THINGS OF MORE VALUE.

335

that things better worth having could be had for a quarter of the money—and that the arbitrary aristocracy, which is based upon the wearing of them, is one of those illusory valuations which this common-sense age is constantly on the look-out to put down.

SUGGESTION FOR THE OPERA.

THE world is weaning. It is necessary, now, that there should be reason, even in its amusements. We know nothing that so marks the time in which we live, as the extension of a certain business prejudice the prejudice against things that “don't pay”—into the hitherto irrational regions of display and pleasure. It is the fashion in conversation to ingeniously dissect the usages of society, and tell what is "absurd"—what is " a bore." Those who entertain and give parties are making inquiry, not where to get the pinkest champagne and the largest foie gras, but how to get together the agreeable and the worth being agreeable to. The young men against God's gift of beard. no reason" in not protecting their ancles against mud and wet, by short dresses and pantalettes in the country. There is a whisper that there is no "reason" in accommodating New York hours to the convenience of the English Parliament-the going to a party at midnight being a London fashion of commencing gayety at the adjournment hour of the Lords and Commons. The creeping-in fashion of the Tyrolese hat is a struggle for some reasonable becomingness in that article of stereotyped

see no reason" in the prejudice The ladies are beginning to "see

OPERA NONSENSE.

337

absurdity. Anything may be done now-even an etiquette violated or a usage dispensed with-if the innovator can show a reason. Throughout society and the world, just now, we mean to say, there is a war against prejudices, and in favor of bringing every thing to its best use and simply true valuation.

In addressing ourself, (as we trust our readers credit us for usually striving to do,) to this spirit of the age, we feel called upon to recognize the amount of real interest given to some things which, (in Superficial-solemn-dom,) are classed as " trifles ;" and among which, without further generalizing and defining, are the arrangements for the fashionable Italian Opera. We have a suggestion to make as to the usages of Opera-going, with a view to getting rid of such portions of its nonsense as can be dispensed with-much of what the wise call "Opera nonsense," being the respectable shadows of things the world will have, and have its way in, and with which, of course, we are not inclined uselessly to quarrel.

To come at once to our point-there is a class of the most refined and respectable people, who would like to go very frequently to the Opera, but who are prevented from so doing, by the usage necessity of going in full dress. The Opera being partly a large evening party and partly an entertainment of music, the predominance of full dress tacitly administers that sort of rebuke to a less ceremonious costume, that the wearer is made to feel uncomfortable-uncomfortable enough, that is to say, to make her unwilling to go again except in full dress. But -as a lady in full dress must have, 1st, a cavalier in body-coat and white gloves; 2d, a carriage of her own or a hired one at two dollars the evening; 3d, a hair-dresser at a dollar or a head-dress at five dollars and upwards; 4th, shoulders whose beauty and

338

PROPOSAL OF NEW ETIQUETTE.

salubrity will bear exposure; and 5th, spirits to encounter general conversation and slight acquaintances between the Acts— there are many of the best people in town and truest lovers of music who feel that, at this cost and trouble, the Opera “don't pay." Many a charming woman, not very well or in very good spirits, would like to go and sit through an Opera, if it were simply to put on her shawl and visiting bonnet, tax her husband only to take his hat and lay aside his cigar, and go and return in an unblushing omnibus. Many an invalid would be delighted and refreshed with an Opera, if she could escape attention while listening to it. There do exist, we are persuaded, those "fabulous beings," women who wish to see and not be seen-(some evenings, perhaps we should qualifiedly say, and under some circumstances) --and for these, and others who have the same feeling for twenty other reasons, an Opera which is full dress all over the house, is a badly-arranged public amusement. Their patronage, moreover― not over-stated, we should say, at a hundred seats a night—is lost to the Manager.

Of course we are incapable of the aggravation of speaking of an evil except to suggest a remedy. With nothing to propose to the Manager or the Committee, we suggest, to more paramount Fashionable Usage, that the parquet of the Opera should be a place for demi-toilette—that ladies who appear there should be considered as intending to escape attention, and not be visited except by previous understanding-that shawls, bonnets, and high-necked dresses should be the parquet dress for ladies, and frock-coats and colored gloves the parquet dress for gentlemenand that all who appear, there and thus, should be Operatically "not at home”—exempt, that is to say, from all leavings of seat for interchange of civilities, and all criticisms of toilette. The

FREEDOM OF PARQUET.

339

place itself favours this difference of costume from that of the sofas and boxes-central as the parquet is, the heads alone being visible, in a confused medley, from the other parts of the house, and a person being likelier to escape observation in this closelypacked mass, than even in the amphitheatre of the third tier. It is, also, (we should say to any lady friend,) too close and chance a neighbourhood for low-necked dresses and short sleeves, and what we propose is therefore more proper, besides being consistent with all foreign usage in such matters.

To be able to enjoy the Opera with or without its society, is the freedom we think desirable. We have not mentioned the convenience it would be to a gentleman, who might like to slip away from other engagements for an hour-and hear an Act of an Opera and take a look at the array of beauty-without the chance of seeming, by his dress, not to belong to the class which compose the audience. Strangers, too, in full dress and without an acquaintance in the house, look awkwardly-for there is an incongruity between white gloves and nobody to speak to, which colored gloves, some how or other, do not suggest; and of course there should be a part of the house (of not inferior dignity or price) in which the latter is "the only wear."

We leave our readers to follow out the rationale of the matter.