The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-11-11
ADJUSTMENTS LAST EVENING.

ADJUSTMENTS LAST EVENING.
GRAND oPERA.HoUsE.--An occasion OF the
most perfect success I'm every respect was the
opening and dedication OF the Albaugh Grand
OperGHouee last night.
Az 7!2O p. m, .workmen were engaged Ia
many portions OF the house-tho decorators
wero giving the llnshing touches, property
men, stage carpenters and scenic-artlsts wero
blue eurs,n V was beUE pIaced In position posi- 10
separate the auditorium from the stage. Ten
minutes later all was flnished-tho last sound
OF tools had died away, and In Its place the
rustling OF cloaks and dresses, the hum OF al.
miting voices and the first strains or splendid
orchestra completed scene OF buetle' In
front OF the new temple OF amusement a vast
crowd had gathered, carriages innumorable
blocked tho street and four electric lights
flashed and sparkled on surglng ana fash
quickly they filed through tue spacious
entrance corridors and into tho vast audi
torium, second to none in tho United states In
any OF the features essential to ac1mmodlous,
attractive and imposing place OF nmuo3melt.
Tho sight was one of splondor. Tne dvc)ra-
tions far exceeded the most onthus' tsi'c OK.
pectntions the effect attained wa oIt per-
feet and pleasing in taste, delicate, yet nc In
| color, subdued, yet striking In tono. Efery
| fum revealed new beauties. The pro-
ynillng terra-cotta color Afforded most suit
able background from which the exquisite
coloring OF the boxes, arch and ceiling ehone In
splendor, without a suspicion OF garishness
or oirense TO tho most aesthetic taste.
All the effort at landscape, statuary, flowers
and human ngures so often grotesque or OF.
| feneivo in the scheme OF decoration was care.
| fully eschewed, and every touch OF brush
throughout tho auditorium produced an OF.
| feet pleasing and striking in Itself and thor
| oughly harmonizing with every other feature.
The curtain was delightful departure from
the atrocity usually employed to hide the
| stage and disgust the audience. In this case
| an effect highly artistic and pleasing was at
toinod. OF dark blue plush, the curtain hung
| In graceful folds, its effect heightened by tho
deep Persian fringe and border OF woven work
OF delicate tint and flno workmanship.
The audience nlled every portion o. tho
President Arthur, Senator and. Mrs. Don Cam.
| eron, the Assistant Secretary OF State and Mrs.
Davis, Miss Frellnghuysen, Assistant Post.
| mnsterGeneral Crosby and Private Secretary
| Phillips occupied n proscenium box, and there
| were many other distinguished persons among
the audience, while the members OF the In
fantry, In full dress uniform, lent brillianco
| TO the scene. Among the many In the twelve
proscenium boxes were the building commit
es osp'sh d. + pyer a. uapaln
| Thomas someryille and George Il. Tlmms.
Board OF Trusteest William 8. Roose, Thos.
j. Fisher, Frank Hume, Thomas someryille
Board Of fncorporators: Colonel william g.
| Moore, president; Thomas Someryille, vice.
| president; Sergeant George L. Hale, secretary;
Lieutenant E. II. Neumeyor, treasurer; Cap
tain j. T. Dyer, Captain John s. Miller, Lieu
tenant John @. Cowie and George f. Timnns.
The evenings exercises opened with an Gd-
dress In verse, delivered by Mr.. Ed Hay, and
at its conclusion the curtain was drawn and
Miss Abbott and chorus rendered "rhe star
Spangled Banner" In admirable style and
eyoking great enthusiasm.
The opera OF "Semiramide" was then rem
dered, the audience ayailiug themselves Of the
wait after the 0rst act 10 demonstrate their
| emphatic approval OF Manager Albaugh's ef-
| forts aud pronounced success by calling long
| and loudly for his appearance.
The distinguished manager responded In q
| neat and appropriate address.
