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CONFESSIONS AN

OPERA

BY

KATHLEEN

NEW

OF SINGER HOWARD

/ICMXVUl

YORK

7VLFRED

A.

KNOPF

1918,

COPYRIGHT,

BY BAIRD

HOWARD

KATHLEEN Published

Music

September

1918

Library

GIFT

FEIKTKP

IN

THE

TTNtTED

STATES

Or

AMERICA

To

Marjorie

QSG

FOREWORD

So

finances, to

here

give

operatic New

the

York

back

to

the

with

fact

in

found

Metz,

I

house

life

the

with

brilliancy

which

which the

was

or

all-desirable

interest

high not

only

to

I

pay. to

those

whose

of

became and

grinding instincts

"uniform"

the

to

society, hope

arrogance

domestic

sacrificed

Opera

the

swagger

state

a

natural

thwarted

entree

to

at

attempt

vately; pri-

engaged,

first

I

here

covered

often

ruthlessly

were

too

pitiful

of

part

Their

and

well,

as

with

and

first

was

a

sociated as-

particularly

themselves.

singers

the

the

vital

as

were

I

My

House.

publicly

where

don, Lon-

to

inalienably

are

people,

an

from

leads

Opera

viewed

town

life

town

acquainted

poverty,

the

they

as

the

tainted

in

the

class,

officer

German

of

lives

for

thence

and

Germany

in

road

My

Metropolitan

the

trials,

preparation

Germany

to

experiences

operatic

the

dents' stu-

attempted

I have

that

fruition.

its

Paris,

to

of

story

and

career,

and

the

true

of

us

temptations,

failures,

and

successes

to

come

their

of

abroad,

life

have

tales

fantastic

many

"

for

this

goal

which book is

no

will the

price be

of

operatic

FOREWORD

or

concert

stage,

appeal. obstacles of

but

to

It

is

a

and

overcome,

back-stage

those

life

in

opera

to

story

whom of

contains

houses.

"human real

much

people, intimate

ments" docureal

talk

CONTENTS PAGE

CHAPTER

I

II

III

rV

V

VI

THE

WAY

PARIS

AND

AT

21

SOLUTION

A

30

LAST

39

PERSONALITIES'

PENSION

FRANCE

OPERATIC

VERSUS

ROLES

PREPARING MY

FIRST

VIII

MY

ONE

IN

OPERATIC

50

GERMANY

OPERATIC

59

BERLIN

CONTRACT

67

SIGNED

76

IMPROPOSITION

LONE

OF

MAKINGS

THE

13

HAPPENED

ALL

STRUGGLE

A

VII

IX

IT

SMALL

A

MUNICIPAL

OPERA

85

HOUSE

X

XI

XII

MY

110

DELIGHTS

STAGE

SOME

100

HARNESS

INTO

BREAKING

AND

DEBUT

OF

STORY

THE

AND

MOISTURE

MISPLACED

123

COURT-LADY

HUMAN

XIV

DISCOURAGEMENTS

139

SMALLPOX

AND

PASSIONS

XIII

LED

THAT

TO

COURT

A

153

THEATRE

XV

SALARIES

A

AND

OF

XVI

THE

ART

XVII

THE

NON-MILITARY

TENOR'S

164

GENIUS

172

MUELLE

MARIE

OF

SIDE

A

GERMAN

OFFICER'S 184

LIFE

XVm

GEESE

XrX

XX

COMMON

stage

fashions

XXII

ROYAL

HUMOUR

COVENT

garden

206

PREFERRED

AND

grandmothers'

XXI

XXIII

199

GUESTS

AND

RUSSIANS, THE

A

220

BALLET

and

the

glory

OF

COLOUR

230 242

AND

"

AMERICA

257

LIST

Kathleen

I

OF

ILLUSTRATIONS

Howard

Frontispiece

I

Carmen

Used

to

as

II

I

Carmen

I

II

Now

It

Dress

76

It

Dress

84

as

Used

I

Amneris

to

as

I

Amneris

Now

It

Dress

Dress

It

126

134

as

I

Dalila

I

Used

II

Dalila

I

Now

Dress

to

as

Dress

It

It

172

180

as

Caruso's

Caricature

of

Kathleen

Howard

260

CHAPTER

WAY

THE

WAS

I

very

could to

friend's heart

the

of

had

in

man

young

I

set

our

dancing

in

to

accepted with

left into

go

the

had

I

and

a

and

hand

whom

winter

in

gan be-

sister

brother

my

home

came

what

doing

My

teacher,

rather

in

all

were

ried. mar-

sailing

summer.

My

coming

Crawford's the

didn't

heart

him

saw

a

"

be

to

money

deficit. a

well,

I

pleasure

most

in

and

office, and

our

we

be

to

school

boarding

his

lost

sudden

herself

prepare

engaged

was

and

the

supply

to

I

just

fashion,

dramatic we

and

had

HAPPENED

ALL

IT

young

We

I

lose

but

novels, and

world,

just

exaggerated make I knew He

her had was

as

the

to

that

put

heroine's abnormal

beautiful,

more

them a

the

like

young

of

and the

in

turn

else

eyelashes

though

be more

usually

an

of

none

in

must

story

were

of

I

Marion

friends

the

make

length

in

best

anything to

when

over

heroines

the

were

we

thought

I

literary exaggeration,

exciting;

those

did

as

beat

a

inch

the

to

girls

that. business "13"

man,

just

starting

as

CONFESSIONS assistant

OF

his father

to

AN

whose

comfortable

enough

supply,

to

unambitious

congratulated towels

and

was

old

an

tablished, es-

family affair, big

like ourselves. I

Every

began

napkins and

for

income

extra

an

heartily,and table

hem

of

time,

couple

us

SINGER

business

sort

in

young

OPERA

one

embroider

to

dream

to

an

about

terns pat-

of flat silver. The

whole

arrangement

banality, and

of

might be

this time, but

by

woman

I

Nine-tenths

of me,

of

married

the normal,

were

well-brought up,

a

looking girl. But

good

old

an

the

poini

voice.

a

this age,

at

characteristics

quite

I had

"

the

to satisfactory

was

last tenth

tional ra-

bright,

was

an

known un-

quantity,a great big powerful something which I

vaguely felt,even

other its it

tenths,

own

a

force

a

with

way

chance.

had

My

had

before

notes was

father's

late.

if I should

me

It is

coloured

could

greatest

mode

in life

always played imaginative musical the evenings. we

tiny tots.

were

organ

The

we

had

and

earliest He ask

one

used us

"14"

true

that

to

was

give power,

whole

our

that

letters,and

natural

joy

all the

ever

vague

by music,

read

most

of

master

capable of having

was

of

rest

the

voice, the agent of this

earliest and

our

My

the

been we

be

to

which

rather

developed

childhood

then,

we

that

read music

of expression.

music, with

games

I remember

improvise

questions which

was

on

and us

he in

when

the small we

had

to

WAY

THE

singing

answer,

and

Marjorie

his

singing,

Seymour I remember "And

how

would sails and

If your

shubble

"I'd

Afterwards him

them

to

We

unfamiliar

played

ill

always

He round

or

printed music

from

evening

one

English

he

as

was

ballads

for

or

and

reading

sang

all

and

I

used our

as

absent. and

I

pleased and

not to

the

at

music

follow

and

music

six

was

a

we

sang

of the had

a

by

us

note,

a

large we

house

"15"

to

When

and

humming

the

if

we

at

regular choir

voice.

real

then

we

jorie Mar-

Even-song

the soprano

knew

ever

got back

singing

old.

years

heavenly

heavy nondescript father

deepest disgrace

we

the members

just following give

four

at

childhood.

our

Marjorie

my

rather

flatted when

look

me

down."

and

seven

soprano

the

let

village church,

voice"

sing

to

and

really began

were

began

saying

up

was

the

I

shubbles."

with

sing,

notes

I

overboard?"

shot

I remember

"Papa, please the

Wolsey.

ships along, Admiral,

were

along

when

playing hymns me

oars

miral Ad-

was

solemnly,

I sang

with

General

was

get your

you

I

accompaniment.

his

to

HAPPENED

ALL

IT

ish childBut

I

"second

in thirds.

had

to

run

it.

It

was

had

sharped

startingpoint.

He

musical

taught us

"Adagio,"

"Vivace,"

forth, to which

so

though

for them, and

for the visitors it

was

"Allegro,"

out

and

ever When-

change instantly.

might

have

and

sang

awful

rather

been

for

good

very

played

we

get used

to

us

to

audience.

an

used

He

doggerel and

to

and

I stood and above then

stretched

effect

at

them

on

of

heads

long

our

just below

us,

ghastly in

and

hair

sheet.

the

his

a

dim

all the

for

beard's Blue-

wives

were

Marjorie

and

closed

eyes

pale faces,

it, with

rehearsed

showed

we

way

in

them,

to

and

heart

the wall

on

and

across

rather

was

sang

of

front

heads

our

the

sheet

a

mouths,

open

the

where

hung

in

by

I remember

chamber We

them

grand night played

some

neighbours.

kept.

accompaniments

write

learned

then

we

like "Bluebeard"

fairy tales

arrange

verses

them, and

we

ent differ-

to

allegro,""Legato,"

to

it

dance

call

the house,

to

came

one

any

SINGER

us

would

"Molto had

we

OPERA

by making

terms

played, and

he

rhythms

AN

OF

CONFESSIONS

pinned

up

sheet

Another

chins, and

our

light.

high was

the

I remember

the last:

oh, Bluebeard,

"Oh, Bluebeard,

Frustrated, checkmated.

Dissipated, agitated. Castigated, lacerated, "

Bluebeard!

When

school

was

over

we

"16"

always

gave

a

dramatic

THE

in the

dressed I

bush, and of "Twelfth

fine

was

a

ground. play-

in which

of

performance I, aged about

brother, Maria, and

my

held

we

huge flowering-currant

a

remember

Night,"

enough

childhood's

our

behind

can

Malvolio, Lai,

was

HAPPENED was

that

big garden

We

act

ALL

if the weather

performance; them

IT

WAY

an

seven,

Marjorie,

Olivia.

growth of

my

school,

were

we

asked

they could

write

to

a

dearest

told my

with

voice

laugh time

at

my

for

eat,

composition

which

And,

will.

other

big possession

that

began

any

longer, and

lessons

accordingly from

so

grow

and

fatallyeasy

"17"

an

exercises

arias to

the

be

as

or

cry

that

from

stronger

and

noise

with

more

Then

singing lessons.

the classic songs

audiences

impossible

was

candy

great voice,

a

"

proudly make

teacher, practised scales and

but it was

to

have

I must

I took

it

our

thing that

strangelyenough,

girl in school.

higher, until

and

in

seriously and

it

word

make

I could

stronger, until I could any

I took

in all the

wish

girlish voice

my

it than

But

heads.

on

m.uch

as

frivolous

other

any

day,

girls said they wished

the other

All

their

into

came

a

surprise. One

a

was

sing, but the sudden

to

curly hair, for pretty dresses, for

for

a

voice

wish.

favourite

as

able

always been

I had

louder

it grew to

ignore such

family decreed excellent and

local

later studied

seriously as

I

interrupted. We

could, were

It

freedom.

when

would

just begin

would

call

with dinner it

her,

was

easy

to

help

or

fly off" to be

was

my

had

who

fiance

details

of his office,or

party,

and

enjoyed

I took

it all

seriously and

its proper

The

family,

was

voice saw

never

came

at

it seemed

arrange

than

to

it

as

happy

or

a

there

theatre

a

and

way

time

voice

my

longed

my

whole

study

to

life for

as

a

unless

else.

were

"18"

They I

dollars, and sounded,

to

had to

was

buy clothes

compellingly

I could

dollars

singer, and I

interested

more

was

me,

of what

that five hundred

myself only be

for

absorbing

I

anything

in

night,the thought with

maker's dress-

my

Subconsciously all day, and

with. bed

dance,

thoughts, and

all, incredible

it

a

all the

But

scraped together five hundred have

the

development.

trousseau

my

one

dresses, and

all the

me

everything that

intensely,to

it and

in

tell

to

there

in my

I

some

the evening

In

day.

equally.

reallyfirst

was

noon after-

flowers

and

flowers

year

I'll practisethis afternoon!"

all

gone

to

the

to

liberty.

when go

a

the

in at

to

our

down

go

girlsonly

arrange

both

think, "Oh!

and

to

was

telephone

I loved

party.

the

girl world

the

on

me

chic

morning's work

a

enjoying

lessons, than

their

at

whole

the

when

mornings,

hard

were

younger

more

SINGER

and

first time

much

so

was

in the

Huyler's

the

for

school

of

all out

OPERA

AN

OF

CONFESSIONS

do

was

with

knew

that

allowed

for

in

my

me.

I could

first to get my

I

THE

WAY

instrument

ALL

phrases, "working

"fulfilling your expressions which

But

unknown

were

to

feeling was

my

action, the

satisfaction New

York

after and

what

it clear

making

me,

have

that

promised that

tion," salva-

necessity

their

at

tongues'

just felt,inarticulately. to

who

year

I

expected He

I should

find

as

with

over

would

do

to

thing every-

I wished.

His

possible objectiondisposed of, only the financial remained, and I

deeply

more

might

I

a

in my

clothes, but

I should

year's study to

and

not

mind

own

with

voice

my to

that

propose

the precious five hundred

use

York

New

in

Deeply

me.

courage

culty diffi-

relate saw

instead

of

they agreed,

and

path golden

my

a

I

ahead

me.

We

to

old

boundlesslyhappy

was

a

convinced

was

Miraculous

trousseau.

large before

finallysummoned

family that

my

for

of

I

in

marry

untrained. to

looming

for

sionally sing profes-

to

agreed

do

plete com-

omit.

it all

there

a

into

me

carry

I talked

marriage.

our

to

nicelyturned

phrases, often

Mecca.

my

then

own

your

phrasemakers,

in their

was

and

other

enough

strong

fiance, told him

my

I

me.

step which

out

all those

students

most

order

destiny," "the

own

of self -development,"and

end,

HAPPENED

thorough working

in

The

it.

use

IT

all

spoke

and

thought

concert

singer.

My

make

anything

else

of my

intention out

"19"

of

future

of the

as

marrying

question.

that of seemed

Indeed,

at

time, the

that

the

only

There

the

English,

but

other

no

the

I

country. buzzed

of

standing,

"an inside

my

who

bonnet. heard

operatic voice," me

when

desert

of

sign of

I

saw

me

and the

the boards.

"20"

America.

breadth that

in the

One

or

the

less two

of

the

operatic ous conspicu-

musicians

sing, pronounced strange

stituti in-

permanent

a

and

times

formed

travellingcompanies

at

length

considerably at

portions of

York

confess, however,

must

SINGER

New

in

operatic

spasmodic attempts throughout

bee

OPERA

Metropolitan in

oasis

were

in

AN

OF

CONFESSIONS

longings

mine

stirred

Metropolitan singers

on

CHAPTER

winter

THAT

are

but

society deal

all a

"church

to

the

in

America.

infallible many

vastly

inferior

and

a

friend

of Besides

the

assistance, test

of

girls

the have

known

"21"

to

me

money

means

is

position

in

good

a

and many

shrink I

of

Europe

at

should for

to

try

of

adding only

possible

splendid

value

and

great

a

advised

a

spectable, re-

diction

not

church

I

costs

what

offering

boarding

comfort

know

which

for

and

don't

student,

a

those

began

invaluable

that

position,"

of

to

hundred

had

a

which

up

the

was

provision

as

singing,

in

I

tion. estima-

learned

both

in

of

my

"reasonable"

counted five

in

I

one

pension

lessons

My

resources

financial

How

if

at

both

rate,

done

have

lived

which

week.

values

$500

perience ex-

Numbers

ways.

called

had

of

alarming

an

of

revealing

a

things

new

European

I

less.

French,

a

are

the

to

dollars

I

expenses.

which

houses

many

insignificance

comparative

year's

first

the

was

different

assumed

of

One

in

me

SOLUTION

A

York

New

in to

things

a

AND

STRUGGLE

A

II

chance

system one's

of is

an

voice.

embarking

CONFESSIONS

tlie expensive and

upon

for

even

to

admiration

to

I love

local

their

of

SINGER

them

to

start

If

they had

unusual, voice!

an

of their heartbreak I heads

had

competed

country,

they would

much

and

won

of many the

and

older

in

sight-readingand

to

facing

into

what

use

Blessed

be

invaluable of

our

and

quite

the

a

the

at

The

salary

this,my

eral gen-

in

practice

chance

a

used to

put

singing lessons.

my

of

the

I grew

singing.

choir

quartet

a

the

over

once,

alone.

found

learned

America,

for the musical

institution

and

sons

I;

say

an

ters daugh-

country.

church

The

I

saved

been

improved by

and

market

experienced competitors,

ensemble

audience,

l^rge

a

besides.

voice

much

failure.

open

salvation, but, besides

musicianship was

an

the

have

money

more

of my

merits

financial

my

good

enough

been

positions in in

the

musical

certain

to

position almost

$1000

a

on

doomed

been

less has

only tried for church

own

has

you!"

circle, even

career,

a

America,

in

city

on

without

success,

themselves, and this little success

than

tion prepara-

possessing a single

nothing of

say

singing of "Because

Their

was

without

qualifications necessary

adequate,

an

OPERA

dreadfully laborious

operatic career,

an

of the

one

AN

OF

in which

the

sight.

had

I sang

dress-parade Our

place, as

congregation,

in

a

"22"

on

many

wealthy

Sundays choir,

little

was

used

bers, mem-

to

be

ing directly fac-

gallery,so

that

our

A hats

STRUGGLE

and

dresses The

scrutiny. such

to

and

engagements;

a

of

hidden the

below

the of odds

and

I remember

scales.

in

One

silver mesh the

"Mrs.

the

to

also

when

as

we

were

widi

wore

I

structed con-

them

I

As

took

we

in the

can't the

than

other

it

off

at

contrive

at

had

the others

and

a

me

wraps

assured, but

gallery was

soprano

call

to

outdoor

our

been

belt, and

my

used

silver

like fish

had

presents wore

of

packet

a

neck, the choir

manager

younger

home

stitute sub-

a

chinchilla!

they were

I

very

me.

Living

my

my

furs, and

years

sweet

and

smartness

cleverest

less end-

an

jabots for

overlapping each engagement

Lohengrin."

for was

of my

round

sing, my

to

cover

skirt.

and

of

made

was

rows

bag,

collar

night to

ends. one

spangles sewn

were

railing, I

original collars

oratorio

I made

broadcloth

tion addi-

in

feathers

which,

the

by

waist

most

the

velvet.

"utility" black

same

out

the

ostrich

blouses

smart

problem.

a

and

concert

half

sit up

for

garments

singer, who,

and

with

searching

very

quite

many

furs

hat

straw last-year's

succession

who

her

I would

despair.

my

well-known

good salary,had

a

to

became

position a

SOLUTION

suitable

of

furnishing

was

soprano

A

subjected

were

exalted

an

The

AND

at

my

would

boarding have

house

liked

to

exaggerated conscientiousness "23"

was

be

a

nice

would

doctor,

young to

not

me.

allow

But me

CONFESSIONS have

to

anything

engaged the

to

My

to

and

theatre

Metropolitan.

the

would

be

endowed

the

purse! would

a

first.

The

I had

made

to

excursions.

girls in

with

tion situa-

my

and

opera

their

of

system

prices that put

at

of

means

the

was

the

even

lack

the

to

was

thought of turning

depressed

But

the letters of my had

of

fortable com-

a

ble hum-

most

Opera

Century

did

fiance

helped

not

hours

and

sister, "I have

foot

my

take

I must

Almost

without

brought

up

that

It all

much way,

and

so

the

start

had

given

wavering.

each

other

longing for said

I

to

my

of the ladder

have

thought.

on

New

seems

girlwould

May

visits to

floor

myself.

it off."

other

any

rare

the first rung

on

end

of

understand the

an

I

think his

I walked

wrestling with

advice, and

back

my

not

to

us

to

come

fearfully.

me

and

marry

Many

engagement

all his invitations

(students'performances)

engagement

to

now

boon

Germany

the

word

better.

was

standing-room tickets for

operas

my

York

I

supplied.

My church

been

What

of

This

have

now.

in

within

seat

while

man

Saturday afternoon

was

and

plays

one

I refused

Vorstellungen

standard

and

with

SINGER

inexpensive municipal

theatres

Schule

do

to

indulgence

one

AN

another, and

to

OPERA

OF

But

I had

so

simple

broken I

had

hours

her not

and

days of misery. The

one

thought that comforted "24"

me

was

that I could

A at

on

go

and

town, a

rate

any

Avenue

in

hansom,

a

much

too

were

of

count

can

you

But

while

I

singing with

my

his

of

pastime,

occupy

of

was,

mistaken of

out

a

all

had

When

course.

I learned

harmless

of

had

happens, he

character, had

his

head, given her

for

tirely en-

ideal

his

made

outward

my

he

pearance ap-

real "me"

The

caught only

the

May,

station

to

meet

into his office hours

New

seldom

other York

was

home.

I returned

to

during a

my

me;

long

be there my way

They

fiance

had

too.

We

absence

married,

our

income "25"

would

from

oflF,and

saving his pennies religiouslyfor the great we

truth

The

moments.

my

first of

each

seen

home, was

at

broken

even

girl;

glimpses. the

About

of as

sort

a

disconcerting stranger, of whom

occasional

were

often

as

little

him

fallen in love witli her.

and was

as

my

china-painting and

the

leisure

my

that,

course,

woman

relations,

ings feel-

my

you,

dreadfully serious, he,

was

fancy-work to

help

I believed

me."

on

later, ranked

I'll

said, "And

he

and

me,

Fifth

develop that side

I must

how

to

through

I burst

and

operation co-

me

down

treat, I remember

me,

told him

repression and

the

for

day driving

one

for

hard

was

make

to

with

done

own

my

harder

be It

rare

a

possiblein

much

it could

days, but

SOLUTION

was

be

husband.

my

those

in

it

as

it would

there,

from of

talk

well

as

though

career

A

AND

STRUGGLE

be

a

he

event.

tightfit

in

I could

and

case,

any

singing might add

I

quartets, and

SINGER

help rejoicing that

not

positions in

of the churches

two

OPERA

considerably to

church

$1000

no

AN

OF

CONFESSIONS

There

it.

but

town,

our

begin

to

soon

make

to

were

or

one

paid respectable salaries

hoped

my

their

to

concert

a

career.

For

Every had

littlewhile

a

one

was

and

nice

so

was

to

me

sing

pleasant things about

many

hard

my

with

did

not

it all culminated

married

she should was

me

woman

find

thingswere

rest,

tlie

surroundings

know

what,

one

evening

should

follow

really a great shock his support

he

had

the

wedding that

his

family I

work

in my

three

a

tell

was

to

I knew

the

was

matter;

saying that

in his

profession,that

a

in her as

me,

home."

own

he

had

often.

so

just three

me

give

to

by

satisfactory.

so

ised prom-

Imagine when

years' engagement,

up

professionallyafter encouraging time.

not

"occupation enough

surprise after

entire

bishop

progress.

my

of home

the comfort

fiance

my

I

Something,

This

the

welcome.

very

Only

church

Our

self-denial, the

and

work

I

of reception afterwards

sort

a

think

to

when

Sunday

heard

were

my

the

happy.

very

seemed

I held

and gentle flattery,

no

and

me

was

things already. solo

a

I

return

expected, and

After

but

to

remarkable

done

asked

after my

then

"26"

all me

that

hope in

before

weeks

it

I could

of

singing

during the never

be

happy

him

make

nor

him

I asked

and,

the shock

opened

feeling and

bear

The

solemn cups

and

return

to

I had matter

their

round

of

up

my

get

altos

was

the

could

I

strain.

wonderful

so

mistake

to

supposing

in

ensued

there

trying

many

Then

all round.

the

came

to

nearly

task, while

I

whole

our

family stood by

My

choir, and another. for

arrangements was

of

freedom

and

me

packed

up

York.

hope for the

head

study, study.

knicknacks,

and

New

to

was

my

this unattractive

given

it

over.

my

of

vista

it

returning of all the engagement

acquaintance.

performed

one

saw

tears

awkward

saucers

circle of

I could

of

above

of

and

for

over,

floods

and

made

be

to

and

I

morning

finding

at

arms

months

ahead

go

awakened

been

still palpitatingfrom

my

sleep;

to

go

I could

the affair

days

to

next

upstairs without

marvellous

the

oflF his

I took

went

though

A

after

me

how

plan

thought

his convictions,

were

if I had

as

I stretched

room

to

hardly

all

up

ansvrer,

experiencing relief

was

own

those

him, and

it to

said, "Free!"

and

to

affirmative

nightmare,

a

In my

quietly if

his

on

word,

more

of

if I gave

happy

very

ring, returned

out

SOLUTION

professionally.

of singing

one

A

AND

STRUGGLE

A

All

the

the

year

agents' offices. "27"

it

a

churches and

the

substitutingin

occasional unable

found

now

to

sing.

Some

I

heard

made me

cult diffihad best case

the and

CONFESSIONS

OF

complimentary,

were

full.

