The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-10
ADJUSTMENTS
Hoph,n. and the Dread Future.

~ '"iiT hiiu@'li Nh' Indigenous J'IOnlf fit
has two duties in life. One is to plant Amcri-
can opera on sclf-sustaining basis.
The other is to- make jerome how'll
II hc is 10 he believed he has planted the seed
OF the indigenous opera. he has watorcd it, he
has dug about and dungcd II with the rich re-
sources Of his mind. and now it threatens to
burst into flower at the Academy.
And the title OF the American plant is Dumb
Love-"
As the late George p. Prentice would say
one-half Of this title embodics great truth.
And that half will. | believe. bear the iml ress
distinctvcly Of its author.
There can be no doubt that the music-loving
rooplc Of America are perfectly rahid ON the
subject Of indigenous opera. tthcrc is any one
thing that fires the whole mass Of our popula-
ton with a holy enthusiasm. it Ii American
opera.
II is true that Mr. George Brisiow may not he
Of this opinion. But then. Mr. George Dristow
has given more attention to the piano question
perhaps than he has to opera.
This conclusion is almost inevitable after
hearing his Rip Van Winklc - an opera
which. however wide awake the distinguished
composer may be in oil purely commercial
matters was 50 true To- It's name and import
that it went to sleep for twenty years after the
first performancc.)
Nor can there he any doubt that the author OF
Evangcine has forever SGT at rest the qucs-
ton Of possibilities in the direction VI American
opera.
What we do want is tho genuine wooden-nut-
meg Plymouth Rock Start pangled vcrnacular
thing. with n religious element in it. ar there is
in Tookers Uncle Toms Cabin" and a strong
aggressive personality such as We find in the
performances Of the Count Joannes.
And such. really believe. ii IL tho intention
of the indigenous Hopkins to furnish us.
Therefore. after the present htiul fever Of the
Academy. the stockholders Will sleep well.
juno season Of one brief night will follow
the stormy March of German opera. The gen
teel patrons OF the Orphcon Free schools will be
there. The solid moral men Of Murray Hill.
who believe in having their music laid on like
their gas, WHO cannot tell q sonnet from n sara
band. hut who swear 10y Beethoven rs they
swear by New York Central. will sit in the front
seats with their olive branches. and doze their
fun duty To the indigenous. The press men
will also be there with their hands on their
mouths out Of respect to Dumb Love-" forsuch
an opera will. as all good Indigenous music
docs awaken kindred dumbness and love-
In truth. the indigenous zephyr will swecp
the Academy clean Of all the German. Italian,
and French clements that make our abnormal
opern seasons peculiar There will be- no smell
Of garlic in the foyer. No whiskey bottles in
the press room. Jaronicas and lemonade in
stead All those young men who sleep the year
round in dr,ss coats and white ties. for fear
opera will break out suddenly some night and
find them unprcpared, will hang their swallow
tails on the willows and disappear. The cigar
makers who come W out Of Avenue A to roll
thc cNigicnt .horu- ana strike for their Gliags
and hearthston,s at the wrong moment Will go
ru.t0ltlt lupL a fl,sir t., r,l a.,
tuneiul tobacco A grim rospo liability will
settle on Fourteenth street. ~ longer will dash
VI the eduipages of Murray Hill To- the man
ayers office. No shining policeman viii open
the carriage door No stately and resplcndcnt
DANES will honor art and aid the impressaro
hy begging for boxes No queue OF curcd
stockholders standing on the curb. peddiing
their rights for the on nights The stormy
voices Of tho coSnoscenti and the chorus Will
b" hushci. Silence viii sit IN faded bowers.
Tor duy -lrim duty will take the place OF de-
Light. and American opera must and shall he
sustained.
Ii there is anything in this worll more par
ii ularly distast"fui L. mo than American cham
ia-uc or s"li-ccn- .'ous American duty It IS
American opera.
Have you never soen a group - determined
minded fellows with grim faces.
swallowing the indigenous vintage What he
ro.-m what STRENGTH ~ will what decision Of
character Bn, what acril N!ne
A. you DO not like to see the obduratc Puri-
tan principles mixed NJ with apurrly -cusuous
act. 50 you must shudl r q little when you ell
counter Hopkins and the OrIhoon children and
the mora patrons all with their rigid armor on
and ularsAall'l IN inc.rIi.iblc ranks To- support
American opera or die.
II they only could die in tho act. AMI the
r4ir. .f tho N..1a,t Gam Milo nv
Irving place We might have sous ie,lc-t Tor
them a. martyrs
Eu thcy viii not llo. Thor principles are
,ou strong They VIII live forever. and always
hug the same mistake.
They do mot know that ih. lowe oi music j. u
vital inn l-s AMI the nlpg, ,ia,!on # art an IL
toll,ctual attainment.
They believe that to 70 20 sicinway Han when
Tile NJ siah is done, and pound with their
cotton umbrellas at the WRONG places. and to 60
TO the Academy when Hopkins imitc,cs the
scream Of the American eagle are acts required
uf them by tie ten commandments.
believe thoy put their hands in their pock-
c- and pay Hopkins much ~ they nay their
| -eNtYns and bell ringers; for they have an
uwful amount % moral dis .irl.nc and can fac.
d'sagrecablc ucscssitcs better than uAy class Of
mol know
Ou Ia other hypothesis ran account f,r the
prolonged existence Of Hopkins. II" must have
| diri long ago. suririted with himself, if there
| had not been some h.ud 81 conservative innu-
en-. cXered on him.
And here y nc say tha' the whole body Of
! vhvt Hopkins c,ll- American Ant il para tic
/ AID lives upon other boiicr.
Thcsen-e OF duty IN bens dcyourcd T. credit
aIl,to thu believers ia Amer. an tii. TAI j, Isn't
,-rditailo % ANYTHING ei-'.