Life — December 24, 1891 — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

‘*LIFE-: ROMEO ET JULIETTE. THERE be persons so crude, so unformed, so unimaginative that they can not under- stand why in this enlightened epoch, at the end of the nineteenth century, there should exist such a thing as grand opera, Their brutal minds will concede neither beauty nor use to its absurdities and unrealities. But such uncouth persons will grant that if opera must exist at all, it is better that we should have it in such form as unites melody and harmony, than in the guise of blare and discord. If the tenor must agitate his larynx for three-quarters of an hour to inform the soprano that he is about to flee to the mountains, the veriest savage will admit that it is better that the aforesaid larynx should produce pleasing sounds rather than growl out gutturals. Even civilized persons will allow that harmony from strings and wood is more agreeable to average eardrums than discord from brass and drums, Of course when it comes to the intellectual enjoyment of a sensual pleasure there can be no argument, because there are intellects and intellects, just as there are sane men and mad men, and de gustibus non disputandum. Saverkraut is an excellent dish for those who like it and we who are not passionately fond of it must not too strongly blame those who do like it for having it on the table as often as possible, But New York is to be con- gratulated that operatic sauerkraut is off its musical bill-of-fare for a little while anyway. * Romeo et Juliette,” is by no means the greatest of Gounod’s operas, but it is delicate, melodious, and pleasing. The familiar plot is given a musical setting which it is not necessary to have a diseased brain to appreciate, and Messrs, Abbey and Grau did a politic thing when they selected it for the opening performance of their season. The part of Juliette is well within the range of Miss Eames’s powers, Ske looks it and acts it, and her sympathetic voice interprets well the emotions which the composer attributes to his heroine, Rest of all, she does not overdo it, and, as a musical Juliet, Miss Eames is to be congratulated on a thorough success, The Metropolitan Opera House has seen better tenors than M. Jean de Reszke. His dramatic work is excellent, but his voice is just a trifle too robust to be entirely pleasing in the part of Romeo, M, Edouard de Reseke sang and acted Frére Laurent admirably. AT THE FAIR. He: YOUR PARENTS WERE PROPUETIC, Miss GoopyeaR, WHEN THEY CHRISTENED YOU Cnariry. She: On, Not IT WAS BECAUSE T BEGAN AT Hose A LL. the world loves a lover—except his rival. 3) ne bhiide en ash ' Pit ant \ Jory Matrimony Kuk Moret dey peg weet Cyst Maal wat Cabs PL Herlel CHRISTMAS EVE. Father: Wy, TOM, WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON THE ROOF, THIS TIME OF xiour ? Tom: Wet, I've Got MY poUnTS ABOUT THAT SANTA CLaus sTORY, AND T CAME HERE TO WATCH THE cHiMN AND FIND OUT IF THERE Is SUCH A “CN BINDER FOR LIFE.” PERSON. comicbooks.com