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loosely divided into three classes … leaving out reporters of fashionable
intelligence； dressmakers in search of ideas； and the lady inhabitants of
〃Crank Alley〃 （as a certain corner of the orchestra is called）； who sit in
perpetual adoration before the elderly tenor。
First … but before venturing further on dangerously thin ice； it may be
as well to suggest that this subject is not treated in absolute seriousness；
and that all assertions must not be taken AU PIED DE LA LETTRE。 First；
then； and most important； come the stockholders； for without them the
Metropolitan would close。 The majority of these fortunate people and their
guests look upon the opera as a social function； where one can meet one's
friends and be seen； an entertaining antechamber in which to linger until
it's time to 〃go on；〃 her Box being to… day as necessary a part of a great
lady's outfit as a country house or a ball…room。
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Second are those who attend because it has become the correct thing to
be seen at the opera。 There is so much wealth in this city and so little
opportunity for its display； so many people long to go about who are asked
nowhere； that the opera has been seized upon as a centre in which to air
rich apparel and elbow the 〃world。〃 This list fills a large part of the closely
packed parquet and first balcony。
Third； and last； come the lovers of music； who mostly inhabit greater
altitudes。
The motive of the typical box…owner is simple。 Her night at the opera
is the excuse for a cosy little dinner； one woman friend （two would spoil
the effect of the box） and four men； without counting the husband； who
appears at dinner； but rarely goes further。 The pleasant meal and the
subsequent smoke are prolonged until 9 or 9。30； when the men are finally
dragged murmuring from their cigars。 If she has been fortunate and timed
her arrival to correspond with an ENTR'ACTE； my lady is radiant。 The
lights are up； she can see who are present； and the public can inspect her
toilet and jewels as she settles herself under the combine d gaze of the
house； and proceeds to hold an informal reception for the rest of the
evening。 The men she has brought with her quickly cede their places to
callers； and wander yawning in the lobby or invade the neighboring boxes
and add their voices to the general murmur。
Although there is much less talking than formerly； it is the toleration of
this custom at all by the public that indicates （along with many other
straws） that we are not a music…loving people。 Audible conversation
during a performance would not be allowed for a moment by a Continental
audience。 The little visiting that takes place in boxes abroad is done during
the ENTR'ACTES； when people retire to the salons back of their LOGES
to eat ices and chat。 Here those little parlors are turned into cloak…rooms；
and small talk goes on in many boxes during the entire performance。 The
joke or scandal of the day is discussed； strangers in town； or literary and
artistic lights … 〃freaks；〃 they are discriminatingly called … are pointed out；
toilets passed in review； and those dreadful two hours passed which； for
some undiscovered reason； must elapse between a dinner and a dance。 If a
favorite tenor is singing； and no one happens to be whispering nonsense
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over her shoulder； my lady may listen in a distrait way。 It is not safe；
however； to count on prolonged attention or ask her questions about the
performance。 She is apt to be a bit hazy as to who is singing； and with the
exception of FAUST and CARMEN； has rudimentary ideas about plots。
Singers come and go； weep； swoon； or are killed； without interfering with
her equanimity。 She has； for instance； seen the HUGUENOTS and the
RHEINGOLD dozens of times； but knows no more why Raoul is brought
blindfolded to Chenonceaux； or what Wotan and Erda say to each other in
their interminable scenes； than she does of the contents of the Vedas。 For
the matter of that； if three or four principal airs were suppressed from an
opera and the scenery and costumes changed； many in that chattering
circle would； I fear； not know what they were listening to。
Last winter； when Melba sang in AIDA； disguised by dark hair and a
brown skin； a lady near me vouchsafed the opinion that the 〃little black
woman hadn't a bad voice；〃 a gentleman （to whom I remarked last week
〃that as Sembrich had sung Rosina in the BARBER； it was rather a shock
to see her appear as that lady's servant in the MARIAGE DE FIGARO〃）
looked his blank amazement until it was explained to him that one of those
operas was a continuation of the other。 After a pause he remarked； 〃They
are not by the same composer； anyway！ Because the first's by Rossini； and
the MARIAGE is by Bon Marche。 I've been at his shop in Paris。〃
The presence of the second category … the would…be fashionable people
… is not so easily accounted for。 Their attendance can hardly be attributed
to love of melody； as they are； if anything； a shade less musical than the
box…dwellers； who； by the bye； seem to exercise an irresistible fascination；
to judge by the trend of conversation and direction of glasses。 Although an
imposing and sufficiently attentive throng； it would be difficult to find a
less discriminating public than that which gathers nightly in the
Metropolitan parterre。 One wonders how many of those people care for
music and how many attend because it is expensive and 〃swell。〃
They will listen with the same bland contentment to either bad or good
performances so long as a world…renowned artist （some one who is being
paid a comfortable little fortune for the evening） is on the stage。 The
orchestra may be badly led （it often is）； the singers may flat … or be out of
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voice； the performance may go all at sixes and sevens … there is never a
murmur of dissent。 Faults that would set an entire audience at Naples or
Milan hissing are accepted herewith ignorant approval。
The unfortunate part of it is that this weakness of ours has become
known。 The singers feel they can give an American audience any slipshod
performance。 I