TALK DURING MUSIC.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 958, 2 April 1872, Page 3

TALK DURING MUSIC.

Some one has at last had the courage to put into priut a grave remonstrance against the practice, that is quite common now a days', of talking while the performance is going on at the opera. It is a great pity that the code of good manners is not more accurately laid down and abided by. When a young

lady of average talents plays ' morceau de salon' after a dinner party no one would be so • exigoant' as to suppose that all conversation was to cease ; but eren at private parties, when an artist puts her or his soul into a touching song, it is against all good feeling and good breeding to disturb the enjoyment of many people by the foolish talking of a few. I have even seen a careworn hostess become perfectly exhausted while endeavoring to enforce silence during the performance of some lion she has had the greatest trouble to find, and perhaps at greast cost secured. Surelyat the opera, talk is still more inexcusable, considering how many people's pleasure it mars. Music is with many a passion, and to a vast number the cost of a stall or box at the opera entails much self-denial in other pleasures. In fact, the opera is such a very rare treat to them, that even the hearing of the very choicest morsel of scandal of the day would scarcely repay them for losing a favorite aria.—" London Letter."