But

I

always

was

I used

to

shrug and

give

me

the

and

idea

the

of

of

singing to

which

the others

support

I

would

as

and

years

his of

abilityto

and

of

a

some

big

a

"

(we

act

capacity

for

qualification,without

get*'me there

the financial

and

provide

to

livingadequately

me

in

of mine

in the

wife, offered

their

seemed

what

preparation and

might peed

stage

great

a

made

I had

the

go

that

said

always that

to

I

while

I

for opera.

for

Friends

Jones

I

one

despaired of obtaining this,but the

manner.

as

and

essential

to

studying

opened

my

no

all ineffective,was

were

prepared myself

well

as

the

necessary

of

means

would

I have

for

stage-appearance,

But

one

difficulty was

knew

I

qualifications necessary

work.

No

experienced.

had

opera

would

their affair.

of the

and

me,

always acted)

hard

in

ence get experi-

ever

They

become

to

out

way

experience."

chance?"

a

get experience there.

voice, good had

I

can

experience and

one

appeal

strong

me

opportunity

an

abroad

how

were

"engagement,"

hopeless deadlock.

without

their lists

as

rejoinder "No

that that wasn't a

that the

knew

give

answer

me

engage

the

SINGER

the word

them, "But

to

seemed

It

refused

some

by

met

won't

if you

OPERA

I mentioned

when

say

AN

aid. "28"

to

way

was

miraculous

a

Smith

church, Frank finance

for

These

as

me

long real

denly sud-

through afterwards

friends

were

A behind ever

STRUGGLE me

AND

for years,

sister with

for

me,

benefit.

prepared

to

recommended

packed

my

to

go

to

few

enthusiasm, and

I

made

They

repay.

and

me

owe

them

rather

a

In

the

by

my

sail.

"29"

than

more

to

me

heaven

with

New songs,

I could

have

girl,an

delicate

seventh

study

to

clothes, some set

SOLUTION

it possiblefor

me,

Paris

A

of

my

estimab in-

joy,

I

Jacques Bouhy, teacher.

York and

a

boundless

I

CHAPTER

III

CROSSED

I

on

Atlantic

clearly then

a

Well,

House

Opera

"

spot of

on

his

the eyes

boat

of

supply all

Paris

instrument"

French,

my

of

at

politan Metro-

the

Howard,'

recall

banks.' Fairto

even

the

that

to

was

Douglas

it, and

mine

His

tlie

expression has

moment,

fulfilled.

I reached

"my

made

matched

of

Mr. I

was

England:

Kathleen

which

he

where

which

been

almost

prophecy,

His

neared

presents

he

ambition

*Conried

as

fame.

to

we

Miss

presents

one

personal

though

his

as

read,

Frohman

'Charles

and

we'll

day

some

said

He

stage.

and

the

recollection

my

unknown

and

of

only

such

met,

ever

Fairbanks

Douglas

in

out

fellow

remember then

even

have

I

young

the

on

of

stands

one

any

was

go "

as

only

name

he

that

magnetism

I

boats

big

steady

Line.

boy

a

the

of

one

Transport

passenger,

LAST

AT

PARIS

a

the

in in

letter

working of

credit I

courage.

demands

beginning

upon

order, for

found

it, but "30"

of

September

with

$1000, voice

my

the

money

a

with

smattering

and

a

large

adequate just

to

half

PARIS

enough

I have

courage,

it has

until

told

difficult

not

to me

meal

midday

France,

small

for

dessert.

a

laid

to

out

I

Rivoli

a

Concorde

It

of

this

day

it

"

or

white

wine

yard long, down

cut

seemed

one

the

fourchette.

la

ishes rad-

began with

to

in

half

the in

through of

grapes

into

fairyland.

of

me

of

a

the

"31"

thrill. most

name

The

tions, sec-

table.

the

afterwards

arches

the

salad,

^^compris" and

was

and

me,

and

meat

little white

middle

the

tourists, and gave

of

that

knowing a

went

instead

the

The

It

when de

rue

jewelry,

photograph shops delighted me,

doorway

could

quite thrilled

chaude

eau

dejeuner

stroll under

innumerable

the

and

morning

omelette, then cold

thought myself

lingerie and

when rate

any

was

inseparable companions

all half -miraculous

I went

over

Red

was

and

have

to

the

in

clingstone peaches and

with

the bread

to

on

at

it

career.

a

time

a

I

proud

called

was

went

make

at

for

butter, those

and

success.

my

always said

Cambon.

rue

felt

I

that meal

I remember

was

in the

and

water";

"hot

early

ask the chambermaid

to

since,

ever

her. Paris

in

hotel

small

a

made

was

in

and

success

less keen, but

with

I arrived

that she

once

attain

was

agree

largest factor

for my

As

year).

next

renewing that

on

go

the

success

competition never

to

me

to

her

Perhaps

had

become

Juch

Emma

the

increased

(itwas

LAST

AT

as

they

"Redfem" Place

beautiful

de

la

places

I

CONFESSIONS had

ever

I felt like

fiacreand stopping

drove

from

cents

wondered

In the the

at

and there

saw

first

That in

addresses

from

it would

be

I set

place.

Prices

those

days,

up

I wished and

great

was

a

be

bear a

to

address

bit meet

of

on

a

the

I

wait

a

in

a

dwelling

a

possible

since to

left bank

Arc

de

get

of the

Triomphe, I toiled

distance.

stairs, and

peeped

finding what day

saw

professor,Jacques

the

girls from

I

into

a

sought.

begin working, and

to

when

I

home,

pension where "32"

for

the

walking

within

I

as

work

my

was

My

near

spent

was

considerably

on

discouraged, two

torium, audi-

collecting pension

hunt

it

day.

without to

next

do

my

lodging

great many

rooms

not

just

fortune the

down many

I could

to

and

by the fact that

The

to

time

lived

Bouhy, however, and

out

that

five francs

for

Seine

beside

performance

for

increased

and

good board

very

twenty

big

acquaintances,

impossible

at

for

the

at

lessons, and

all my

have

for

Triomphe,

season.

for

bravely

hotel.

open

the opera

to

poor

all thrills.

was

hours

arranging

that

dull

day

I went

I accounted

an

shouting

ran

the

at

de

roses

stairway and

more

which

is the

September

of red

evening

hold, by the

I called

the Arc

who

man

great

still

but

toward

SINGER

I still

when

queen

big bunch

a

ragged

a

carriage.

my

a

in state

buy

to

OPERA

opinion which

an

seen,

and

way,

AN

OF

had who

they

had

the gave

good me

stayed.

PARIS I rushed

off

of

house

at

to

once

with

it, and

see

first

the

that its windows

so

LAST

floors, situated

several

behind

garden

AT

circular

a

in

houses

view

of

walks

gravel

a

around

of

sort

the

on

street, beds flower-

and

trees

nice

very

cite, a

a

of

row

faced

found

them, instead

of cobblestones. The

head

looked

like

It

was

in

a

the

of

pension but

Bourbon

a

nearly

when

noon

wonderful

was

old

an

really a bourgeoise.

was

I arrived, but

dressing

of

gown

she

purple

stripes,with chaussons, cloth slippers,on coiffure

elaborate

an

yellow

old face.

narrow

the

which

looked

First

Empire. with

old-fashioned

me

the

square

hung

toilette,

or

to

with in

sofas

of rose,

place

things on in

the

the

were

the American

tres

chairs

and

tel-pieces man-

them, and

an

Madame

corner.

remembered

the

since

and

rims, tables

of

long

a

velvet

rose-red

been

wooden

piano

salon,

of

name

her

gentilles,turned

nation, and

showed

herself.

rooms

I chose and

black

her

above

framing tree-tops,

hung

were

thousands

compliment

neat

all

yellow feet,and

her

in the

me

windows

lodgers, said they

former a

There

gracious,

most

was

French

if it had

as

with

same

to

still

was

and

hair

black

dyed

came

doors

and

windows

of the

She

with

room

of

who

woman

a

back

with

a

one

of

good size, nicely furnished

pretty chintz.

large cupboard "33"

It had

for washstand

a

cabinet and

de

trunks,

CONFESSIONS off it, and

opening

board, for

price

OF

I

had

room

basket

an

really

small

warm

a

poke,

formidable.

As

than

penetrating

their

light,there

no

odour

and

his wife,

Jean

was

the Madame with

to

showed

pride

highly

bums

well.

of

one

fireplace,

winters

once

cold

to not

were

more

it is

possible im-

me

that her I went

me

to

old real

head

of the

her

dining

cuisine

was

tablishment. es-

tub,

water

every

tip occasionally

to

cool

rangements ar-

who

servant,

of hot

can

as

"3^

bath

my

collapsiblerubber

a

I had

fetch my

which

kerosene

I made

big

a

I could

for which

refined

the

was

bought

that

became

water

of

bring

I found

morning.

huge lamp

a

Eugenie, I had

and

the

a

something

sunless

Jean, Madame's

with with

francs

of fact, anything

damp

was

kind

buy luciline,a has

Paris

matter

a

coaldust

imagine.

to

For

wanted

I

that

idea

an

three

fit into

fire-

require fillingonly

But

hours.

I had

and

and

heat.

grilleor

salamandre,

a

which

stoves

a

for

was

lightand

buy boulets,

had

have

room,

twenty-four

very

I could

The

($40).

for

extra

pay

complete

arrangement

my

egg-shaped balls,

into

excellent

month

a

but

it with

fireplacewith

open

Later, I could

sack.

in

to

was

it, for which

in

pressed the

francs

really higher,

was

SINGER

have

to

was

hundred

two

for the winter. The

I

OPERA

AN

Jean's

as

room,

of

trunks

an

and

and

manners.

told

excellence hire

or

a

me

nowned. re-

piano,

AT

PARIS that my

glad a

small

long

upright,a

pianos

month, with

expensive

leading

winter!

which

to

to

had

two

with we

the

at

biggest

very

and

Jacques Bouhy with Escamillo

et

It had

his

and

from

we

"

version

thought of real

et

of the

Priest.

that and

a

hours of

action

hours course

all

do.

in our

and

hours

began

I

The

sonalitie per-

Dalila, Azucena of

in

occupied

course,

grave

his

lent

which

to

me

"35"

his

copy

French of

copy

ous courte-

created tions tradison "Sam-

the French

words.

"A

Bouhy,

Saint-Saens He

and

having of

knowledge

grand artiste."

grand pretre

work

week,

a

Of

always kind,

inscriptionfrom

Grand

I did

dramatic

home.

roles

He

me.

Dalila" an

the ladder

on

sleeping.

was

The

me.

thrilled

stool beside

a

lasting three

Carmen,

Amneris,

waking

how

spending

at

all in their French

mind

and

repertoireworking three hours

my

day learning by heart

my

the

coach, and

a

of

And

class

a

turn,

on

singing lessons

week

the

music

a

more

are

Lares

firmly planted

work.

a

with

francs

ten

me

installed,my

was

were

through

went

with

cost

was

all Parisian

are

carting. They

my

opera

I slaved

roles.

as

piano

success.

began I

session

it

feet

my

to

was

for

top of it, and

it, I felt that

I

it

When

now.

The

over.

for tone,

eight francs

on

Then

was

tin pan

location, and

en

Penates

search

LAST

M.

created

the role

OF

CONFESSIONS

riding

he

as

written

for

He

and

voice

gorgeous to

had

do, and

has

He

to

his

Said, why

sounds

such on

stormed

the

one

room.

N.

commanded

he

sing

chez

made

for five

like

It

was

and

stop

again

he

he

was

denly Sud-

N.

fixed

on

white

as

to

the

and

class.

he

been

to

the

singing

the

was

a

to

have

a

year

others?

seriously.

He

standing quite still, him

"

then

frightfullyuncomfortable "36"

ing hav-

and

ashamed

was

lui, that he had

eyes

name.

began

when

baritone

a

long minutes, dog's

his

Bouhy

always worked

had

else

the

sing again if he

up

to

coming

example

What

his brown

to

it.

get anything

sung,

in walked

and

him, told him

"Faust."

Every

with

did

to

a

with

can't cent

a

the

in

kept forgetting it.

He

things before

mocked

tenor,

French

else had

one

opened

He

sheet.

learn

and

not

money,

"Faust."

the door a

luck

tired, but jumped

was

of

first part

no

written

left,Valdejo told N.

minutes

would.

speaking

of

it from

learn

part

voice

an

tenor

first half to

his

rather

beautiful

the

had

on

that, some

done

ten

as

his

frightfullydown

is

We

only

letter,

My had

we

the

has

He

safely out

says:

class

week

day-

one

Mondays.

mother,

one

me.

has

which

score

in

was

him

thought

on

my

SINGER

upset

Little N., with

time.

duet

Samson

was

to

learned

voice, has

all

in the opera

morning

unpleasant

him

saw

We

always

that time

at

"This

ever

class.

Opera

after the

I

time

only

The

OPERA

AN

he for

left us

PARIS I

too.

it may

N.

has

he

is

say

am

be my

turn

been

there

Bouhy I had

is

least

at

lessons

These

sisters.

which

experience from feathers

all rubbed

trying

French

various

to

But

my

having

to

trained

ear

give

the

strain

the

repeat for

a

it, until

to

perfectaccent

of

between

when

time

I

tle lit-

very

cocher

a

when

now,

my

always been

I have

address

an

with

with

intangible differences

"e's."

an

ing nerve-rack-

Paris, and, though speaking

French, could

for

emerge

from

way

have

York

a

grateful for this rigid training, from I first reached

should

in New were

I used

the wrong the

imitate

to

lessons

week

years."

for

besides, but

taken

I had

which

had

They

This

week, and

a

lesson

diction

one

course

the Yersin

he has

it; but

says.

his age.

so

right.

was

know

to

sleeps he

show

to

whom

French

two

ought

never

work

rotten

Bouhy

course

and

year

beginning

his cook

invaluable

the

Of

next. a

just such

done

just tired out, and

he bounced

had

I have

sure

LAST

AT

out with-

thank

can

singing foreign

in

languages. I think

no

one

I, during that first

early

in the

not

bum

too

much

in bed

Coming

the

midnight

and

nothing, and

from

a

country

the

oil

unrelentinglythan

more

of hot

year

morning, and

in kerosene

for

studied

ever

enthusiasm.

only

firing.

boulets where "37"

were

a

warm

I could my room

began

that I did

reason

that I found

was

I

it cost

keep

me

warm

pet economy. was

taken

CONFESSIONS for

granted,

boarding

see

many

than

houses

money

my a

time

add

ashes

where

might

fuel

burning I have to

in the

the

the have

about

all I knew

for

ravens

and

away

put

OPERA

:^N

OF

on

furnaces been

SINGER in

hotels

supplied by Elijah's

it,I just couldn't bit my

and

by

bit in

fur-lined

a

bear

to

grate; and coat

rather

dying heap of dreadfully expensive

grille.

"38"

IV

CHAPTER

PERSONALITIES

PENSION

first

AT

I

had

of

delight

friend

(not

a

but

the

oblong

hundred the

effect

of of

The

struck

What

of the

only pencil up

from

down

their

the

was

rub-rub

the

sketch

The

paper.

and

the

model

students their

"39"

and

tom bot-

their

back

pads

of the

silence and

charcoal,

move

never

to

the

rush

front

speaks

circle

a

but

by

of

a

raised,

rest

in

intense

one

no

of

not

because

hot

earnestness;

gentle

against

and

most

us

railing

A

over

in

sat

They

heights.

nude,

"

think

is

girl

a

class.

produced

is

a

room

should

floor

in

mother:

my

They

The

intolerably

is

room

I

men.

on

with

mixed

a

was

amphitheatre different

to

them

saw

went

life-class

with

mostly

portfolios

drawing

the

throne.

an

wrote

It

filled

I

day

I in

time

room,

model

stools or

One

and

wonder

I

as

little

very

fresh

ever

streets

model).

students,

facing

Paris

atelier.

long

spent us

large

the

her

visit

to

"We

the

constitutional.

daily

my

the

beyond

recreation,

and

companionship

no

them. model.

and

mosphere at-

there

crayon,

is

or

look

quickly

glance

except

again.

She

CONFESSIONS was

a

at

The

poses.

end

the

of

stopped for

took

minutes'

where

graceful half-

interruption was

half -hour, "C'est

few

SINGER

and

Vheure'; We

rest.

voice

quiet

a

they

into

went

other an-

picturesque old wretch

with

long

curls, red velvet waist-coat, long blue

cape,

well

thrown

a

hands

back, black, grimy

knee, and

him,

OPERA

girl and

one

a

a

room,

black

AN

pretty young

very

hour

OF

clumsy,

boots

rusty

clasped stuck

in

out

his

around

of

front

seated."

was

Later

of these

one

brother.

He

had

of

he

was

poses

card

a

used

which

on

prepared

"The

Apostles,"

models

old

Eternal

to

take.

Father"

my

printed the list

was

to

to

come

"The

"

and

twelve

"The

God

Jupiter." I

found and

away,

in those

often

days

The

tea-habit

The

people

was

just

words

little

a

of

is

shop I

as

part

knew

occasionally when

them

of

I

spare

hours

made

neither a

not

time

concentration "40"

went

to

nearly nor

on

the

France.

the

out

renely, se-

and

remind

two

operas

enough, and

next

the

I still go

tea.

often

money,

places.

over

walk

Paris

in

which

by sight,which

and

for my

am

sometimes

the theatre, but

could

pay

in

begin going head

my

I

me

old

mile

a

muffins

in French

years

would

in

there

to

and

tea

ten

soon

quite forgettingto

and

for

only about

well,

that.

about

tea-room

hardly procurable

were

some

there

went

in the

as

English

the

as

I

late

morning's

PENSION work

difficult.

more

disappointment so

much

well

PERSONALITIES

that

to

did

but

amazed

little

the

at

of

scope

being

lack the

On

opened

part of the winter

liked

in

French

watch

to

used

fingers. He

to

students, and

disguised by the argot I did French shan't you

understand

not

were

gets

me

be

able

only

to a

exclamation, and

never

He

such

attractive

of his

comers

by long-hairedSorbonne

you

where

for

the

me

they were

here

knew

always

propriet im-

that

written

"When

used

any

why,

frank

impenetrably

so

of them.

He

"41"

in the

time, saying he

the odd

were

man!" I

Loeffler introduce

together.

to

word

bring

pen-

spent

Later

I had

in which a

fellow

a

Mr.

tea

colloquial,"he

more

by

for

cafes chantants,

of the ditties

tists ar-

of composition

Henry Hadley

about tea

take

row nar-

given

reason

school

their works

Paris, cafes haunted

beloved

the

new

and

room

make

me

great

the

modernists.

over

was

of

pension, and

our

I

the

that winter

me

stroll into my

to

Chevillard

halls.

whole

a

talked

often

we

music

strings and

tours,

concert

Loeffler

the

to

me

used

to

Charles

sionnaire.

and

Many

their

in

hand,

other

orchestral

Lamoreux

the

great

a

longed for nothing

I

great

programs.

Paris

was

satisfy this craving, and

to

of suitable

was

winter

the

rouglinessof the

avoided

hear

to

as

year,

world

concert

I think

me.

performed;

concerts

The

to

say,

Oh!

more.

ended for

your

my

with woman-

"I if this

CONFESSIONS hood did

not

OF to

seem

he felt the

"We

to

are

me

a

to

sort two

SINGER

haps Perparticularly.

of Fidus

in

a

Achates

letter to

They

my

'Noctambules' in the of their

It is where the wittiest men

be found.

to

and places,

famous

them

firstto the famous

went

Latin. Quartier genre

of

want

of description

this is my mother:

OPERA

disturb him

took

He

confide in.

AN

are

many

orated of them dec-

the government. One hears wittytopical of the and absurdities telling songs, chansons d"amour, eels and fishes in amorous travagances conversation,such ex-

by

the French

as

love.

There

Their diction is marvellous,and their tone entirely, theysacrifice, around the walls

are

to

is

no

of

garity. vul-

course

their words.

All

posters and drawingsof famous The

artists and caricatures of Parisians.

performers

by the master of ceremonies,and take their stand on a littleplatformin front of the ished, When theyhave finpiano half way up the room. all called on if theyhave been popular, we are for Monsieur so and so. to joinin the douhlement which to a certain rhythm, This consists of clapping 3 4 5, 1 2 3 4 5, is thumped on the piano:12 2 3" and over 12 3 4 5"1 again." stillat the "NocIn those days Charles Fallot was are

called on

in

turn

"

tambules" and

and

thin,and

used

to

arise,very

gaze at himself in the -^2"

"

black and white

bigmirror

'lit;,"H.

oppo-

PENSION site,while

he

thoroughly his

gestured with his long, skinny

French

hands, and

witty double to

went

we

but of

PERSONALITIES

it

not

liked

us

famous

a

was

entendre

Montmartre

me

hours

my

maddened

I

thing,and

always

studied

roles

to

I used

by Cluck

one

Debussy

and

Beethoven

or

modem

and

Wagner

he

much

to

with the

I

him.

as

to

of

He

tempo." ing noth-

liked

bored

their ilk, though he loved

first

for the

saw

both

the

school,

old

modems

the

and Garden

Mary sat

ation admir-

strong

a

rapt

scoring for modem "43"

always

ing understand-

no

end, transportedby what

perfect revelation

rooms,

unspeakably

was

respect

We

often

He

have?

appreciated

orchestra.

Melisande

and

voice

swooping,

rules

or

still retained

Hadley

for

harmony

the

imaginative

interwoven.

should

why

"Carmen."

though

of

at

or

my

sweeping and

were

nearly

in his

Scott's

to

often

Hadley

his forehead, "I have

on

than

older

used

composer,

joy

birds

intervals

limitations

indeed

with

like

was

hand

for

And

listen

to

and

said, one

neither

etc.,

bed

in

memory,

and

keys

Fursy,

a

and

me,

rarely

Cyril Scott, the English

all

of

night

we

playing "Carmen,"

had

It

above

room

singing, and

committing

playing.

Another

place, Boite

same

the

of

him.

piano, without when

himself

it.

Henry Hadley had told

chansons.

all the

at

delivered

and

arms

was

and to

as

bound spellme

a

orchestra,

CONFESSIONS the

OF

of

suggestion shade

any

That

Hadley

Egypt and

to

talk

filled with

was

dust

heap.

used

to

hear

him

qais,

door

a

at

rage

English!"

Of

ing a

on

course,

play together. One

the

girls,and

of out-of-

or

with

paid

was

American

supposed

less in love sides

against the recognized masters

at

of honour

ears

my

another

they took

I

concerts.

in

your her.

to

discussions, though

were

or

and

the table

of

a

frangais,parlez fran-

two

were

in

away,

seat

attention

no

the top floor,who

usually more

her

crush

You

of the metier,

was

two

end

from

Joining passionatelyin the themselves

of "material."

scraps

or

our

"Mais

cry,

enfants!

mes

impossiblejourneys

on

practisingand then hear his

would

centre,

will

bright-colouredrags

dinner, while old Madame, the

and

me.

like

would

war

the spectator.

been

always

the strangest

lived

Bauer

conveying

to

the Orient, in search

the-way information,

wordy

has

of

power

of

mood

always startingoff

was

Her

capable

was

inspirationto

an

of all the subtle

most

delicate

or

performance

always be

His

thought

of

SINGER

Garden.

Mary

days

those

in

OPERA and

intangibleoperaticform,

imaginative acting

A

AN

of with

girls,livbe

to

the one

not

writing

composers or

other

accordingly, for of the past.

of and

The

two

amusing, always doing something eccentric.

were

At

the

one

time

gift of

a

they

had

an

incubator

passing admirer, and "44"

we

in their

room,

engaged

pas-

PERSONALITIES

PENSION

sionately heated

by

huge kerosene

a

two

lengtli,and

each, and

egg

life, I held little

The

had

We

pension.

inside

pecks

downstairs

scratch

gravel

inhabitants

of the One

Discussion

take them and

meat

was

drink

rather

endlesslyabout in

most

cases

of them

some

coffee and

one

and

symphonic

to

a

indulged

poem

in an

composers

seemed

on

which -45"

Let

be

to

them.

invocation

he

was

the

tist ar-

This

equivalent

Nevertheless,

desperate orgies assured

little

ing conduct, but talk-

to

experiencing

guages. lan-

people.

person!"

own

tempts at-

in the Bois.

all these

to

menace

sensations

cigarettesas

of the

them

"Sensations, sensations!

sounded

their

of several make

to

walk,

the assembled

by

for walks

experience everything in his doctrine

could

the cite,and

rapture

a

signs of

fascinatingto

were

wanted

Englishman

was

cry

in

eggs,

partly hatched.

was

hailed

were

at

whole

the

on

the chicks

as

into

garden

jackets,so he could

Their

soon

taken

they were

shell

the

As

palm.

till it

the

by

the first

showed

mine

altogether.

struggleout

to

initials

our

hand

it in my

feel in one's

to

when

with

mined strenuouslydeter-

heralded

marked

always

room

out

go

managed

was

was

they were

chicks, more

tlieir advent

machine

it fill the

lettingit

tlie rest,

live than

to

and

having

or

three

or

The

lamp,

and

smoke,

and

However,

one

high

it too

turning blacks

raising chickens.

in

me

at

to

of

their

that

the

work, had

black muse;

great been

CONFESSIONS

inspired by breaking a

closed

cab

the

AN

OF

and

bottle of

a

driving for

perfume.

