The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1885-02-28
OUR LETTER FROM BROADBRIM.

OUR LETTER FROM BROADBRlM.
Life and Death in Sharp Contrast
Liederkrantz Ball-Dr. Damrosch Dead
Heavy stasms-Is"ut Of the Bears on
Wall Street.-The Dynamiters-JohnK Kel-
ly-Battle of the Exchanges, Etc.
NEW YORK, Feb. 81, 1885.
EDITOR CHIEF:
The sharp contrasts which one meets
every day in New York were never better
illustrated than by the two scenes at the
Metropolitan Opera House, Tuesday night
and Wednesday afternoon.
Tuesday night the Liederkrantz ball took
place, and all Monday night, all Tuesday
and even after the audience were admitted,
decorators and artisans were busy prepar-
ing for one of the most costly and enjoy
able fetes that New York has seen this win
ter. Our German population, like our
churches and POLITICAL parties, is divided,
and as a consequence, we have two great
German balls every winter, the Arion and
the Liederkrantz. Each has good repre-
sentation of the very best elements of our
German population and both are thorough
ly enjoyable. The Germans as people
understand thoroughly the art of enjoying
themselves, and while engaged in this laud-
able undertaking business is relegated into
the back shop. Some idea may be formed
of these entertainments when l tell you
that the cost of either of these balls will ex-
ceed $4,000. The Arion ball took place
several weeks ago. and on Tuesday night
we had the Liederkrantz. Thousands of
fun lovers participated in the gorgeous fes-
t4val. 1t is not my purpose to tell of the
oceans Of lager, and the rivers cf cham
pagne, and tEu nountalns Of pretZels, and
| the miles of bologna that disappeared
down the hungry and thirsty throats of the
dancers-not that the refreshments were
confined to the articles named, for the sup
per was one of the most satisfactory and
elaborate of the season. But as the whirl-
| ing thousands swept in mad frenzy to the
bewitching strains of Strauss around the
| floor of that magnificent theatre, / could
not help thinking of one whose magic ba-
| ton had waved over that vast assemblage
season after season, but whose absence
seemed to be forgotten in the mad pleasure
of the passing hour. While the bands were
laundering and the floor thronged with
walters, Doctor Damrosch lay dead in his
beautiful home.
The Liederkrantz ball lasted till daylight
Wednesday morning. When the gay
thousands crowded into the Metropolitan
Opera House Tuesday night, the stars were
shining; when they sought their carriages
in the cold grey light of Wednesday morn
ing, the ground was white with snow.
The last strains of "Good Night, Good
Night" had hardly died away, and one
half of the multitude were busy with their
overcoats, shawls and muff1ers, when the
same decorators who for the previous
twenty four hours had been busy preparing
for the glorious pageant which had just
ended, began tearing down the gaudy ban
ners and emblems of the LiederkrantZ,
and to replace them with the ensigns of
woe, for on Wednesday afternoon the fu-
neral ceremonies of the great leader we're
to take place beneath the roof of that
splendid temple OF music so recently asso-
ciated with the grandest triunphs of his
life. Great men in any profession are not
abundant-men at the same time skillful
and conscientious. Doctor Damrosch lived
for his art and died for it. The strain of the
last few months has been tremendous. His
nature was sensitive to the last degree, and
the management of opera was new to him.
He could take band Of hundred musi-
clans and rule them as easily as child plays
with a toy, but he was unused to the petty
jealousies and trials that beset the path
way of the Opera Impressario.
Many times during the season just past
the opera was on the verge of shipwreck,
! and was only saved by the Doctors tact
and personal self-sacrifce. Those who
knew him best shook their heads when
they marked in his heavy eyes and nervous
manner, the evidence of his oyerwork. He
never spoke of himself; he appeared to
think himself equg2 to every task, and
worked with all his will till the dark angel
summoned him. We have many distin-
| guished musicians in New York-men who
| would honor their profession in any part
of the word-but DR.. Damrosch leaves a
vacant place which it will be difficult to fill,
and memory which will be honored wher-
ever music has a lover or name.
The terrific storms of the past week have
demoralized us-nothing like it has oc-
currred in many years. Up to the 10th of
February the winter had been quite moder-
ate, but since that time we have had frost
and snow enough for two Or three respect
able winters. The storm Of Monday was
simply terrific, pedestrians were blown
| about the streets like bits of waste paper,
houses were unroofed, awnings were rent
| in shreds, and the streets became roaring
! rivers, on many CT which a man could have
sailed in boat. While the wind was howl
ing and the rain was pouring in torrents
there was weeping and wailing in the stock
board For some days past party of
wicked bears had been hammering Della
ware and Lackawanna till they almost beat
its brains out. The stock market has been
shaky for some months, eFersbcd. wanted
to sell and nobody wanted to buy. Mr..
Beecher's deacon, S. V. White, has taken
Delaware and Lackawanna under his wing,
and more than once he has taught the
| wicked bears Lesson. In the height of
the storm of Monday, while the wind was
bowling and the rain was pouring. Deacon
White entered the bear-pit. Business had
been dragging all day, and half of the bulls
and bears were asleep. Suddenly there was