The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-02-26
AT THE OPERA

IL was not known definitely by the COM
mittee IN charge OF the gala performance
last ngiht az what hour Prince Henry
would arrive. The official time had been
mentioned as $3.50, but IL was understood
that he would not be likely to arrive so
early; and pessimistic listeners were in
clined TO think that the real time OF his
arrival would be from one TO two hours
later than the hour officially set
Their estimate depended entirely on
their general view of such matters Still
throughout the theatre there was little
nope that the occupants of the royal box
would arrive until 10 o'clock.
Ii was surprise, therefore. to see Mau-
rice Grau suddenly called from his seat
at half-past O'Clock and hurry around
TO the Broadway entrance TO welcome
the prince and his suite. The red car
pet was rolled down to the edge OF the
sidewalk, the doors were thrown wide
open and the crowd that had gotten wind
OF the expected arrival hurried TO the
front of the corridor until the space was
so crowded that the policeman I'm vat
endeaVOred To clear a passageway.
Mr.. Grau waited long for the guests OF
the evening The first of the party came
at 800 II was nearly 90 minutes later
when Prince Henry arrived
\ shout from the outside of the theatre
n fanfare from the trumpets OF Squadron
and the stopping of street cars an
nounced that the carriage containing the
prince had arrived
The crowd I'm the lobby took up the
cheer as the prince entered. He stopped
and smiled at the applause of the spec
tators and bowed TO them. lie then
shook hands with Mr.. Grau ana passed
up the stairs 10 the royal box.
At about $40 the first act OF "Lohen-
grin came to an end The artists were
called before the curtain. and then be-
gan an intermission that showed no
signs of ending.
At 20 minutes before 10 the signal was
sent around from the front OF the house
To the stage, the electric pubs ~ rne
conductors desk changed color and NJ.
a1 laT ton. Fs.ssN N1a... -
begin Hell Dir I'm Siege skranz.
ALL STOOD.
With the first notes Prince Henry en-
rose 10 its feet simultaneously In the
parquette. in the parterre boxes and mp
10 the topmost gallery. every nau and
woman was standing. So was the prince,
royal box. They remained standing un-
til the second act OF Carmen" began.
Mile CalVe addressed most of her act
ing and singing to the prince who ap-
plauded at the close of the act. tie then
leit his scat In tho box. and. accompanied
by Mayor Low aud Admiral Evans. went
up to the grand tier Go speak 90 Mry Low
and Mrs. Grover Cleveland. who was q
guest OF Mrs. Daniel Lamont During
Carmen the prince was seated between
Baron Won liollebcn and MAYOR Low
After the close of tho banner per-
formancc, Nahan Frank took the con-
ductorg chair and conducted the or
cneslia IN series OF 'fcrfn1u war melO-
dies. and when Hell Dir I'm sieges-
kranz" was reached tho prince arose
from his scat and the audience. follow
ing his example. arose and turned 10 face
the box
The approach Go tho Metropolitan
Opera honrc was .asiCr than usual as iu
spite 90 tho ucrcps 'd traffic Of Carria gcs.
the police regulations wore stringent. and
thcr, was nome OF thc uauai sCurrN apd
HURRY or vehicles
Tho oNtcriur of thp hgildng was orna-
mentsd with various designs in electric
lights. AZ tho top OF the building was
the Meteor In white and blue. and from
that hung strcamers of electric lights.
But it was in the interior that the great
est change had been made
Tho an strc had been literally trans
formed into N bower Of soft lights. lcafy
vCrdure and delicate colorcd blossoms.
THE DECORATIONS.
The central point Of the decorations
Was the royal box This was built in
the parterre. The four partitions br-
tween boxes 81. -. %. "a and Is were
removed. over these from n crown
shaped canopy OF white satin ard gold
were drap-d white satin curtains. At