The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-19
NEWORLEANSWA KINGU UP
TO HAVE IFS FOUR HUNDRED, AND
BATTER GRAND OPERA.

scribers Reveals the New Elements
that Now Make Up Society ia That
Changing Capital.
From the Mem York SUN
While the music lovers of this city are
stirred by the news of the coming of those
Partisan singers who have just finished the
season of grand opera in New Orleans, the
people of that city are being canvassed for
subscribers to a fund for the maintenance Of
opera there in better form than has been
possible in the past. Always the favorite
toy OF the highest social set in the southern
capital. grand opera is now, by this new
movement, likely to serve as the excuse for
rearranging or newly defining a distinct
class there, like our Four Hundred in New
York. Bya not extraordinary coincidence,
the movers in this project have called for
Just 400 subscribers to the opera fund
They are to call themselves THE Opera
Guarantee Association" In their pros
pectus, Issued to those whom they seek
TO interest in the movement, they declare a
season of opera to be a necessity as an
artistic and social feature of New Orleans
life. Each year brings a taste TOR better
and fuller presentation of opera, and that
Petent management and responsible back
ing. And they are right. not only in what
they say but in what they leave uusaid,
which Is that the social conditions and the
very elements which make up what is
known as "socistyn in that gay and ancient
capital have greatly changed since the
wealthy planter class became Impoverished
and the slower going creoles we're left to run
the town.
Northern men and enterprising western
folks have dritted down there TO take ad-
van tage ofEathe business opportunities at
this outlet OF the great Mississippi valley,
and these men and their wives and daugh-
ters are the persons whose tastes the city
must consult more aud more. They are, In
fact, among the leaders there already, and
that position must sooner or later
be recognized and accorded to them.
The names that are published in The
prospectus OF the new opera guar
antee association are of especial interest in
this respect. The public is told that the
last season OF opera, guaranteed by an old
resident of the city, resulted in a small
profit, but that such a burden is too great
TO be assumed by one individual. There
fore the subscriptions for the new plan have
been led by 1856 persons, whose names are
set down, without doubt, as Indicative of
the character which it is desired that the
prospective band of opera supporters shall
possess
These names disclose the interesting fact
that though northern men are upon an
equality with the rest, as thev have long
been IN the Boston and Pickwick clubs. and
in the more exclusive Mardi Gras societies,
there is no intention on the part of either
the old southern or the creole families to be
left out OF the new social aud musical move
ment The brothers Denegre, Walter D.
and George. who have long been leaders in
n FNVth1 il POI
devielle the VIolettes, and representatives
OF the families Of Burthe, Aldige,
Brulatour. Cbaffraix, Janvier, Le-
long, Leblanc, Dupre, De Vile
neuve., Mazerat, Provost, Thibaut and a
score OF others testify against the sssump-
ton that the old French stock is as INDECENT
at this juncture as it was charged with being
in the past. Among the descendants of the
ancient Spanish families are seen the names
OF the Garcias, Delgadcs, aud many others.
The names OF great planters, like the Rich
ardsons, and of old southern states families,
like the Semmeses, the Eustises, the Blu
chanans, ErestonS and Buckners are min
gled the 80 uewhat newer Towards, Nor
rises aud Shakesperes and with the repre-
sentatives of the stirring new blood of the
city, like the Oxnards, SDragues and Fetch
ers. Finally, with the others, come repre-
sentatives of that race that is so powerful
all up and down the valley Of the Missis-
sippi, made evident in such surnames as
Dinkelspiel, Hernsheim, Stern and New
man. The recipient of the subscriptions
is Horace Fletcher. AS his name i'm
plies, he was originally a northern man
though long series OF years spent in the
capitals of Europe and in japan fit him for
the higher title OF a citizen of the world A
brilliant and scholarly man fond of enter
tanning in a charming house and active in
the leading clubs, he has naturally, though
unconscously and most modestly, come into
the foreground at this time. Such as he
and the men who join with him are the dis
similar but equal leaders in the quiet and
unopposed revolution that Is fitting New
Orleans to become, as it soon must, the
chief winter resort Of the throngs of leisure
liking and semi-invalid persona who now are
divided by the minor claims and attractions
of long chain of resorts reaching from
Old Point Comfort to Florida, and thus on
to Mobile and the Crescent City.
The plan of the new opera guarantee
association is to enlist the support of the
New Orleans Four Hundred, each of whom
is to be responsible for the sum of 300.
This sum tGey do not need to subscribe in
whole or in part, but In case of deficiency
at the end of a season of opera, they will
be assessed whatever proportion OF that
sum is needed from each. With the inter-
ested cooperation and active support of the
Four Hundred, it is not believed
that there will be any deficiency,
since without any such general
moneyed interest, grand opera has
been maintained there year after year
upon a varying basis Of small profits or
small Losses. The Four Hundred are to ar
range special privileges and benefits for
themselves; indeed, they are to run the opera
house hereafter, electing a board of direc-
tors 20 govern the finances, to engage a
manager, to secure as large a list as possible
of purchasers for boxes and chairs by the
season, and to set the prices that opera
lovers must pay. An opera tall upon the
usual New Orleans scale Of brillianoy and
beauty is among the annual possibilities Of
the new arrangement.
This is to be as much of a change from
the condition OF opera there this winter,
when Harry T. Howard stood ready to
meet the losses, as from that happy period
when opera was new in the city, and Pierre
Davis used to engage the troupe, includ-
ing Fanny Ellsler upon one memorable &C.
cssion. But 1t is not likely that the visitors
to New Orleans will detect any alteration,
except for the better. in the time-honored
institution. The interest that the old French
and Spanish families have shown in the new
plan is "A guarantee that while there will
be no return To the old rule that a courtier
must buy white kid gloves beforehand aud
coffee afterward for the ladies he leads into
his box, still we shall yet see the fashionable
first gallery In the old opera house made
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