The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1883-05-19
The DopaIdsoqviIIe Cbiieif'
OUR aoosEQUILL LETTERS.
Two Dollars a Year.

as it is in New York and Chicago, but Il
virtually closes the doors of society ant
marks the time when the rich leave then
winter palaces and repair to their elegant
country seats; and those who are moi
weighed down with money-bags, take board
in Germantown and along the lines of the
different railways. The heat of Philadel-
phia il something to be dreaded and the
one ruling thought is, to provide for as
happy radiance of it as possible. Nothing
but necessity keeps any one here after June
/. Indeed, it is quite the custom to pass a
week or two at the sea, before the final exit
to the country, and month ago the seaside
resorts were so filled up that it was difficult
to get room without preengagement.
Yes, society is satiated with good things
md is willing to retire for a time at least
from city gaiety. The close of the season
was brilliant in the extreme-with opera,
theatricals, dinings, luncheons, oyster roasts,
balls, concerts, etc. Perhaps no city can
excel this in the banquets that are given in
private and public-they are princely-and
some given lately will be long remembered.
One can hardly believe the figures in the
matter of cost that are set down against
some of the entertainments. For instance,
that supremacy elegant lunch given at the
Mrs. Willing to $50 guests, the largest
seated luncheon given in Philadelphia this
year, is spoken of as having cost 5000.
Perhaps it did. The flowers alone, for
each for roses. True, the floral decorations
at this lunch were not so extensive, but they
were massive and of the rarest plants and
flowers, and beside, the "Bellevue is one
of the nobbiest of hotels and it does not
cost little to occupy its handsome cham
tbers for day. The guests were seated at
small tables, a number at q time, and the
s'delicacies were served from large circular
buffet which was also floral ornament,
with an orange bearing tree towering from
its centre to the ceiling.
Oyster roasts are very popular and enjoy
able affairs, because of the absence Of for
mality. The ladies are seated in the dining
room, around table, on which are placed
bowls of hot roasted oysters, plates, forks
and condiments. The gentlemen are robed
Ill bib-aprons, armed with sharp knives,
and allowed the privilege Of opening the
oysters and serving the ladies. After that,
a game supper, then waltz and then a
merry exit.
Marriages have been the rage; many of
them high up III the scale of riches If
poverty were the only thing that drives love
out of the window, what blissful lives those
troth plighting couples might expect who
start out i'll gold bearing crafts. One of the
ladies III question is daughter of carpet
dealer here-owner of large wooden mills in
Germantown, carpet and blanket factories
who is said to have made 100000 the
past year.
The operate and concert season was
never finer. Within ten days, three of the
greatest singers trilled on our boards
Patti, the phenomenon, Albani and Nilsson.
1t is a mere aggravation to hear a good
singer in concert, and next year Nilsson
will rise to her full height in opera. Thanks
to competition, we may hope for good and
frequent opera. Albani is overshadowed by
Patti, but she is an excellent singer. Patti |
Is unquestionably the finest living singer.
Her versatility and memory are something |
remarkable: she has mastered fifty operas, |
and her voice-well, hear it once and the |
memory Of it will be Joy forever. Her
farewell "Home Sweet Homen was too |
sWeet-it was such exquisite pleasure, it |
brought tears. Nature is just and kind
gives every body something in the way of |
beauty and talent, but to some she is exceed |
lngly partial Patti receiveda gift equal in
actual value to gold mine. What an au
tocrat she Is, too, when estimating its value: |
$looO for each nights warbling is the price |
agreed upon with Mapleson.
The Thomas Symphony Concerts are over
and it must be gratifying to Mr.. Thomas,
as well as to an amateur, to notice how
they have grown in favor. few years ago
they were appreciated by very few, and
even now, music of a lower grade succeeds
Tar better. The "Mascotte," "Olivette,"
"Pinafore" and Patience" would thrill
more hearts than Beethoven, Mozart or the
whole host of classical composers.
The presentation of "Edipus in CoIonus,,
Sophocles' tragedy with MendeIssohn's mu
SIC, was gratifying success at the Academy
this week, and appreciated by large au-
dience. The tragedy was read to perfection
by Mr.. Riddle of Cambridge, and to speak
of Mendelssohn's music as an accompani-
inent Is to become enthusiastic and perhaps
appear extravaganza. 1t was SO exactly
suited to the drama that it seemed like
inspiration. The singing was by chorus
OF volunteer male voices and the orchestra
the we'll known Germania-two hundred
performers in all.
And now, from the sublime to the ridicu-
Ions, let US take step and talk about Bar
num- s incompatible big show. The pro-
session was the best I ever saw even in
New York. The chariots, floats and dresses
we're new and fresh. There were many
open cages of wild animals; six contained
ions, tigers, panthers and leopards, i'll each
If which man held supreme sway: one
howed a woman and three rattlesnakes in
ond embrace, and in the rest were seals
md mppopottami in their native element
riraffes, white bears and rhinosceros.
There was chime of bells, calliopes, I
arge golden shoe (too large even for the
ar-famed Chicago girD with the old wo-
nan IN it, a superb peacock chariot zebras
n harness, NubianS Iulus Indians and =,