The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-01-25

The large audience present at the OPEN
Ing performance OF ELEoNoRA DusE on
Monday evening affords striking evidence
Of the growth OF the Italian population OF
New York both in numbers and prosperity.
The many Italians in the more expensive
seats Of the theatre showed by their attire
and bearing that they are people OF wealth.
taste. and refinement: and In the upper
galleries were an enthusiastic multitude Of
their countrymen who we're able to pay the
considerable prices charged for admission.
1t is apparent that at this day an Italian
speaking actor of distinction may lave rea-
son to expect sufficient support from the
Italian residents Of New York alone. In
great part. Of course. these are humble
people, very many OF whom are immigrants
who have been here only a short time, and
who are remarkable among the many races
making up our population for their self
denying ~frugality; but the progress n in
creasing prosperity Of the Italians Of longer
residence have been great and general. and
the immigration Of recent years has brought
some very intelligent and highly educated
representatives Of their ancient race. The
literary contents and the advertisements
Of the italian papers now published here
bear witness to the cultivated tastes OF
large numbers OF those addressed by them.
The audience before which Signora DUsE
played on Monday evening contained many
Italian ladies distinguished for beauty aud
fine breeding. and many men notable by
reason Of their dignity and distinction OF
appearance. 1t compared very favorably
in those respects with an audience which
x-,-tl arenp,1lA 60 apsn1, lar n ~ IN ~ -
the great theatres Of Italy itself.
Not many years & the conception Of the
Italian character formed by the run Of un-
travelled Americans was received from the
organ grinders. who were the only repre-
sentatives Of the race known to them. and
1t was altogether and. Of course. uniustly
contemptuous. Even since the great
Italian immigration Of recent years the
popular prejudices against the race have
continued. and have been intensified be-
cause OF the competition in the labor market
brought about by the newcomers: but by
minding their own business, by maintain
ing the self-respect which Is usually so
strong in the Italian. and by the rapidity
with which they have advanced in material
prosperity, they are gradually forcing a
respectful consideration which will be en-
HANGED in the case OF their children. WHO
will have the advantage OF the education OF
the public schools. for they are bright and
ambitious learners.
The Italian audience on Monday evening
taught the rest Of women attending thea
tres q valuable lesson in the matter OF cos
tune. The ladies in the lower part OF the
house sat during the performance without
the head coverings OF which SO many Of
our correspondents have complained so
bitterly and so justly as obstructive OF the
view Of the stage. They came without
bonnets or hats. or they removed them
while the acting was going on. holding
them In their laps. Thus these Italian la
dies increased their own attractions, paid
fitting respect to the artists or the stage.
and showed a proper and becoming consid-
Grafton for those who sat behind them.
1t has been said by some OF our women
correspondents who have ventured to de-
fend the feminine practice Of wearing huge
hats at the theatres. that the protesting
mel only show their ignorance. They have
asserted that a woman must keep on her
hat or bonnie because Its removal seriously
disturbs her toilet. and. moreover. because
she has nowhere to put 1t il she takes it of.
man has only to stuff his comparatively
coarse hat under his chair. say they. but a
woman's h%eadgear is OF a delicate construc-
ton which will not bear such rough usage.
The conclusive answer would seem to be
that the Italian ladies on Monday evening
found 1t possible to hold their hats or bon
nets In their laps II they wore them to
the theatre at all. Probably they were wise
enough not to wear their most delicate and
fragile headgear to the theatre. At any
rate. they were considerate enough OF their
%neighbors and attentive enough to the pro-
prieties Of the place and occasion to sit bare
headed among the bare-headed men.
We welcome these Italian ladies' there
fore as reformers. and beg to offer them the
admiration to which their graces OF person
and their graciousness Of conduct and bear
ing are SO eminently entitled.
No, Como Over Here!