Year: 1867

High Art I'm the Provinces.


When it was announced that Ristori was
coming to this country it was predicted by
our theatrical managers that her visit would
be failure. After q few nights in the me-
tropols they said people would tire of listen
ing to performances carried on in language
foreign to them. AS to her chances in the
provincial cities, they ridiculed the very idea.
Now, how have these anticipations been borne
out?


In the three months during which this great
actress performed in New York and Brooklyn
she cleared, for her share of the receipts, over
one hundred thousand dollars. Never in all
her experience had she seen such crowds
assembled to do her honor. AT the Brooklyn
Academy, one OF our suburban places OF
amusement, the amount taken at the doors ON
a single night exceeded the highest she had
ever received in any Of the great European
cities But there was something more crafty
ing to her than even this, in the circumstances
attending her New York season. The close OF
her performances 30 far from betraying any
diminution of interest, exhibited, on the con-
xary, marked increase of it. She could have
remained here a couple Of months longer, II
her engagements had permitted Of it, without
impailing at all the pecuniary results that had
thus far attended her enterprise.


Extraordinary as these we're they have been
cast into the shade by her successes out West
There, where it was said there were not audi
ences sufficiently cultivated to appreciate her
genius, she has been received with even still
greater enthusiasm. In Detroit, where she
played on the lIth and 18th of last month,
liberal subscription was made by the citizens
to enable their local manager to carry out hia
arrangements with her. and for reserved seats
five dollars was cheerfully paid. In Cincinnati
she gave five performances to houses closely
packed. In Chicago, where she opened on the
22d, she gave four performances and matinee.
For these the receipts amounted to the enor-
nous sum Of twenty thousand seven hundred
dollars, or about four thousand two hundred
dollars for each performance. Never in the
scenes Of her greatest triumphs had she sue
ceeded in drawing consecutively such houses.
At St. Louis, where she opened on the 28th,
the receipts would have been as large If the
size of the theatre had admitted of it. On each
occasion crowds of people were sent away
disappointed. In Memphis similar enthusiasm
was manifested in her regard, and she is now
on her way TO New Orleans, where her last per.
formances in this country will be given. As
soon as she closes her engagement there, she
leaves for Paris, where she is announced to
appear during the International Exhibition.


We have thus briefly recapitulated the facts
Of this lady's provincial tour in order to show
how ready our people are to appreciate every
thing that is really artistically good and high
toned. Only charlatans have cause to com
plain Of their Indifference. The people have
been 60 imposed upon by theatrical and
operate humbugs that they have learned to
distrust everything in either line that does NOT
bear the genuine stamp. Hence 1t was that
provincial market predicted failure for Ristori.
They had formed such a low estimate Of the
taste Of their audiences that they judged Of
her prospects by their own. They have had
their eyes opened. They now see that In
future they will have to give to the so much
despised "pro.incials entertainments Of az
high an order as any that are presented on
the metropolitan boards. The effect of all this
on the intellectual progress Of our people can
not be sufficiently appreciated. We shall have
to thank in measure for it the great artist
who felt such confidence in their intelligence
and quickness as to hazard her reputation
among us, Notwithstanding the Encouraging
assurances she had received as to her prospects.