They and

excesses,

loved

early dawn

after

to

for very

that

it

in

was

wonder

what

journeyed

of affairs and all seemed The

They

the

sat

hinted

of stage

from

could

which

end

be

and

gorgeous

of the dinner contrast

to

of

one

of

was

something

beside the

sideration. con-

either

for

once

no

She

was

our

houses.

her her

It

me.

Some

newspapers. than

more

reputed

In the

life-longfriend,

a

friend, in

Opposite her, in

the

of it left except to

her

was

days

in her

possess

certainlythe variety of "46"

they

full of tales

anarchism.

American

trace

to

table represented staid

years.

an

which

interestingto

Paris

seventy ,

dresses,and

shoot

much

like into returned

and

accent.

ting set-

fantastic care,

they

and

romantic

but with

it

analysis of them, though I used

M

ago,

were

watch, but

busy,

spite of Madame's

long

praise of

the green

such

too

was

lovelywomen

that he

Madame

with

Madame

editor

tended

gantuan Gar-

They

I

conventionalityin centre

to

in

inspiration

too

most

other

the calm

danger of dying from

this Paris

and

in

great deal

a

development

the

or

these

recount

amusing

was

Personally, sensations

and

very

little play.

of their artistic

to

Ideal

ing Bois, inhal-

nights of frantic toil.

that there

me

in the

extravagant

were

dreadfully sincere, and seemed

SINGER

Houbigant's

hours

midnight oil, attic windows, of

OPERA

one

of

sistent per-

dred hun-

costume

PERSONALITIES

PENSION was

amazing;

but

had

preserved

every

annual

not

extravagant.

a

after

started

players were how

them

There and

it

was

to

done

in the

clubs.

and

mother

had

who

come

the

"accomplishments," and from a

motives

naval

young

his

officer,used

pale, aristocratic the and

Leech

to

script nonde-

and

family,

in the

masters

in

South

in

the

drawing

Frenchwoman,

come

Madame

to

dine

with

pension

With

them.

kers, little side-whis-

with

feet, he

life. la -47"

of

Sundays their brother,

face, and

arched

a

various

high stock of his uniform, his strapped narrow,

terest in-

historic name,

an

living

On

of economy.

engaged

French

of

have

were

betrayed

was

Swedes,

charming

girlsmight

pretty face

object of great

their chateau

from

up

a

sister

daughters,bearers

two

that

France

a

tience, pa-

show

could

however,

an

was

some

were

and

Americans,

girl with

hands,

she

so

game

every

that he

beautiful

Her

himself

always insisted that

he

Russian

allowed

never

bridge,poker,

"

and

There

me.

salon

wrong

Opera,

the Grand

at

probably

revenged

quite

peasant origin.

her

he

so

it was,

clothes, whose

pretty

was

what

young

a

was

thirty years,

interfering with

in the

dinner

matter

no

the

present,

was

privation by

the

for

last

old husband

Her

she

when

word

the

for

gown

and fifty-five

least

at

was

expenditure,after all, was

dress

her

she

as

Then

was

there

like

a

was

a

sers trou-

John

large

Marquise de Quelquechose,

CONFESSIONS

jewels to

heirlooms, but

were

had

prophetic taste of

her

In

pang"

in

still ask

high, drawling

a

of

shops

list of

de

poo

sients tran-

were

regular

our

were

de

residence

petty

There

voice.

plicas re-

rue

our

years' "oon

saw

the

completed for

have

must

I often

as

nationalities,but these

of many

ancestral

ancestors

the

in

her

least,she said her

spite of twenty

would

Paris, she

her

Englishwoman

permanencies. in

At

jewelry,

ornaments

old

An

Rivoli.

in

SINGER

title and

bourgeois board.

our

jewels a

OPERA

her

of

lustre

the

lent

who

AN

OF

inmates.

An

interesting

Writing

night

"Last

when

he

and

they

dropped

him

in California

was

all

went

on

robe

her

he

she

when

got

dejeuner, undoing

gold

and

precious-stone belt, and

talk

velvet

cochon'

After

referred

she

undid

and

when

The her

a

only belt

he asked

us

once

her

meet

to

and

the

appeared says

her

if that "

4S"

she

the

it far was

in

adores

to

as

to

across

the way

'that

champagne pieces at the

thing she did

threw

and

where

attired

manager

shot them

posey

island

wide, heavy, Egyptian

breakfast, she threw

bottles far into the lake first shot.

to

the

to

hunting-suit. He

and

cancan,

told

hunting picnic together. She

a

had

man's

us.

said

He asked

was

they

a

and

here

Bernhardt.

Sarah

with

I say:

dined

H

Mr.

about

yams

many

about

mother

my

dined

sometimes

man

was

the

when

road,

she treated

PENSION such

beautiful

it

her

to

PERSONALITIES

things, she

said

domestic!

was

that the

who

man

than

It is colder ...

here

at

shall

start

I To

bought

my a

fire

keep myself

could

not

I

today

bunch

for the voice. I

least

at

present,

of from

You afford

I feel

it

so

in

the

for the first time.

violets, and

do

you

if I spent

more

myself."

"49"

for

my

sous

chestnuts.

charity

house.

I

Yesterday know

buying chestnuts, which see,

gave

why? are

bad

for violets Thus

vented pre-

V

CHAPTER

AFTER

began

I

part,

my

I

restless.

working

such

at

repertoire I did

but I

not

see

at

Opera,"

the of

sure

That

capital. about

a

big parts sing them and

into

that

the

role

I tried had

doing

to

body had

to

find

out

their

made

leading

by taking

so

voice,

and

so

would

learn

to

before

act, an

not to

care

do

my

audience,

make

to

world

a

voice,

expression

to

face, of

all

say.

the

how

singers of the Some,

careers.

work,

to

in

I did

all.

articulate

an

all

were

apparently roles

of

debut

my

They

and

learn

clearly. ideas

I make

at

to

stage;

so

their

get

idea

again

over

my

whole

my

my

the

quite

leading

I wanted and

over

top

than

not

was

debut.

to

sufficient

a

on

Comique." the

at

less

nothing

consider

debut

pupils,

"the

or

opening

an

a

and

year's time,

a

have

all said, "When

They

progression.

to

way

other

the

with

talked

in

apprenticeship

my

my

that

should

I

on

little dissatisfied

a

clearly

pressure,

endeavour

strenuous

be

to

saw

begin

to

of

months

few

a

GERMANY

OPERATIC

VERSUS

FRANCE

OPERATIC

still

paid

for

francs

many

"50"

I

learned,

their worth

two

operas

though

performances of

seats

every

FRANCE

they

time

VERSUS Some

sang.

The but

she

Russian not

was

and

The

to

I

was

certain

thought,if other

for

foreigners.

had

impressed

the protegee

of

and

at

The

Paris.

one

trionica hisuntil

engagement, rich

certain

a

man.

had

good

two

or

still sang

made

occasionally. But,

of the Conservatoire be very

can

"France

and

for

Generous

rightlygives her

ful, beauti-

very

had

the

as

rewards

little room

French" it

as

spirit all foreigners

must

city

is

those of her

to

must

certainly none

the

tremendously,

me

tection. by "pro-

the Conservatoire

inexperienced singers,

in

she

her

the debutantes

for

was

the

gifted either vocally or

opportunity, there

an

there

were

at

and

extent,

hearing by

a

girl'ssister

very

given them,

be given

Some

of the first prize

winners

a

gained

I wondered

that she

chance

a

had

of their teachers.

influence

I heard

GERMANY

to

them,

own

race

first.

The to

feel

long

as

or

turn

out

neat

of the French were

in

sadness.

standing The

and

for use,

into

school."

and

traditions

demanded

"51"

you"

the

and

"

what feel

you

so

moulds

same

"love," "hate,"

all "true

The

walking,

I show

what

little shapes, labelled

"despair," all ready

annoyance

it expresses

matter

everything

pour

what

whether

it doesn't

of

source

"copy

was

imitation

not;

you

another

was

idea

one

faithful

a

you

and

The

me.

make

class

opera

to

the

first lessons there

of all

began

that one's

ditions tra-

my

feet be

CONFESSIONS

their

draping

mutiny.

My

with

knees

leg

one

like singing instead

of

my

instinct

a

up

Mine

and

abetted

together,instead

always

I often

gestures

no

of

them sionally occa-

of

of the chair.

succession

would

sit down

to

was

quite a long phrase with

keeping

SINGER

two."

to

I aided

the side

at

OPERA

minutes

this rule, and

from

deviate in

"ten

eternally at

set

AN

OF

felt

at

all,

undulating arm-

movements.

Our

dramatic

chewed

coffee-berries

teach

to

coach,

lay

to

me

crooked, thumb starfish, and taboo.

hand

at

"^moi"

approved the end At

jure

had

"Et

was,

je vous

figure eight across of

this all winter an

exact

copy

There

laid

and

upon

away

the

chest

"52"

of The

in the

je le feraijamais!"

half a

the

our

of the

long beard.

reached

Valdejo,

sort

parle.'"

right hand,

the upper

never

tide be-

woe

a

jamais the right arm

at

were

other; there

was

vous

a

forgotten the middle, but

the

tearing

of

each

into

jure, que

elevated

one

the gesture

be

I have

manner.

fingers raised, and a

melt

like

botli

fist,and

a

them!

to

vain

tional in the tradi-

looked

mine

speech beginning, ''Moi, qui

test

in

for diff'erent emotions, and mixed

who

fingers together,little one

like to

heart

my

Sometimes

had

ones

if you

on

middle

in.

Gestures

you

hand

sometimes

diff"erent

were

persistently, struggled

one

two

manner,

fiery individual,

a

first

two

described

body, with We

did

perfection,that is,

instructor.

had

We

practice

to

foot one

see,

hand

resting against the body

The

different

versions

was

excellent

and

pulled

a

in

Greek

a

Later, there

I got

were

back

act

to

I

had

I

hard

so

pride be

back

to

thump

to

me

the

expression not

am

of for

some

anger,

not

cold

giggles great

always

call

and naille!" "Ca-

me

"

to

He,

in me,

pleased him

a

pain.

blood.

something

that

of

their

and

and

into

their but

of

mantel

burst

when

back,

couch

mates

in

I had

Dalila,

the marble

themselves

coach

in the

as

supposed

present;

anything

a

ous curi-

approval. the

denouncing

method

usefulness

of

of

tliem

the

on

I did

class

the

and

operas,

once,

on

tears

forget

imitate

when

This

real

appreciatedthat

however,

I

head

my

into

to

never

was

ready

used

I into

me

acter char-

in

perfectlyoblivious

the

upon

watching

My

our

remember

entirely forgotten

wrenched

tainly Cer-

get absorbed

to

of becoming

Dalila, that I thumped

snicker, and

idea

the

be

not

from

I used

the extent

me.

but

thing.

"Orfeo."

in

would

scenes

better.

throwing myself

behind

it later

tummy

surroundings.

my

difficult

comic,

to

and

the forearm

most

a

"

lordly

very

with

vancing, ad-

slowly

"

tunic.

on

to

out,

very

I used

had

we

character of

stomach

the elbow

from

walk

classic

the

dragging,

bent

arm

GERMANY

VERSUS

FRANCE

slavish

ordinary "opera class."

imitation

people. "53"

The

doubtless old

order

has

its

of opera

CONFESSIONS

often trained

singer was Garden

had

opened and

actors,

longed

for

my

I wanted

wrong.

that routine of the

instrument

In

is

body,

of

I heard

gather.

I

cheered

much

tear

side

of

when

tales

favourite

from

these

a

their with

is of torn

are

that

protestation.

If

a

ers, singas

a

I could

audiences

and

an

ing accumulat-

to

in

carriages after

flowers

self, it-

ous. harmoni-

subject that

southern

who mob

a

to

ance, perform-

a

expressed their The

reverse

directlyopposite character, up

and

flung

the head

enough wretched "54"

at

of the

for their missiles loud

note

into

provinces"

attention

"gods," disappointed

singer, and

high

were

voice

as

and

picturesque fashions.

tales

is the target

with

they

singers to the echo, waited

in other

the

French my

of

benches

by

turned

heard

pelted them approval

own

my

all its members

"the

of

on

the horses

I

me.

forget the four long

one

blends

information

their

to

ing sing-

into the life-stories of French

training school, and all the

of

out

whether

expression, homogeneous

researches

my

try

important

as

makes

and

to

Mary

gain that subtle quality,

to

nearly

which

help

no

which

But

order

new

was

by experience

"authority,"which bones

the

method on

SINGER

schooling.

to

eyes

stage

find

OPERA

such

by

the old real

a

ideas, and

rightor

AN

OF

to

over

not

the

lery gal-

hearing

a

unlucky

tute substi-

till he makes

good

pierce the din of their

singer clears his throat

loud

enough by

to

heard,

be

chorus

a

If his acting of

of

spear-r-r-e"reward is the

note

strikes

part

a

for

outside "If

if he

and

leaves

set

you've made

sing Of

the

who

has done

all

not

course,

of so,

Among

the

with

Barber,"

"The

less

or

"you

me,

the

of Massenet,

works with

I could

as

The

sometimes

like

ertoire rep-

"Ham-

and

du

were

"Werther"

Weber

Debussy, Dukas,

many

Regiment."

Fille

given, but

"55"

to

standard

the

"

and

"Lohengrin"

"Louise."

peramental" "tem-

so

degree.

"Boheme"

the classics of Mozart,

modems

far

as

Meyerbeer,

some

modem

more

were

are

"Traviata," "Travatore,"

lighter works, like "La

fly" and perhaps dramas,

to

as

protection seemed

old-fashioned

and

performed,

"Manon"

hauser"

said

once

"Faust," "Mignon," "Carmen,"

operas,

let," were

the

in greater

limited

was

of

Provinces,"

the

the southerners, but,

everywhere

"Aida,"

any

him

for

wait

provincialaudiences

learn, paid performances and

French

at

in Hell!"

as

exist

out

bodily. round

the

high

a

yelling and

of

they

"Shake-

on

stick it

must

stage,

him

upon

Harry Weldon, can

singer

crack

riot

a

gallery.

of

cries

To

signal for

certain

the

trance en-

being pretentious

as

and

efforts.

his

jeers,but the unhappy cost,

them

groans

each

greeted at

will be

he

throat-clearingfrom

over-solemn,

or

GERMANY

VERSUS

FRANCE

the and

and

and

"Butter"Tann-

big Wagner Cluck, and

Strauss, Humper-

OF

CONFESSIONS dinck, seemed

neglected.

of

lack

which So Of

I have

confess

French

then

But

the other

hand, the of

operatic machinery irresistibly. The chain

great

of

eral gen-

cipline. dis-

say, judge largely by hear-

and

Carlo

house

opera

is that of

Provinces"

Carlo

Monte

a

Nancy.

injustice.

an

Nice

offer

is not

of

many

provincial

a

all.

at

opera

On

"The

Monte

hung

thoroughness and

that I

that I do

both

novelties.

all there

personal knowledge

any

be

course,

Over

SINGER

only provincial French

the

it may

OPERA

musical

method,

I must as

AN

stories

Germany

I heard

of the great

began

of

organized system

attract

to

me

the

opera,

houses, the disciplineof their

opera

rigid schooling, the concentration

deep musical

and

sincerityof their musicians, the simplicity of German life,all seemed dramatic

quality of

in their

out

my

Every

one

their career

I

ideas

in peace.

to

to

was

it,to say

But

have

me

My

crazy.

I felt

a

call

lacking

language

"

to

own

The

I did

not

to

tried

a

difficultyof

nothing of learning it,for "56"

me

Germany

for my

their

place

a

in France.

^the

scope

teachers

promising

me,

more

surely in

might find

right conditions

seemed the

would

I

dissuade

find die

which

in

houses

in France.

hoped

barrier

opera

The

looking for.

was

repertoire,while

thought

hardest

I

voice

my

varied

more

hundred-odd work

offer what

to

great where opment devel-

great

singing know

one

word.

of

German

langue,

will

said

tliat I had

and

I determined

that I

Not

I

life.

art

proportion

it

owe

and

pedantry

recommend

Paris

to

is

lack

no

penetrate

of sincerity in the real

the Conservatoire, there

found

are

enough.

the

In a

Paris

But

vocal

the

the

students race,

role.

and

They

expect money

student

foreign

with

studios,

I know

to

of

a

win

and

as

influence

(vocal students,

their little emotions "57"

crown

I

into

portunit op-

There

institutions, Sorbonne

"

ness keen-

singing does

of

these institutions.

them, there of

conservation the

on

nary ordi-

no

life.

French

into contact

dissipation instead

The

has

of art, the

the schools

true

the

concentration, competition, and

ordinarily come

not

for

French

real

into

my

I should

But

singing, who

of

student

American

its

exaggeration

school

the best

of

sense

the other.

on

with

deepening

that

from

one

as

ing for broaden-

touch

for

debt

developing

keeps

ite favour-

It is still my

get into

great

a

days,

luck.

try my

opportunity can

which

hand

one

not

who

perception, and

artistic

the

those

to

have

in those

to

guage, lan-

I

However,

Berlin

wonderful

city offering a

cette

that

(With

of courage

to

go

"Avec

singing:

tired of Paris.

was

culture

deal

good to

later,speaking

me

succeed.)

never

a

to

jamais"

narriverez

vous

for

language

a

as

said

de Reszke

Jean

you

GERMANY

VERSUS

FRANCE

without

play

mean)

too

tend

is

energy.

running great to

a

gerate exag-

grandes passions,and

CONFESSIONS hold

the

immorality

known, In to

not

singer who

to

mean

brought

I

met

never

one

of their

back

students

lights,though

resolution necessary

fritter away don't

enough for

a

both

to

great time

there

is not

-58"

of

Europe.

in

strive

one

on

The

career.

matter.

tales

a

I have

of flagrantmisbehaviour.

concentrate

and

with

students

general the girlslive quietly and their

portance im-

own

I agree

harrowing

of vocal

case

SINGER

that

say

American

among

all the hundreds

Amongst

OPERA

disproportionateviews

most

I do certain

AN

OF

money

according

in twenty

the

hard

temptation on

with work is to

the things that

CHAPTER

PREPARING

first

THE come

make

her

Cecil

and

them I it

the

into

and has

and

leave

to

time

left

family

land,

I

Spring,

I

on

felt

it

to

went

when

me

It made

since.

and

behind

Paris

to

brother

joined

me

and

but

had

sculptor

sister

my

never

both

unknown

an

this

From

summers,

preceding my

man, Ger-

of

mother

My

with

Paris

in

Metz,

to

the

word

a

Berlin.

during

sister.

my

without

for

out

home

harder

go

set

BERLIN

IN

September,

over

for

went

ROLES

of

I

VI

to

the

be

best

way.

Lehmann's

Lilli found

I

address

her

that,

with

took

Droschke, him

the

recover

in

the

it!

The

of

got

to

on

Droschke

lost, and

apple-cheeked "59"

piece

a

and what

a

maid

pension, took

I

pension

my

armed

and

Berlin,

in

I

point.

inexpensive

an

number

that

between clock

journal,

musical

driver

and

street

objective

my

Arrived

train.

directing the

a

was

address

the

and

Somewhere

travelling

studio

by of

my

room,

time

I

knew

a

ing show-

paper. my

had of

to

the

/"

of

existence

I made

vain

other

no

repeated "tick, in her

dawned

to

a

indeed, but

I found

her. had

who

one

subject of

the

she

whom

letter

by

sending every

was

him

old

dear

a

notliingto

production

voice

abandoned. me

,

appliedto

who

one

to

ments. disappoint-

be

to

recommended

and

town

of

series

a

had

idea

Herr

certain

eyes.

days brought

of

out

was

blue

In

own.

intelligence

of

gleam

no

her

fingerand tirelessly

of my

"

Lehmann

The She

tick"

Prussian

first few

The

beside

language

pendulum

a

SINGER

OPERA

AN

OF

CONFESSIONS

to

say

I

which

man

me

on

had

not

already. However, I decided to begin the repertoirewith him, painstakingly study of German in French, I already knew re-learning the operas heard

and

adding

the

the operas

knew

he

cheaper, as

the

to

say

is

were

it.

who

and

a

hours

an

perfectGerman

five marks learn

looking writing

been

of

laid the foundation

now

I would

words

had

's wife, who one,

a

German

a

who good repetiteur,

quite sufficient and much tlioroughly, charged only four marks ($1.00) an

I studied

hour.

I found

Later

engagement.

required for

ones

new

up

a

in the translation

in fruitless search

were

"60"

a

past

Herr

good

a

am

proud

These

sons les-

quite worth

sentence

by

tence, sen-

dictionary and

the German,

over

for

I

accent.

in the

word

every

of what

by heart,

role

and

actress

and

hour

an

with

roles

my

spending

which participle

PREPARING did

look

not

ROLES if it

as

part of the verb, of Then, it with

belonged

by

sentence

,

I found

books, known which

actor,

in

vowel

sound

given

are

combination

or

(at three

months which

I had

explored.

so

It "

real

a

one

was

live in

to

to

speak,

German

from

steps

with

a

four

seventy-fivecents)

for

All

the

exercises.

and

and

before

I

jectives ad-

me

reduced

was

to

haunted

accusatives

by day

pension, and

floor of

a

by actual

lesson.

board

for

I had

four

of the

one

to

big, gay

myself

where

I

large house

count

in

a

every

huge

marks "61"

a

and the

was

a

elevator!

no

crushing

down

German-

justice is tempered with

I moved

one,

the top floor, and

seven

sides Be-

for

of articles,nouns

pensions, where

American

into

lessons

write

datives

first

left my

temptation

mercy,

consonants

again.

over

genders and plurals,lay The

same

language.

I had the

and

by night, and

dreams

the sign

or

did splen-

the

and

German

the declension

in three

my

marks

translate

to

labyrinthsof

be

I had

drudgery,

this

and

over

her,

German

with

of vowel

repeated

be

to

those every

words

of

after

used to

over

go

word

afterwards

paragraphs

ary! diction-

I would

also

We

in the

given

sentence,

times!

twenty

be

repeating each

Frau

sometimes

infinitive,the only

its

to

to

course,

BERLIN

IN

only alien.

quiet side

I climbed time

room,

day.

piano

my

I

heated The

street

eighty-

cnme

by meals

home steam, were

CONFESSIONS echt

OF Breakfast

Deutsch. table in and

went

coffee

at

hot

the best

in

dishes

olives.

Hot

beer

One

which

in

dish

it

of

baked

than

their

beeren had

We

every goose

butter

with

big meat,

endless tea

or

My

or

and

Eistorte

of

improves

slices dishes

of of

potatoes

in

with

the

chestnuts

roast

their

fellow

that

was

coffee

anian Pomer-

roast cream

the

was

Bread

and

ham,

instead

cheeses

on

menu

life.

jackets, or

for

of of

some

"

times some-

to

cold the

drink,

all.

pensionnaires "62"

delicious.

are

cold

and

sausage

better Preissel-

whipped

simple

hot

ance; acquaint-

on

black

eight, and

variety of North-German beer, and

and

mine.

are

cranberries)

of, with

and

dumplings

Schmierkaese

at

was

for

model

certainly a

quite fond

quite wonderful

and

Supper

Sundays.

enjoy, like

to

Kartoffelpuffenmit

day,

and

North

intimates

good plain puddings

dessert

some

grew

with

with

(potato cakes

had

two,

exactly

and

and

at

soup

strange, but

names,

was

cabbage

ham

Pumpernickel,

rolls and

and

soup,

never

jam sounds

plum

I

Berlin

learn

to

soup

sorrel were

We

had

one

chocolate

soup,

cherries

Dinner

The

little alcohol

over

butter.

ing-room din-

the guests

and

warm

delicious

way.

the

on

they chose.

were

plain

its

German

but

there

when

kept

were

of unsalted

good

was

SINGER

ready

set

was

themselves

milk

flames, and

OPERA

miearthly hour,

some

helped

and

AN

were

nearly

all

teachers,

PREPARING students

or

German used

preparing

think

gender

for

and

Frauleins

Berlin, and

who

for them

would

demand

On

to

demand.

or

at

all

were

changed,

Fraulein

a

Lanz,

five other

of singing

came

to

used

to

the opera

to

go

tickets for

live

with

wie

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look

at

Students

earliest dawn,

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it.

wait

outside

meat)

tvar

their

"63"

we

seats

we

on

in.

the

could are

and

came

gram pro-

hardly in

hours, sometimes office

be

all the others

when

and

cheaper

the box

would

announced

paper

for

plates of

needle-work,

es?"

for the week,

the opera

So

and dining-table,

the

on

cold

in

ment entertain-

some

supper.

