WHAT HE SAW AT THE OPERA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3188, 16 September 1881, Page 4

WHAT HE SAW AT THE OPERA.

' Well, sir,' said a Denver man, growing enthusiastic, ' I've had a heap of fun in this town since I have been here, but nothing has warmed me up like the opera. Theatres are very well, but the shooting and cutting ain't natural. They don't mean it. Yon can see from the start it's oil funny business, but the opera now—there's where you get it! There's trade from the time they haul the goods down till they pufc up the shutters. It reminds me of home, that does." ( What opera did you hear ?' asked a bystander.

' The one they sing in. You bet the music didn't get any the best of the crowd for dust. I tell you, gentlemen, ifc wa3 the prettiest fight you ever looked afc. Fxcifcing ? Well, I just held myself down to bed rock and watched that show to the finish. Once or twice I thought they'd down the actors, and between the rounds I felt scared; but; just as soon as fchey scratched I knowecl the men and women was ahead, and I helped ifc all I could, you bet!'

' How was it ?' asked one of the mystified group. ' rr, ell us about it.'

'it's just here. They had a lot of fiddles and horns and drums and squeakers on one side, and a gang of men and women on the other. In the toss-up the actors got the rising ground and the music the low level. The backer . of tho music was there with a stick, and when time was called he was quick enough to get a start for his side. But one of the women was on to his racket, and she just turned loose a yell that twisted hair, how you hear inc. The music backer got mad, and the fiddlers broke out, but ifc was no use ; the woman had the wind, and she belted that slow music like a mule. You bet she was a good one ! Then the backer hollered at the boss drummer, and he took a lick. That Beemed to worry the woman, for she spoke to a fat fellow with a wen on his leg, and he slid for the drummer, while the dame took another whirl at the fiddlers ? Fun ? Well, strangers, you can smile right out. Tho music backer seen he was getting the worst of ifc, and so he unchained the back fiddle. It wasn't fair, and I was going to address the referee, but just then out popped the doggondesfc crowd you ever seen. Morn'e a million of 'em, and they went into business. The fellows with horns almost split, the backs of their necks, but ifc was no use. The women screeched and the men howled, and 1 say, says I 'How are you music?' The back fiddler and the drummer held out the longest, but ifc was no use, for the crowd on the plateau won the round, and even drove the music out; of the ring. You ought to see them fiddlers hunt their holes !' ' Was that the end of ifc ?' asked a listener. ' Well, not much. Dog my cats if that music didn't fight five rounds. I tell you, their backer was game, but he had no show. In a second round him and a squeak pipe worried a couple of women some, and one of the men was jusfc getting an under grip when they fired a lot of triangles at him, but the fat fellow seen how things was going on and he lifted in. They had an adjustable born ready for him, but he wore ifc out ifc four toots. Then the drummer took another shy afc him, but by that the women had got their breath, and they came for the drummer. I saw the backer grinning, and I knew there was some deviltry, and nil of a sudden he jusfc lammed but withill his strength"; Iff wis""the best rally he made, but the crowd was on the, lookout for him, and in ten minutes he was square on his back. Jusfc head one double, somebody! Hold me down! When I think of that difficulty, strangers, ifc just makes me bleed afc tbe lungs." " How did it end ? " queried one of the crowd. "Well, the next two rounds wasn't very interesting. The actors found they had to kill ono of" their gang, cause he was- a little light waisted, and one of the women was out of time. .But she was sickly and trained badly. She had no business in that fight, any way. The fat man was good, and the other woman was a regular old he ! The fiddle backer got some fair work in while they were killing the'man and the woman, but the big mob came in on tin-e,,and when the fourth round closed the music was pretty well done upf It was on the fifth that I put most money on. I tell joU, gentlemen, that mußic backer was good wood. Not a flaw nor speck! "He went for them people from tho word 'go.' I knowed be was in no condition to force the fighting,

but I liked his game. and horns, pipes, drums, and triangles all going ifc, and then the fat men and women what; was left lipped square at 'em. Over and under. Rough and tumble" Ifc was the prettiestthing I ever seen. I'd be dogged if there wa3 ever such another piece of work cut out. But the actors drowned 'em. The back fiddler and the squeak piper held out longest, but thoy had no show, and when tho show closed I'd have been 300 clol. winner if the man I'd been betting with right in front of mo hadn't slipped out with a couple-of women. Yes, sir ; you can talk what you please, but when it conies to Pennine fun, give me the opera' —Brooklyn Eagle.