Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-04-07
%GOLDMARII'S OPERA.
Queen of sheba Compounded
and Jerusalem Society
ScaudaliZed.
Dresden Letter IN New York Timo.

Dresden Letter in New York Times
We have all heard Of the queen Of
Sheba. | think that in most minds
she is %inseparably connected with a
Sunday-school book and a camel very
much out of drawing. We had sup.
posed that she, at least, the friend
and guest of the wisest of men, was
above the breath of slauder. But
hear what has come to light. A new
opera by Goldmark has been
brought out this winter in the
principal cities of Germany. 1t was
given here with gorgeous scenery
and beautiful costumes, and this is the
plot: When Solomon sent to invite
the queen to pay him that famous
visit his messenger was a young mar
of good disposition, but somewhat
weak character, named Assad, who
was betrothed to the very pretty
daughter Of the high priest. Assad,
delivered his message in the very
choicest Hebrew to the queens cham.
berlain and started on his return to
Jerusalem without having been ad-
mitted to the honor of an interview
with her majesty. He had gone but a
short distance when, sauntering out
by himself for an afternoon stroll
while his retiaue we're pitching the
tents for their encampment, he
met a lady of great beau
ty and engaging manners, with
whom he allowed himself to fall into
the very steepest sort of Irritation.
On his return to Jerusalem the image
Of this lady was so vivid in Assad's
eyes that he found it difficult to greet
his fiance, the high priests daughter,
with sufficient warmth, and Solomon.
in a private talk, o got him to tell
the whole story. The wise king was
not inclined to make too much Of the
matter, and advised Assad to forget
all about his little slip and marry Sol
omith (fOr this was his fance's name)
with all speed. What was his as
constituent, however, and that Of
Assad, when, the queen of Sheba
havingarrived shortly after, and hav-
ing been induced to take off her veil,
it turned cut that the very lively
young person whom Assad had met in
the forests of Lebanon was no other
than the queen herself On the fol-
lowing evening the queen enticed As.
sad into a lonely garden. and, his emo
tons overcoming him, the young mar
tainted in her majesty's arms Ito very
pretty music and was left in this in.
sensible condition to be discovered BY
the whole court. In spite of all this.
the marriage proceeded. The cere.
mony was performed by the brides
father in the temple (most g~orgeously
mounted), but the entrance Of the
queen OF Sheba disturbed the bride.
groom so much that he fell in a fit anC
had to be removed by the attendants
He was naturally supposed TO be pos.
sessed Cfa devil and was ordered Il
wander forth into the desert. In The
afternoon Solomon entertained the
queen with a very pretty ballet, anC
she departed in peace to her owl
land, while poor Assad, who never
seems to have:had much constitution
was overtaken by a. sand storm anC
died Of the effects of it-or of tn,
fright it gave HMM the arms Of tn,
faithful Solomith, who had followet
him with her maidens (ofthe chorus
All this shocks some good people,
I'm told; but as the text is writer
aud the music composed by Jews,
don't know that Christians ought 4
object, :