The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1881-01-22

!
hold. : 1t was gala night, however, at
the opera. Many of the military were
invited. The Governor and staff occu-
pied the seats of honor III the centre Of
the dress circle there were beautiful
draperies Of United States and Louisiana
flags and the house was brilliant with
beauty and fashion. The Opera La Juire
is a grand one, both as to ochestral and
chorus music and scenic display, while
tho trios, duos and solos are thrilling; it
| was well rendered. Tourni6 is star of
the first magnitude, has fine dramatic
talent and the richest tenor voice-at
times as deep and rich as a barytone, and
again as tender and sweet as love itself
Mad. Delprato, "The Jewess," has fine
clear voice but not one that satisfies me-
1t does not reach the soul. Mad. Ambre
appeared between acts and sang with
much eclat, Salut Ii France" None Of
the voices are equal to Tourni6's. Owing
to long intermissions and much of the
miserable ballet, it is usually one o'clock
before the curtain falls. The ballet is
made feature Of the performance to
crafty the peoples taste and actually it
receives as much hearty applause as the
finest efforts of the singers. How &C.
count for such barbaric taste I
think the sensation of tho season in
society circles, has been the fancy dress
party given by Mrs. T. j. Semmes. The
preparations for it amounted to q study
Heroines Of history, romance and poetry
were most exquisitely represented. None
of the costumes were more picturesque,
elegant and beautiful than those OF the
lovely Zuleil1a, Marie Antoinette and
Marie Stuart. Married as we'll rs single
ladies' went in fancy dress; but, very few
gentlemen paid that compliment to their
hostess. Nora would not go. She pro-
tests that she does not care for parties,
that slo wearies with tho compliments
and small talk of vapid young men
young men who consume all the spare
time they have in flying around the light
Of society, so-called. She says she great
ly prefers {: conversazione, aud indeed
You would think her sincere had you
seen her at the reception given by Mrs.
| E. t. Merrick in honor of the blind
preacher, Rov. VIM. Milburn, D. D. It
was very elegant, recherche entertain
ment, such as Mrs. Nerrick excels i'll
giving. Some of the most elegantly re-
fined.a .and literary people Of this city and
Nashville were present, and converse
ton, recitations, music and sunnptuous
refreshments were the order of the even
ing. Ae
I confess that when l saw Mr.. George
Cable enter the parlor, and l thought of
the harm that Grapd;ssimes" had done,
l felt vindictive, but when later he dis
played great emotion while listening to
a young lady of Lafonrche parish per-
form "Mendelssohn's Concerts" and
other classical music, my heart relented.
I felt that one who had a soul SO sensi-
tive to good music could not be bad
Yes, he rushed to the young lady, grasped
her hand and shaking it, warmly thanked
her for the exquisite pleasure she had
given him. l can not, however, quite
excuse Mr.. Gable. He committed great
wrong in writing that book-a wrong
to his native land which no time car
efface. For his energy he deserves great
credit. He wrote only in spare time Of
evenings, holding a position all the while
in two offices. But the book possesses
little literary merit; his French is exc
cradle, and he makes impossible things
happen and gives false views Of society
and customs here. He makes things
happen here in 1903 that could not hap
pen even now; and it is doubtful i
Scribner would have published it bu
for the theme.
.Scribnes is Il wonderfully fine maga
zine; but Scribner is first, last and al
the time bitter and hostile to the South
It publishes with avidity, and the Nortf
reads with greedy appetite, any state
ments derogatory to the South on thu
Negro question, and so the "Grandis
, shines" very soon largely increased th'
sale of Scribaer, and Mr.. Gable found it
good thing to write against the South
I He wrote for money, says defendant
; Bah! Sell your soul and your honor 70
money! Out upon such a defense as that
E Better starve in a garret than fatten OF
8 matricidal riches. How fondly prou,
. would the South be to-day of her, sue
cessful author, how gladly would sh
honor him and place the laurel wreat
}. upon his brow, if only he had been tru
!, and loyal to her, if only success had no
been bought at SO dear price.
But am consuming time and spac
; and telling you nothing of DIR. MilburE
!. He was the centre of attraction all eve
ming, and the respect, admiration an
tender sympathy awarded him was
e beautiful sight. Every one sought tina
J. part of the room W here lie sat i'll lionin
grandeur, and felt honored by grasp &
. his hand and few moments converse
# ton with him. You would say that,
g walk in eternal, daily night, to bic sir
:, out from the light of snn, moon and star
to know now no return OF seasons, n
d opening and close Of day, t" know nt
j. the varied hues Of clouds and flowers, I
look not on the human face divine, t
+" speak love and not see the answer
g soft, tender, loving eyes, to know naugl
d Of the gnrgling brook, the sparlslin
rill, the deep blue sea, the rushing ca
= aract, the beautiful valleys, the towe
l ing mountains, save in sonnd and nam
,r were quite enough of misfortune !; bu
# this il not all that has fallen to the Il
" of the blind preacher. His cross is ma
c. sive one. Wife, children, all gone! al
'e he Journeys through life and thrnue
j. the world alone Imagine his solitud