The promise TO furnish Washington mag
nlncent opera-house, he said, had been full
filled. His promise of an eillcient and worthy
management remained TO be carried out, and
with tho patronage and approval OF the public
he gladly undertook II.
The architect, Mr.. Gray, was called before
the curtain, and there were also loud cries for
Colonel Moore, but the native modesty OF the
gallant Colonel restrained him from appear
ing to respond.
The occasion proved successful, brilliant
ana enjoyable and will long be remembered.
THE "Hoop OF Gold" melodrama by Mortl-
OperaHouse last evening. The play ranks
among the best OF Its class. 1t has been we'll
received in other places and VIII no doubt
please the theatre e-going population OF Wash
ington who ere attracted by the sensational.
AT THE National Theatre last evening q
large number who had come TO hear the Milan
Opera Company render Verdis "Aida" were
sorely disappointed on beholding placard
| announcing that no opera would he sung last
evening; The theatre lobby presented very
| agreeable spectacle with It's gathering of at
traclivoly-arrayed ladies'. II was announced
that there had not been sufficient time for q
rehearsal with the music prior TO the per-
formance, and tho musical director was un-
| willing TO present the opera unless no could
feel sure OF a perfect rendering. "Atde" will
| be sung tonight, "Rigoletto" tomorrow night,
| "Norma" on Thursday night, "Il Trovat0re'
| on Friday night, "Atda" Saturday matinee
and "Barbiere di Seviglla" on Saturday night.
| Tickets for last night may DO exchanged for
| tonight
Mr. Barton Key, the genial manager Of the
| Milan Opera Company, was seen last night at
National TlOntre n
| tive and asked why no opera was 70 be given.
Said Mr.. Keyi "When We went to look for the
| music OF the opera, NAida," we found 1t MISS
ing. 1t had been left in New York. teie-
| graphed back TO have 1t sent on as soon as
| possible. 1t arrived about O'Clock; not In
| time, however, to allow the orchestra to re-
hearse 1t properly. I intend to produce "Atda"
| tomorrow night (ruesday), as 1t has never
been presented here before. Had 1 Thomas
| opera without break. After the leader has
| carried the orchestra through the opera
tonight, to his satisfaction, you may de;
pend upon II that they Will be perfect aud
that oAida" will begiven tomorrow without a
fiaw."
THE ARTHUR RIFLES FAIR.-The first grand
fair Of the Arthur Rine Corps opened last
evening at Masonic Temple under very favor.
played a favorite fair, after which the falr
was opened by Captain A. W. Simpson, OF
North Carolina, with the following appro.
PIRATE remarks: "Ladies and gentlemen: BY
request, and on behalf, OF Colonel II. W. Roi
/
Arthur Rifles Corps, Of Washington, l de-
clare this fair now open for the transaction OIL
such business as the several committees may
have planned. Will say, In this connection,
that this occasion has been looked forward
To with no Insignificant degree OF Interest; moi
only by the members OF the corps and their
relatives, but also by the public generally
and leading business men OF the city, as Is
clearly shown by this grand display or dona
| tiona.
"You have but to glance around this hail tc
see that these young gentlemen-with the Gs
sistance OF their partners In this grand affair
and these young ladies have done their duty
There remaine, therefore, but ono thing 10 be
done TO Insure you success, and that Is &c
work diligently to make profitable
disposition OF these goods. / believe
your fair VIII be grand success
and on tho fourth day OF next March, wher
the boys march In full uniform TO participate
in that great National honor OF inauguratlna
the next President, they Will be looked
upon with pride by the citizens OF Washin 2
ton and with admiration by those from abroad
The Chief Magistrate, whose name they bear
Will look upon them with pleasure. Ladle;
and gentlemen, now to your work."
The band played at intervals, and there
was dancing until IL y. m. Tho proceeds o
the evening were very encouraging.
II Is 10 be hoped that our citizens will "a
tronize the fair and make II a sucSAeDESfstft
boys. ~.uEstSss'
MASONIC TEAlII.s.Sssfttiur cadets, Fair.