The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-04-16

This is the latest and for many reasons the
hest of the operate works of Gilbert and Sull
van. II is to some extent n companion piece &c
ii. VI. ). Pmaforc, presenting quite u number
OF points OF resemblance. While the " Pirates >
the other, the harmonics are broader and appeal
TO higher class Of emotions, and the utter alb
surdity and improbablity of the plot and the
gravity and seriousness with which il ought to
be acted, as well as the constant flow of humor
throughout, gives the " Pirates" place by
itself among light operas.
FiT1crjr was in childhood, by Il mistake of his
nurse Run (the "piratical maid of all work, -
companion picture to ButtGrap) bound ap-
prentice to Pirates instead of Pilots las had been
intcnded,) until his twcnty-tirst birthday. That
day having, as he thinks, come, he takes leave
of the band, first telling them that although he
has aided them heretofore in their enterprises
from his sense of duty, TO which he is a slave;'
now he is free he will not rest until he has eX-
terminated them and as individually he loves
them Though collectively hating)h he promises to
make their deaths as easy and painless as may
be-
A growing attachment to the venerable Ruth
Carefully fostered by herr is npped in the bud
by the sudden appearance of Major General
SdalfyS fifteen daughters, who propose to
paddle" barefoot in the ocean, on the beach
Of which, near the Pirates cave, the scene is
laid. Frederic surprising the shoeless maidens
Ito their horror,) falls violently in love with
.uobet, the youngest, and presses his suit warm.
ly, while the sister chorus, remaining near for
propriety's sake, "talk about the weather. "
pausing ever and anon to listen to the lovers
duet. Here IHdJepS Introductory valse is a beau
tiful but difficult number, severely taxing the
voice by its staccato passages. They are sur
prised by the Pirate band and only escape
involuntary matrimony by the false plea of be-
ing an orphan set up by their father, who de-
scribes himself as being the "model of a mod
ern Major General" The Pirates on this release
them as they have made it, rule never to modest
orphans. They are, however, rapidly coming
to the conclusion that all ships aioat are otli-
cercd, manned and passengercd from orphan
asylums.
The second act changes the scene to the estate
of General Stanley in an ancient chapel thereon,
in which, at night, the General, filled with re-
morse for his lie to the Pirates, and with fear for
the consequences should they find him out, seeks
consolation from the spirits of the "ancestors ~
(who buried in the chapel, which with the estate
| he had recently purchased, have become his
ancestors By p,uchdSe,) from his daughters and
from Frederic, who, now being British officer,
is about to lead an expedition against his former
comrades. The sight of his forces Ga squad OF
policemen, fully equippedD restores the Generals
equanimity, and in lovely SceHd he and Mabel
con ure the policemen to march yaliantly against
the foe, assuring them that they shall live in
fame and story This Scead is the gem of the
concerted music in this opera, being the soprano
solo accompanied by the sisters and policemen s
choruses, each singing different, but cxQuisitely
harmonizcd airs. The advice "to die with glory''
in nowise adds to the martial ardor of the police,
who do not understand il all The scene in
which the Police bewail their unfortunate 20.
sition, the sergeant saying
1.-THE policeman's lot is not happy one"
| is cXcruciatingly funny. - Hell hath no fury
YOU know the rest, and RUth and the H;,ufc Nina
have followed F,elerir hither, and when he has
consented with Il pistol at his either carr Ia
/ Hot tl...,.
"a most ingenious paradox" in q meodious
| trio Having been born on the extra day of n
| leap year, he is only now five and quarter years
| old and reckoning by birthdays according 10 his
| indenturrs, he will remain therapprcnlicc until
February 18th 1910, his real twrnty-iirSt birth.
| day. lie yields readily enough in n way cllarac.
| tcristc Of Gilbcrt's "topsy-turvy methods
| and instantly dscloScs the fact that fsae,t0
Sdalty is no orphan, and mover was "a, o,Dhan ~
| Vengeance follows. The Pirates, the policemen
General Stanley and his daughters, the latter he
wtchingly (HnCdrcssed in ample night robes OF
"spotless white" assemble in different aislcs OF
| the chapel, each group except the Police un.
| conscious of the others presence, despite the
noise which they all make unstntedly. The
Pirates rush upon their prey, and are about to
| lead the Major General off 10 execution having
foiled and made prisoners of the Police, who at.
| tempt rescue, when adjured by the Sergeant to
| yield Gin Queen Nictoria's name" they lower
their weapons, release the captiyes, and surren
der, "for with all their faults, they love theil
| Queen!' Another surprising change concludes
| the play, Ruth "the forsakcn one makes In,
| startling announcement that the Pirates are "al
| noblemen ~" what, all noblcmen?' "Wcll-
nearly arr whereupon the General with deer
emotion, as the Police kneel to their House o
Peers, advises the scapegraces to
Return to your seats and legislative duties,
And will give to you my daughters,
| All of whom are beauties"
| and with near prospect of every one, excep
the Major General, marrying Immediately, til,
curtain falls.
The Pirates of PenZance are not merely crea
lures of Mr.. GilDert's imagination. In the early
part of this century, and for some time before
Mounts Bay ON the Cornish coast of England
was infested by successful gang of smugglers
and pirates, who carried on their trade in open de
| iianCe of revenue officers and excisemen. Man,