New-York tribune., 1882-04-09

IL and leave her there when return to Mentone Ill
the afternoon She plays at every turn OF the wheel
seldom risking more than twenty or twenty-five
francs at a timc but so quivering with anxiety that
the coins rattle in her hand / saw her win pretty
well one morning; when looked few hours later
her money was nearly gone. As for the company
in general IT seemed to me intensely commonplace,
neither brilliant enough to be attractive nor wicked
enouph to be intercsting-much more stupid and
respectable in demeanor than the mob of snowy
persons one meets at Nice in the Jardin Public and
on the Promenade
ought TO except from the category of the COM
monplace long, lank citizen of the United states
whom meet at the Casino and almost everywhere
else surveying things i'll general with an nnitable
air of philosophIc interest and serene cOmplacency
undsturbed by the entertainment he affords to
those about him. He wears suit of coarse ana
heavy black, evidently ready made, and much too
large for him. The coat is a shapeess sack, very
long in the skirts and the sleeves. tnmbed
black silk neckerchief is wound about high limp
collar of which it is impossible to say whether IL Is
meant TO stand up or turn over; and the figure is
crowned by a black felt hat at whose stupcndous
breadth the effote populations of Europe are never
tired of wondering. Our friend has tangled
beard OF iron gray, and stuff pollard moustachc
which does not conceal the subsatishcd expression
always playing about his mouth. lie carries his
hands behind him. he treads with emphasis, he
throws his head back that his shrewd twlnkling
ewes may better view the world from under the
broad felt He loves to talk when he can find any
body who speaks our language The first time
saw him at Monte Carlo he had fastened upon
Young Englishman, reserved irrcsponslve, fresh
faced. carefully clad, buttoncd up extremely tight
his very antthess in everything. and to this silent
and somewhat astonished auditor he was imparting
his impressions of the Casino the Mediterranean,
the concert we had Just listened TO, and IN rarticu-
lar the manners and customs of the british VISITORS
occasionally throwing his jaws wide open for
short and vigorous laugh, and lending bis stiii
form in the middle like the shutting up OF jack
knife. "Now L. he exclaimed in confidential
parenthesls, :" Qiat an Engishman" An, Just
So" replied the young man. s. did not suppose
Won were" Ii was the only remark OF our country
man which called forth cordial response. ! saw
him treading the COrso on the morning OF 'he
Carnival wearing the same black clothes, and quite
as much at his ease il the midst OF domlnoes devils
and pages as in the gay throng at the gambling
rooms j.; and thought. What target for confetti
Later In the day saw him again. He had been
through the battle. The great hat in particular
had suffered. But the calm spirit unrulled.
Erect deliberate observant, amused, selfpossessed
taking in everything and assimiating nothing, he
was an odd figure indeed. but not a ridiculous one.
He had begun so late in life TO the world, and
had brought to the enterprise so little preparation
that YOU could not help wondering how he found
his way TO this place from his farm on the parles
and what sort of adventures must have befalIen
him on the journey; yet neither could you help
the independence self-reliance and good
nature with which he illustrated so much that is
estimable in the American character.
The theatre of Monte Carlo is an important adj
iunct to the Casino. 1t is small, having no gal |
lerles but perhaps what il lacks in size it makes
up in the effectiveness of its decoration. The style
is tloIid the carvings, we are informed by the |
Mentone Guide. " from the esteemed chiSel of
the sympathetic Mile. Sarah Bernhardt"; but the |
tInts are sufficiently subdued to please rigorous
taste. Italian opera has been given here two or
three times a week during the latter half of the |
winter. Our young countrywoman, Miss Van |
Zandt, daughter of the Mrs. jennie Van Zandt who |
is so well remembered in New-York was the star OF
the first series of representations repeating here the
decided success she had already won in Paris IN the
light soprano roles. Then came strong combna-
tion of artists-Albani, Scalchi, Gayarrc, Faure, |
Maurel and Others-and the particular sensation of |
the season has been the performance OF Faust" |
with all the five persons have mentioned in the |
cast. The price of ticket TO tie opera IL forty |
francs $si; on the Faust nights it Is sald that |
spectators have readily obtained 100 francs for |
single seat. Every afternoon, and every evening |
also when there is operate or dramatic perform
ance, the theatre is used for orchestral concert,
by band of about fifty men under the direction of
NJ. Romeo Accurs To the concerts admission is
free | will not say that this shows the siDgularly
accurate estimate which the administration place |
upon the value of the entertainment; but certainly
~ Accurs's orchestra is unworthy of its reputation.
How many times have heard it spoken of as " the
best band in Europe! 1t is, on the contrary, the
worst good band ever heard; it comprises some
,eent material-tbOugh even in this respect it
caves much 10 be desired-but it IS i'll disciplined
and i'll led, and it has no more sentiment than
)arrel-organ. Until | heard these men who have
)rosltutcd themselves TO be the ropers-in of
rambling saloon, did not believe it was possible
or musicians TO play the greatest music without
me spark of musical feeling. AS for the rarer eX-
ellences of orchestral playing-thc perfect unity.
,enetration and singing quality of the vions, the
oft graceS of the reeds. the smooth and dscreetly
raduated tone of the brass, the nice balance of
orces which enables the band to express with equal
AGILITY the dantiest devices and the grandest of
yelling periods, above all the close sympathy be-
ween each man and his neighbors, aud between the
hole band and their leader. and between leader
nd band together and the music they set them
elves to intcrpret-f we would enjoy these We
INST stay at home The more ] travel and the
lore learn about the music OF other countries, the
etter am satisfied that the finest orchestra in the
'orld is in New York, ana that the first of living
is Theodore Thomas j. II. q. II.
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4 PERSON1TOR PERSONATED.