West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-04-05
IN THE SOUTHLAND
Another Interesting Article From
Member Of Tho Argus
staff.
More About New Orlsaus-ihe French
Opera Parks and National Editorial
Assuclatson-co Continued From Last
Week.
BY MAY FAIRFAX MORGAN.

The French Opera House is one
OF the greatest attractions New Or.
leans has. Il is the only city in the
United States. save New York. which
has real, genuine opera house
built and equipped for the opera
alone, and which has season of
opera every wear The first great
opera season in New O,leans was
in 1873, and they have had 4 Grand
Opera almost every year since for
clghty-Seven wears. The present
Opera House was built in 1850, and
is the most perfectly arranged build
ing OF the kind in this country, as it is
so large it is almost city in itself
and is only excelled, they claim, by
the famous Opera House in Paris.
In ante-bellum days it was patronized
almost exclusively by the French
anu NiSNiSo anu thS pdtOhS were
required to wear full evening dress
and we were told by a French lady
that you could see fortunes in Jewels
here every night during the opera
season, as it was ablaze with dia-
monds. That was when New
Orleans was the greatest social city
in the South. Adelina Patti made
her operate debut here. She was
a resident of NewOrleans for several
years. The great Hungarian prima
donna, Etelka Gerster, was last
heard here and many celebrated
artists from all over the world have
been seen here. 1t is large and
spacious and has magnificently
furnished parlors where you can 20
between the.acts (Which is some
time) and pass the moments pleas
antly with friends. Or if you are
stranger. by looking at the elegant
gowns and jewels and beautiful
women, etc. 1t has six galleries,
with seats like the ordinary theatre,
but the auditorium is divided
into fine boxes and these are
sold year in advance for the entire
opera season. This is done in order
to have a guarantee fund. as all
the troupes come from Europe.
The manager has to have time to 90
over there and engage them.
The opera is so important part
of social life in New Orleans that
all parties or balls must be given on
non opera nights or they are not at.
tended. The finest and largest
ballroom in the city is in this opera
house, and all the great carnival balls
are given here. 1t will seat 1000
people. The opera season closes
at the beginning of Lent. We at
tended the Saturday night we were
there, and it was the great final per-
Torrance of fine troupe from
Paris of which Mile. Lima Pacary
was the star, in "Cavalleria Rusti-
cana" and finished up with The
Grand Ballet OF Salammbo. New
Orleans was the only city in the
United States where they performed.
They went from there TO Montreal,
Canada. II was worth the price to
see the "old bald-heads" lined up
on the front rows of seats during
the closing performance. We saw
one elderly lady there, who just
glittered with diamonds. She looked
like she might have raided the
mines of Kimberley. She was said
to be the belle Of the city when
young and the richest lady in the
city to-day, and attending the opera
her profession, as she is said to have
never missed a single night for
years
According to the laws ofLousiana,
no city or town is allowed to 90 into
debt without the consent Of the
entire State and for this reason
New Orleans has been unable to
get Improvements size needs so
badly. In April the Legislature will
meet for the express purpose Of
granting the city the privilege Of
bonding itself for $50. 600. 900 for
proper sanitary arrangements and
they expect TO put in a fine system
Of water-works and sewerage like
other large cities. This will be
great Improvement for the place
and perhaps when the editors go
back 90 New Orleans again, they
viii not recognize it as the same
city
The National Editorial Associa-
ton was founded and organized in
the city Of New Orleans fifteen years
ago, SO this was kind Of a birth
day celebration.
The first session was called 90
order 10 the odd Fellows Hall on
"wednesday evening. March rst.
Several addresses Of welcome we're