Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-04-06
miscellaneous.
A Plea for the opera.

well, sir,'' said Denver man, grow
ing enthusiastic, i've had neap OF iun
81 This town since / have been here, but
nothing has warmed me up like the opera.
Theatres is all very well, but the shooting
and cutting amt natural. They don't
mean il. You can see from the start it's
an funny business, but the opera now
there's where YOU get it! There's trade
from the time they haul the goods down
fiji thew put up the shutters. 1t reminds
me Of home, that does"
"What opera did you hear?" asked a
bystander.
The one they sang in. but you bet the
music didn't get any the best Of the crowd
for dust, I tell you. gentlemen. IT was the
prettiest fight you ever looked at. Excit-
ING? We'll. Just held myself down 10
he'd rock and watched that show to the
finish. Once or twice thought they'd
down the actors, and between the rounds,
while the music was getting little
breathed. / felt scared, but Just as soon as
they scratched knowed the men and wo-
men was ahead. and helped it all could.
you bet"'
fed group. Tell US about it,"
..Ifs lust here they had a lot OF fiddles.
and horns, and drums. and squeakers on
one side, and gang OF men and women
on the other. In the toss-up the actors
got the rising ground, and the music
took the low level, The hackers Of the
music was there with stick, and, when
time was called. he was quick enough to
get a start for his side. But one Of the
women was on to his racket. and she just
turned loose belch that twisted hair,
now YOU hear me- The music hacker got
mad. and the fiddlers broke out, but it was
no use the woman had the wind. and she
belted that slow music like mule. You
bet she was a good one Then the hacker
hollered mt the boss drummer, and he
took lick That seemed to worry the
woman, for shc spoke to fat fellow with
a wen on his leg. he slid for the drummer
while the dame took another whirl ut
the fiddlers. Fun? Well, strangers, you
can smile right ont. The music-backer
seen he was getting the worst OF it, and
30 he unchined the back fiddle. IL wasn't
fair, and was going to address the rel
cree. but just then out popped the dog
gOndest crowd over seen. More II IA million
OF 'em, and they went right into business.
The fellows with the horns almost split
the backs OF their necks, but 1t was no
use The women screeched. and the men
howled. and says, says |, How are you
music?' The back fiddler and the drum
mer held out the longest but it was no
use, for the crowd on the plateau won the
round. and even drove the music out Of
the ring You ought to see them fiddlers
bunt their holes"
..Was that the end of it 20 asked lis
tener.
III N. cat III
music don't fight five rounds | tell you
their hacker was game but he had no
show. In second round him and squeak
pipe worried couple of women some.
and one OF the men was just getting an
under grip when they fired II lot of TRAN
giles at him, but the fat fellow seen how
thing was going on and he lifted in They
had an adiustible horn ready Tor him. but
he wore il out in four toots. Then the
drummer took another look at him, by
that time the women had got their breath
and they came for the drummer. | seen
he hacker grinning and knew there was
some deviltry, and all of sudden he just
damned out with all his strength II was
the best rally he made, but the crowd was
on the lookout for him. and in ten minutes
he was square on his back. Just head
one double, somebody, Hold me down
When think of that difficulty. strangers.
il lust makes me bleed ut the lungs
..How did it end ?" queried one of the
crowd.
well, the next two rounds WASH very
Interesting. The actors found they had to
kill one of the gang, cause he has II little
LIGHT WASTED, and one of the women was
knocked out OF time. But she was sickly
and was trained badly. She had no bus
mess in that fight anyway. The Tat man
was good and the other woman was reg
ular old he, The fiddle hacker got some
fair work in while they was killing the
man and the woman. but the big mob
came in on time. and when the fourth
round closed the music was pretty well
done up. II was ON the fifth that put up
most money on. | tell you, gentlemen.
that music hacker WAS good wood.
Not flaw nor y spcck! lie went Tor
them people from the word. l knowed
he was in no condition to force the fight
ing, but I liked his game. Riddles and
horns. and pipes and drums. and triangles
all going it. and then the fat man and the
woman what was left ripped square at
them. Over and under. Rough and
tumble II was the prettiest thing ever
seen. I'll be logged if there was ever
such another piece of work cut out. But
the actors downed 'em. The fiddler and
the squeak piper held out longest. but
they had no show, and when the row
closed, I'd have been $500 winner if the
man I'd been betting with right in front
of me hadn't slipped out with couple of
women. Yes. sir. you can talk what you
please. but when it come to genuine fun
give me the opera. Strangers. will You
come around the corner and join me in