(rolls with

Saturdays the evening at

wait

we

had

sitting there

be

often

cases

Kranz, four

eight o'clock,

the

would

rocks

disastrous

and

had

student

belegte Broedchen out

tional conversa-

all.

at

evening

those

missed

set

small

a

it

phrases,and

together. Everytliingbegins early

concerts

to

and

subject had

We

Fraulein.

males

no

in the

there, and

words

the

it.

use

American

Another

or

not

first, I

at

Gradually

ears.

genders

sentence,

a

spoke

in the over^vhelm-

drown my

all

possible,though

that my

time

Franz, and

Fraulein

would

skilfully as

I could

and

and,

German,

it, avoiding the

upon

as

first,by the

arranged

They

like individual

barque of

be teachers.

occasionally to launch

I dared

soon

mind

my

sound

to

BERLIN

of it that assailed

ing floods came

to

IN

nothing but

and

to

ROLES

Sunday

great from mom-

CONFESSIONS ings when

with

the

vegetable shop, to what

decide

Saturday

He

then

in the

is

cents

down

of the

the rest

the

back

rows

show

their

rows

and

there.

To

concerts

that

saying

think

I don't

we

always

went

the

two

and cent

and with

over

and way. at

him On

German

No

was

three

price an

in the

with

fare

I used

you

street

to

or

to

seat

empty

free,

artist

We ing pay-

the

ductor, con-

clothes,

alone

molested

a

ing stand-

cars,

street

go

on

was

buy

tip to

cent

front

mark.

one

ordinary

spoken at

could

we

one

our

hair.

looked

the

in the a

of the

admitted

gallery for

home

came

our

case

vast, and

authorities

the

ever

often

in that

never

one

the is

were

dressing in

scarves

gallery is

of

chairs

orchestra

students, unless

were

seats

or

top

there

we

great favourite, and room,

the

up

those

to

for

cheaper, but

keeping

in

sense

The

much

are

Sixty-two

comparison

Opera House,

only eight marks.

cost

in

front

fifty,and

marks

two

him.

the

secure

and

shop

from

seats

to

his

to

for his trouble.

cents

high price

a

the

at

us

an

would

We

over

go

early enough

twelve

quite

the wait.

order

to

had

We

little fruit

a

and

see

gallery for

top

him

paid

we

to

evening

went

oi

ourselves

save

SINGER

begins.

keeper

wished

we

on

row

the week

the sale for

arrangement

OPERA

AN

OF

times, some-

in

any

you

looked

day off, and,

in true

twice, unless

times.

Sundays

take

I would

fashion, make

an

"64"

a

expedition;in

bad

weather

to

museum

some

Spring I

to

out-of-door

tired

too

was

I would

Then and

cakes

the

at

father

mother

the

winding trees or

and

boy's

Volkslied

tramped open

with

and

of white

all

Then

air.

cherry pie,

and

immense

has

comforts

I would

what

once

some

are

sat

coffee

know

at

how

refreshments. resort,

of

to

out

car

a

roads

with

there,

in four

the border

on

the reward

tion addi-

sit under

joy of

pure

have

don't

the

the

girl

some

trooping by, singing

cherry pie!

with such

I

verses,

I would

I

As

the

restaurant

accommodating at

for

day

take

I would

come

of interminable

or

cream.

soul.

would

the

eating wedges

villa-colony suburb,

my

groups:

mugs,

without

or

resort

children,

plump

and

cups,

through pine woods.

school

the

are

glasses and

Torte, with

a

invite

refreshment

adornments,

their

tall

coffee

have

family

hirsute

strenuous,

Grunewald,

Tliey

countless

in

heaped-up whipped more

Tiergarten.

it and

plays.

out

the

big open-air

massive,

highly decorated

If I felt

town

fat

rather

than

across

or

band

inch-thick

in

of

an

the

rather

also

coffee of

Zelt,

drinking beer

all

gently

or

Sometimes

restaurant.

further

go

polloi of Berlin

hoi

the

to

stroll

gardens where of

picture gallery, in Autumn

or

some

BERLIN

IN

ROLES

PREPARING

where a

parts, having motion

in

the

triangle of

and

a

the

Hundekehle,

of

a

lake,

small fat

many

Every inexpensive

long walk.

a

Such

sians Prus-

German creature an

ex-

OF

CONFESSIONS whole

pedition

of

the

and

in

which

one

often

housewives

coffee, and not

the

same

the Kinder.

find a

little

thing Of

have

Even

on

for

time

OPERA

family

they

possible.

as

AN

a

SINGER

is their

the

to

sense

week

day

stroll,a

course,

going this

"66"

en

was

masse

treat,

indulge

afternoons

reviving

gossip, though of

as

greatest

course

with

long before

as

the of

cup

that Hans

the

is

and war.

CHAPTER

MY

FIRST

the

BY

of

of

Berlin,

in

for

reputation of

head

have not

in

only

safe

closed

field

and

first

where

who

the

a

man

of

was

the

hands in

his

notify

you

such are

suit

vacancies

looking "67"

to

have

others a

both

are

for

highest

the

agent's singers.

their

good

that

you

reputable

agent.

I

The

agent

is

watch

the

business

you.

best

recognized

you

ways.

when

the

all tell

first

the

among

made

of

me

your

see

to

as

divided

they

is

It

would

thinks

he

Harder,

is

contracts

omnipotent.

that

went

independently,

engagements are

that

maintain

Some

get

you

Opinion

German.

"job."

a

I

dealing, who

had

torment

how.

usefulness

of

did

good

a

in

to

for

"How

is

Herr

fair

look

back

and

roles

began

to

me

the

understood

four

or

profession.

his

powers

ask This

engagement?" agent

three

broken

conversation,

ambition

my

often

Students

had

I

ordinary

determined

I

and

again,

SIGNED

declensions,

an

of

CONTRACT

December

acquired

gadfly

The

of

German

part

painfully

OPERATIC

first

the

VII

to

there He

likely singers

is is to

a

apt

eratic op-

vacancy to

occur.

sometimes

know rectors Digo

AN

OF

CONFESSIONS

straightto

their favourite

sends

word

be

you

his Bureau

at

of six

one

The

a

other

many

among

or

of

hears

a

with

blank

all

or

in

an

he

sends

sign

You

it to the agent. a

notification

and

worth

is not

girls,who they

that there

do

have

"been

when

have

such, until

it is

opera

house, and

is not

valid

at

I told do as

Herr

Berlin,

you

of

my

a

upon

Vienna,

of

training. I

"68"

for

of the

then, it

calls

contract

"

as

six months. a

chance

to

particularobject,

experience

sang

these

"trial performances"

wait

I wanted

ich," Mun-

nothing

many

to

that

you or

one

the

as

salary no the

than

American

on.

worth

as

have

what

turn re-

vacancy,

singer. Even

sung

may

Harder

look

or

is

house

opera

big roles somewhere, I should

be, such

received

contract

yourself as

the

for which

for, and

and

you,

this, will tell

have

and

pay,

countersigned by the director

until you

when

reallynothing more

merely

A

Agenten-Vertrdge.

will

they

it is written

offered

they

and office,

of the theatre, and

will

is, or

yourself

engagement.

it if it suits

understand

not

will

house, he fills in

name

is

the paper

find

same

in his

thinks

This

So

singers. When

may

opera

the

name,

you.

you

blanks

vacancy

and

yourself the only contralto

tentativelythe salary it to

hear

to

,

he, the agent,

So

wanting the

contract

your

day

a

voices,

seven

keeps

agent

Direktor

find

may

SINGER

Then

agent.

Herr

such

on

respond, you

you

he

that

OPERA

as

the

tion comple-

him, left with

him

let

of

know

me

itself.

In

short

a

theatre of

which

popular

was

too

he

They

and did

not

my

big parts. like

until

work

Harder

At

the

made

to

have

a

of

season

including

the

there, sing for

down liked

me,

begin

giving

me

repertoire. As not

of

my

to was

make a

said

offer

a

suit

not

with

on

when

was

Herr the

was

of

town

municipal

a

they played

large repertoire I

was

and

to

if

go

they

following September,

additions

beginner

of

give the usual guest performances. "69"

did

garrison

sing

would

he

This

pired, ex-

to

I went

it.

dramas.

the

was

operas

chance

no

management,

engagement

time I

Ring the

the

the town,

gave

I

Hofoper

opera

by

months, and

seven

that

which

the

The

me

had

proposal. in

he

and engage

Christmas,

subsidized

was

some

refuse

sort

a

copyright

The

second

a

of

to

time, he

to

Berlin

manager,

have

just before

me

that is it

ones

me.

a

only the older the

the

in Alsace-Lorraine.

one,

offered

gave

position of first contralto Metz

He

same

I decided

plans,and

the

that I should

give, so

much

my

only

of these

and

home

the

for

which

on

to

come

Westens,

des

was

to

me

curiously enough,

added,

"Trovatore,"

very

time

I sang

good for him!

like

my

that

at

opera.

but

once,

for

sent

complimentary.

very

at

time, he

of the Theater

the Director

see

promised

he

opportunity that presented

first

the

SIGNED

and

photographs,

repertoire and

my

CONTRACT

OPERATIC

FIRST

MY

to

my

course

German I could

CONFESSIONS is

Vorsingen have a

nameless

house

the

stand

theatres

great

is of

acoustic three

hear

If you

it.

."

lower. stood

at

Then office.

orchestra, the conductor

side of the stage, and

was

dashed

a

the

It

piano.

whipper-snapper

more

of the second

inches

slip a few

with

one

Vorsingen

Frdulein

Herren,

insides

your

first

prelude

of

quite conscious

players,"Meine

Kapellmeister

have

lights"

"rehearsal

are

you

dicate in-

perhaps

Kapellmeister who

My

into the et

the

bow, and

You

third

a

and

Two

chairs

and

director

the

you.

orchestra

to

try

and

to

a

cially espe-

to

cavern,

a

the

the

sing with

to

to

presents you

going

are

overhead

The

you.

are

in

first

and

a

feel

you

all of them,

Like

of

unbecoming

very

from

is

whereabouts

stage manager to

wings, and

you

down

on

just after

totally unknown

course

pale spots

the

usually made

is

sometimes

the

in

theatre

was

singers regularly engaged

whom

one

The

supplant.

come

of the

hostilityemanating from

are

SINGER

The

appointment during,

Groups

in the opera

of

The

sometimes

stage,

the

trying ordeal.

a

theatre.

rehearsal.

or

OPERA

regular days for hearing aspirants,but this

small

the

AN

OF

or

aria

less from

rately accu-

son "Sam-

Dalila." came

I

a

had

sung

such

that he had

Frau

interview

momentous

no

good idea

in the Director's

German,

thanks

that I understood

to

only

,

about

three words

in five of what

"70"

he said.

For

form's

MY

FIRST

sake

he

and

when

answered

I

serviceable

offered

two

a

mondi!

performances for and

not,

paid

are

number

If

extra.

was

tralto con-

marks

150

a

aries Spielgelt. Sal-

no

much

so

was

month

per

of

guaranteed; that is, one whetlier

performances

any

sing the leading

into

month

certain

a

I

gathered that

performance, the number

per

per

proved the

German

to

There

Hia

present, and

princely salary of

much

so

satisfied.

was

I

two.

usually divided

and

down,

paid

the

(about $35). are

micli, Frdulein?"'

my

contract,

the

at

SIGNED

spoke English, was

of

season

parts,

he

deal, but

great

a

say

verstehen

"/","

she

thought

to

more

CONTRACT

kept saying, "Sie

wife, who tried

OPERATIC

a

sings them

one

and

over

is

above

this

is lost

performance

or

ber num-

by one's

fault, through illness for example, the Spielgelt

own

for

that

performance

from

the

cast

be scheduled

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Illness

losing prove

granted. with

and

if you

though

sing only

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money,

are

are

a

If you

you

In

crime.

a

have

to

suspicious lot and wake

on

fall downstairs your

during

once

one

days,

have

addition witnesses

really ill,for theatre

that laryngitis,

sprain

sence days ab-

Spielgelt.

one

that you

Three

through illness,even

is, in fact, almost

your

Germany

or

as

to

is forfeited.

the

on

ankle, you "71"

take

morning

dread your must

directors

enemy way

to to

in

nothing for

of

a

ance perform-

of the to

voice,

the theatre

notify the theatre

CONFESSIONS before

Your

hour

certain

a

word

for

he

makes

that

the

disorder

his

opinion, before that

happens

is

then

if you

have

trouble

which

experience and

not

the

night

the

deadly

and

be

the

send

Their

theatre

doctor.

irritation that

and

anyway,

for

with of

professionalhonour

another me

the

was

regular

had

been

"72"

and

the

theatre

disagreeable

a

bronchitis, that

"Faust,"

in

already

I on

committed

that

season,

particularlyannoying

was

because

management

for

sometimes

before

once

defection

my

posthaste

by

illness

in

treating

day before,

I had

it.

be

town,

ill with

the

if

It often in

In

sing Marta,

for

it will

you

I had

was

theatre to

of

crime

I

signed

"Theater-Arzt,"

the

engaged,

not.

or

a

specialistin by him,

able

guest for "Faust" to

throat

the

one

work.

to

treated

scheduled

this time to

to

call in

adding,

experienced

this kind.

of

has

you

days

be

first

was

theatre

appear,

as

to

with

to

the books

on

word

sent

should

not

gives

return

most

man

must

many

can

best

wish

I

and unable

you

the

Every

night.

regular physician

serious, how

illness, the

example,

in

be

do. you

twelve,

or

that

sing

list,and

are

ten

cannot

won't

is your

you

SINGER

day, perhaps

examination

an

statement

OPERA

you

its

on

of these, whether

your

in the

it alone

special doctors He

AN

o'clock, that

four

or

OF

they

they to

had

would

to

be

sing the

equalled, theatre

outraged

get forced Nurse.

if not

passed, sur-

doctor, whose the

a

last time

MY

by

insistence

my

I

Between

them,

nether

millstone.

their

but

managed

me

an

"Attest"

I

red. "You

sat

I

say

I'll go

to

voice

in

responsible for

the

evening, with will

be

twisting

up,

fairly glared a

"I

my

his I

something.

like

I

him

of

out

Very well, get

to

come

condition, and

and

hands,

Then

room.

to

the

you

He

got

I

and

him,

I dressed office.

director's

sing Marta"

out

stammering on

eyes

my

rushed

and

I

sing this

and

consequences!"

the

you

furious

so

theatre

this

fixed

out:

whispered savagely:

the

his

in

simply

hurricane have

hat

surprise he

my

was

sing tonight!

can

write

opinion, why

my

bed, and

in

peared ap-

loud,

out

finallystammered in

reason

up

and

room,

my

no

To

sing this evening!"

shouldn't

of

really

is

from

would

that he

days. and

haw,

word

shortly after

request

a

three

for and

hem

to

"There

saw

whisper

to

and

sent

hardly speak

I could

bedside.

at my

own.

certificate

a

doctor

the

his

to

theatre

the

whose

and

the upper

between

com

clever

very

town,

nothing but

accept

a

prefer

to

day

doctor, and

own

began

the

was

the

in

taste

Next

they would

that

lived bad

the

had

I had

aid

of

tlie services

upon

specialistwho

throat

SIGNED

CONTRACT

OPERATIC

FIRST

announced

hoarsely. "Oh!

scared course

"

liebes Frdulein

we

by

don't

my want

pale

face

you

to

"73"

began and

the director,positively furious

sing when

eyes, you

are

"0/ so

Doctor

hoarse.

for the Nurse

I

ready

am

back

I went who

to

about

would he

I had

of

that

the

end

"to

explain" off

let him

ill,and

to

the

to

to

him,

as

I

to

formidable

list of

ready,

and

the

with

certain

my

that

argue,

raving.

days, his

and

at

secretary It

duty.

my

I

so

man,

poor

quite

was

somewhat

the

recovered

willingness to

sing again, signifiedmy

return

a

sent

easily,graciously accepted

the following To

five

way,

done

not

left him

return

for

interview

disguised apology, and, eager

to

to

to

done

always

for

director

me

I tried in that

me

and

the

thumped

futile

answering there

violently

me

I said. to

director,

that I had

so

me

the

and

had

back

raved

ask

and

awkward

an

was

time

say

sing, and

can

attack

to

nothing

to

stayed

and

if you

see

stormed,

it seemed

home

I went

He

without

out

to

right to speak

no

well.

I walked

illness

He

listen

had

duty, and

my

guest

a

responsibility."

my

really been

when

duty

after

absence.

my

tell him

his

on

I

says

surprise began

my

desk, and

as

so

home

go

Doctor

do

to

get

go

once!"

at

remember

but

SINGER

We'll

yourself.

well," I said, "I will

"Very so;

of

care

OPERA

quite mistaken; please

was

take

and

home

AN

OF

CONFESSIONS

and pear ap-

night.

my

first

roles

contract.

which also

director well-known

"74"

I

must

insisted

woman

There

"

agree on

to

a

have

studying

my

teacher

was

in

Berlin!

MY I

FIRST

OPERATIC

conveyed

him

to

CONTRACT well

as

settle all tliis witli my of

agreeing

German

to

course

for

big

aim

to

role in

been

at

in

a

make

a

in

which

I

addition

twelve

in

all,and

coach

contract

and

I

with was

was

as

if I

I

already knew,

no

I wanted German

in the

the

specifiednumber

or

good

one

a

certain

a

pages

opera

roles

big them.

Harder

Herr

to

the

in

one

fightingfor wrote

I

all ; but

were

I

a

of

ideas.

my

Berlin,

those

altogetheras to

to

learn to

with

at

engaged, singing

was

one

singing

needs

good

think

perhaps

my

intriguing or

returning

in

recognized place

own

my

by right,without

in

meet

Germany,

in

career

that I would

not

sympathize

to

of

capital city, with

This

to

leading

a

"Of

too

was

seemed

than

my

added,

I

told

one

trust

Fraulein."

us,

prospect

did

intention

to

He

secondary position

The

a

singer, having

On

Every

a

season,

seemed

house

I had

place.

confidants

to

time

houses, rather

opera

smaller

one

for

engagement.

an

ought

good

I would

no

afraid

was

too

are

second

the

was

it, and

I had

as

diplomatically.

so

say

you

agent,

all of

to

could, that

I

as

SIGNED

of roles

making

about

ignored the singing-teacher proposition I had

Jean returned

de

formed Reszke. to

me

engaged.

"75"

the intention On

these

signed by

the

of

going

terms

the

director,

CHAPTER

ONE

MY

HEN

^'"WfY

w

chosen

role

she

rival

Germany,

merits

of

should

be

the

world,

and

conclusions In

the

this

American to

us

my

hope

the

donna,

for

German

and

it

in

I

sang

writer, mother

a

that

she

of I

living

will

the

make "76"

a

that said

first real

the the ones

gone fore-

were

tradition

part

which

Paris, my

a

that

in

twenty-four

at

remember

of

propos

make

leading

first

those

in

in

America.

my

house,

times Some-

Carlo

But

favourite,

left

which

between

half-dozen her

one

in

to

Berlin.

shattered

quite

one

singing.

hesitate

she

opera was

might

the

Each

Monte

intended

role

before I

provincial

pleasure

of

lips of

public.

she

and

one

respect,

prima

notice,

she

the

decided

choose

if

or

Dresden

theatre in

would

Paris,

to

on

clamouring

a

phrase

students. and

house,

the

was

often

so

fellow

modest

in

career

heard

dazzle

more

preference

had

opera

would

debut"

my

American

her

one

IMPROPOSITION

make

I

my

had

LONE

I

that

VIII

I

a

small

a

hours'

have

least

well-known

patronizingly

appearance,

debut

of

later, for

"Let

this

I

CARMEN

AS

I

USED

TO

DRESS

IT

ONE

MY

LONE

hardly be called

can

answered

IMPROPOSITION it?"

can

one,

knows

mother, "who

my

fame

into

jump

in

springing full armed Well, perhaps met

singer,

a

had

silver

he

before

the cloud, and

been

ever

stage, but my

dogged

I have

those

have

who

severe

a

school

rate, have

if

they

made had

greater been

all of them,

Not

as

in

experience

my

by

a

been

few in

career

native

after

several "77"

in

have

togethe failingal-

singers share

been

countries.

through

singers at

foreign country of it. one

years

the

summon

foreign

American a

the

on

degree, especially

in

means,

any

a

less

or

engaged for special roles houses, and

to

that

sometimes

it from

keep

trained

mine;

as

been

that all successful

sure

mighty

say

morally

needed

to

have

may

I cannot

has

nerve,

my

pointment disap-

singer gets through

danger

great

tation, repu-

struggling through

outright.

determination

I feel

clouds

in

another

courage,

never

of

the silver gets

succeeds

severely threatend, and most

checkers

his

sometimes

in

Jupiter,

^but I have

"

dark All

steals the silver

first and

so

of

highest international

some

sometimes

ines singing hero-

the head

do

career.

linings,but

tarnished

I have

had

not

his

in

the

of

even

has

who

debuts?"

nerva single night, like Mi-

a

from

of them

some

of the

most

fiction is full of opera

Contemporary who

where

their

singers of today made

great

"Well, after all,"

Many

of the of

as

any

exactly

have

larger

been opera

experience, have

but

sung

suited

most

has

audience

in the first

roles

appeared

dramas

music

of

many

has

the

roles

"the

been

the

to

been

wasted, for I know

comprehensively and

in the

arrived

had

we

weather

very a

forlorn

vengeance,

the

at

and

Luckily

for

her

the

dusLy, and

the

take

can

there

was

"78"

to

in

the

a

since

it life and

did

not

almost

colour felt

land

with

of what

interview

know

the

German

My

us.

as

serted, de-

We

strange

my

The

seemed

least idea for

contract

opening.

manoeuvres.

might hold

sister

sister and

my

town

gave

Autumn

without

my

metier,

my

nothing

the

days before

improved considerably director, but

effort has

according

as

first,strangers

future

immediate had

six

at

It

form, but

severest

found

season

regiments which

still away

singing

languages.

feel that my

of Metz,

hot and

was

for the was

the

of

town

and

Widow"

detail, and

Wagner

of that.

the satisfaction

beginning

I have

the

from

that I understand

in

different

career.

difi'erent

of it, nor

regret any

myself

of my

life" in its

not

The

months

strenuous

I do

away

in

three

house,

the Metropolitan

all fifteen

I sang

"Merry

in

contrary,

opera

of which

eighty-five, ranging

in

those

heard.

even

never

seven

the

on

typicalGerman

a

first season,

my

been

have

sung,

regularlygiven

are

operas

In

I have

them.

to

repertoireof

tlie entire where

parts, all of which

few

a

SINGER

OPERA

AN

OF

CONFESSIONS

one

much

with word.

French

MY

ONE

spoken of

shops

the

in

treated

town

German.

as

absolutelyFrench

great consideration

with

custom

officers,and

contact,

though

make

shift

extra

touch

severe

of

in the

and with

the of

process

Of

dark

and

to

houses, then

way

the

but

I read

poster,

adding

an

ity" familiar-

to

meant

it

thing

its

cobblestone

a

still

with

a

distinct

stage-entrance,

Bureau, where

and

several

was

"79"

near

visit the

to

bridge old

on

knew

it to

awaited

the

overhanging

it stood.

I

over

there, rather

the first time

shocks

very

was

a

with

through

with

lodgings later,we

did

we

thrill.

place,

furnished

"Platz," and

for

ers plaster-

dreadful

it

the

gloominess.

quite imposing,

name

my

in

was

with

a

find

crossed

one

recommended

dingily

river, picturesquely bordered

shabby

would

ear,

town

furniture; but

first

reach

To

the

rather

was

depressed by the

been

swarmed

rooms,

we

as

be

course,

theatre.

in

came

"French

any

in

and

It

old-fashioned

not

Paris.

already sufficiently

that had

reconstruction

carpenters.

the theatre tried

nip

was

employes,

she

if necessary,

their

principal one

enormous

heavy

whom

in their French

to

the hotel

to

as

with

rigidityto

she

coming from

as

her

in order

many

bud.

went

us,

deaf

understand

to

were

the post office

others

rather

manner,

We

There

character, where

the officials of the town,

Even

to

IMPROPOSITION

LONE

a

my

the me.

On

the

German way

to

Direktor's I learned

OF

CONFESSIONS the

that

by

world, having

and

he

offer.

He

and

on,

asked

with

contract

you

as

paused with

met

I

he

words and

for And

that

have have

using. the

me,

is the

further

reallyseemed winter.

to

effect

better," he make

later

who

"

as

of

good

a

knows?

He

he

at

had

no

instance

of

Nevertheless, trouble

appeal

with to

him

his

part,

my

proposal

unpleasant

referred

never

on

the time, the German

dropped

affair

single

Just before

proposal, and

his

non-comprehension

understand,

encountered. had

the

see

not

then, and

theatre.

