The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-19
SHE Baked AT THE OPERA.
1T ISN'T EASY TO SHOW A RAW
TEXAS GIRL ABOUT TOWN.

Had a Most Serious Time in Identi-
flying the Celebrities.
From the New York sun.
A young woman, who knows a good
deal about music, but very little about
the New York 400. had a trying evening
not long ago and is not sure whether
she will be punished for perjury or receive
a martyrs crown when accounts are set
tied. In her youth, before her inclinations
counted for anything, she lived in Texas.
Her family still lives there, and friends
Of the family, who visit New York, have
way of expecting her to be their guide,
philosopher and friend. Sometimes she
doesn't. 1t all depends upon the friends.
a week or two ago a dear old lady came
up from Texas with wads of money tucked
about promiscuously in her luggage and
pockets. She hadn't seen New York be-
fore, and she didn't come to see it this
time. The visit was a holiday treat for
her granddaughter, aged 15 and thirsting
for experience. The young woman, who
escaped from Texas years ago, was called
into consultation. She had known the
grandmother and loved her, and she was
prepared to offer herself up on the altar
of old acquaintance and family friendship
but she wished the sacriicial rites had
not been set for holiday week
When she called at the hotel her old
friend welcomed her with open arms.
I'm not going out at all myself" she
said. I'm too Old for galivanting
around; but I want Jenny to see all there
is to be seen; and knew you could show
il to her. You just take her around and
have good time, and never mind about
the money, l don't care what it COSTS
The New York woman looked at Jenny
and sighed but it was cheering to know
that the cost needn't be considered. When
little girl has frowsy blonde hair, and
grown-up clothes, and an inquiring ex-
preston, giving her a good time is likely
TO be expensive.
For a week the guide and the novice
burned money; and the smoke of the fire
went up from all the quarters in which
girls delight. They lunched on reed birds
and champagne, wherever reed birds and
champagne come high. The guide didn't
include champagne in her plans but the
infant from Texas demanded it. Appar-
entity she had an idea that in New York
champagne was the only beverage, and
that if one were going to drink tea and
ice water one might as well be visiting
Kokomo, Ind So the New York woman
strangled her misgivings and effete ideas
about children and devoted all her atten-
ton to seeing that the glasses We're not
filled often. She took her charge to matt
nees, and mercifully refrained from telling
her that the heroes were all sober married
men in private life, and devoted to their
wives. She appealed 10 married friends,
and, under the chaperonage, arranged a
dinner in Chinatown. She rode in auto
mobiles and pointed out the houses of the
nabobs. She spent hours at milliners and
| dressmakers, and tried vainly to tone
| down the effulgent taste of youth and
| Texas. She experimental with the Art
museum but dropped it quickly, for the
experiment wasn't a success.
Altogether her devotion was admirable,
| but from one ordeal she shrauk. She didn I
| feel that she could show the opera to her
| protege and escape nervous prostration.
| Not a word did she say about opera, and
| as the days went by she congratulated
! herself that she had avoided the reef.
| Thursday evening she dined at the Fifth
avenue caravansery, where her friends
We're staying. Between the salad and des-
sert the infant looked thoughtful.
| 'WeD we're going home Saturday morn
| ing. That leaves just one more day. I'll
have fits at the tailor's and dressmaker 5
all day, and well go to the opera in the
evening. We've pretty near forgotten
grand opera. You see about tickets, will
you?'
The blow had fallen. The music lover
groaned inwardly. If the opera had beer
Faust" "Carmen"-bUt it would be
"Lobengrin." and to hear Wagner with
| the Texan infant would be awful
The infant wanted a box. Boxes and
| champagne were New York, but when the
victim gently explained the Metropolitan
box system, she agreed to descend to or
| chestra chairs. No orchestra seats could bt
secured, and at last, the couple found
themselves settled in dress circle seats al
the left of the house.
IT'S pretty big" admitted the infant, as
she looked at the house, but 1t isn't as
big as 1 expected"
The friend apOloglzed for the MetropoE
tan
whats grand opera like?
"Oh, we'll, they sing, you know, and II
tell you the story of this opera?"
She told the story, but it seemed very
| brief and bald.
ut must be an awfully short opera
said the infant critically. 1T amt much
of a story" When the curtain went up sht
listened attentively while the chorus die
it's stunt
Il can't understand a word they say,
| she announced reproachfully.
"Of course you can't child. 1t is in Ger
man"
"Oh! Is it all German? Yes? Well what's
the use of going TO opera if you can't un.
! derstand it? What are they singing about,
The victim explained.
"Well, they're wasting lots of time abou
it. That's Elsa, she's nice. hope shell
stir things up
''She will" said the victim grimly. Their
she tried to cheer up and resign herself t.
not hearing the music.
I'm sorry Jean de Reszke doesn't sins
tonight" she said politely.
rs Jean de Reszke man or a woman D
asked the infant in grown-up clothes. THAI
floored the New York woman. Such ar
abyss of igorance was appalling. She sal
limp and overwhelmed; and the swan sons
trickfed through her head without givine
her any sensation whatever. She was try.
ing 10 remember what she was at L.
Il must say, like the Runaway Girl
better than this" the infant asserted
stoutly. 4 don't believe that ANYBODY
really likes this. What makes them iusl