChIcsgo has had the disease, and had it
bad, but there are indications that she has
outgrown its worst phases. Heretofore it
has been the rule in thousands OF families,
''if We cannot go into the best part of the
house." that l., the part which costs the
most money, I'VE will stay away altogeth,
er" This feeling is still to prevalent, but
it is a happy sign thst there are plenty Of
.ul.Ui.a PFople "e,nH - . anJ avan % ,b;,J n,."a,
tent 70 tahe seconu "a anu .S e'sn .,nu P'a.,
more .nan sas,s - = VI. y aa,sa,m.uoa ae y.
N .isii ~, 'n'"' anu '''' '"e f'' ''0' ''''o' ."
" A. .r.;ro corvsrs,tion that took pl,ce
AN Wl S' Us oar S.,"rJar 'n1. rsnO% o i". L.
@ on = WI .ba S.ue a.en,h 1 80 ,b;. san,;ma,, .
- son,Ia,a, 81 ,LIv col, ~
,"n nu" y, ., ,,sS;nn nn 10 fron; nIs,forW
sII, "m 80 - ~ a,.roJ - b,ys .,,snJaJ ,bs
al u WnIl- .IlI,i 'Ppf Pp.f,,i L., - Nail
Y ;',u IT,. 80. ,J;so,ss;ns, ,ba rar;,. ~
~ -" .r;dnS s;r.a,s mos, cr;ficsIIv and in
,nII;o1n,Iv I at and sne,L;ng abon, the ,,n.,
,enr M on;rI %Gu IN nenrsr"a,;on @ ,urnaJ
ny nha ,ha 81 .dm;s.;on Ea,rIv oil
uPou ~ 'nu Pa IA haan in ,ha tbi-J ,iar
y. ~. Hanuh'g anJ ahs,,ad ahon, !, :, ,hs
anu --, ,auS Lu.aS a 49,
nio eus S;,n Ia ona .;v,n,sd 70 o n
H. Wy VIZ, - @ h.% o h,, shs s.;J !, ~.
tne opett "a ms" ,Ti,i' % :, nntsss nj I H. b,d
no u7t 'e Iou,un , dnvn I ,nmn nss,nrJ,r sn ID
nc" nat - ~, 49, .: 80 :.
nioih'n anu io"Hi ou. - ~ es