"

absolute

was

We'll

perhaps,

the

much

went

time, he

some

with

very

man

time

as

there

contract

one

questionable

a

much

been

about

'protectionsalary.'

a

to

reallydid

the

way,

very

in

cavalry officer,

me

foreigner. and

you,

have

may

He

me

anything

a

are

you

was

down

come

a

made

ever

further

a

get

never

said, "as

was

sign

to

me

as

huge,

voice, who

had

the

by

was,

admire

to

bass

ters Mata

manager,

He

day, after I had

one

"You'll

"

He

grew

seded super-

yet arrived.

not

life

been

had

gleams of the gentleman

profession who

the

in

SINGER

me

great

a

begun

strange then.

even

had

actor.

the

him,

who

remarkable

had

engaged

with

creature,

rather

OPERA

charge of the stage

in

towering

had

one,

new

a

were

a

who

man

AN

tliat I

him, for very

to sort

might my

it

there

quences conse-

again.

which

I

possibly

appearance

much, later

in the

Christmas, however, he died, al"80"

MY

ONE

LONE

overnight, as

most

of

production informed

we

me

know

ill

dead.

man!

talents, but

real

scoundrel

and

right,under This

his

day

baritone

been

and

regular had

change

been

present

only

that I

that

my

staff had

was

a

much

in

singing), and

rarer

me

heard

German

accomplishment therefore

meant

myself capable

at

the

first "81"

was

This

name.

vacation

time, None

They

not

than

a

doubted

that it

gust dis-

knew

experience, heard

was

So

principal

intense

sing.

me

in

singer

happened.

it

as

my

the outstanding

in his

during

of the first contralto.

native, which

the

All

foreigner without

conversational

heard

the

of

over

of management,

(a

the work

taken

for

director.

Wagnerian some

left and

new

even

position,to

new

was

great

a

the direction

never

take

was

he

was

assistingthe had

to

that he

he

Heldenbariton.

little trouble

a

of

day Satur-

morning

that

out

well-known

in his

I did

on

I heard

to

good qualities and

robbing

intended

contracts

of the

a

the way

on

some

director, who

of the

made

had

been

have

Sunday

it turned

had

roles

sudden

he

that

I should

a

had

He

when

by

the pretence

new

voice, had

a

and

"

rushing

Sakkingen."

was

get the score,

dangerously

of

following Tuesday.

of it,and

to

Poor

the

on

word

morning

von

Friday night

on

a

in the midst

were

"Trompeter

sing the Countess not

IMPROPOSITION

yet

perfect

my

to

accent

abilityto had

they

"up

perfect

me"

opportunity

or

do

engaged to

prove

lose

the

OF

CONFESSIONS

doing first roles

of

chance

OPERA

AN

SINGER

perhaps be

or

dismissed

altogether. hotel

Our

Berlin

after my

course, a

impossible for

was

German

good

verein

and

charge

shook

in

one

such

place, he said, but

found

and the

newest

quarter,

told its with

story

own

bedrooms

The

while the

were

"What

white

red and

a

only

for

decorations.

is this institution?"

such

home,

a

town

though

by

walls ture furni-

in evidence.

with

each

toes, mot-

bedside

Evangelical Home,

told. decided

and

Evangelical

even

the

in

asked.

we

were

the Matron,

German,

cordingly, ac-

house

deal

garnished

Ladies

Young

only," we

neither

went

of

much

candlestick

other

thanked

side

covers

and

Protestants We

table

Bible

"It is the German

We

them, and

cell-like and

were

it would

floors, whitewashed

garish religiousprints on with

that

see.

only

was

of the house, however,

inside

concrete

"

There

quite tlie other

feature

a

pension address.

a

and

go

is

feared

he

was

Verkehrs-

the

nice-enough looking

a

The

the theatre.

from

and

might

we

for

his head.

man

us,

to

which

asked

The

suit

went

Bureau

towns,

of all German

not

We

Information

the

"

first idea

experience, my

pension.

of

long stay, and,

a

we

nor

that

were

for

enough

young

might

we

be

ladies

and

Protestants.

Disappointed

in

our

hope of finding a pension, "82"

we

MY returned time

to

for

once

town, house

live?" "Oh!

to

hotels.

But

judging

in such

and

unknown

no

out

on

by

looked

desperate,as and

and was

resolved

to

a

usually

her

bring

or

rooms,

"or

live

Germans

are

and

knows

the

her

to

an

oughly, thor-

town

and

the

in

is, however,

go

get her

strong

throw

we

find

to

As

a

in

a

very

curious

upon

after in

the mercy

all, and

findingtwo

"83"

evidently getting

coming

was

wrote

all

manner

were

still unsettled.

ourselves

my

rooms

visited, and

debut

us,

foreigner speaking

suspicion. We

of my

totally

a

lodgings for

looking for

she

were

assistance

possibly ask

not

woman

received

Englishwoman

begging

theatres

There

alone.

a

the time and

nearer

to

landladies

with

upon

who

could

the hunt

of the

most

of

you."

German,

by herself, she

they

cases.

Englishwoman

sister set

the

answered,

better

felt tliat we

we

son garri-

a

let.

to

of

a

shook

He

us.

of the character

furnished

then

had

you

for

rooms

As

difficult in

artists

English lady living here find

very

rooms

furniture," he

smaller

for

certain

they either take

own

used

the

with

rooms

them

was

furnished do

furnished

to

be

to

Bureau, this

asked.

we

their

had

where

"But

it

"

said,

which

of

attend

to

more

he

of the Information

addresses

landlady

his head

IMPROPOSITION

friend

our

ask

to

decent

LONE

ONE

nearer

Finally we of the her

furnished

a

known un-

note

rooms

CONFESSIONS the

near

theatre, with and

after them a

furnished

my pass

AN

OF

serve

apartment

lives in

the country,

as

we

possess a

sort

of

gods.

84r"

had

own

like

to some

furniture

find of and

singing journey through

always surrounded

"

not

look

would

We

were

their

SINGER who

Hausfrau breakfast.

our

colleagues who their

a

OPERA

by

their

own

hold house-

CARMEN

AS

I

NOW

DRESS

IT

CHAPTER

THE

MAKINGS

OF

IX

A

OPERA

MUNICIPAL

SMALL

HOUSE

EARLY

the

with

for,

that

in

the

shadow

doctor

had

the

see

up,

just what

of

we

house,

policeman,

a

the

of

and

us,

respectable

wife

the

was

to

came

eminently

an

were

we

discovered

soon

under

were

we

kindly

we

Hausfrau

the

where

help

her

looking

were

friend

English

our

before

morning,

next

so

the

of

majesty

law. A us

young

that

send

trunks

that

the

invited

ensued we

sat

for

guests

that

between

philosophically

waited.

Presently to

countenance,

moving

our

say

she that

things

the

of

end

the

of

month

very

evening!

him

and our

on

into

"85"

was

the

and

baggage

intention

no

had

and

even

in

while

arranged,

bedroom.

and

hall

the

rather

man Ger-

of

Hausfrau,

trunks

all

arrived

Floods

the

emerged, it

had

had

man

young

poor

before

leaving

avalanche

an

might

we

duly

We

day.

following with

afternoon

next

found

the

assured

she that

and

immediately,

moving

was

our

the

of

he

but

rooms,

heated and

The

of to

gin be-

doctor

called

his

in

revenge

power

I

things locked,

"Keep

books, bottles and

the

to

only and

hostess.

warn

them

keep

you,

repeated earnestly,all

he

locked!"

shutting

character

the

future

our

planations ex-

our

gallantry,and

defame

to

"

honesty of

the

impugn

aside

mysteriously, proceeded

doors

the

all

his

for

thanks

and

SINGER

OPERA

sitting-room, waived

the

into

us

AN

OF

CONFESSIONS

while

the

ming cram-

promiscuously

garments

into

trunk.

a

took

warning with

his

of fact

grain of salt; and

a

landlady

our

levied

considered

her proper

the

time

time,

to

only

glad

too

had

put her

had

to

Her called

to

we

would

she

she

from monstrated re-

it and

stand

not

be

bargain, but that she therefore

and

this marriage

into

money

that

When

that

of her

out

get

could

we

ours

She

policeman

her.

answered

shouldn't, she

she

that

that

said

and

her

with

he

rather

or

of

mission" "com-

whole, except

noisily with

quarrel very

would

matter

kerosene.

and

coal

quite satisfactoryon

was

a

anything

our

upon

as

touched

never

she doubtless

except what

reprisal,and

of

for his need

allowances

made

We

stay in it! small him

greyish

boy

was

She

"Schweinsche'."

drab

hair

celluloid

wheel

of

sister

hunted

for

round

wound in

hours

Karl, but

named

the

back.

for "86"

a

had a

few

a

sort

On

present

she

of

always wisps of steering-

Christmas

for

my

her, and

A

MUNICIPAL

SMALL

finallyreturned haircombs.

set

have

eighth of for

tenant

made

know

the

of

served.

be

month

a

coffee

the

of

there

did

this seems,

as

a

over

penny

about

not

of

two

were

and

her that

money

spendthriftsand

us

not

fifteen

lars, dol-

breakfast

of

I don't

pose sup-

forty.

Our

eigners, gullible for-

thirtymarks

got their

and

breakfast.

own

My

had

sister

cooked

our

I

trying

German, as

barracks

to

to

go

were

arrangement.

of

of near

We

o'clock, and

ten

directions

Hotels

should

the

bought

dishes, fittinginto each

a

was

the strain

received

I

for

Our

it fetched

in

ner, din-

landlady the

from

cavalry regiment, whose She a

other "87"

she

ing morn-

restaurants

or

have

crack

by.

dinner

strenuous

colleagues did.

my

she

at

the

which

on

o'clock

after

all the the

to

dishes

two

tired

follow

that

mess

the

beginning

most

suggested officers'

but too

was

rehearsals

chafing

two

supper,

problem. of

extra

service

paid

they paid

as

that

fact

little

had

colleagues thought

dismissal the

for the rooms,

doctor

could

hair

paid sixty marks,

We

the

their prongs.

course,

the

rolls,and

and

what

being foreigners who

our

the tariff,and to

her

as

summary

of

was,

out

them,

of rhinestone-

set

wondered

always

with

an

reason

former

magnificent

a

have

did

covered

The

she

I

woman

poor

us

with

HOUSE

OPERA

said

sort

and

this

was

a

usual

of tier of enamelled carried

in

a

kind

of

CONFESSIONS wickerwork

handle.

the third

meat,

the

in

regiments

AN

OF

vegetable,while We

anything plainer, or

for

have

I

dinners,

but

Casino,

enamel-ware

when

the off

arranged

colleagues

and little, dine

to

to

to

understood from

to

Seeing by the Fraulein. Then

she

slowly Of

to

French.

One

day

to

it all

over

did splenurally nat-

was

sister

my

shops where I

our

they home

came

Hausfrau

had

she

you

plan,

a

I

it, but

when

that

said, "Oh,

woman

proceeded

course

"Fraulein"

sister's face

my

the

that

me

better

long piece of gossip

a

Well, I'll say

in

"

in

feet," of the

had

we

in not

a

theatre

my

German.

progress

told

the

many

far

a

our

herself

her

where

was

confine

rehearsal, she

repeated

This

improve

to

After

began "to feel

really hot meal,

a

rapid

making

I

down

to

dishes.

everydiing in

they

officers'

the

in

impossible

the hotel

at

daily.

met

opportunity

still had

of

newness

a

addition

in

as,

our

Fatherland,

Perhaps

hot

of

time,

we

served it almost

out

crack

even

in the

eat.

found

eaten

worn

to

we

them,

had

tried

when

gained something

posed re-

unappetizing than these

more

never

next

dessert

or

testify that

can

the

soup,

bread

unduly pampered

not

SINGER

contained

One

top.

are

OPERA

had

German. stood, under-

don't

understand,

again

in French."

repeat it again, very

loudly and

German! it is rather

by

your

dreadful

landlady "88"

in

to

be

called

Germany,

but

just the

MUNICIPAL

SMALL

A social

standing

theatre

of the singers and

is

usually A

else.

anything

enough

only in

a

a

warrant

to

house

opera

in

social

entitle her

to

the

before

companion,

or

a

portance im-

to

the

ignominious used

society is properly

in

governess,

and

Titles in the

"Rat,"

at

nate desig-

to

saleswoman

a

through

the

councillor), licher

lofty dignity Old-fashioned of

version

old

dame

"Frau used

variations

of

copy

court

(privy councillor),

Wirk-

of Excellenz. used

husband's

who

the afternoon would

the

insisted

titles,and

the health

from

his

bahnsinspektorin (streetcar life is

too

crowded

perhaps "89"

I

being

upon

aristocracy

inquire about

the feminized

employ

to

in

Kaffeeklatsch, Frau

inspektor Braun,

Hofrat

(privy

Oberlandgerichtsrdthin." to

simple

(really truly privy councillor),to

ladies

their

subject hend compre-

the

Hofrat

Geheimer

to

from

progression

Geheimrat

Geheimrat

It is hard

subsequent

(court councillor),

ticklish

a

are

time.

any

of male

mazes

address

of

forms

Fatherland, the

an

an

cial provin-

a

shop.

a

the

in

its holder

(gracious)

which

Frdulein,

in

Hoftheater, confers

a

upon

prefixgnddiges

players

high enough

not

position

in

capital city, or

HOUSE

OPERA

addressed

The

this

wife

the

respect,

and

at

Meyer

StrassenbahnsFrau

inspectoress). for such

as

bourgeoisie

Hofcondittor

of Herr

knew

once

StrassenModem

lengthy addresses,

CONFESSIONS but

Frau

OF and

Meyer

picturesque

AN

OPERA

Herr

Braun

titles and

for the

foreigner,though

forms

I used

successfully by addressing myself

the

and

of

prince

a

the

by

Of

by

men

mouth-fillingcourtesy

possible,and

here

terrifying. The title

almost

of insult

born,

born

the

to

as

outside

other

hand,

bom,

what

of

long

as

Frau your

is not

a

any

Fraulein"

"Wertes to

and

of

person

In

gracious lady)

a

letter

one

credit

well-bom.

only

see! is

attention

high

or

be

for all the world,

Shops good) "90"

in

love

on

the

merely

acknowledged including the

writing to

On the

among

to

is

rightlyentitled

are

really belong

delicate

to

as

tle sub-

a

Germany

highly well-bom, If you

any

und

envelope provides

flattery.

ways al-

simply

are

lady without

a

insult

be.

"Hochwohlgeborene'" Portiers

called

irritatingto be publicly branded

if you a

of

or

may

the third, how

the

round

way

from

the

well-bom,

case

be

to

case

Durchlaucht.

title of

(Highly honoured

simply

has

dle," "han-

in the

all,except

of

an

high society. Even form

than

punctilious "Hochvereherte

the

gnadige Frau" of

at

complications

all the way

(Worthy Miss), gentility, to

the

salutation

all ranges

at

fairly

older

woman

this letter-writing

in

course

dodge them

to

royal blood, who

of

not

pitfalls

many

irrespective of her

title

no

artistocracythe

have

every

''Gnddige Frau'

as

the

of address

proper

certainly less

are

Among

cognomens.

SINGER

to

you

employ the

(as latter

the

on

which

always begins "Highly

Miss"

and

achtung"

Brown,"

"Miss

say

when

they usually

must

never

"How

Sister?" "How

is

your

Herr

Yes! and

of

for

is very

deal

great

a

Father,

Parents?"

en

person's

a

added:

being

Fraulein

or

for

phrase

curious

a

Miss

or

You

Miss." of

members

the

men,

young

are

parents

strictly

the

being

"

question.

Etiquette

requires

of

should

we

as

"gracious

the

to

they

Mother, Herr

Frau

form

if

Mr., Mrs.,

There are

correct

stick

the

is your

gracious

VorziiglicherHoch-

So-and-so,

except

inquire

without

family

and

magnificent respect." Friends, just Fraulein

call you

course,

letter

the

of

body

honoured

"Mit

themselves

"with

"

the

it in

envelope, repeat

sign

HOUSE

OPERA

MUNICIPAL

SMALL

A

Germany

in

complicated study

we

expected

"Out-

the

from

of

lander." To

she the

forbid

regular

allowed

to

pass

dressers was

present

my

two

seasons

at

the

that

contrary

a

of

run

be present

might

to not

the

have

would

tlie theatre

to

return

"

the rehearsals.

to

of the staff.

member

porter'slodge. the

only

twice

in

or

Metz

request. "91"

and

No

one

There

at

then

that

any

one

else

was

were

my

rehearsals

on

forced en-

were

to

theatre, and

provided by once

rules

theatre

the

and found

We

rigorous

most

entrance

the

dressing-room,

my

sister

that my

lar regu-

sister

during

only by special

CONFESSIONS

rehearsals for the

The

stage door.

AN

OF

They

OPERA

postedat the printedor typed,but

day

next not

were

were

with chalk on script, They would be placed there at evening,and my sister used to go over

written in German

every

for

the blackboard. six o'clock

She could not read they were. all,neither could I, very well; so

take paper on

and

find out

to

what

me

scriptat to

SINGER

German she used

draw penciland laboriously

the board, chorus

thing every-

all,for fear of

calls and

missingsomething. Then, letter by letter,we would puzzleit out, and find out the hours of my rehearsals, if they had been written in cipher. She was ways alas

performances. I had to write,"I beg in the most for manner polite for my sister for this evening'sperformance," seat a box before half past eleven and drop it into a special present

in the

at my

morning.

Then

in the

evening,if there

were

a

placein the orchestra chairs,she would have often ausverkauft, it. On Sundays the house was sold out, so we generally boughta seat if I were singing that night, the safe side. The to be on on so as prices ranged from four marks for box seats, to five cents in the gallery.The orchestra chairs cost three marks (75 cents), but nearlyevery one had an

vacant

Abonnement, them low

much

or

sort

cheaper.

indeed.

The

of

season

The

chief

rates

ticket,which

made

for officerswere

cavalryregimentshad

"92"

/

very

the

the

infantry first

in the

furnished The

almost had

boxes

boxes

would

the

behind

the

in

singers

drink

frail

midst

fair

the drawn

generally.

has

road

of other

very

little misbehaviour

One

them.

for

Dragoon,

plumped instead,

down,

sabre

the

the bad

girl, whom mistress

of

a

white

Sunday

were

high

times

end,

an

most

the

gone

and

reallytoo

solemn

I

saw

all a

on

strong White

young

in in the half

missed

his

ness dark-

chair

and

the floor of the box

all, on

judgment

Some them

old customs,

up,

spectacleof

to

visit

and

joy of his comrades;

costumed

had

to

tall,coming

and

served

would

there

very

was

the

the lieutenants, except

pantomime, they at

town

come

a

will, and

performances.

among

evening

curtain

to

all

stage.

their favourite

to

provocation was

the

Christmas

dignity

the

six feet

over

after

the

equally charming

when

sometimes

their

of

at

loudly

toasts

unregen-

the

champagne

curtains, and

This

than

drawn

order

of

ones

be

to

seats

cavalrymen

young

entertainment

more

there, and

them

of

had

old

in the

ago,

full

curtains

rascals

young

despised engineers Years

balcony.

HOUSE

OPERA

the less important lieutenants

the

or

days, these

erate

of

them, and

between

boxes of

MUNICIPAL

SMALL

A

once

in

a

forgot their military

the

chorus

fat young

very

part

of

the

for realistically

ballet

the part

rabbit. is

usually

larger proportion

of

chosen the

for

the

inhabitants

"93"

first is at

night, as

libertyon

a

that

At

day.

given

Tuesday,

nights,with plays singing)

standard

four

the

in

Widow"

"Merry

eight or

ran

of the

of

contralto a

coloratura, and

do

to

took

another Then

like.

of

sort

a

the very

there

the

the

is treated

used

ceremony

lyric tenor, quite humble buffo

for

operetta There

two

were

and of act

a

or

more

in the

but

when

tenor

a

in

the

to

"heroic

by

the

sing, were

The

do

"young

"94r"

old

woman,"

and

pages

one

the

management

with

royalty, and

sometimes

theatre

times some-

was

is

and or

"dramatic"

a

the

tenor-

a

a

special

prospering.

was

position who

two

usually

was

tenor," who

only singers who the

months

comparison, and

bass, and

less anomalous

plays.

ful, success-

soubrette,"

There

toward

baritones, "heroic"

"comic"

if

a

"comic

plays.

parts," with

"funny

the

sisting singers con-

parts, who

soprano

was

of

or

like

seven

"opera

an

and

volunteer

every

leading contralto,a second

the

in

changed

soprano,

small

pay,

part

King and

cf

some

was

without

also

dramatic"

There

(farceswith

operettas

company

a

volunteer

who

a

was

"high

all sopranos.

Friday

during the

a

dramatic,"

and

produced, and,

times

ten

were

repeated three

New

also

There

season.

bill

was

opera

season.

were

of opera

Gesang

mit

nights. The

night, but each times

SINGER

Thursday

Possen

or

alternate

on

OPERA

theatre, peformances

our

Sunday,

on

AN

OF

CONFESSIONS

ous" lyric,a "seriother

two

"fill in"

men

and

did

thing any-

sopranos,

the

never

A

SMALL

MUNICIPAL

first contralto, and There

was

these, to

a

no

appear

Flora

as

the

in such

operas

besides

baritone. and

standing, were

of

scene

"Traviata,"

in

guests

s

and

all of

expected

"Tannhauser"

as

church

HOUSE

tenor

actors

their

what

in the

heroic of

company

matter

contest,

OPERA

in the

ing sing-

"Lohengrin," "dress

help

to

and the

stage." It is stand

the least of one's

not

the

on

stage

superciliousreal

troubles

as

beginner to

Ortrud, perhaps, and

as

actresses

these

see

dressed

filingout

come

beauties, cynically watching

court

a

as

at

attempt

your

acting.

Fach

and

Hero,

Young his

chief

the

however, Lover,

the

and

Salondame

ingroom

of them

Erste

Lady.

the

are

Vivant

(pronounced Bong is

and

his

has

younger.

fellow

always

and a

There

is

a

who

is

hero.

popular figure with

subordinate

funnyman,

soubrette "95"

to

do

Erste Draw-

Vater

Villain, and

Vivong)

Young

or

First

Helden

portant, im-

as

und

and

occasional

the

Tenor,

Nearly

Liebhaber,

the

Intrigant or

Mutter,

Komiker

Heroic

Heldin.

Lovehaveress

Heldin

general good

the

Jugendliche Liebhaberin

There

like

Jugendlicher Held

to

the Erster

are

Young

"

the

are

called

parts,

special designations

corresponding

partner

of

range

proper

and

Germany,

in

singers. The or

their

have

Actors

and

the Bon a

sort

of

The

Erster

the

public

usually much the saucy

maid

CONFESSIONS parts,

OF what

Naive,

a

Komische

Alte,

ingroom

ladies"

Spieler"

gen

should

we

funny old

or

character

soubrette

opera

and

giddy

cheeky maids

the

do

actors

were,

or

take

to

small

Meister

competitors The

gains

opera actors

and

the

military bands.

local sway

over

them:

the

with

arbitrary

power

operas,

and who and

was

who

directed "Haensel

the second

usually

a

acted

as

as

or

enced experi-

and

forty

once

"96"

from

Kapellmeisters

the held

autocrat

an

the

the old stagers

important tha" like "Mar-

the operettas, and

the third

learning his profession,

repetiteur for

Gretel"

fifty,reinforced

to

instruments

directed

volunteer

the

thirty members,

Kapellmeister

lead

pantomimes, und

these

about

from

Three

who

"Trovatore"

of

wind

First

who

as

"Tannhauser."

by having

of

and

brass

nobles, and

"Meistersingers" in

large

a

roles.

orchestra

in the

girls and

requiring four

composed

was

double

be, sufficiently sical mu-

operas

much

very

to

the

of the minor

Many

Preissingen

in the small

chorus

Our

the

in

parts

and

women,

school

to

of

act

''Char-

small

giggly

a

"draw-

minor

have

Telramund's

first

the

in

and

plays.

in

parts

as

and

tenor,

assumed

were

appearing

cast,

or

officers in the

young

several

The

men

the operetta

or

Ingenue, and

woman;

actors.

usually filled by chorus

are

SINGER

call

"gentlemen"

and

or

OPERA

AN

songs a

in year

the

soloists

the if he

and

farces, and was

good.

A He

SMALL

always

was

Rhine

each

example

chorus

or

Our

ballet

about

also

dancer.

had

She

father.

no

something

had

husband had

but

The

they

now

but

Last

Germany returned from

the

the

six, who

second

been

devoted the

to

the

and

so

a

came

held "Faust."

infantry regiments "97"

was

will

one

you

say

clown

other

for

years,

they

neither

support

the

in

of two.

find

not

an

just waited.

world

They and

told

her

and

tour

one

lighted de-

was

called

supers,

spears

some hand-

and

Every

the

solo

apparently

diey had long

and

boy's parts.

could

course)

married.

