The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-30

SOciabIe Little Colonies Formed Dur
ing operate Seasons-They Love
Macaroni and Know How to Pre-
pare If-Adhere to Home Customs.
OF the thousands who have attended
grand opera during the past season few,
probably. have thought much about that
standby of opera. the Italian chorus All
know its formal appearance on the stage;
a body of fresh-colored women, and men
of Roticeably sturdy physique, hearty fell
lows, with big, barrel chests and fine
massive heads well set between the
shoulders. As gayly clad peasants and
grim bandits they seem care-free and non
chalant- Behind the scenes, the most
noticeable trait of this chorus Is an all
pervasive Hght-heartedness which breaks
out, perhaps, in friendly duel with no
worse weapons than property rocks-wads
of excelsior and canvas. The women walk
back ana forth across the stage, or sit in
chattering groups on unused scenery,
sometimes watching the horsepIay of the
men and adding pert comments of their
own. An this unbilIed comedy has a peculi-
arfy attractive setting to one who finds the
big stage of the Metropolitan Opera House
something of wonderland when seen in
reverse. For the chorus, all the fascinat-
ing hubbTb seems a setting specially pre-
pared, and to the onIooker their part in
IT appears much more ike genuine play
than what il really iS-Jhe second half OF
/ a tweIve-hour day, whose first part is
occupied with strenuous rehearsing-
Italians they remain, however, and out
side the opera house this chorus keeps its
own ways of life. Drudgery and hard
work like theirs need to be wen fed, and
SO it is Restaurants and hotels the cho-
rus Will have nothing to do with Instead
it takes with it through al! its journey
ings its snug equipment of oil stoves, skill
lets, stewpans, and wine glasses, and in
little groups of two or three it provides
for itself the fare of middle class Italy.
to which it has always been accustomed
. For its lodgings the chorus seeks large
corner rooms on one Of the west side
avenues not far from the Opera House,
ranging a few blocks north and south
from about FoTtieth Street. In some in
stances both husband and wife belong to
the chorus, and these pairs, Of course, live
together; but the unmarried members
and the husbands who have not their
wives with them gather in little groups
Of three OF four and share the duties of
housekeeping. MacdToni, as might be eX-
peCted. is much used. NO Italian" de-
ciares Sig MuZiO. the leader of the chorus,
/ will be without his macaroni and il we
! want it good we shall have to cook it
/ ourselves. We cook it with plenty Of but
/ ter, and we know how to make it good 3"
/ And with the macarOni go soups and
stews in endless variety-au orthodox diet
/ in land of unbelievers. California wines
are in high favor. the allowance for each
man being about three gallons a week
/ CurioUSly enough, American wines are
preferred to French. The California
/ wines are natural says Sig. MuEio, again
] eXpounding the tastes of his fellows in
the chorus The French bring in the
+ wine from Italy, from America, but when
( Il is sold II is not good 1t IS made Up:
/ il IS fabricate- On tour the chorus relies
/ perfOrCe upon hotels, but In the long New
+ York and London seasons each little
group has its own cOmmisSary. So it
3 ives ana works abundanty, TehearSinE
every day from u to s. and then racing
: back at 100 for the evening performance
Sunday Is the only day of rest a time
. Of pTOdigious smoking by ali the men,
J VINO are great users Of tobacco, and d
/ day set apart for visits from coupatrfots
/ living permanently in the city. we like
5 New York much said member of the
chorus. 1T is better than London We
. have many friends here. And then the
F. air IS very clear-it is very good 10
breathe it and to see the sky blue
Material for the chorus is picked out
B by the chorus master from middle-class
! Italian families. The uneducated person
/ is not available for this work and all
/ those accepted have at least an education
/ ranking with that CT academies in Ameri-
/ ca Besides having the requisite voice
! some grace in carriage and gesture is re-
/ CURED and ways q perfect familiarity
( with the Italian and French languages
/ Many Of the chorus also speak Spanish
( and that accomplishment is counted high
/ " desirable Italian and French are d
! sine qua non The choruSes of the Ger
/ man operas, It may be remarked, are
/ sung here by Americans. Entrance to
/ the chorus IS much sought as an honor
{ able and well-paid calling for middle-class
/ Italians Of some education. Many Of
J its members follow the work year after
! year and in the three months Of the sum
I Eler, which is not taken up by the work
/ they return TO their Italian vines and fig
/ trees to renew acquaintance with their
fanlllles--New York Commercial Adyer-
! tiSer