The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1878-07-10
No.. 28.

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They study in Germany and lta-
ly, but Paris is the final Mecca to
which they turn, and not one in
hundred is ever heard of after. No
wonder that the poor moths who
seek distinction son thelyric stage
are lured on to ruin, The dazzling
spleador OF the Grand Opera has
NO parallel in the worlds On
fashionable opera night the-goule,
ward de lOpera; which stretches
away towards the Taileries, is all
one blaze Of glory; electric lights
flash in every direction, turning
night almost into day; mounted
chasseurs guard every crossing and
every avenue, and soldiers, in
splendid uniforms, line the passages
and stand sentinel at the DOORS.
The building, which is the most
magaifcentsand impoaiaeg dramatic
sstr qeture ilRE Europe or america,
seen from without exceeds the
mostextravagantan antioipations when
viewed from within. A broad mar
bic staircase, white as the driven
snow, leads to a magnificent 7esti-
bule,. lined with immense looking
glasses, set .in walls aad pillars of
the 4aeest .porphyry and marble;
the frescoes on the ceilings are
beautiful beyond description, and
on truning to the left or right you
reach the passage that leads to the
Grand Foyer. The interior Of this
superb hall is all one blaze of gold,
the shining walls of which fash and
sparkle the rays of hundreds Of bril-
liant lights. The ceilipga are richly
frescoed, and the floors of polished
oak are waxed till they shine like
mirror. Here, between the acts,
high and low, rich and poor, COM
mingle in perfect equality; the rich
ly laced train and diamonds of the
princess brushing the blouse and
the calico Of the ouvrier. Entering
the auditorium ofthe theatre, gold,
gold, gold is around you every
where, relieved here and there by
the rich silks and costly yelvets Of
the boxes; the dresses of the ladies
very frequently indicate the wild
est and most lavish extravaganza );
the style called deco1lete generally
prevailing, which leaves you. in
doubt as you see their shoulders
over the top Of the boxes, if they
are not in the ,same delightful COS
tune that distinguishes Powers
Greek slave Diamonds; -, rubies,
emeralds, pearls, ,amethysts and
other: precious stones fash in the
brilliant Jig Lights, . and the ear, is
stunned with the hum Of strange
and in9umerable tongues. Four
strokes on the floor with mighty
hammer announce the rising Of the
curtain. and in. an instant all
is hushed. The scenery is of daz-
zling splendor, and at once you are
transported into Fairy Land. Trans
formations that exceed the widest
dreams of. fiction amaze and be-
wilder you, and when the curtain
falls and the lights are out, you
wonder if it has not been all a
dream. This is the grand prize
that lures the youthful singer, and
which thousands die without ever
clutching. Occasionally, one, like
the young American girl Albani,
succeeds, carrying the rich bloom
of youth and beauty and virtue, en-
twined with transcendent genius
and the golden wreath Of triumph ;
but the million fall by the wayside
or sacrifice their hopes Of heaven
for the prospect of earthly success.
The art galleries, too, are full.
In the splendid halls of the Louvre
palace, easels line the way on either
side. and there pale. faced and earn
est young men~and women toll
during the long hours of the day.
God only knows the sacrifice it has
cost many Of them to reach this de
ceitful goal which they never leave
alive, When l first came to Paris
a couple Of months ago, passing
along the galleries of the Louvre, I
used frequently to stop before the
easel of a fair-haired young English
girl who was engaged on a work. OF
rare and exquisite beauty. : The
young artist never seemed to notice
any Of the passers by, but bent in
tently over her work, completely
absorbed in her task. Her~dress
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