Editorial Correspondence

CHATTANOOOA, 25 Kob., 1881. Even :m editor when lie fcom off on :i pleaBare trip cannot spend all hls time at sight-secing anil restini, bilt perforce he always thlnkl of his readen aml has to sluit li i 111 sel i" up and teil thcm about his explora tlong. ín Clncinnati the only topics of conversation last week ere the floods and the Opera Festival. 'J'hey engrossed all attenlion, and well tlioy might, lor each in its way was the greatest on record in this country. Goinj; down V;ilnut streel the water was stil I in all the basemeote and half way to the ceiling of the liist Boon. On the Cincinnati side the buildiiijis inundated were mostly ware-houses, so there was not the sufferlog of the poor as across the river at Covington, Ncivport, etc. In the latter town we took a loat and were rowed around through tlie streets, a la Venice, on a level with the tops of the lamp post. Many house?, barns and sheds were moved bodlly into the streets, while manj-others had beeti twisted off their foundations and had tallen in. The people were just getting back home again, and were busy in shoveling the mud out of doors. It was two l'eet deep right on the Hoor. If it had been the Detroit rlver its pure water would have done the houses good by clcansing tliem, but the Ohio river water is quite a different article. I don't wonder the citizens usually find something better to drink. OPERA FESTIVAL. The Opera Festival is a inore pleasant topic. It lasted two weeks and was a success, our fortune being to see "Hamlet" and " Mefistofele." Both eveniugs the immense Music Hall was nearly filled and good seats brought hijjli premiums, but It was at the latter performance where enthusiasm reigned, for it was a Nilsson night, r.nd the " Queeu of Song" never appeared with greater triumph. The audience applauded themselves tired, and the fair songstress favored with repeated encores. In rnusic she certainly reigns f acile princeps. Even above the combined din of orchestra, chorus and large organ, her voice floated pure and clear. In MeHatoiele she was the Margherita and the Helen, and she was admirably fitted for ruóse uimcuit rüies, 1101 oniy as concerns voice, but also for presence and dramatic action. The opera music and scène ry are flrst, but ncveithelesa one does not go there just for that. It ia partly to see the costumes, jewels and otlier adornments of troupe and audience. The audience themselves are their own greatest curiosities. It is a vast collection of youth and beauty; wealth, fashion and celebrity. In the auditorium thousands of dollars worth of diamonds, rubies, pearls, gleam frotu ear, from tinger, trom tlnoat. The dresses are marvels of taste and delicacy and ornamented with jewels and natural flowers. Then for the wearers themselves, coming from the cities of the north, east, west and aouth, it seems as though all the prctty girls of the country had gathered together. In next week"s letter I will teil of the ride to Chattanooga and of Lookout MouDtain.