Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 March 1885 — THE CHICAGO OPERA FESTIVAL. [ARTICLE]

THE CHICAGO OPERA FESTIVAL.

(Promt the Chicago Tribune.) At the Chicago Opera Festival, commencing April 6, Col. Mapleson’s company will join forces with a home chorus, and present fourteen performances of Italian opera. Our Exposition Building is being altered into a vast opera-hall to accommodate some 6,000 persons, and 1 the Festival Association ' promises splendid performances at popular prices (SI.OO, S2.QO and $2.50). This company has the advantage of having among its solo singers the greatest primadonna of her tima, Mthe. Adelina Patti. It is announced that she will sing six times—most likely in “Semiramide”, “Traviata,” “Lohengrin” and “Aida”. Mme. Patti promised Wagner that she would appear in some of his operas before the elose of her career as a publie singer; and it is understood that she makes her- first appearand in “Lohengrin’’ at this festival. Miss Nevada will make her debut in opera in Chicago during these performances. The criticisms that have been made upon this singer’s effdrts in other cities all agree in stating that shß jposeesses a pure and beautiful seprano voice, which has been cultivated to a great degree. Mme. Fursch-Medj, the dramatic prima donna, is one of the most reliable artists of the company, and much may be expected irom her during the festival. Mme. Scalchi is so great a favorite iik the city that her appearance will be an occasion of pleasure to all lovers of the Italian Bchool of singing. Signori Gianninni and DcAnni, the new tenor and baritone, have been universally commended for their splendid singing wherever they have sung during the season; and their appearances at this festival will be one of its strongest features. The repertoire includes “Lohengrin”, Wagner; “Huguenots” anti “L’Africainc,” Meyerbeer; “Faust” and “Mirella,” Gounod; **Der Freisclmtz,” Weber-, “Martha,” Flotow; “Aida,” “II Trov&iore” and “Traviata,Verdi; “Semiramide,” Rossini; and “I Pnritani,” Bellini. The Chicago chorus of 300 voices, under Mr. Pratt’s direction, are learning the leading choruses of these operas, and will appear t*ith Col. Mapleson’s singers. In a reception performance which was given by the chorus a few evenings since, the ensemble number from the second act of “Aida” was sung with great effect, ana the effor. indicated that the home singers will be an attraction in the rarioue represcntations 'luring the festival. Special attention is called to the fact th t* J ,i :Ompleto a " a og«a«nta for heating the auditorium by steam have Been Jprffe. also that elegant opera chairs will mshed bythe American 1 Store Stool 05,' fur the parquet and dress-circle. [ Season tickets (good for 11l perfoiman^ '(.Si,) $12.00, $24.00 $30,-00.' b' j ,

Jam bs K. Joints, of Arkansas, lays the New Fork World, is another physical giant added to the tall men of the J3enate. Young men who are intending to aspire to the highest honors in politics should first go and measure themselves physically. If they find that they are below five feet ten they had better go into something else. Men under five feet ten who go into politics are handicapped. Among the seventysix Senators Jonas, Mahone, M&nderson, Pike, Vest are the 6nly men that are below medium height. The average in the Senate is folly five feet nine, and there are few men in the Sedate who would weigh less th&n 170 pounds. There are besides this a large number over six feet in height. It is the same way in the House. Theife are not /over a dozen men below medium height there. The av'erage member of the House is in the nelglLhorliOQA.of.Bix feet. There is more evidence of physical than intellectual power in both branches. There is only one small man, physically, upon the Supreme Court bench. This is Bradley. Chief Justice 'Waite is of medium height, but he makes up for that rotundity. Sitting in a row the othet Justices he presents the appearance Of ft large than. Gray, Harlan, Stanley Matthews are oVer six feet, while the other Judges, with the exception already mentioned, are five feet ten, with figures corresponding to their height. Nearly all of the principal officers of the army arfe tall ftnd stout. Upon New Year’s day at the White House Gen. Sheridan looked like a dwarf by the side of the uniformed officers who towered around him. Every member of the Swaim court-martial is a man of large and powerful frame. People who are fond of underrating oversized nien should consider that the facts aie rather against them.

The Current: This cbuntry, and particularly the regions west of the Missouri River, ‘owe their fullest commendation to Judge Batson, of Illinois, a member of the House Committee oh the Public Lands, for file fidelity with which he has served the interest of the people in the matter of lftjjsed grants. Mr. Belford should n6t have deserted his post at a stage when his presence was sorely needed. Messrs. Henly and Brents have often been mentioned in the press as doing whatever has been in their power to forward the good work of saving to the people millions of acres which certain railroad companies had expected to get as a courtier would receive a king’s gift. The people are writing down a good many things against the Senate, and this land-grant scandal is one of the instances where the House has proven itself more honest than the upper chambei'. The Senate should cultivate leSd “courtesy” and more probity. ♦ - Naturalists say that the feet of the Common working bee exhibit the combination of a basket, a brush, and a pair of pincers. The brush, the hairs of which we arranged in symmetrical rows, are only to be seen With the microscope. With this brush of fairy delicacy the bee brushes its velvet robe to remove the pollen dust with which it becomes loaded while rifling the flowers and sucking np their nectar. Another article, hollowed like a spoon, receives all the glea’nings which the insect carries to the hive. It is a pannier for provisions. Finally, by owning them, one upon another, by means of a hinge, these two pieces become a a pair of pincers, wliioh render important service in the construction of ths combs. — Ex.