New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-08
THE OpER1 HABIT.

Financially, there was but little health in
the last American musical season. yet this fact
has not prevented the managers from planning
campaign for 1889'90 of vaster dimensions
than our history has to disclose. This does
not seem to be logical, but thoughtful observ-
ers long ago quit looking for logic in the con-
duct of opera and theatre managers. Like
these ventmesome persons, they have come to
consider the business of catering 10 the amuSe
ment or entertainment Of the public as spec
uIation, governed, if at all, by certain laws of
chance which are past finding out, and in any
event unworthy Of study as being in their
nature unstable.
The fact is that managers, operate man
ayers in particular, are the victims of habit
which seizes upon men in the same manner that
the vices of drinking, smoking or gambling
ensaye them. And this habit is incurable so
long as the victim can procure the wherewithal
to crafty it. operate history tells of man
ager in London who got himself into Kings
Bench Prison through devotion to his enter
prise. Once there, like BoethiuS, he found
consolation in philosophy. lie discussed on
the wisdom and kindness Of law which pro-
vidcd so proper place as his prison for the
protection Of a manager against the impor-
tuniteS Of his singers az well as for the pro-
lection Of the public against man whose UNI
fitness to be at laI sc was demonstrated by his
undertaking to manage an establishment de-
voted 10 the performance OF Italian operas
But his doctrines so obviously sound, found no
disciples, and. if we mistake not. he continued
to manage his enterprise from within the walls
of Fleet Prison.
This train Of thought was suggested by the
preparations which Mr.. Abbey is making Tor a
season Of Italian opera Six years ago Mr.
Abbey had an experience at the MetrOpoli-
tan Opera House which entitled him to a high
and permanent place amongst the saints in
the Italian calendar. His crown of martyrdom
was only little less brilliant than that worn
by Mr.. Delleld who managed to sink half /.
million OF dollars in single London season.
For while the lesson that all opera is vanity
and veXation of spirit seemed 10 be deeply iUl-
pressed upon the mind of our genial and enter
prising manager; but when he found that he
could conjure with the name of Patti his reso-
luton failed him, he forgot his vow Of abiura-
ton, and has again entered the lstS as a can
didate for the golden laurels or prickly thorns
that await the opelatic manager. Which crown
will be his reward?
We have no desire to condemn the habit
which we have described. 1T furnishes a
beautiful illustration of the efficacy of the doc
trine Of compensations. We have no doubt
but that the Christening effect of failure and
the collateral consciousness of phlanthropic
effort tend TO the epuration of the man
agerial nature aud encourage in It the practice
Of philosophy Gas was exemplifed in the case
Of the English manager who learned to ldye
Fleet PRISON.. Success, on the other hand, in
spires manager with confidence in his own
| shrewdness and faith in the public. Thus
neither failure nor success checks the enter