New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-01
OHICAGOs OWN COMIC OPERA.
ELEVATED ROADS-NATURAL GAS-THEA-
TRES-BOARD OF TRADE.

CHICAGO, Dec. 31-Chcago's own comic opera,
"The Begun has been the regnlng sensation OF INC
week. There never before such a general out
pouring Of ChcagO's local arfstocracy than on MOI
day night when tho work OF Mr.. Dc Koven and hr'
Smith was produced Among the audience which
assembled there In addition to the numerous repre-
sentatives of the Farwel and De Koven families,
were the Potter PalmeH, the Honores, Professor
Irving the Fairbanks, the McCormicks, spragues
Rumscys, Isbams, and in fact, nearly every prom
inent family in town. When the authors wore calico
on for speeches there was nearly scene. During
Mr. De Koven's speech, after returning thanks ior
the reception of his work, Mr.. De Koven lost his
presence Of mind and launched forth litter attack
the Chicago musical critics, and said therc wero
some of them In the house who had decided before
the curtain rose that the piece would be condemned
The audience not specially Interested In this
and from the galleries there were numerous cries OF
I" sit down." but Mr.. De Koven kept on, and said that
one critic had announced that he had faith In any
opera THAI he (De kOven) might compose, and
whether It was good bad IL should be damned
be cause he did not believe anybody who led the ge
man could write opera Il have only 10 say In
reply to this Judgment" said the composer, THAT
Wagner and Strauss have been leading Germans all
their lives" The brilliant social success Of the
first night insured good houses tho rest Of the week
and the Chicago Opera House has been we'll filed at
evory representation. dinners and theatre
parties with Begun" their destination have been
gwen by the Farwes, Dc Kovcns and others al
through the week.
Tho Philadelphia Street Railway Syndicate is doing
ali It can to prevent the building Of an elevated
railway Oh tho West Side J. protective League"
has been organized presumably by tho street car
people, and every effort IS being made to secure sig
natures TO a protest against elevated roads The
league dispatched a commissioner East who reports
that he visited PhiladelIhi FIRST and from Mr.. Wide
ner Of syndicate fame and Mr.. Kemble, President of
tho Philadelphia Traction Company he learned that
the ceva.ed railroad scheme had been abandoned In
the Quaker City because tho cost Of construction
was too great and also because it would damage res
idence and business stree.s He also went to New
York and interviewed leading property owners and
business men, including John Jacob Aston, H. H.
Macy & Co. and the members VI tho original COM
mttee that fought elevated roads unsuccessfully at
Albany Summarized the rcsult OF his cations
was that tho roads have built up the outlying Dor
tions of NewYork aud increased suburban values but
have injured the lower portions Of the avenues
through which they pass On The busy portion Of
Sixth-avc. he says property has Increased In Value
since tho elevated road was built from 70 to %
Der cent while during tho time property on
Bro adway has Increased rs " Go per cent ana On
Cross streets between Fourteenth and Twenty
third sts. 100 por cent
TINS discovery Of what 10 supposed to be natural
gas IN tho city has created considerable curiosity
derive from the discovery. The brewery where the
gas y burning has been visited by great crowds every
1Ay md scientists and cxDcrs from al over tho