Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-11-05
THEIR MONEYS WORTH.
{, -. three american Travellers Saw In a
Partisan Opera House.


American travellers abroad co.ae upon
many sights and customs that are
strange to their American senses. Here
is an incident Of al opening night at
the Chatelet theater, Paris. that Will
not soon be forgotten by a certain party
Of there New orkers who witnessed it.
The presentation was Of BerliOz' S
"Faust, in accordance with popular
request. 1t had been given in the clos
ag spring nights, and in the fall WAS
put on again, with the same artists III
the various roles. Certain mum bers-
notably "Marche Hongroise'' and Meph-
isto's song-had captivated Paris and
m overwhelming crowd was at the
doors on the opening night to hear their
favorites.
Now, there is q peculiar custom in
vogue at the Chatelet for admitting and
seating the audience. They enter in
squads, and each squad must be seated
before another can get in. Of course
this is admirable when time is 40 OBJ
ject, but Oh 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, IN
der the direction of M. Cologne, pro-
ceeded when no more than two-thirds
! Of the audience had been seated.
In the first balcony sat three New
| YOrkers--a married couple, with a 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-.
fro r I,ro tol
and conveyed q feeling OF danger from
some unknown peril. The young Amer
lean matron, nervous as American Wo-
men are, took fright.
1T is fire., she whispered to her
husband. 1.-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 20 reassure
his wife and her friend.
''Be easy. 1t isn't a fire. This is 60
ing to be one of the sights Of Paris, and
I wouldn't miss it for a 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 Oh.
Then the audience passed from fret
full repining TO offensive action. With
a common impulse it swarmed forward,
Overran 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 Go about
it?" asked his wife. Twill they tear
the house down? Do let us 20 away at
once -
''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
go back to the beginning and play the
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
and became seated and atten-
tive. The movement proceeded smooth
y, triunphantly, with appreciative ap-
plause. Feelings of the most perfect
harmony existed. And the Chatelet
scored a great success.
''Now, in New York, - said the Amer
can as he took the two ladies to their
hotel, eve wouldn't have done it So
II should think not" said his wife
n earnest patriotism.
NO. he went on, "there we would
nave talked about our hard luck be-
tween the acts, and the next morning
would have fought the thing all over in
he newspapers. And we wouldn't have
een the opera either. 1t seems to me,
ny dear, that the French character has
. feature or two which the American
would do well to initiate. -
Every WE'LL" said madam. "I'm
,lad | saw the opera twice over in one
vening. I'm very much obliged to
- IL
IN quite content to be and remain
morican ,'-Naw Work Times