Statisten, who in

as

alone

from

least,

victorious

each

to

of

I

she

ceremony

returned

not

for

big

a

day;

appeared

enough

be

to

the

with

had

year

wedding

It

to

one

Balletmeis-

a

the

danced

usually

her?"

were

for

dancer

was

"

in the theatre

just

by

girls, Irene,

("August,"

engagement had

the

Irene's

earn

clown

He

leading parts

neglected

could

them

shared

is

to

solo

a

directed

the

have

to

coryphees,

During

"This

day:

there

"Rheingold"

in

of

little girl of about

a

theatres

besides.

composed

who

creature

direct

special repetiteur

a

master

of

One

good

as

men,

is

was

sixteen

who

terin

In

scenes.

daughter ought

there

herself, and chorus

the

of these young

several

are

to

duty during performances

on

behind

music

any

HOUSE

OPERA

MUNICIPAL

"Aida" were

received

in

and drawn

thirty

CONFESSIONS

pfennigs (7%c)

hour

turned

into

amusing.

their

cotton

gleaming through, and sided

before

had

but

ranked

were

the

all

they

brief

on

would

Vnteroffizier,who (Eyes right!) and

was

to

put

garters

their

elastic-

by,

on

before

the

they

would

we

dience au-

back

the

at

batches

in

or

us

on

that

so

pull them

mass

call out,

give

to

the

on

walks

our

duty,

sentry

on

result

glimpse of them

Sometimes

men

The

Fortunately the

conglomerate

a

riors, war-

and

kept

behind.

and

a

in

stage.

these

socks

of

military boots, with the tabs

sticking out

into

their underwear,

outline

and

made

they used

"Aida"

their

wanted

peasantry.

In

with

were

be

to

room

SINGER

arrived

they

tights over

dark

the

saw

one

big

happy

sometimes

pink

before

a

captives,or

OPERA

They

night.

a

Vnteroffizieran were

AN

OF

of

meet

with

their

rechtsT

"Au-gen

with

officers' salute

mighty grins of recognition.

principals of

The

singers

young some

sprinkling of

to

two

The and have

a

those

who

three

of

have

obtained

contracts

and

ones

it is "better

change

down,

years,

go

principals.

longer unless they

on

business"

get

"98"

are

not

are

singers of

with

way

The

talented

older

or

up,

way

usually talented

are

opera

the

on

influence.

by from

the

on

reputation

the

to

for Great

perhaps

their

a

ments engage-

usually for often

very

better the

ments, engage-

theatre

favourites

something better.

newed. re-

to main re-

Many

of

those

who

made

careers.

Opera

House

and

one

was

a

one

teacher

in

OPERA

MUNICIPAL

SMALL

A

engaged

were

Two in

Hamburg,

stage-manager in

a

at

were

Berlin

at

both at

the

with

the in

me

the

-99-

in

Metz

have

Charlottenburg

outbreak

of

the

leading positions.

Volksoper

conservatory.

HOUSE

in

war,

One

Vienna, and

X

CHAPTER

I

AND

DEBUT

MY

HAD

sing Azucena,

to

without

well

this

by

time,

left

something

the

present of that a

be

to

what I

had

native

bom

contralto

to

one

evening,

that

still that

explained voice;

my

and

no

they quite and

incompetent,

prove

German

sang

heard

capable,

dawned

powers

have

I

never

was

would

I

stage,

any

this

conversational

desired.

I

on

for

reason

Though

my

director

knew

one

The

afterwards.

me

HARNESS

first part

my

rehearsal.

upon

INTO

BREAKING

pected ex-

had

gaged en-

this

for

provide

contingency. I

When

sing

Azucena

spent

exits,

panic

stage half and

giving

which tenor

is

the

opera

was

a

the

me

all

the

decent

me

for

me

onto

have

that few

a

the the

minutes.

stage,

of

I

had

members

of

the

times

performance

the

possible.

colleague,

the for cast

year

sitions. pomy

had

before,

Tlie

though

and and

entrances

outline

to

something

preparation

many

"100"

me

merest

other

enough

should

I

confess

showing

together the

made

in

The

debut.

so-called

called

hour

an

I

next,

assailed

manager

That

sung

the

on

like

rather The

heard

lyric an

ab-

solute

high

which

voice

and

a

get

on

with.

as

yet

each

They

little

so

otlier.

They

fancy.

that time

I

day that

I fainted

I

when

began

there

did

sister

my

day

next

if had

knew at

all that

nervous

stand

and

up,

recognize

not

to

me,

dilettante

to

my

indeed,

received

well

very

question after

no

a

I tried

whenever

the

to

hardly

rich

horribly

so

was

was

type, easy

was

we

I

criticisms was

that

them me

I

true

enough

thought

sing

use. mis-

indifferent,for I had

with

However,

voice.

all the

to

and

soprano

all nice and

do

to

the

were

uninterested

somewhat

tlie tried

of

was

favourite, and

great

extraordinary

an

rapidly degenerating from

was

baritone

The

with

behaviour,

in

peasant

HARNESS

INTO

BREAKING

favourable, and

were

that

should

who

to

as

sing the leading roles. It

fortunate

was

for

that

me

I succeeded

to myself togethersufficiently at

that time

I have

force. the

singer had

called

but

you

they

and full

have you

season;

a

Kiindigung

contract

still in

was

until

valid

not

was

as

success,

a

of

successfully completed the number

are

I had

therein.

stated

Gastspielebecause

I

your

a

was

successfullymade then

remain

and

the

in

these that

management

"101"

ginner, be-

in the

settled

is

engagement

been

not

invariablyincluded

almost

Now-a-days

contract.

after

said that

for these

upon

of

system

performances

guest

a

the old

make

ing pull-

in

trial appearances,

engagement must

let

for you

OF

CONFESSIONS know

before

order

the

in

Metz

to

dismiss

had if he

coming

singer

his

guest

failed

had

He

public.

what

were

most

was

him that

thought big

of

kind

in the theatre

had

she had

fair

not

at

meantime,

had

to

her

for

and

after

his This

The

was

possessions and The

season.

which

is the

Germany,

in

flagrant case

a

the first three

of her

learn

two

expense,

have

thought

the management "102"

to

had

had

ished fin-

during

parts, providing

new

herself

of my had

engagement,

sing.

dition con-

of this

weeks

soprano

for

rangement ar-

of work

abolishing this unjust

weeks

to

the

chance

singers

dramatic"

own

not,

ing singer, leav-

poor

the

for

he

with

case.

my

all his

moved

"high

to

expected

success

the

in

the first three

costumes,

unfair

during

The

engagement.

which

in

There

affairs.

right

or

dismissal

to

expecting

institution

last succeeded

at

the

good

society,the Genossenschaft,

artists'

only protective has

had

make

to

established

himself

engaged

was

proved quite impossible.

after he had

year)

I

beforehand

(with practicallyno

stranded

ments arrange-

weeks, whether

three

liable

This

not.

make

theatre

a

that time

if he

they

to

When

after

also

was

time

appearances

in

first appearance, was

re-engaged or

of

January

(sometimes

season.

management

any

made

be

give the singer

to

the

for

to

are

you

SINGER

OPERA

first

February

first)whetlier is in

AN

role

a

She

which

no

had

had

secure.

idea

she

In of

a

the

keep-

her

ing

fill in

to

time, while

the

singer, who

that

she

her.

had

and

court

voice

probably

part, but the

become

sprung

The and

the

Elizabethan she

told

and

she

could

she

summer

velvet

sewn

a

tralto con-

do

such

to

of

to

on

up

wear

I

was

ginner be-

a

chance

part

was

dress

for

lady

to

me

a

as

it.

do,

gorgeous

silver

(which,

Amneris!)

touched, but

splendour,

the

long white arrangement

the front.

"103"

no

use

so

we

of

skirt of of

I

ranged ar-

pointed pink bodice

ladder

a

and

satin

the

and

gowns,

The

my

to

as

course,

court

lend

to

her

of

out

dress, with bands

first

glad

were

I had

in black."

"go

other

of my

asked

stage.

intended

also

something one

white

deprive her

not

of the

one

native

of

had

offered

of

dress

would

the

also

creature

me,

and

to

contralto

good

they

suddenly, and

me

advantage of

protest, being glad of every used

one

regular part for

no

think

I

first

dismissed

one,

A

been

being

appearance,

more

second

have

not

there

no

upon

small

very

three

it still existed.

while

Huguenots."

opera,

I made to

a

would

good stage

my

was

of "Les

in

the

told

gagement en-

for

report

take

not

even

course,

ladies

small

not

free, they

did

other an-

out-of-season

and pleased sufl"ciently

role

second

My

could

was

not

privilegeof

waiting for

were

filling an

good theatres

The

this

a

she

When

they

was

elsewhere, weeks.

merely engaged her

had

but

permanently,

on

HARNESS

INTO

BREAKING

a

pink

OF

CONFESSIONS I

remember and

suddenly

seeing fixed

stage manager, mock

to

the

sinister

of

that

Carlliof

the wings. was

lady

ceeded provery

I

all.

the sudden

have

should

He

at

and

me

up

the

doubt

no

court

a

role

looking

of

eyes

joltit gave

every

SINGER

entrance,

from

me

mental

that

realization

my

walk, which

not

forgot the

never

made

on

my

and

American,

I

as

OPERA

AN

different

a

walk. The

of

(line

than

at

parts)

to

role

a

Still,if of

a

to

it.

very

Difficulties

modem

which

a

is

taken

supposed

in

whose

mix

a

real

I had

up

and

stepmother.

success

great deal

far

Then

Flute," the Third "Faust,"

a

Fricka

was

great

a

looked Briinnhilde

part

Grace

Orlofsky

in

in

the

voice in

Third

prano so-

range

part.

one

Lady

the

"Tannhauser," Frau

portly

than

in

in

tunately unfor-

but

daughter

in

longer

"Walkeure,"

than

"Fledermaus," "104"

parts no

vocally, younger

the

came

in

like her

more

the

right

coloratura

styles of singing indiscriminately second

first

have

seem

composers

in

Fach

the

to

apportioning

bass, but

serious

a

tion. considera-

into

to

definitelyfor

write

of

singer

a

definitelybelongs

arise

operas, to

or

My

role

a

often

form per-

rigidly observed

personalityof

more

singer, he

certain

disposed and

is

to

upon

limits

the

more

were

the

when

present,

relation

is called

one

astonishing. Formerly

is

Fach

of parts that

range

her

"Magic

Martha Reich

in in

BREAKING the

"Merry

peter Witch

Sakkingen," "Haensel

in

All I did

in

on

men." finally "Carfirst year.

of my

I

repertoire when

my

and

Fricka

Metz, except

Diavolo,"

"Fra

in

Christmas

of them

in "Trom-

Grdfin

Gretel"; and

before

one

the

Pamela

und

these

have

not

arrived

of Windsor,"

Wives

von

HARNESS

INTO

the

and

Carmen,

latter in French. The beauties

of the

myself! with

We

theatre,

I

roses.

made

for

donnert"

stand

wore

Paris.

in

removed

the diamonds then was

said

of

palpably

I well

spoken German

remember

passages

for

the

in

to

because

Pamela were

she

had

Third

this

opera,

determined

"105"

their

and

all

pettiness I

German

ments orna-

any

make

to

self my-

that.

there

for I had

an

Mozartian

that

"aufge-

all ornaments.

Lady,

me

gave

speak

at

before

first time

to

of

not

naturallywould

without

way

the

could

course,

and

I let it go

nearly

They

at

go

criticallylistening natives, and that!

of

flowers

the best

So

conspicuous.

ladies

like that I

course

seductive,

lace, Bergcrystal neck-

said

and

and

draperies

be

to

The

Annoyed

them.

from

the

by

danseuses

Greek

were

beautiful

my

me

white

we

as

(thundered out)

out

They

course,

jealousy and

their

contain

of

in

done

were

premieres

two

dress

to

were

jewels,and

pink

in "Tannhauser"

three graces

to

speak

audience

of

German

at

tion. prostra-

nervous

I

are

should

with

an

do

it

English

CONFESSIONS accent,

OF

they said

so

it

OPERA

AN made

was

of fact, after the months

eradicating

and

thought

play the should

I

wretched

Otherwise eat'and

came

The

sleep.

ancient

written

could

script.

I

out,

my

sister

the

by aid of

and

it

plays

modem

into

was

the

awful.

it

so

to

dog's-

puzzle

again not

on

by

in Latin

one

script.

repertoire

my

it for

in

me

wardrobe

summer

it

cipherin it, de-

over

literallyone

was

my

quickly

I remember

was

who

played

and

who

was

caught his

at

the

also father's

colleagues called

note-eater,

when me

the

that

or

Kapellmeister told

so

and

they costumed

but

again

contralto

had

poring

it

it,as

Notenfresserin"

"Die

hours

it

in

was

service.

I learned me

so

enough

writing

in 1820,

dress,

called

for

time

letters

key, and

a

clothes

no

spent

to

illegibleGerman

almost

an

German

marked

torn,

take

not

the business.

part of the libretto

copy,

in

band hus-

my

hardly left the piano

I

dialect

manuscript

eared, and

so

and

I the

seen

played with

me

hearse re-

days, and

never

who

help

learn,

to

five

had

I

to

difficult suddenly

was

in

part

ter mat-

a

carefully-

in

I had

baritone

over

sister

my

order.

to

As

me.

spent

it

accent

mad.

the

for

I had

entire

go

thing, so

kindly

I had

it

exaggerate

to

an

English

my

SINGER

I

was

the strain

studying Pamela

least ten

Pamela

but

the

times, how

in his

father's

atre the-

English-speaking woman,

an

fancy

"106"

in that

role, that from

BREAKING then he

he

on

had

repeated to take

to

had

and

when

him

to

his

had

he

him

were

the Wanderer

he

doing

champagne

it

as

He

I

for ages,

in

from

I had

attacked

in

The

usual, but that

struggled

but

and

of

was

his up

direction

must

utterly incapacitated. the text,

in

Daland

in

about

the

rolled with

advice

his Eva

It seemed

to

befuddled a

creamy

"107"

relation white

the scene, from grease

spear

while

to

save

of that

was

Siegfried, waiting for his

that he

with

bottle

a

from

He

responses.

last

at

for

things not

"Walkeure,"

that

conscious

consequence

act, he

my

in self-

Perhaps

strain.

out

no

wine,"

the

upon

than

shouting Pogners

me,

escorted made

thought

Unfortunately

the

sent

perience. ex-

said,

began drinking

"Fidelio."

lurched

wings, realized

and

he

all kinds

sang

singing Erdas

was

the

badly,

Hunding

at

he

and

first scene,

s

bracer.

a

"HoUaender,"

pointed

have

I

nervousness

potent

in the third

scene

and

trying

decidedly irresponsible. He

was

bits from

sing

stand

to

more

through

stage

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DELIGHTS

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CONFESSIONS all

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DELIGHTS

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supply the

s

and

delightful surprise,

Japanese jar

same

a

them, wired

receive

Naive'

lovehaveress

young

above

or

to

upon

setting of the Erste scene.

SINGER

mantel-piece,

a

upon

could

they

AN

OF

tin a

as

How to

cups,

quite terfly But-

serve

girlsin "Thais"

to

bring

up

outsides Of of

SOME

STAGE

their

water-jars

the

is done

white

satin

Rococo,

which

clothes.

historical

with

costumes,

their

have an

The

shoes, supplied

and

old

of

the

suits

the

period. They

them;

months

the

retain for

the

which

hundred

a

in

a

men's

have a

been year

but

theatre

of the

black

during

velvet

it turns

were

the

"119"

and

safely

After

has

or

that

it

supply

to

its

their

the

must

women

men's

in

some

of

being actually

of

Metz

of

of

I don't

cleaned.

ever

times

past

clothes

period also, many

that

several

worn

of

ago

like

clothes

furniture

quite remarkable, years

smells

tury cen-

exception of wigs, tights,

collection

is sometimes

hair

principals have

men

the

helmets

long

of

wigs.

chorus

them,

to

The

own.

theatre

white

fore be-

(old German),

mostly

the

and

gowns

silver), until

even

accuracy

the thirteenth

to

up

and

"

means

matters

winged

and

rugs

period

and

and

Modern,

modern

own

the

example, everything

mantles

in

class

nightgowns

(Shakespearean

Spanisch

is all

with

historical

after that it is Alt-deutsch

brocade,

into

fur

in

Any

women.

or

For

flannel

and

is costumed

jet

well

Metz

the

simplified,and

are

men,

for the

of

of the aims.

one

Christ for

theatres

in

course

not

the

of

out

quite dry.

costuming

is

DELIGHTS

a

week

hundred

lieve be-

Things for years,

seven

ac-

CONFESSIONS cumulate

richness

a

sniffed

be

must

OF

and

fish-like smell

that

I had

the

for

the

in

triumph

is

business

squeamish

a

attired

in clothes

it is

feat

a

if he

nerves

belongs from

part before

the

the

not

principals. had

be

after

I have

down

run

say,

done

however, rather

the

have

big

a

women

the

more

that tliis state

than

the

service.

principalswere "120"

make-up

I

that

night

rag

their

and

of affairs

rule, and

cleanly.

dirty

less smart

or

overlong

their hands, Their

season;

where

white

washed

same

even

leading

with

of

the wrists.

whole

the

under

often

they

as

with

removed

garments

to

luckily un-

stomach

Metz

in

dressed

streaks

showed

arms

night during

had

they

popular

too

any

stopping conscientiouslyat would

quail, especially

may

when

case

are

for years,

singers, whose

among

in any

they

of unfortunates,

the number

rare

was

whose water

one

any

an

them.

Washing

women

to

affected

are

among

which

when

washed

been

way

your

Infantrymen,

best; but

that haven't

before

far

at

it

through

scene,

of German

Egyptian populace composed

wished

force

to

Metz

at

I have

and

Amneris,

ancient

very

wished

I often nose,

As

entrance

a

"

of my

since.

times

many

appreciated

indeed.

use

no

be

which

odours

variety of

and

to

SINGER

OPERA

AN

sonal perment, rai-

outer

hasten

must was

the

in better

ception ex-

tres, thea-

always scrupulously

STAGE

SOME Over is

ornamentation

usually looked

the

solid

had

made

and

I

time, that

reported

me

ne

avoir

pas

mind

after

and

always

"

much

more

tenor

played

safe

a

the

Carnival

played

their

removing

even

end

days

Saturday

on

had

of the

begun it done

have

enough, and purj3le

to

was

a

easily

a

Schauspieler

the

never

mained re-

they had bed,

to

till the fun

members

to

dyed Of

or

to

came

their hair,

they did

course

people, of

rusty

or

nearly

brown,

an

dye

his

and

became "121"

hair

very

a

it

as

not

often or

green,

quite startling. Our

were

good-looking man

portly and

with

morning.

shades

Kapellmeister used

shirt,

for his face.

going

grey.

it assumed

operetta

evening

night,

by competent the

were

same

in which

make-up

older turn

men

in the clothes

early Wednesday

Many

of

some

the

the

her

gance extrava-

Our in

used

he

changed

women.

season

which

time,

for three

the

of

freshly each

bosom

yellowish powder At

than

dressed

American

to

some

soignee de

she

Some

play.

whole

the

who

woman

it down

linen, for

Metz

in

However,

put

careless

powdering

mother

My

"'beaucoup trop

amant."

un

been

Alsatian

be

to

me

later on,

questionable,among

Germany.

in

I had

first,the

at

undergarments

in

dainty supply of be-ribboned

told

was

rather

as

classes

a

me

fineness

or

upon

middle

DELIGHTS

first

rich black.

He

He

also

vain.

over-heated.

Of

was

course

AN

OF

CONFESSIONS

SINGER

OPERA

-

neck

his

sensitiveness, and

his

him

behind

the

at

kindhearted

his

in

of this. had

and

had

difficult

matter

state

The

of

with

day,

one

succeeded

in

that

time

at

strain

nerve

Kapellmeister not

me

mind,

to

me

upon a

use

cold

praising

his

it for

weather

I

brand

piano

and

it

was

who

"Notenfresserin."

"122-

gave

a

in

a

over-fatigue. me,

telling

finallypressing

intended

split in

to

pounding for them.

sight reading he

not

cry,

probably

by prescribing collodion my

hearsal re-

room

silk handkerchief

fingertipsused

much

a

comfort

new

had

vile humour,

always

was

continuous to

stance in-

one

me

work, and

my

he

His

from

praised learning

huge,

days!

to

his best

did

sacrifice, as

real

his heart

owing

making as

was

complaint against

trivial

some

a

of

midst

the

into

He

him.

in

beg,

urge,

remember

I

and

stage manager,

storming

come

me,

The

sittingdirectly

would

he

tensely in-

knew

We

it.

sit beside

to

way,

in

be

would

see

delight

piano, though us

he

should

we

took

finally command

and

and

too,

fear

for

down

perspiration running

black

dyed

was

worried

"

the

happened,

this

when

me

and

I

and He

to

the won

tinually con-

quickness

the nick-name

in

of

XII

CHAPTER

MOISTURE

MISPLACED

AND

STORY

THE

A

OF

COURT-LADY

Bohemian,

THE in

always

add

to

eating

garlic.

The

"high

engagement

next

I

went

sniffed

I

train

of

I drove it

to

the

me

I

have

of

much

really

you

while

wished, of

the

clothes

worn

have

all

on

In

senses.

kinds

from

the pression im-

and of

At

it.

like

smelled

town

first

stronger

place

couldn't

whole

often

atrophy

fustiness

bathing,

I

"

temporary

the

but

and

The

The

odour.

"

soprano! for

hotel

alighting

on

by

soprano

Croatia.

stronger

grew

work

in

joy

familiar

strangely

familiarity the

to

came

a

sing,

to

singers

dramatic"

from

was

Prague

to

Croatian

one's

nearly

my

time

and

Hungarian

the

as

last our

stage,

addition

to

infrequent horrors

to

endure. terrible

Some

and

enunciation

spray

you or

with

copiously

Freude.

with

creatures

This

a

passion dental

unfortunate when

uttering

always "123"

seems

words to

for

distinct

formation, like

happen

ter Mutin

CONFESSIONS

OF

impassioned

some

from

away

Others and

I remember

lyric

one

hands

had

because

he

soprano

and

I had

she had

to

which

(the hand,

I dared

Hand,

cold), and did

her

so,

that it

came

had

to

turn

but

not

voice

in

speaking

the

warm'

so

of his

clammy

instead, "Die

say

moist,

so

so

enough she

both

pianissimo. We in silent

the

was

subject and

in

suppressed laughter,

the front house

The

opera,

one

point, sure

tremulous

in the

fish.

weich,

so

shaky with a

in

you.

bugbear

my

(The hand,

to

from

horrible

a

him

night, to

one

came

so

away

soul

is

it

out

a

This it

when

was

Hand,

kalt"

feucht, so

so

with

''Die

her

painfully cold

or

fresh, cold

a

soft, so warm),

so

member.

who

tenor

like

say,

wet,

defence.

they persistently paw

scene

a

simply can't get

absolutely no

and

which

with

hands

SINGER

you

have

painfullyhot

have

wet

when

scene

and

them,

OPERA

AN

I

convulsions,

wiser.

might enlarge

upon

endlessly, recalling for example, the pleasures of

being folded tenor

in the

smelling

embrace

best

at

of

of

onions;

large drops which

rain

upon

touching love

from

his

scene

though shuddering them,

even

or

of your but it is in my

a

with

you

damp

large, warm, still

or

the

worse

during the

manly brow, while

disgust, daren't

try

most

you,

dodge

to

change the wistfully adoring

sion expres-

honest

sweat,

It may

countenance.

demned

opinion.

a

moist

Goritz

be

unpleasant kind told

"124"

me

that he

of

once,

honesty as

Kur-

THE

wenal,

STORY the

in

last

Tristans

prostrate blind

was

of the

act

of

"Tristan," dripped

on

eye

so

long that the

tenor

their

in

Rhineland

die

from

came

brought

to

be

to

up

and

and

for

of

debut

first rehearsal

had

walks

with

taught him

from

keep him

in

that

we

I used

should

resting my and

be

not

voice

in

to

hanger,

he

showed

was

the

to

all his

packs

of these

cards

where

they

made.

are

other

how

were

"125"

to

with

in

to

for

hours, I

between to a

the

play, and

imported

from

our

more

when

used

us

reason,

for

talk

to

patience cards

friends

etc., in

intervals

simply infatuated

for

us

tapizieren for

any

We

used

and

come

play patience brief

holstere up-

Americans

play Canfield,

tempted

been

had

much,

and

us,

performances.

pretty little German and

to

tracted at-

opera,

any

very

talking than for

and

sister

to

sonal per-

youngster

a

criticizingthe hang of the curtains, We

their

by his groomed

met

never

like him

to

trast con-

finger-nails. He

always wanting

was

rooms.

my

care

"Tapizierer,"curtain

grew

go

He

a

He

we

let him

tea.

a

quite ordinary people, and

etc.

before

great

were

beautifully manicured

and

look

his

a

efficiency!

lyric baritone,

making

the very

at

me

Metz

at

poor

is German

scrupulous

The

appearance.

from

This

colleagues

others

COURT-LADY

A

day? after.

for

Some to

OF

play

so

was

hearsals re-

with

pocket size, game.

dozens

He of

Frankfort

CONFESSIONS The

OF

OPERA

in their

Casinos, and

the

always being roared

were

by being absorbed the

became

the

in

parts wait

great

for

at

first

the

Meister

after

her

act, until

rush du

make-up who

has

scene

at

the very

return

had

and

the very

until

Mary

It

small

then

had end

to

like

"Flie-

in

seemingly interminable

the

beginning

the

of

last of the third

she

singlephrase "'Senta,Senta,

amusing

for

our

ond sec-

has

to

willst

wass

tea, the little baritone

tales of his

while

doing

officers and

discipline,and

had

military

he

speak

Metz.

to

us

as

the

were

We

He

used

the

to

call

startingplace of

as

to

high

popular with

such

his

us

Our new

make

salted almonds, "126"

His

like

march,

"Frauleinchen."

taught him

delicacies

for

year,

on

stop singing

officer.

an

him,

to

cavalry regiment

a

him

something

spent

tell

quite unamenable

was

prison during his first

refusing

in

would

service.

made

voice

but

men,

experiences

his

spiritsand his beautiful

in

a

Canfield.

who

opera,

their

missed

of

those

the stage

tun?" In

us

one

at

in for the

they

"Meistersinger," or

in

gender Hollander" wait

an

keeping

game

of

of

act

and

in costume

in the

resource

to

tre principals in the thea-

waiting during rehearsals, when cues

SINGER

spread rapidly; all the officers began

craze

play

AN

and

to

ninety days offences

or

for

as

ing cheek-

goddesses, and

through

rooms,

culinary ideas like such

chocolate

in

ican Amer-

fudge, and

AMNERIS

AS

I

USED

TO

DRKSS

IT

STORY

THE hot

chocolate

with

mayonnaise;

and

vinegar

and

he

der

to

Bauer

The

country

to

doesn't

round

Metz

is

A

in

in the fall

that

Meredith's

Diana

Every village has of

topped tables, mirrors, three

running round drunk

coffee

every

one

them

of

initials.

of the table The

town

Can

into your

of Metz

I

think.

