San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-03-05


40th street, / sauntered into tho Met
ropolitan ito size up the audience as
il came in. The repeated flashes Of
opera glasses TO the right Of the house
led me TO believe the Lord would
occupy one of the front boxes on that
side, which would make him about as
conspicuous rs II sitting on one end
of the stage; in this I was not dis
appointed. As the orchestra struck
up, q liveried footman passed down
the aisle and entering one OF the boxes
arranged tho chairs. Returning to
the door Of the box, he struck stud
horse attitude and gave q military
salute. All eyes were now upon him.
aperceptible fluster of excitement ran
through tho audience as he entered
the door, followed by silence until
he reached his box, then all were in a
litter for O moment. The valet made
another military salute followed by
a graceful right-about-face and took q
position in the background where he
stood during the entire performance
holding relays of white kid gloves
and handkerchiefs for his Lordship's
use between acts. "Oh! amt he q
cute little thing?" "Just too sweet to
live," were some of the remarks a
lady made in my hearing, who appear
ed wild with excitement. 'Pa is that
thing the Lord of England" queried
a little girl who was evidently disap
pointed in ike object she beheld.
While "Oh! Lordy!" was CALCULATED
by an urchin in the gallery when the
music ceased. He was evidently cog
nisant of producing sensation, so he
sat like salt petre monument as If
anticipating a sketch-artist in the
audience.
He rises 12 and breakfast at 2. In
general appearances he looks like q
cross between a jackass and Jew,
with little dude thrown in for flavor.
He sports huge nose or beak which
is shaped like the stern of an ocean
steamer: this should be his chief pride
as it is gives him guide to walk by.
There is one thing evident. II
Garmoyle don't hasten to cross his
stock his race will become extinct in
another generation. Such attenuated
specimens of humanity cant survive
long; or regenerate much farther for
they will break. off (not matrimonially
but bodily Mark Twain declares OF
some man he met in Europe: that a
genealogical research would disclose
the fact that the man was a lineral
descendant of Balaam's ass. I don't
know what what genealogical re-
search would disclose in Garmoyle's
case; but imagine peep at some
future generation would be far more
interesting: especially if the regener-
alton continues.
Of course the Materna Opera com.
pany was fine, but the Metropolitan
opera was finer. 1t is built of brick
and covers an entire block, is six
stories high, costing, it is said, q
round million of dollars 1t has q
seating copacity of five thousand.
Besides the parquette or orchestra
circle, there are three tiers of boxes
around the entire builing. Above
these are the dress and family circles,
topped off by balcony which in all
make six elevations above the floor.
Both the finish and the furniture OF
the building are the very finest and
must be seen to be appreciated. The
orchestra consists of more than a
hundred pieces, I counted some
forty violins, ranging in size from an
ordinary violin to cupboard. 1t
seemed that every instrument known
to mans ingenuity was there and
contributed to the noise of the occa-
sion. Ibid not see the kazoo, but
venture to assert one was pressed into
service some time during the evening.
The Metropolitan is the pride of the
New Yorker. for they always ask a
stranger: have you crossed the Brook
lyn bridge, or have you been in the
Metropolitan Opera Housed
1t is midnight by the time the opera
is out, so Iwend my way back to
Union Square where / turn IN for the
night, well pleased with my first day
in giddy Gotham.
J. Z. LAME.