New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-04-25
in addition TO the chandelier there are lots OF wax
candles hnrninr in frinlets about the wal.s.

in addition to the chandelier there are lots OF wax
candles burning in tIiplets about the walls.
The opera begins at o'clock, and by the time
that the first act is well under way the PIT the
boxes and the sky gallery are filled TO OVERCOMING
The boxes are generally private property but lew
are on hire and be had at from three 10 hNe
francs night. They will hold six or eight persons
according TO the size of the persons The reserved
seats in the nit cost fifty cenmcs in addition to the
admission and they are said to be very comfortable
seats only open 10 the objection that persons sit
ting in them are brought into close proximity with
mon and women of low estate who swarm with
Aeas and whose breath is rcdOlcnt Of garlic. MY
experience in the boxes. however. has been sucl
that should have no fear of the llcas III the PIT
Certainly the best listeners IN the house, anu per
haps the most apprcciative listeners. are The com
mon people IN the pit. the people to whom the franc
charged for admission is considerable sum- nor 10
bc sl,cnt without due deliberation IN some ca'St
not 10 be had except after regime oil eAtia"Ill'Iy
economy in the household. economy amounting an
American would think. almost 20 an snsuheuoe MN,
food and other nccessarics of life have IN nlhd
n woman who came one night to hear S3Pph"'
She brought her sucking child WITH her anu nv
through the performance with the chiid on one aIn'
and her scaldena full of live Goals on the other Shc
looked the pcrsonicaiion OF poverty thll, under
fed woman with only one prcsenlpn" rsi hic q,
she wore upon her head but she seemed 10 forget
herself her hard LOT in life, her hunger for g0od
food and her miserable clothing. so thoroughly INA
she enjoy the music. She seemed TO pass from hap,
piness into ecstasy rs She listened to that beautiful
duet which is the gem of the opera of SapphO'
HoNoRING A FAyoiuTE SINGER
The grand night Of the opera season at Carrara
is the n ght of the prima donnas benefit. Every
body in town who can muster a franc IL IN attend
ance. Generally the Project is i'll hls place III INC
rovaln box and if he is the trplets Of wax candles
are Pickering about the theatre walls. The
best clothes in the town are given an airing. The
Ii Ito tp.Ia tOIletS and
doubtless murmur frightful feminine oaths when
they reflect that the boxes so constructed that
their fine dresses are of very little account for un-
less one catches a glimpse of lady AZ she ls enter
ing the theatre he cannot tell whether her dress
was elaborated by Worth or bOtchcd at home. Inc
grand doings of the evening take place after the
second act when the prima donna, with the neccs-
sary assistance, gives a scene from some opera
which has not been put during the season. The
scene finished the audience bursts into raptureS oil
applause a shower of small bouquets drops doWn
uuou the stage at the feet of the lucky singer; an
occasional bouquet taking the prccaution to break
its fall by making n cushion of the prma donna
head. OF course the woman bows herself To the
earth and comes up again with a smile upon her
face that endangcs both her ears She then Noops 10
pick bouquet or two from the hooT, when Sho Is
startled by an exclamation which bursts from that
side of the stage The startled woman turns her
ewes intuitiNcly in the proper direction. and she
bcholds pair Of stout supcs" struggling beneath
the weight of an enormous bouquet IL Is. 10 say
the least two feet in diameter. ana aS ii has been
put together by hydraulic pressure, after The
fashion of professional florists. II weighs IN The
ncighborhood of "A hundred pounds. In Tia" ccntrr
of the bouquet is article OF lcwclry. perhaps a
SXty-franc bracelet or hity-iranc diamond pln.
Attached 10 the tremendously long handle Of the
bouquet is something that looks like q half dorm
wards of the narrow stair-carpctlng which careful
New England housewives put down over their
BRUSSELS or thrcc-ply; but II isn't stalr-carping:
il is ribbon of most extraordinary width on which.
in mammoth poster type - printed a few ""nS
that while they spoil the ribbon FOR PRACTICAL use,
make il invaluable as a souvenir. Well. the Frina
donna is beside herself Of course. She smiles her
thanks and bows her thanks. and the people ap-
pland anew. Then she Kisses her thanks and backs
of the stage. The applause continuing. shc once
mon. appears and exhibits her new bracelet or
diamond pm as the case NAV be-. Then the people
arr satisfied and give her further roublc TIL the
prrfnr1nance ends whcn if 1t H. a t"lerably dry
night they harness themselves to a barouchc and to
the mmsc of brass band tug the carriage rs far as
tue hotel door.