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Page 13
_Covent Garden, Tuesday, Nov. 1st._--_Tristan und Isolde_. About the
dullest thing that even a much-enduring Wagnerite ever heard. Glass
down to zero.
[Illustration: OUR CRITIC AT THE OPERA.
He heareth _Tristan | He heareth _Cavalleria | He seeth and heareth
und Isolde_ wrapt | Rusticana_ rapt in | _A�da_, "More power
in slumber. | ecstasy. | to your Melba!'"]
_Wednesday_.--Glass up again. _Orf�o_ with the two RAVOGLI and
the marvellous BAUERMEISTER as _Cupid_. Wonderful little lady
BAUERMEISTER-singer! I've said it before, and I repeat it
emphatically, BAUERMEISTER is "a little treasure" to an Operatic
Manager. MASCAGNI's _Cavalleria Rusticana_ was the second course
to-night, in which this adaptable lady, the _Cupid_ of the first
piece, appeared as old heart-broken grey-haired _Lucia_, the mother
of the gay _Turiddu_. Were Sir AUGUSTUS inclined to introduce a
little light English jocosity into this serious Opera, he might give
a line to the implacable _Alfio_, saying, "I've come to rid you of
_Turiddu_!" If MASCAGNI had heard this, he would have composed an
additional _Intermezzo_ expressing the whole force of the idea.
_Thursday_.--_Carmen_ expected, but tenor off colour, so change of air
(or should say airs) recommended, and adopted. Audience sent to the
country, or, rather, _Rusticana_ brought to them.
_Friday_.--House crammed. Great excitement to hear MELBA as _A�da_,
the darky girl. Everybody delighted, except perhaps MELBA herself,
who, on seeing the bouquets, must have murmured, "_Trop de fleurs_!"
Everybody good. Quite the best night of the Season. To-night
BAUERMEISTER appears as _Sacerdotessa_. So this week she has been
Cupid, an old Peasant woman, _Frascita_, a Brigand's Young Woman;
and then, being repentant, she finishes as a Priestess! It's a whole
life-time in a few days.
* * * * *
LADY GAY'S DETECTION.
_Berkeley Square, W._
MR. PUNCH, Sir,
I am surprised to find a Journal of your standing lowering itself to
follow the example of the so-called "Society Journals" by inserting
contributions from women!--I have discovered, no matter how, that My
Wife, who always declares she hates letter-writing, has for months
past contributed a long weekly letter to _Punch_, dealing with racing
from a humorous (save the mark!) point of view! Now I never make jokes
myself--at least intentionally--nor do I think it becomes a man of
position to do so--and I quite agree with SWIFT or SHERIDAN (I know
it was _one_ of these infernal clever literary chaps) who said, "A
humorous woman is a delusion and a snare!"--so you may imagine my
disgust at finding My Wife writing for a Journal!--why couldn't she
have asked Me to help her?--and signing her articles anonymously
too!--for I need hardly tell you she is no more "GAY" than I am!--at
all events when in _my_ society!
Like most busy idlers (that is _not_ intended for a joke)--I go racing
a bit, and of course "have a bit on" like other people, and having
tried all the turf-prophets in turn, with unsatisfactory results, I
was delighted to hear from a friend that "a new DANIEL had come to
judgment" in the person of a tipster on _Punch_, who was "wonderful
good"--(it was just the time when she _did_ blunder on to a
winner)--and I made up my mind to follow the new Prophet DANIEL; but,
by Jove! it resulted in a loss, and DANIEL landed me among the lions
in no time! These are _not_ jokes, but sober facts--I plunged heavily
on all the "Selections," and am now in the pleasant position of owing
the Ring a substantial sum in addition to "the old," through following
My Wife's advice--whilst _her_ banking-account is considerably
augmented through having _laid against_ her own tips! This _may_ be
humorous, but as i said, I don't approve of humour when exercised on
myself!
I laughed most consumedly at some of her articles, but on looking them
over again--(she has kept the lot, pasted in a book--a monument to my
fatuity!)--I don't think so much of them now I know she wrote them,
and see that I could have made numberless valuable suggestions had
she only seen fit to consult me! Of course I could stop any further
contribution on her part, but consideration for your readers (?)
prevents that--to say nothing of _her_ determination to continue--so
I have therefore consented to her odd whim, on the condition that in
future I "edit" her contributions;--I need hardly assure you that I
shall confine my "editing" strictly to these limits, and that your
own Editor need be under no apprehension as to my usurping his
place,--ably as I should, no doubt, fill it!
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