New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-04-14
VIRGIL IN MODERN DRESS.

A NEW VERSION OF THE TALE OF ENEAS.
AN ORIGINAL OPERA BoUFFE AS PERFORMED BY
THE HAsTY PUDDING CLUB OF '62, HARVARD
COLLEGE.
Unhappy Dido, who appeared III remarkably good
spirits was evoked from Hades yesterday afternoon
to make holiday for the friends of the Harvard Uni
versityB Boat Club at the Madison Square Theatre.
Her appearance was In the original opera
bouffe of dido and Eneas. written by Owen
Wister, Harvard, $50, and performed by men,
bers of the Hasty Pudding Club of 'S2 in aid of the
Harvard Boat Club The theatre was well filled
with an audience which included Professor James
Mills Peirce and one or two other Harvard profess
sors, DR.. +. NJ. Weld, secretary of the New-York
Harvard Club and large representation of its
membership and good delegation of enthusiastic
undergraduates.
1t was half-past 3 when Venus called Juno through
the telephone and the two goddesses Messrs. Harden
and Edmondsl began the prologue. They gave
place to the business meeting Of the Carthage Build
ing Association in the hall of the Royal Palace, at
which very taking chorus was executed with
a INNER accompaniment Dido lE. II. Pendoton,
jr) who was conspicuous by her length of limb,
proved herself to be "by no means Dido-dum(b),"
while her sister 1nna u. S. Webb, who was plain
in person and fond of playn' on Words
perpetrated more atrocious puns than are heard at
the San Francisco Ministries. To them entered
Pcus KHeds E. j. WendelD, 1.-THE only original sem
timental tramp and impoverished hero" lightly
clad in pair of esh-colOred tights, a shabby black
frock-coat, and a much-battered "stove-pipe" hat
Could virgil have appeared from the shades the
a serious falling out with Mr.. Wlster and the cos
tuner, for the shpwrecked mariner Aneas, with
his white chin-whlskers weak knees and generally
anything ANYTHING but but heroic light. lie was
accompanied by Faithful debates I. g. Chaplin, jri,
medal has been pawned." debates appeared III
Bunthorne costume, while the BhOy Ascdnias R. ID.
Sears the only original infant prodigy" was at
frock and pantaets The iIOt Pdiinurus Matthew'S
"a salt'-whO forms part of the sea-son-lging
of after 'h9 the pattern Of the Lone FShsran
debates made himself useful in providing EneGs
with a gigantic handkerchief and large bucket
labelled Tears" Dido was afflicted with maiIg-
nant type of love at first sight, and was moved TO
take noas TO her bosom, but she was restrained by
1pia u. L. Weld, "a 1yresone tyrant, the nurse"
lions found vent IN an amusing song the
burden of which was You're going too
furniture and household gods" He showed his
affection for his wife by casually remarking that in
his prudent regard for his safety leaving Troy he
had entirely forgotten her; Then the stage
was left to the sextette of lovers, consisting of
1Eneas and Dido Pdlinurus and 1pfd, and debates
and AnRa who aternated their sentimental dis
course after the fashion of fugue. But the ship
wrecked mariners were touched in vital part
by the summons to dinner, which they promptly
The second act opened upon classic picnic, at
which the realistic effects of the champagne bottles
were particularly noticeable. But Juno and Venus,
the great and only original Old Probabilities"
raised q violent thunderstorm with piece OF sheet
iron marked Thunder" and torch, and the party
dispersed in terror. Then the goddesses rugged a
huge umbrella over two chairs and labelled it This
is a cave" The cave was designed for the love
making of KneaS and Dido, but Iytd, who had re.
turned to seek piece of lemon pie took possession
of it with PahRurus, until the sheet-iron and torch
frightened them out. At length the proper persons
arrived and promptly proceeded 70 business There
upon they were summoned forth by Venus and Juno,
who married them in a Gregorian chant beginning
"When in the course of human events it becomes
necessary for man and woman to be Joined to-
gether in the bonds of matrlm0ny,"
When the curtain rose upon the third and last
act 44}neGs, with fresh shave and good clothes,
TO him entered Father Anchises II. Z. Woodbury.
from Hades-the only original pateInal ghost.
But that the ghost was more substantial than
ghosts are commonly supposed to be was proven by
<4JRedsS groans when the spectre sat upon his
stomach and adjured him to fly from Carthage.
ThereupOn H3neds made several tragic efforts TO
write letter to lido announcing his resolve Sud-
denly Dido bounded III amid roar OF laughter. She
was in full ballet costume AS MIR. Pendleton Is a
tall and rather gaunt and bony person his ap-
pearance was irIesistibly ludicrous. Dido care
fully chalked her shoes and executed tho regular
ballet performance-high kick to the right. high
kick to the left. skip backward-untIl she struck
true ballet attitude in KHedSs arms. Touched by
her tender grace KReds had not the heart TO make
bis disclosure but Anna appeared III state of high
Indignation and announced the impending departure
of the TrOjans Then there was very lively scene.
DIDO pirouetted and wept, and Annds riding whip |
played tattoo upon HHeds's legs. But the hero at
last ANONYMOUSLY fed Upon this Dido inmedi- |
atey ordered " one bier" which was uundled In |
labelled "Funeral Pyre" After several preiimi- |
nary skips. Dido essayed to stab herself with din
ner knife, when Hneas rushed III. announc-
ing that the Irojans were TO remain. This |
was 1.-THE moral anti-N irgilian and original |
climax as performed by this company |
onlyn The general JOY was ir terrupted by sound
of wailng and ASoanius appeared The unfortunate |
youth had climbed the scaiiolding around q newly |
built drug store, " for we must have buildings to |
have ruins in which Marius shall Sit" AT tho top |
of the scaffodng had been placed bust of Apollo,
OH which moustache had been irreyerentiy corked.
At this AscdRius made up face, whereupoD the god |
blew him down; and great was The fall. But his |
tears were dried and the curtain fell upon chorus.
The performance of Messrs. Pendleton, Wendell |
and Sears especially good but all the collegians
evinced careful training, and the opera was enthusi
astically received. The music made up of selec- |
lions from familiar comic operas was rendered by !
Boston orchestra under the leadership OF a. e. Miles,
musical director of the club. Further information |
was afforded by the programme as follows:
The scenery is from sketches spots. The manager
responsible for spots scenery. Words made 10
order but music like Dido, mostly ready made ready
composers The chorus composed chiefly OF masone and
has natural turn for mathematics, and has
solved hitherto unsOlYed problem by getting square
drinks all round I'VE might wsrk in classical joke
here consultations with augursbut that you'd be
b0re Attention Is called 10 the naturaness OF t,dss
not be outdone by the most fashionable clergyman.