I

A.

card

same

you

own

and and

the kind

gather.

to

M.

some

still

benches have

We

room.

in

dare

say

spring

in

many

of

circles

board

flipthem

we

from

der un-

marked the

edge

hand?

itself is "127"

selle, Mo-

meadows "

beer-glasses which

customers'

their our

them,

The

Maibowle

and

autumn,

still using the

are

with

in

the

of

sides

stone

grey

upholstered

red

and

its

of their marble

in the arrangement

absolutely French

the

orchards

"Gasthaus,"

its

course

its

retains

crocuses

four

at

in

long lines, which

their sides.

got up

the

(What

It

with

lavender

filled with

are

proverb,

placid river,

hills covered

tiling,piled steeply up

palate,

rarely beautiful,

vineyards,with picturesque villagesof red

oil

eat.)

character.

autumn.

between

runs

burgher

frisster net"

kennt he

in

with

sweet

Bavarian

the

us

know

gold

pure

quote

poplars, planted

typical French

of his

for

half-German

half-French,

turn

much

net

doesn't

peasant

too

like fruit salad

him

mixture

of

unheard

an

cream,

make

to

the

but

was

used

ice

tried

We

combination.

'Was

for

sauce

COURT-LADY

A

OF

interestingenough, and

explored

we

it

chapels, a

Gothic

mediaeval

wall

die

which

moat

On

returning

baritone

from

once

entered

we

doing

was

old the

of

surrounded

once

its

at

took

short

a

We

town.

the

by

the and

east

through

cut

female

head

nearly

remarks

frowsiness, and

dialect

and

an

a

reminded

of

me

I had

queer

women,"

unpleasant

certain

heard

which

walks

and

curious

quarters

tales.

and

but

We

avoided

thereafter. "128"

both

in

with

us

grew

as

we

sides, a

purple

with

it "the

we

fervent a

street.

experience

eastern

of

when

in oriental

of intelligible un-

shrieks

into such

little

named the

half

into the most

apologiesfor unwittinglyleading us was

the

street

narrow

faster, and

he broke

square

open

we

of

part

comments

little escort

confusion, walking faster reached

a

on

yelled at

Our

getting

was

varying degrees

in

and

were

laughter.

hideous

in

window

every

he

as

performance,

looking houses,

thrust, all

was

it

unfamiliar

an

ourselves

found

respectable enough of

the

of

the little

gate, and

eastern

hour

the

soon

passed, out

with

walk

long

a

part that evening, and

small

a

unpleasantly near

our

seen,

entrances.

west

VRCiSTiTjT

be

to

remains

fortified gates

great arched

with

town,

It

still

brick- work;

cathedral, and

and

ground

ancient

walls

Roman

are

SINGER

It is very

characteristicallybeautiful

with

of

OPERA

thoroughly.

there

indeed, and

AN

OF

CONFESSIONS

and

cities

of

street

of

gateway

in

Later

joined our

theatre

family who

a

French

pronounced of

enough

to

other

things, to

the chorus of

formed

his

the

of

composer

if

had

that

creature

what

is to

a

young

was

a

conduct, the longing

through

of

in his

fellow

the

not

know, but

rendered

any

tual, quite ineffec-

thorough musician;

a

Kapellmeister

as

of

At

reallymagnificent pianist,a

out

was

them

among

members

new

did

was

customs

business

language over

regard dis-

anything but enviable.

promise, and

creature

a

ever

his

they

of their

"h,"

an

which

German

a

was

before

nonchalant

most

servatories con-

guage. lan-

German heard

never

which

opera

he

the

combination

a

position was

time

same

of the great

one

spoke

It

authority he might have and

in

the

in any

lent of excel-

Frenchman

"einstudieren"

his version

course

ducting con-

gravity of

official himself!

house

in

the

and

the

upset

gain experience

inabilityto aspirate

stutter,

gender,

pick

have

I

German

His

the

to

pay,

a

he

thought

Such

to

This

hoping

was

studied

had

and

since.

to

He

orchestra.

an

attached

youth,

without

chance

occasional

sometimes

ter, position of third Kapellmeis-

volunteer

realitya

an

or

talented

anomalous

an

colleague

walking expeditions.

parties and

tea

in

in up

another

season

immensely

an

was

the

in

COURT-LADY

A

OF

STORY

THE

medium "129"

in

element Metz.

position to do?

to

of

his

he And The

interpretthe great an

but was

yet sire deters mas-

orchestra, possessed

CONFESSIONS him

orchestra

conduct

to

was

been

though

mine,

across

a

erected

experience" was

"no

SINGER

point of obsession; but where

the

to

OPERA

AN

OF

problem.

The

his

path

across

he

must

find

to

serve

an

barrier it had

as

an

ticeship appren-

somewhere. musical

The

life of

reasons

same

veritable

a

dream.

He

isch

gently

him

out

he

as

of Nikisch

made

he

Whoever

cuffs.

his

pupil

a

has

begins

and

me,

to

for the he

so

and

told

his

career

half

watched

him

conduct

dured en-

of his

in the pursuance

martyrdom

was

told

had

attracted

it had

as

attracted him

Germany

Nik-

us

with them

shoot

will know

what

he

meant.

Our

rooms

were

him

in

a

that

us,

language that In

master.

He

playing. he

revelled

as

a

our

the

was

"Hoch

suggest

Strauss'

"Salome"

in it,and

he

windows.

piano and

past, and

he

for hours, till

get ready for "130"

some

in

his

in

and

of Jochanaan whistle

would would our

lost

get

time

supper

Seebold,

Emma

rush

would

for

the

then

new

the baritone

good friend

Dramatische/'

hurry and

and

under

orchestra

the motif

Sometimes

play our

rocked

brand

was

of his

gorgeously

so

whole

adopted

I

boy,

instead

servant

play

a

this

for

things that absorbed

upright piano

could

signal which

under at

little

his

was

would

he

return

our

strain.

talk of the

he could

think, where

haven

of

sort

a

and

mythical

urge

us

dinner

the to to

which

we

owing

to

We

This

invited.

were

Seebold's

with

back

head

had

her

fascinating Viennese

us

which

trimmings

gloves

and

rooms

utter

got

lack

his was

he

astral visible

suis

est

and

head rienr

resemblance dressed

tumes. cos-

had

she

mildewed

met

at

our

their

and

je

"

say,

He

was

to

the

well, and

look

bien

vais

"Non,

at

natural The

man French-

believed or

la

it and

say,

his

washing "131"

or

aujourd'hui "

good looking, bearing portraits of

Oscar bills

that

something

aujourd'hui,"

pas

tempt con-

and

his hand,

lightaround

of

aura

it up

la

He

crazy.

psychic envelope,

or

an

as

hold

would

oui, elle his

body,

other.

each

certainlymildly

was

silk

cheap.

were

the

and

contact

for

felt

they

that

of

surprisinglywell considering

on

points of

of

of

pathetic.

was

often

baritone

the

pianist and

The

it

they

boxes

her

over

spotted and

ones,

songs

ends

irresistible,and

all because

them

loved

and

ones,

purple

and

ones

green

in

ning eve-

passion

home

all

saw

also

were

Her

and

sew

she

richness

The

Bargain

would

she

peasant

send odds

passementerie and

of

scraps

in the

accent.

would

she

and

our

would

and

sometimes

languorous Austrian

sing

spent

lovely voice

a

and

remnants,

was

often

and

chair

her

on

her

of

fond

evenings together. She put her

always successful,

was

talent.

very

grew

COURT-LADY

A

OF

STORY

THE

"

a

"Ah, shake

je

ne

strong

Wilde.

amounting

He as

CONFESSIONS told, with

were

we

week

marks

a

Since

those

days he has

OPERA

breath,

bated

were

"

scandal

gone

back

Kapellmeister position in

I have

met

of the

one

whom

I have

cared

we

at

They

were

a

"

hair

of the old

by

the

a

soft

as

Wanderer coat

pearls and

in

Hereditary Grand

very

in

whenever

present with

it

felt hat

a

In

which

the

help

in

rightagain, he

gave

trouble.

would

any

long dyed

Duke

of

Geh-

in

which

diamonds

the

reposed presented

Glumphen-

cause

he

street

his

of

course

the

If he and

wore

for

done

have

always send "132"

director

always

tie in

a

least

wished a

the

for

excuse

a

a

furlined

panacea

had

we

day.

every

rather

universal

his

singer for

said,

First the

would

weather was

whom

something, during

or

"Siegfried," and

Champagne

one.

large

a

Heldenbariton.

black

is

Metz

season

them

of

group

school, with

bergen-Schlimmerheim career

from

I have

as

dyed moustache,

monogram

he

friendly enough with

were

we

that

ones

in their way.

(frock coat) with

him

only

with

enormous

a

house.

opera

Kollegen

Christmas, and

all types

and

royal

to

the

the hotel

survival

rock a

after

obtain

to

again.

seen

were

piano, though

Europe, and

over

old

the

of

about, though

all of them dined

few

ever

three

These

casually all

very

his

good

a

theatre!

the

of

to

fifteen

and

ten

long enough

second

him

SINGER

to

the

the theatre

perseveredin

he

AN

OF

"

^his

ment disagreeto

make

bottle of Sekt

if it it

a

were

and

day,

He

known

others

coloured

broken

the

hobby,

his

enough

amusement

so

upon

much

dahin, moecht

"Dahin,

tick mit

"Moecht

colleagues

among

his

is

"t"

it is

his

former

result

people

to

Germany

of

or

daughter

to

our

by

us

as

us

any to

director as

a

if every

for

a

former

bore; but

the "133"

Mignon's

it sounded

of

that

famous

that

was

singer

and

it also actor

or

had

profession, sent This

famous

sort

tremendous

a

fame, who

to

in either

debut.

like

gastieren

to

hidden

director.

glory

pretension

launch

the

on

this theatre

to

came

seemed

of

as

upon

aggerated ex-

insisted, for

He

Anything

tier." looked

less

or

dirj^ that

ich mit

sult re-

naturally

absurdly

phrase

a

and

the

was

more

in

the effect

were

were

Personal.

joke, especiallywhen One

ideas

much

the

among

example,

like

but

caused

and

that "

every

strained

the

Aussprache

"

rule,

and

care,

voices

closed,

tone

every

"

wrecked

ery finger,ev-

every

the singer

on

Diction

it.

minutest

of

stories

ing, really interest-

strictest

to

in his

his reminiscences

His

were

inch,

an

with

schooling

nerves,

of

to

if

one

singer

and

so,

regime,

according

syllableenunciated all this

old

the

studied

gesture

of

more

prescribed position of

the

opened,

far

famous

a

buy

to

interesting enough.

be

under

Bayreuth

been

had

man.

could

with

present the money

or

woman,

a

were

COURT-LADY

A

OF

STORY

THE

was

guests

looked were

a

in son

them upon

rather

CONFESSIONS

relate

to

them.

at

they had

all kinds

of

renowned.

most

The

told

director

speeches would

be how

and sheet

the upper

on

after

showed

told

He

a

performance those

about

similar

negative side

technique

stage

mechanical dramatic

tale of

the end

scientific

out

a

still

had

scion

honour

as

at

an

famous

the most

in

the

guest-

his

day of of

feel."

the

house. exclusive "134"

his

towards

too,

utilize such

places

soliloquy for thinking his

power

the

over

lost its effect.

never

upward

had

He

genius, and

could

story

loved

ancient

mand, de-

Austrian

mechanical

so

Hamlet's

own

tlie

office

seats

of

to

histrionic

puzzles, although

and

met

of

on

places,

would

empty

not

or

that he

as

director's

The

While

feel

of his audience

emotions

he

parts

eye

never-ending argument

become

of his career,

in his great

his

box

the

exponent

the

in

"to

had

art

sioned impas-

most

gallery, at the left?"

well

as

when

three

artist, the leading Teutonic the

chorus.

gallery,counting empty

of the top

row

soloists and

Shakespeare

or

haps per-

Manfred

recite

ausverkauftes Haus'he

an

"What

second

the

was

to

our

about

stories

during the

Goethe

of

director

von

came

with

how,

us

the

derogatory

He

specialperformance

a

SINGER

gone,

Ritter, Ernst

Possart the

OPERA

AN

when

because

amusing, used

OF

was

side wife She court

real

a

of

the

of

a

romance.

hill of

fame,

nobleman,

had

been

in

Europe,

the

maid-ofthe

con-

AMNERIS

AS

I

NOW

DRESS

IT

THE

STORY the

of

fidante

royal family, and

story of many

true

off her

hurriedly

knew

altogether too

singer for the lady a

boy

born

was

his wife,

him,

whatever mental

he may

brain

had

to

of his gave

her

the

their youngest

charming

sister

several

roles

I still have with

and

a

the and

divorce for

He

of young

Familie, fair, with

send

to

for was

an

the

delicate

slimness,with long slender "135"

in

crack

invited

She

family

liked

he

sent

features; his and

very

in

filled

me

which

for

of the

aristocrat

me

flowers.

wonderful

photograph

limbs

a

the whole

example

officer,the

sons,

too.

which

bowl

of her

lieutenant

me

a

boy all

little

together. He

opera

green

a

This

daughter

their

him, and

meet

return

begged.

type

of six

age to

another

visit them

to

used

huge

violets, in

he had

to

me

attended

often

of time

dren, of their chil-

care

son,

times

fellow,

young

cavalry regiment, used my

the

quite softened

the director's

and

twenty,

together. At holiday

most

she

begin with.

have

in Metz

girl of about

a

get

of

course

the

dissipation had

time

condition

lived

to

secrets

consented

husband

ried mar-

rather, I think, his lawyers consented

or

and

in

reached

them, who

to

by that

as

been

infatuation

mutual, and

was

in court

husband

older

The

many.

the noble

before

years

much

her

have

to

the

know

to

royal circle of whose

the

from

away

supposed

was

to

said

was

mysterious incidents

of the

In fact she

history.

COURT-LADY

A

OF

of

most

gant ele-

Uradlige

six

feet

of

littlebody,

CONFESSIONS clothed

OF

his

in

Hussar

smart

been.

His

contracted

influence

as

to

for the

the easiest

The

Her

tragic end,

director's us

to

rooms

wife

visit her

of Austria, in

castle

She had

done,

head. the

same

after us

She

a

being braided,

she

of

of

nice

silk to

we

to

see

one

promised

malignant fate marriage, to

came

tell later to

us.

did

so

relics of

den sud-

a

on.

often

She but

her

seldom.

former

life

the

press Em-

in them

person

her

hair braids

narrow

were

the

as

set

age." "personEmpress round

her

morning

every

grande

dame,

were

at

together with

stand

effort,but there "136"

hair

a

her

as

them

make the

sewn

and

terraces

on

groups

they

always played

quite without

of

to

himself

life that

a

I shall

still wore

coloured

transferred

press, dress, portraitsof her Em-

every

that

people, but

lady-in-waitingto

as

coronet

said

tell his

of that first

although

court

almost herself

in

sort

very

photographs

gates,

A

filled with

were

old

of

as

was

portraits of herself

"

out

He

tragedy.

into

daughter also

young

have

plea of wanting

the children

pursue

most

invited

way

his

should

quietly shot

misery.

charming

and

the

on

the

of

front

tummy

not

had

He

himself

get

there, he

nothing but

seemed

to

Africa,

Arrived

service.

evening

his

little story turned

poor

West

SINGER

the

across

consumption and did

German

him

creases

jacket where

their

used

OPERA

glove-fittinguniform.

three

fashionable

AN

stories

up.

With

apparently about

her

THE which

STORY

seemed

She

had

who

court

ever

It

letage. One her

be

could

something

drowned!

dragoon

in full

hide

we

begged been

her

Her

of

and

armour-plate therefore, she ball a

at

which

Frau

there

as

she to

dressed the

In this

the Countess

the

she

said

fish

thing

was

showed young

a

letter

a

story

prude

great

there

that

of

Countess

the

and

the ways al-

was

herself the

Direktor, quite

Frau

resolved At

test.

herself

as

a

disguise she then of

her

"137"

life.

to

young to

time,

officer for be present,

according proceeded The

sufferab in-

such

put

Carnival

Hofgesellschaftwas

rush

could

exaggerated wifely devotion.

said

virtue

a

plate. There

evidently She

us.

decol-

forward

all,holding

was

one

carry

shapely

married

young

her

so

to

to

Direktor

and

lady

a

her

little

poor

her

any

leaned

the

dashing figureshe made,

very

picture.

As

of

before

slim

very

known

became,

airs

the

tell it

to

was

boasting

front

regalia,cloak and

certain

a

who

court,

a

dog that

into

and

soup,

his face.

to

had

dog fell

time

of

of

was

she

as

entanglement, the

Another

up

the

in

dinner

in the

photograph

a

tales

tiny that she used

so

at

the

soup,

of this

it out

her

of interestingly

the smallest

was

night

vermicelli

was

of

evening dress,

in

eat

most

owned

seen.

it, when

and

she

talk

One

grandeur.

of the

a

that

certainlycould

former

us

show

to

COURT-LADY

different.

very

to

A

OF

to

to

the

give

gallant pur-

CONFESSIONS sued

the

her

Countess

virtuous

rewarded

by being

home.

herself

cast

Arrived retreat

into

Lieutenant

share

in the

unassailable the

great

her

and

swore

"Lieutenant's"

she

did

kiss

took

never

resemble

not

and

satisfaction

out,

was

of

the

tell, for

never

story leaked devotion

place.

and

her

at.

entirely,

adored beat

a

next

But

the

him.

hasty ing, meetished van-

gentlemen the

-138"

of

Countess'

reputation for

irreparably damaged, all her

to

his secret

to

things for their

of

sorts

was

ladyship

suddenly melted

his arms,

naturally

Virginia who

escort

evening, and

pressing, when

creature

vowing all

which

to

SINGER

house, the "Lieutenant"

her

at

all the

asked

still more

dismay, the fair

OPERA

carriage the

the

In

became

tentions

AN

OF

acquaintance.

to

CHAPTER

PASSIONS

HUMAN

the

AT

still

We

time.

first

time

where

at

after

dining the

arranged all

trying

in

second

Coloratura, Just

as

Regisseur,

daughter

take

our

stage

the

and

sister

Herr

noticed

S

Chef," Dramatic,

all

were

that

of

drama,

"Bureau

ourselves,

seating

were

the

High

myself

ner, din-

ways

of

manager

hotel

o'clock

two

unsuccessful

of

sorts

the

for the

at

mained re-

for

running

him

Heldenbariton,

my we

and

Kapellmeister,

Heldentenor,

the

been

by

ily fam-

they

had

given to

The

private.

first and

wife

luncheon

where

country,

opera

his

director's

the

season,

the

the

met

a

had

we

the

in

until

SMALLPOX

AND

of

beginning was

some

XIII

invited.

Schauspiel

the there

teen thir-

were

,

at

up,

the

table.

scarcely

and

although

the

director

certain to

to

insure

die its

he

within not

being

him

that

year

one

as

himself

"139"

a

prevailed

be

followed

the

as

it was,

by

to

upon

the

into

of

sheet, jumped

hurriedly

apologize,

to

protested

He

white

as

stopping

could

nor

room,

turned

He

hall

left

return, to

number

our

and

he

refusing

monstrate. re-

was

wished to

sit

down

for the Director's

true,

suddenly

was

with

identification his

had

He

way.

and

with

me

pern-Personal kept of

sort

which

day

that very

pride

great

a

girlof

he

took

and the

a

tell

He

unpleasant

ungrammatical French, always

referred

to

and

routine sorts

long

that

He

bad One

in her

I

"That

met

and said

was

season

"140"

belonged the most man his talis-

was

among

name

of the little first season, in her

rapid,

her; and

she

be

esting uninter-

an

of

who on

was

to

of

beast!"

equipment,

houses was

a

quite elderly man

mediocre

of opera

career.

bore

it

tales of him

that

tended pre-

pocket

had

women

whenever as

of a

personage,

all

him

Heldentenor

Our

the

girl of good family, me

He

patent-

leer that it

a

the company.

players in

actresses, to

left him!

never

women

used

where

country,

my

his

American

the

of the tail

out

with

gratiati in-

with

American-made

feet in the world, and

beautiful

and

luncheon, he showed

before

small

a

of

out

me

veneer

for

I

as

that my

variance

at

was

his frock-coat, tellingme to

spurious

admiration

shoe, which

leather

thankful

always

was

the 0

enormous

an

very

person,

passion-scarredcountenance.

square,

woman,

I

a

unpleasant

most

a

manner,

hard,

came

step-daughterdied

young

later, and

discovered

prophecy

after.

soon

S

Herr

SINGER

his

Curiously enough,

all.

at

OPERA

AN

OF

CONFESSIONS

enormous

had

the last

in

sung

lap

of

a

nearly sixty, and

HUMAN

PASSIONS

quite bald, but

was

youthful been

it

at

AND

he

managed

the

long that he could

so

anything

legs

Diavolo"

"Fra

make

in the cafes,

nor

show

delighted to would for

whine

for

and

sit up

very

amusing

of

his

would

shake

forced all

yet his natural heard

even

to

and

woman

peasant than

He

never

seen

colleagues. tricks

The

little

Gage

he

thing

bass, howl

a

Direktor's

master

coming,"

(salary,)in

a

intenselyproud

was

he

say:

she I say

"

and

the little

in

was

and

he

lovely

voice

He

manner.

high

a

sang

peasant

a

a

agonizing

when

over

season

accent

most

a

note,

and

ranged easilyto high D sharp

I

"

him

sing

him

the butt

E.

an

and

tells

me

to

Mischnongj"

that he

class. had "141"

dialect

His

and

of the company,

took

"Yes, I know

of better

study

first

droll

goodnatured

very

used

the

a

voice

ignorance made

He

of

with

Swabia, he

was

his

his

growl for

the word

at

at

sprightly

was

one.

every

told "The

and

way,

with

soprano,

beg

His

tiny dog, whose

a

when

lyric tenor

which

have

a

attempt

accomplishments.

The from

and

was

off to

bark

tenor,

a

the streets

joy

greatest

had

quite adolescent.

were

discreetlyto himself, and

His

He

an

kept himself

on

ingly surpris-

a

stage.

youth.

even

"

make

to

on

appearance

acting almost in

SMALLPOX

it all in

wife

my

"

She She

was

had

had, and

is

a

but years

French I'm

of

a

older

helped him out

he

good part.

Mignon,

say

but

his

to

gratitude

OF

CONFESSIONS

they

were

SINGER said

disagree

to

consistently.

very

Heldenbariton

The

burly with

good voice;

a

he

of the chorus, second

The

she

our

her

furious, by

Her

dream

very

fat, and

food

that dined

had

to

the

of

us

until creed

absolute a

smaller

were

if

only

several

failure.

