The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-02-28
NOTES FROM THE OPERA,
THAT MAY HAvEA DESCENDANT SCUM.

THAT MAY HAVE A DESCENDANT SOUND.
Don't bring me the mail; I cannot
read another sad story tonight" was
my involuntary explanation a few days
since. And friends, could you now
take from my desk the pleading letters
from women, begging for work, asking
to know if there is any possible way
for them to earn Virtuous living,
know you would realize the fact, the
stubborn, insistent fact, that the peo-
pie who talk SO eloQuently and SO poet
ically about woman's sphere being 1.-THE
home" and who SO thoughtlessly talk
about "discontended women" have
failed to provide these women with
homes; have failed, with all their adj
vice, to secure for these starving chill
dren honest, industrious, sober fathers.
And that, while they talk Of woman's
sphere being the home, thousands of
homeless women are drifting helpless
ly into suicide or infamy, while starry
ing children, in the death agony, ask
for bread. Who were the women
whose appeals, last week, so saddened
me that even in the midst of our hap.
Ply, sunshiny children, life seemed q
terrible responsibility. Were they
women who might have remained in
Woman's sphere? One was The widow
OF a clergyman, who with her only
daughter was endeavoring to return tc
relatives at the East relatives who
would share theil home with her, but
who could not send money for travel
ling expenses. Having no special
training in any other direction, this
delicate woman took a place as cook
her daughter serving as dining-room
girl. After working three months she
received Of wages due her $3.50. Had
sued for the rest, but could not recov.
CT anything. What mockery to talk tc
her OF Woman's sphere. Another letter
was from the wife of drunkard; this
wife, struggling, not only to represent
herself, but endeavoring to feed, clothe
and educate two little step-children
And these, dear friends, are but two
out of dozens.
A dear friend, who discovered the
unusual sadness produced, with tender
thoughtfulness suggested, as anecessa-
ry recreation, ''the opera" Come to
the matinee. Always hungry for mu-
sic, we gladly accepted. Exit now all
thought of reform, social science, phi
lanthrophy; this hour shall be dedicat-
ed to the refining, elevating influences
of music and now
"Awakes the viol and the bow,
The masculine bow that draws the woman's
ls,. heart f-.s.raL Ig4;
From out the strings, and makes them cry,
IN yearn, plead. <as.rt .t.|,
Tremble exult, with mystic union
Of JOY acute and tender suffering.
Now Pablo, letting fall the eager bow,
SOllcitS softer murmurs from the strings,
And now above them pOurS q wondrous voice
And clear upon clear air as colored gems
Dropped in a crystal cup of water pure,
FaI words OF Sadness simple, lyrical.
But sudden, something cuts the ring
OF Jubiant ldlerS, startling as streak
Fsom alien wounds across The blooming flesh
OF careless, sporting childhood.
IT'S the band of ballet dancers.
Here, introduced into this Egyptian
temple, with the ancient priests, the
incense, is a group of very
modern ballet dancers; and what wom-
an who loves her sex, who loves pure,
CAoIUCo CCbil 1OI a. UIOulG1lU
study the faces and manners of these
ballet girls and chorus singers, and
fail to discover the vital need of re-
form and reformers upon the operate
stage. t
"All hail the divine spark of self-re-
spect which Emma Abbot has persist
emily manifested" wrote grand wom-
an from New York. "When she comes
to Chicago, take her by the hand, for
she is fighting the moral battle on the
operate stage. Yes, all hail, the divine
spark we echo. as in the name of the
divine art of music, we protest against
the evident lack of self-respect mani
fest in the dress of some of our prime
dome.
Women are you in earnest when you
protest against women entering the "
ceum to speak earnest, womanly words
IN behalf of philanthropy and reform {?
We really thought you were until we
heard you rapturously applauding the
opera-ballet and all.
We know a lady who left women's
convention because woman dressed
in Boomer costume entered the hall
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