The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1894-11-09
.--.a THEIR MONEYS WORTH.
Wat Three American Travellers Saw In .
pAris.an Opera House.

paris.an Opera House.
American travellers abroad come upon
many sights and customs that are
strange to their American senses. Here
Is an incident of an opening night at
the Chatolet theator, Paris, that will
not soon be forgotten by certain party
of there New Workers who witnessed it.
The presentation was of Berlioz's
Faust" in accordance with popular
request 1t had been given in the clos.
ing spring nights, and in the fall was
put on again, with the same artists in
the various roles, Certain numbers
notably 'Marche Hongroise" and Meph-
isto's song-had captivated Paris, and
an overwhelming crowd was at the
doors ON the opening night to hear their
favorites.
Now, thels is a pecu lar custom in
vogue at the Chatelet for admitting and
seating tho audience. They enter in
squads, and each squad must be seated
before another can get in. OF course
this is admirable when time is no OBJ
ieot, but ON this particular night the
crowd was too great to be handled in
this slow way And the curtain went
up, and the movement Of the opera, I'M
der tho direction of M. Cologne, pro-
ceeded when 10 more than two-thirds
of tho audience had been seated
In the first balcony sat three New
Workers. married couple, with young
lady acquaintance. The opera proceeded
over the heads of the moving, restless
audience for an hour, when an ominous
murmuring of voices began to make it
self heard above the tones of the orches-
ira. 1t muttered rolled, vibrated, grew
and conveyed feeling of danger from
some unknown peril. The young Amer
lean matron, nervous as American wo-
men are took fright.
':It is fire." she whispered to her
husband. "The theater is on fire. You
must take me out quick, or we shall
be crushed as well as burned.
But the husband was obdurate and
as the noise of voices increased in vol
ume and angriness he turned to reassure
his wife and her friend.
Be easy. 1t isn't fire. This is 60
ing to be one Of the sights Of Paris, and
wouldn't miss it for lot on Broad
way"
By this time the menacing attitude
of the audience had forced itself upon
the attention of M. Cologne His must
clans ceased playing; he looked at them
imploringly, glared at the bowling au-
dience defiantly, rolled out command
cracking with RS, waved his baton and
went ON.
Then the audience passed from fret
full repining to offensive action. With
a common impulse it swarmed forward,
oyerran the orchestra, and some 40 men
clambered upon the stage itself. They
silenced the musicians, shouted danced
back and forth in an apparently uncon-
trollable rage, shook their fists under
the noses of every one in authority and
introduced sudden and unwelcome ell
ement Of anarchy into the evenings
spectacle.
"What is the matter? Can you make
out what they're saying?' the young
lady asked.
"Why, yes" the escort replied
"They couldn't get into the theater in
season to hear the favorite numbers,
and they feel cheated. This is the pop
ular Partisan expression of outraged
feelings -
''But what are they going to do about
itg'' asked his wife. "Will they tear
the house down? Do let us 60 away at
once
1 'No. they'll hurt no one but M. Co
logne, and not him if he does what they
are demanding.
Whatever is that?"
Gas near as can make out. it is to
60 back to the beginning and play IT,
entire score again. That means an eX-
ira hour, and no wonder he objects.
But the objection proved futile. Aft.
er ten minutes of charges and counter
charges, of negative shakes of the head
and affirmative shakes of many fists,
Mr.. Cologne turned back the pages Of
his score and again raised his baton.
The excited audience was Gained in q
moment and became seated and atten
tive The movement proceeded smooth
ly, triumphantly, with appreciative ap
plause. Feelings of the most perfect
harmony existed. And the Chatele1
scored great success
Now, in New York, said the Amer
lean as he took the two ladies to theil
hotel, 1--WE wouldn't have done 1t SO. /"
II should think not" said his wife
in earnest patriotism.
mo- he went on, "there we would
have talked about our hard luck be
tween the acts, and the next morning
would have fought the thing all over il
the newspapers. And we wouldn't hav'
seen the opera either. 1t seems to me
my DEAR that the French character ha
a feature or two which the American
would do well to initiate. -
every WE'LL" said madam. "I'n
glad l saw the opera twice OYER in on
evening. Pm very much obliged t,
those Frenchmen. But, all the same
Pm quite content to be and remail
American New York Times.