Garcia the Centenarian And His Times

6-18

ets of New York on February 4, 1826, and purchasing a paper,

The Emperor Alexander I. of Russia died at Taganrog on December 1st, after a few days' i

d in one of the American papers which gives a rather good insight into the state of civilisation at that period. It has been sent over by a Lond

d by Mr Perkins that the effects of its projectile power from a musket bore and with a lead ball may be fully judged. A trial was made

ll profit much less than defensive. A fort may be made impregnable against an attacking force, and a breach (could such a thing be made under th

. . . . . . . .

rtaking the most distant voyages, as we now see them employed on our coasts. In this case, calms, contrary winds, and tides will be comparatively

news which the maestro was accustomed to read. They give a series of vivid glimpses into the days when he was a young man. First, let us see

ated comedian, is on a visit to

o be in London by the first

rn to town will occupy apartments at St James's. Ca

by Alderman Thompson's Committee, when he first announced himself as one of the

rudgery with lofty genius, and has put his hand to almost every department

large type, under "Intelligence re

, "Delivered at the opening o

the address which Charles X.

piece of geograp

time since, we announced the important fact that a branch of the Irrawaddy had been discovered to discharge into the Bay of Bengal. This discovery has been fully con

uard service. She was found well fitted out with all the ordinary furniture of a slave-trader, her hold adapted in the usual way to the reception of slaves. Among her other stores there were, of course, found manacles and s

from Europe, which the twenty-year-old Manuel no doubt devo

it gives us a glimpse of both the artistic and military doings of Europe at this tim

His portraits of George IV. are excellent. In 1818 he was commissioned to visit the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle for the purpose of painting the monarchs, warriors, and statesmen of Europe. During that visit the doors of his atelier were open to his friends, a

rcia would recall in after-years. At the time the one filled the inhabitants

omac within the state of Virginia, above the Little Falls Bridge-pistols, at ten paces. Each of the principals was attended by two seconds and a surgeon, while Senator Benton was present as a mutual friend. Needless to say, it ended in the way which was to become so fashionable among

than let the story be told by the notice whic

ECLARATION OF

F JULY CE

TH OF TWO E

y 4. He was the second President of the United States and the first Minister sen

se in his usual health, rejoicing that he had been spared to witness the jubilee of his country's freedom. Towards noon he became ill, grew gradually worse, and at six fell asleep. He was one of

OF MR J

ck. It is a strange coincidence that these two venerable personages should have paid the debt of nature on the sam

the New York venture of Italian

nged to initiate a season at the Opera House. He was accompanied on the

wn age, and by repute a very wealthy man. It can scarcely have been a love-match, for the union appears to have been a most unhappy one from the star

Fenimore Cooper. The latter must have been busy correcting the proofs of his latest book, 'The Last of the Mohicans,' since th

ce and personality. Of his admiration for her singi

t grass is gr

o bless me no

ping by

ail me aug

world with

I lived

Garland f

, let me h

alive to

whisperin

ic in the v

a's, let m

autiful compliment

me deeply attached to her. This warmth of feeling was undoubtedly returned, and there seems every probability that Maria, girl of seventeen as s

must have been some very powerful reason at work to bring about her union with a man older than her own father, at an age when youth and romance would naturally appeal to her most strongly, and such a wedding of May and December could not but

from her talents. Matters grew rapidly worse, and within a year of the marriage he was declared bankrupt and thrown into prison. Under these circumstances Maria at once, of her own accord, determined to resign, for the benefit of

at Grace Church, and occasionally appearing at the Bowery Theatre in E

s to the character of the man to whom she had given herself, and at last she brave

er 28, 1827, and on this night she took her farewell benefit at the Bowery Theat

ercome with emotion again rose. Mr Etienne, the pianist, thereupon took up the prelude to a farewell song, speciall

out for Paris, where, as we shall see, she was

est of the Garcia family, who had left New Yo

d that the duties of impresario, composer, conductor, chorus master

he company which with any one else would have been sufficient to bring th

commenced going through scenery, dresses, properties, and the rest. All these they found in order. When, however, they began to look for t

st of turmoil. They could not perform without music; very well, he must write out fresh copies of the scores as best he could. What was advertised for the first night? "Don Giovanni"? Bien; then he would make a start on that. With

"Don Giovanni" was given, no one present could tell that it was not the original score. As if this had not been enough work, he promptly proceeded to compose eight operas for his company to perform; nor was this all, for finding that the words of the Italian

be increased to twelve days, and for four acts sixteen. That the elder Garcia did not always allow so much is borne out by the stat

t do it,

any way, I shall really strike you with my dagg

it, too," she would add,

y way for learning a work, they were for him a great deal too long. He was able to commit to memory the whole of his part in two or three days, while at the

"You must go on, and take my part to-night." The son would proceed to do so, and get through the performa

s own baritone parts but on occasions of the tenor music. His father was a hard task-master, and the son, though he had a fine voice, found the work involved by an operatic career too hard for his physic

their hearts on it. Partly, therefore, to please them, partly, it may be, to comfort and assist Maria, of whose intention to set out for Paris in the Septemb