Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-28

tals scattered all over Chile In every town
and city, are under the care of the Sisters
OF Saint Vincent de Paulo, who have their
central convent at Santiago. They are
aided BY the Government, but have also
considerable revenues of their own, derived
from gifts and legacies.
Beggars Make Ten Dollars Day.
Speaking of Chilean generosity, it is as
serted that the owners of Santiago's marble
palaces are so free with their wealth that
irish and American tramps easily make
from $40 to $40 day by begging at their
doors The careless giving, however, should
not be called charity, but rather weak in
dulgence in the luxury of spending money
which can scarcely be counted among the
saving virtues
In noting Santiago's public institutions
We must not omit the theaters Besides the
Teatro Politeama, the Teatri Santiago, the
French Theater on Santa Lucia, and few
other th1rd-rate temples of music and the
drama, there is a splendid Government
opera house, known as the Teatro Munich
pal, which is the finest structure Of the
KIND In South America, and for size, gor-
geousuess and arrangement surpasses any
thing we have in the United States.
A description in the cold black and white
OF print can convey but faint idea of how
filled with the creme de la creme Of the
Chilean capital-when the blaze of jewels is
not more dazzling than the glancesth that flash
from Southern eyes, nor the music sweeeter
than beauty's smile-with Partisan toilets,
bare arms, futtering fans and a thousand opera
glass firtations bewilder the spectator. The
building is constructed in horseshoe form,
and its internal arrangement is on the Eu-
ropean plan, with four balconies, three of
which are divided into boxes, tier above
tier in semi-circular shape, all luxuriously
upholstered with crimson brocade and decor
ated in white and gold. The balconies have
no pillars to obstruct the view, but are sup
ported upon brackets, each bracket being q
beautiful female figure with uplifted arms.
Bonnets in the Theaters.
Formerly none but men, and those not Of
the upper classes, ever sat in the body OF
the house, though in reality it is quite as
comfortable as the boxes; but the English
residents, with the natural independence Of
loyal Britons-and who are known to stand
as high, socially and financially as anybody
to the Chilean "manner" born-succeeded in
time in elevating the character of the pit,
by persisting in occupying it, with their
not so fashionable as the show places above,
average price of s. a seat, even when the
boxes are comparatively empty. But in
exorable custom, which in Spanish America
must not be departed from, DEGREES that
ladies in the pit must wear their bonnets,
or some other light covering for the head,
while never bonnet appears above, all the
ladies in the boxes being dressed for the
simplest farce, Cor rather half undressed SO
far as the bodice is concerned), as for the
grand opera in Paris or London.
The Teatro Municipal, as its name i'm
plies, is controlled by the city authorities,
and every year its boxes are sold at auction
for the season under the direction of the
Mayor, and the receipts given, in whole or
in part, as a subsidy to the opera manage
ment. The fashionable evenings are Thurs
days, Saturdays and especial Sundays, the
on other nights being very slim,
unless some fiesta is in progress. The light
est Of operettas are the rule-such as
"Dona Juanita," the ballet Of 'Brama,"
and "Orfeo In los Infernos;" but have
seen "Boccacio," "Rigoletto" and the an
cient but always acceptable "Chimes Of
Normandy" rendered better here than is
usual in the United States. Like all Latin
peoples, the Santiagoians are judges Of
music, and would hiss an Indifferent COM
pany off the stage
The War and the Theater.
The orchestra mum bers 70 pieces, the
stage furniture is faultless, and there is
splendid proscenium box especially reserved
for the President But he will not be likely
10 occupy it at present, for by his order the
Municipal Theater remains closed this win
Ter. It seems odd to be writing of June,
July and August as winter. The closing Of
he opera house is a grief to Santiago So
,iety, and complaints are more bitter than
aver against Dictator Balmaceda Owing
% war troubles, foreign performers cannot
,e imported, and the harassed Government
las neither thought nor money to bestow
lpon the drama.
United States Minister, late from Dublin, |
to negotiate terms between the |
President and the rebels. A man more un- |
likely to succeed on such q mission could |
lot be found in long days journey, for
ur minister is not popular with any class |
# people in Chile-either natives or for |
from no fault of his own,
ut on account of the political troubles in |
reland in which he unpleasantly figured |
nd which made him an exile from the land |
f his nativity. For that reason loyal |
,ritons here are by no means in love with |
i'm, and the Americans in Chile are very
because an American was not sent |
0 represent them. Well, the upshot of his
ventures between the President and the in
was that the latter returned a
cornful message to the effect that they con-
idered Balmaceda usurper, as opposed to
be new government they have lately estab-
shed in the northern provinces The alb
urdity of this needs no comment.
1t is particularly unfortunate for budding
usiness interests that the United States
as been in any way brought into this af-
lir, for in the best of times Chileans have
o deep-seated regard for the stronger
Torthern Republic The prejudice against
S. which grew out of the attitude assumed
y our Government during the Peru-Chils
ar (ended in 1889, has not yet died out.
.s- FANNIE B. WARD.