The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-04-20
LONDON SEASON OPENS TONIGHT WITH OPERA AT CONVENT GARDEN.


 the North American continent whose nnclinations or finances do not per- init of an annual jaunt to Europe. the phraAe .sthe London season. means little or nothing. To vast and constantly increasing number of Americans and Canadians. however, sne London seaSon is everything. Participation in the functions and activities that mark the season. in <he worlds metropolis may not in sure social success. buteit is the first and necessary step toward the heights occupied by the elect of se- claty with large s. Wherefore Lon don hotels are now filled with people from all over this continent. and some are very happy today and some are wallowing in the sloughs of mis- cry. their condition of mind being de- pendent upon whether or not they have been able to secure the magic pasteboards that win admit bearer to the first performance of opera at Covent Garden tonight The inaug- ural Of the operatic season has come to be the actual beginning of the London season. although officially the blessed period did not begin until the private view of the Royal Academy, on the Saturday previous to the first Monday in May, which tlais year falls on the second of May There will be great and general relief to learn, as we ars assured by the cables. that ..al1 q inc usual Am erican slbscrib- CTS win be found in their bexesss' to- night. but for those social climbers and stragglers who will not be found among those present our hearts, go out in deepest sympathy.
 Important as it is to attend the opera.s opening performance. the Royal Academy and private view and dinner still continue to be the great inaugural functions of the season. It as a sublime recognition of the power Of the Fourth Estate that the Press men, are given the first glimpse of 4ha new paintings comprising the Roya1 Acadeny's annual exaibitfon- Even royalty has to be content with second place. On the Wednesday preceding the private view on satur- Hay the gentlemen of the press have sole possession Of the gallery. Every Important newspaper of Great Bri- tain and Ireland as invited to send .. representatfve. and the London corr respondents of the big Arnsrac can and colonial newspapers are also similar lv honored- All day wednesday and Thursday morning they have the gal lery fo themselves. OnsThur sday af- ternoon the members of che royal family take pozssssfon of the exhibi- ton. Then comes the Royal Acad- erny dinner, at whidn ca1st on1 pre- eeribes sthaf the royal family and the cabinet nnnst be represented, and from which the fair sex is ea<r1nded.
 The --prisate view Is accurate1y desc<zbed, except that 1t is not pri- vats and the crush is so great thai fit is almost impossible to view the paanzinsz EveryPody who is any body must gos however. asad those -Anzz1eans who arc excluded from BurfznxtDn House on that day of fate may as ven return home and try te forget True. they may later vtni zhe gallery and study the works sol art in a 1eisnrezy and co1nfortabls manner-but who wants to do that
 Tne London season. as an institu- tzon. was established by George III- but as fn many other matters thaa anniabze monarch did not show good 5udgmenf, and started the season ir Janaarg. YYIhen apeen Victoria came to the throne she tnangm-ated ths
 metropolitan season in Febr uary. bu later she changed the date to abou- the first of May After the dea4t of her consorf the London seasor had to get along without royal par ficipakzon. but despite this handi cap it gradually increased in import ance- It is the harvest season fol the hotels and the merchants of Bon< and Regent streets and PiccadilIy