She

did. she

daily, and from you

of

a

but

later

of them on

to

Sie

fair,

capacity for surpassed.

been

who

meal

salt?''

passed a

was

more

colleagues. the

German

the person

no

the

tura colora-

very

never

hold

repletion, and

"142"

a

that had

dish

all my

"Sind

had

woe

could

was

I

sing

to

and

speaking

woman,

I

make

"Monatsoper"

a

equalled

seen

himself Eat

to

lazy, and

very

with

her!

mine

feet,

to

"Tannhauser,"

and

than

I have

serve

tion. admira-

used

lyric baritone

Dutch

a

accent

She

never

(Russian Frontier). The

was

more

ture, crea-

was

one's

some

the stage too,

on

go

Grenze

with

short

the

together in April

soprano

of

centre

weak

who

realized, I heard, when

was

Russische

part

of

"Lohengrin"

off

went

the

out

him.

vague,

little wife

insisting that to

was

hope

a

his vain

little friend

and

her

adored

who

inordinately proud of her small

was

in

pleased by marrying,

had

was

with

great favourite

a

Kapellmeister was

happy unless

pages

was

townswoman

a

henpecked by She

he

fellow, big and

nice

quite a

was

public, whom

the

to

OPERA

her, but

married

had

he

AN

Anything was

They

sidered con-

would

HUMAN

PASSIONS

each

ask

other

And

this

hotel

"

a

was

coloratura

I must

finish

for

was

anything

always looked

left

another's

on

if

as

that

the

placidly would

She

plate, and of

horde

a

them

of

most

long before

sight.

in

full."

against the

continued

she

ing Mean-

not

am

resentment

say

food

any

satt!"

"/

consummation

soprano,

there

as

of

cause

grave

this desirable

reached

full?"

you

management.

long

"/c/i bin nicht

gravely

literally,"Are

SMALLPOX

AND

locusts

as

even

table

our

visited

had

it.

colleagues of

Those

stamped

upon

much

so

that

memory

my was

profession, and

new

them

Take

all

me,

in many

cases

together they

were

general rule,

somewhat

vocation

for

although there They wanted

were

the

supposed

and

have

or

apt

are

failure of

be a

lot

be

to

it

presupposes

course,

of

As of a

a

markable re-

will, while a

certain

surroundings, notable

some

ceptions. ex-

the officers of the different

meet

The

where

refinement

been, of

to

us

to

and

acting stage

regiments.

smart

decent

surroundings.

actors

when

occurs

of education

amount

the

and

did

class.

higher social class than the singers,as voice

a

I think

pretty

a

they

as

social

new

a

are

nationality,a

new

a

"

considering their antecedents a

engagement

representing

"

to

new

first

my

Red

Dragoons

in

particular

all-powerfulin deciding singer, and "143"

the

the

cess suc-

colleagueskindly

thought One

ought all

we

of the

two

or

them, and

officers in just that find

it to

to

put

of

women

society,

good

a

had not

avoid met

these

and

liked

affairs

the

were

with

she

idiot, and

leaving the Metz flowers

also

sharing

soubrette, told from but

rage,

"He"

"

middle

of

it

the

over

on

soundly,

"Er"

had

sent

she her

her and

left

a

was

less harm-

showered

were

and

admirers, the

receipts. R

,

hers, still breathless called

umbrella,

an

He

roses.

that

every

it at

her

in

"144"

so

a

before

one

rooms.

him

anything

bound had

in

not

the

passed

might

see

When

expecting soft thanks, she berated succeeded

no

Jewess,

"Benefiz" we

never

of

foot-lights, so had

did

and

He

friends

our

day after

"

a

when

box-office

huge sheaf

but

had

each

the

us

that

a

splendour, called

the

their

Even

German-Polish

giftsfrom

in

we

years' standing

of

Dragoon.

engagement,

and

with

to

relatives,

our

system,

one

smart

a

We

thing.

little

nice

had

ungainly White

tall

days,

one.

any

soubrette

opera

a

to

the

of

outcome

went

Later

tremendously.

them

of

some

particular harm The

through letters from

officers

sister

my

invitation.

particularly pressing

a

hard

several

bed, though perfectly well, for

to

the

meet

to

sometimes

Once

excuse.

with

affairs

care

were

we

this.

of

advantage

course

I did

Marjorie and

as

the

have

to

SINGER

OPERA

AN

OF

CONFESSIONS

its

he him

enraging his usually

HUMAN

placid

PASSIONS

self

window,

tliat he

sending

One

threw

it

handsome

had had

at

been

time

slave.

her

approaching the

She her

box

a

at

from

with

theatre,

he

as

his

perhaps I felt sorry

me.

music.

He who

woman,

pitifully

was

evening the

in

him

but

idea

of

for her

we

saw

big

court

from

approached

infatuatedly at "

the

she

direction

one

right from

Dutch

one

noisseur con-

absolutely

was

"

theatre

notorious

our

a

the

below.

believed

distinguee

the

to

look

a

and

sister

my

and

smiled

without

in

through

court a

and

affair

Going

of

the

into

Dragoon,

sat

handsome

front

big sabre

women,

an

his

in

SMALLPOX

reputable passion

one

that

crashing

and

irresistible,always His

his

Red

of music

stage.

AND

he

a

passed

tribute

the

as

other. an-

to

joy left

her face. Several

charming

little

afternoon, the

we

strength

married

after, while

years

a

place where this

saw

to

touring we

same

shake

went

her

and

Holland, to

pass

She

woman.

off

countryman

in

German

looked

in

a

had

a

free

found

master,

had and

prosperous

happy. Neither word to

or

send

Marjorie look me

from

officer.

an

scribbled

phrases

received

ever

postcards after

night, closely greetings and

I

nor

over

of "145"

They a

Carmen with

admiration,

an

used

offensive sometimes

or

Amneris

signatures all

highly

and re-

CONFESSIONS

spectful.

It

OF

AN

OPERA

always pleased me

SINGER much

very

receive

to

these cards.

Genossenschaft members

The a

and

that

chosen

fete every

year

spring

had

I

around often

these

at

Queen.

Carmen

my

flowers, and much

fancy dress ball.

by popular that

the

on

scarlet

my

of

Quenousamong."

"Que

aimons'

French

that

touch

the

was

(To

Balls of this kind the

for

the

love), and

cousin, and

I

gold was

of

toast

originally

join

eral" "gen-

in.

The

for satin.

Satank and

the

Couzank

elegant,just as

a

great

trast con-

small-town

lives of these

usually simple

who

There

popular

highly popular

are

Rose

poems.

own

to

is

parade

to

was

was

considered

was

politeword

to

one

every

be

to

shawl.

to

we

lady

satin, with

This

those

A

had

of his

Spanish

"General

meant

ganize or-

portly Major,

a

black

drunk

cheap champagne

nous

of

books

dress

vote

and

time

arm

and

flowers

me

a

chosen

room

theatres

most

for the benefit of their society,

balls

was

the sent

wore

we

of

people. One

form

of

simplicityI

of eating their

quite general one

usually and

butter,

amongst When threw

the you away

out

of of

bit of

a

bits

objects on had

of

the greasy

paper

you

papers "146"

evening and

sausage,

the

finished,

adopted

never

table

supper,

in

their

the

the sisting con-

bread

black

casually put

simply and

was

down

bedrooms.

rolled

thing was

up

and over.

HUMAN

PASSIONS

Sometimes "comics"

our

in

stage a

meal

a

while, then clean

slowly

Often

the

as

that the

text

I

the

lay

on

"Trovatore," die

gesagt,

long

soldiers

the

Anvil rock

canvas

bars

"Winter Once

their "He

presented with he

time,

while

knees

with

was

had

to

a

his

glee

eat.

A

by

the

end

the

and

"I

told

Also

the

"

from

Apfel

and

the

always

opening

of

Mai."

Limburger

replaced by

other

wings.

gratefullyfor

less "147"

Sometimes

agreeable

was

cheese,

rejoicing colleagues slapped in the

to

now

say

Monat

Kar-

"

salad."

potato

"

in

laengst

Seife'

im

stance, in-

round

sung

in the first act

man

hold

for

soap."

apple

riechen old

welcome

schon

ring und

"

large lump sniff

to

a

to

rollickingreturn

his sister

Struempfe

in "Tiefland"

which

of

tastes

made

song

for

of Azucena,

Dir

woefully vulgar,

grows

of his love

me:

couch

nach

toffelnsalat." "Herring and Siegmund

would

learned

chorus

habe

the sausage

the words:

with

he

with

me

I

sie schmeckt

Wurst

ago,

to

of

of the

furnished

proceed

scenes.

*'Ich

in "Faust"

wars

and

of

his supper.

the

was:

back

all that remained had

behind

the

One

which

man,

performances supplied

relief

comic

at

always

up,

was

had

he

free.

sight of the audience

draw

picked spine

of the act, and

the

fish

was

of

out

SMALLPOX

captured

to

He

operetta.

suspend solemnly

you

had

in Metz

an

be

may

herring by the property

salt

me,

AND

a

long their

the humour

emotions.

For

OF

CONFESSIONS

Benefiz, the

my

of my

last year I wanted

sing Carmen.

to

I did

and

chain.

then

From

throughout the

spent months

act, I told

saying

be

him

in

I stood

I

the

I

stage.

From

nervous.

then

worse.

Everything

Howard

was

I

meant

nothing by

it,but he last to

act

make

caught

saying

grew

I struck

"

blacker

wrists

and

and

with

Jose let Carmen my

him.

pass.

festive

the second

could,

I

He

he

Warum?" I could

as

said

cause ''Be-

and

left

he

was

bad

from

to

to

that

whisper

the way

was

fan,

all

Jose, he thought

to

shouted, ^^Was "148"

own

went

blacker.

my

and

why

supposed

I tried

that that

it

him

said

in

in Paris

lost his temper

Carmen to

my

finallyI

things

on,

see

long

as

surprised, but

was

sword

not

warum?

till

his

business

nicely as

this

this he

At

to!"

want

on

hearsal re-

Carmen

talk before

"Aber

all the warums,

him

told

short

positions as

my

(But why, why?). and

changed

our

everything,

to

it I did

on

for

head

the role

prepared

study

finally

lordly tones

sung

of my

a

my

turn

in

me

often

most

I had

of

Therefore

night.

knew

should

business

of my

I had

I

making

directed

act.

as

until him

see

he

on,

first

expected it; also and

and

the audience

and

him

he

in time

come

to

was

from

tenor

Jose, and

not

see

first recitative

in the

Metz

not

I

engagement,

be my

would

He

come.

SINGER

popular guest

a

neighbouring Hoftheater to agreed

OPERA

AN

played

I

Finally in

my

usual

rushed

the

business at

me

faelltIhnen

and denn

the

("What's

em?"

the last

At

on.

go

face, and

my

I,

and

wife

dared

to

go

in and

jealousy.

He

had

could

bear

not

The

one.

todt

and

shall The

Metz

in

The

bin

cathedral

und

course,

not

houses

March,)

his

it

was

in the town,

with

any

all my

most

was

pathetic sym-

and

an

all

chimed said

wieder!"

("I

day

an

"/c/t

was,

dead

am

culminated

first year broke

that

and all

for

of

died

of

wagon,

the

"149"

a

fore just be-

It

through the outbreak.

by policemen and

to

it

The

carried

(this in February

hospitals.

of

it, which,

by the authorities.

open

driven

I

in

shortly before

out

Marjorie dreamed

her

called to

us

pressing de-

and

numerous

the natives

which

closed.

haunted

the

of

frightfullymismanaged the

room

again!")

come

happened,

were

I believe

one

to

before

hour

in

head

hardly hobble;

near

nicht

homm

depression

it

stood

dressing

performance

most

singsong, which

theatre

his

a

were

smallpox epidemic, the

to

every

to

kind.

bells

out-of-tune

had

he

my

popular

but

;

move

most

share

to

wrenched

and The

been

to

him.

calm

was

heavy dagger

half

a

day I could

next

seemed

bones

his

had

for

shouted

cried

and

the floor and

on

rushed

He

and

all

lay

corpse,

a

being hurt.

avoid

I

as

deliberatelythrew

he

me,

over

I

you?")

with

matter

nearly crying by then, but

and

frightfully upset

SMALLPOX

AND

PASSIONS

HUMAN

The

was

pects sus-

from and

Kaserne

CONFESSIONS or

barracks

in

our

We

where

both

and

eye-openers

last

nightmare

Our

dear

taken

was

died

shocks

many

this

that

unnerved

us.

suspects,

and

fumigated

and

of we

a

few

house, with

police seemed

to

bedding

carry

burned

in

used

poor

to

performances

Berlin

steal this

of the

afraid

was

on

We

street.

of

business.

were

bedding

but

crowded

"150"

were

would

leave

it

told

that

the

night.

not

Of

abandoned,

places, there

my

and

very

course

as

I

throat

be

to

The

take.

a

The

it.

and

at

it did

season

While

before

street

thing, and

houses

the

of

vaccinated,

were

whole

the

run

young.

the

in

quite

never

playing around

children

out

the

stand

to

and

sweet

whether

knew

mother

Her

it

carriage.

open

ever

one

rheumatic

it, pronounced

the

in

no

so

was

used

of

away

not.

or

ill of

was

heard

days, and

it; the child wagon

suspect

her

took

wife

director's

night, in spite of her

one

authorities

and in

over

The

one

and

the

of

She

smallpox

was

home

from

the

smallpox,

we

shudders.

really is,

even

daughter

remonstrances.

fever, and

got

little

away

parents'

it

so

but

it.

The

She

had

life

never

was

with

carried

neighbour

isolated;

were

completely obsessed

his uniform

knew

had

what

to

as

policeman

course

and

SINGER

them

passed

we

tired

so

OPERA

occurred,

cases

daily walks

were

AN

OF

last every

left

for

became

HUMAN

PASSIONS and

frightfully sore, have

out

worn

house,

the

Wagnerian

the

much

a

the

gave

marvellous

Bois, with

I have

and

and

''Bien"

a

The

tales

Reszke

de

wonderful

him

from

always

amused

have

been

his

in

no

end

and

all

he

above

price. of

me

all the heard

never

the

them

predicted for in

sidered con-

trouble,

of

tell

sometimes

I have

the

were

pupil

jewel

because

me,

studio

a

a

things he told them

have

roles,

With take

pupils

than

manly interpretations

Verdi

was

to

eyes

my

better

yet

me.

to

heard, his French

ever

intelligenthe would

struggles

opened

and

Puccini

His

theatre,

its little

Wagner,

Italian

Reszke.

and

master

inspiration to

I returned

it.

de

Jean

to

nervousness

singer

I

there.

The

style,the wonderfully he

have

style. His

of

beauties

I didn't

first

went

near

of

scene

I

rested

prime donne.

become

best

I

this time

beautiful

the

course

thought, "Aha!

course

of

and

Paris

to

About

was

of

And

it!"

SMALLPOX

AND

I

time

anything

like it. I

was

so

humbled

tone

one

sang,

spend the

stage advised

for me

a

by

the vista his

before

me,

not

at

infatuated

go

could

I asked

He on

be

the

"151"

one

opened out

over

so

before

in

every

day if I should

studio, and it

and

him,

carried

him

thought

with

with

effort it

in his

winter

next

year. to

of endless

ideas that

work

my

leave

the

seriously, and

stage work,

for

the

rou-

CONFESSIONS tine

I

entire

gettingwas

was

It would

have

year

I should

OF

been

with

have

as

a

valuable

SINGER

OPERA a

teacher

as

great privilege to have

him, and

done

AN

if I could

so.

"152"

have

he

was.

spent

afforded

an

it,

CHAPTER

DISCOURAGEMENTS

XIV

THAT

LEAD

TO

COURT

A

THEATRE

second

THE

drawing

the

of

to

the

over

but

in

vacancy

for

guest

then

the

suited

elapsed

between

letter.

I, of

us

to

me

It

had

course,

that

signing refused "153"

long

so

a

good of

at

the to

signed

the

to

an

arrange

of

contract

an

fate.

my

afternoon

find

to

deal

sing

for be

decide

sing Azucena taken

both, the

I

should

which

tralto, con-

would

she

sure

the

contract

a

dickering

long

no

offered

Their

misgivings,

began

be

probably

had

felt

fully care-

to

Germany.

they

one

most

and

agent

my

favourite,

performances

performance.

and

in

and

seemed

There

house

for

try

orchestra

Stadttheater,

great

and

to

largest

good

was

exercised

much

was

very

a

engagement

wanted

theatre,

a

some

finally asked

which

with

a

Opera,

and

Vertrag,

I

the

not

great

a

With

engaged.

They

I

opera

was

Royal

big

the

step.

next

just such

contract

who a

and

productions.

municipal

first

first

my

close,

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CHAPTER

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of the chauffeur of

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to

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GENIUS

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and

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niere

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note

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ance, perform-

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of

part

spiritof the French that

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of the standard

musical

stage, I, having studied the

directed

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mannerisms.

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As

in

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the

day,

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decorations, and was

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with

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was

edge

edge of the

would

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over

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hand.

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lady-love at

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amusement

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man,

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the ladies, and

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character;

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the

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make

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the

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to

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house,

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eous the hid-

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when

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in

GENIUS

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AND

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the

to

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salary, which

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pleasant life they

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included

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his office.

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to

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Germany

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war.

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ought

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of how

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In contrast

papers.

opera

standing in

"Advertising?" said he, "they will think

soap!"

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quite separate,

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Hofopernsdngerin.

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profession dark

title of

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vantage ad-

in

singing is generally looked

concert

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take

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professions are

two

the

The

year.

of

ment engage-

singer's contract

a

trying to remedy

is also

regular members

the

before directors

renew

eighth

her

as

end

an

of the

enviable

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to

fail

to

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Genossenschaft

the money,

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never

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this

different

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years

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penny

SINGER

OPERA

pension tax, and

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one

in each

when

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spent

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AN

OF

at

public

asking

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know

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to

SALARIES

spend

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interests, and was

for

($250)

offered for

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be

began.

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tising judicious adver-

answered

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returned

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engagement.

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GENIUS

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AND

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ther fur-

contract

America,

advertising

CHAPTER

THE

factor

ONE The

to

I

kindness

of

clotbes

the

her.

showed

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she

kept

Dalila that

out

the

everything

in

long wigs.

I

as

grew in

Egyptian green.

of

part

pink brother

the

Louvre, found

the

right period,

for

me

We

for were

de

crepe

Cecil

a

which

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spent

fascinating we

the hours

bronze

proceeded

to

and

at

Egyptian there

gether. to-

princess try

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love

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seasons,

feel

not

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and

greens

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Chine,

have

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French

and

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derful won-

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knowledge

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pale pinks

Comique;

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entirely

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special she

costumes

period

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her

for

of

Muelle

Metz,

to

Jones.

S.

Marie

unrolled

silks boxes

went

designs

me

shimmering

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Frank

Mrs.

the

through

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to

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before

summer

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my

I

MUELLE

MARIE

OF

in

wardrobe

first

Paris,

ART

XVI

and

of

copy

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staying

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town

at

Givemy,

the

artist

DALILA

AS

I

USED

TO

DRESS

IT

ART

THE

OF

by Monet,

famous

colony made

MUELLE

MARIE

sieke, the A. B. Frost family and I had

big

a

huge designs

with

studio

on

the

the

tones

skirt, pinning them

colouring them

in

the

of

wall of

the

took

earthenware

blue

could

wig maker took

not

dress

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ropes

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to

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clothes

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so

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braided

when

the

shops and

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Berlin

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wearing then seemed conventional,

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of

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Syrian

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figures

the whole.

accented

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the wrists

round

de Rivoli

lustreless wool.

something

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wooden

rue

satisfyme,

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necklace.

wig, and

black

lack

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on

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hundred

The

gettingthe

practical as

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and

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to

short-haired

a

one

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just the right Egyptian charms

I found

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myself, from

made

painted the rightcolour

it

cases,

ages.

that costume,

on

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for

mummy

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was

making

jewelry I

The

correct.

beads

of

long

just right,and

headdress as

and

hard

worked

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Muelle, who

to

made

studio, then

allowing for their fading through the designs we

he

wings the princess used

the

of

artist friends.

many

brother, and

my

Frie-

Macmonnies,

these

scarlet

and

broideries em-

women.

found

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as

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a

basis,

purple,

CONFESSIONS added

fuzzy

a

it."

"like

short

black

I found

made

headdress

wig,

Amneris

match

Dalila

and

I felt much

of

in

SINGER

and

necklace

a

to

OPERA

AN

of turquoise matrix,

clumps

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OF

silver

chains

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it.

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with

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had of

comparison

photos will show

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how

a

the

sense

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pasted

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into

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books.

scrap

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Hollaender"

gender with

Norwegian

the

Nothing gives I could

of

show

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one

one's

eyes

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wear

werp. Ant-

in "Flie-

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to

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endless

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into

histrionically ^how vim

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how

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as

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headgear.

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portrait in

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head,

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ductions repro-

haunted, and

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cut

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portraitsand

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distance, and

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were

Spanish gipsy. "174"

very

Opera Comique

I studied

the

Spanish

THE

ART

OF those

cigarette girls and

possible, and

as

I went

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was

Muelle

to

said tliatZuloaga had the

Spanish

revival

these

me

for

silk scarfs

clothes

needs, using the last

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She

real

Comique^s

duplicate

send

to

Spain

in

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imported for Breval.

exactly red

that

superintended

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one

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told her

garish colours, and

in

huge

She

just where

Zuloaga

witli the

and

for the

Carmen.

delighted at this and

was

changed

princess dresses.

in satin

cottons

that

role

summer,

she knew

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the

carefully

as

justdesigned and

of

as

MUELLE

gipsy blood

of

one

of Breval's

making

of

idea

my

longer happy

no

MARIE

costumes

made

comb,

to

my

had

Zuloaga

as

I

tended, in-

specially in

Spain. When

too

were

I

he

Darmstadt,

in

Spanish

long, no

one

the

can

woman

length skirt

swinging hips

of

the

by Spaniards that

Spanish gipsy not

were

and

in

can

one

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were

skirts

my

them

long.

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rightlength,and

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on

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portray

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Spanish girl.

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Bizet's Carmen

model

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me

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as

vain.

right;but

to

of Prussia

Henry

by studying Zuloaga's paintings that

see

soubrette

Prince

word

sent

knew, however, that they

any

are

before

Carmen

I sang

told of

a

studies

Merimee's

perhaps they

Spaniard, what

OF

CONFESSIONS clothes

Orfeo

My de

chine

one

of

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rooms

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pass

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pastime The is

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engaged York

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wardrobe

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season.

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to

round

weary

stage

by lynx-eyed officials,and "176"

a

de

quite reduced be

childish

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artists"

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the

nationalities

of many

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for

costumes

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my

operatic

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to

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stage

for

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The

Mounetgave

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her

through

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the world.

of

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and

SINGER

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never

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Muelle

Marie

OPEIL\

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and tified iden-

outside

ART

THE three-mile

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for every

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Around

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portfolios of

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are

works

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kind

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wall

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of

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Maison

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pink

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Melisandes, demure

lady spends

tillating scin-

a

little work-a-

noon delightful after-

a

favourites. for

armful

an

of

pins "177"

of

for the

course,

plenty and

to

won

robe stage ward-

a

comes

bewildering

a

contrast

the

and

day Louise;

"Crepe

wants

Thaises, Moyen-Age

Ariane

Then

and

Out

repertoire.

has

soprano

young

Carlo

portfoliowith

sinuous

in

A

in Monte

engagement

flesh

be

to

mantelpiece

a

singers of

with

with

lit like

is

Muelle.

another

costume,

of

the

of

room

mirror

There

Marie

to

various

large

a

room.

celebrity,each

and

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littered

usually

photographs

with

affection

reception

table

long

a

some

an

American

the

away!

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on

of

limit

MUELLE

MARIE

OF

Thais.

embroidery. it

to

the

samples

Here

drawing.

"

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in an

singer picks

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is

no

fabrics

the

for

in colours

give you

can

stay blue,

Her

pale

colours

the

palette.

The

textiles

When

expert

an

learnedly

competition,

of

to

lightinga stage

that

twenty-four

alone, and obtain

to

for

does

dark

her

insipid,nor

the

any

it

shade

is called

known

"take

to

fittings. Mademoiselle,

question," says

level, or

the

Mademoiselle

many

ment special dyeing establish-

a

orders

arrange one

now,

fittingroom

talk

has

that is warranted

chosen, Camille

once

and

measures"

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is

German

or

turn

enough

time

seems

stage

Muelle

vagaries

keeps

her

with

busy

your

where

pinned

brightblue

never

She

muddy.

"And

design

indulge in.

may

hours

which lights,

Each

doesn't

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what

matter

no

manager

ones

a

all tested for

electric

before.

processes,

money."

or

upon,

the stage.

stage.

syntheticdyes, she

decided

are

pinned

been

have

others

something special,

is

of tags of material

assortment

but

lustrous

heavy,

for love

be had

lightof

the strong

mimic

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under

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to

to

more

and

Colours

of

of

scrap

a

quality.

that

not

there

an

out

SINGER

"

"No, and

OPERA

AN

OF

CONFESSIONS

slope towards

the

"Is

back?

is all."

singer arrives is filled

herself

for her

with stands "178"

first

lengths in

the

of

trying-on,the material, and

midst, brandish-

THE

ART

a

silk

over

of your

one

makes

"

make

can

it a

in

upon

making

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her

unusual

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sleeves

has

who

She

edges. it

no

order

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that two

else

one

guising dis-

day they

has

sleeve

of

were

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a

for

gowned

in the list of

included

The

will

she

dress

Muelle

been

never

was

of

slashed

cerise, the lining showing

picked

through

for

Mile.

with

lined

silverygrey, pulled

slash

a

there,

fold

a

almost

as

effect.

special favourites.

the

gives

recklessness

a

regular

fillinga

singer whom but

hangs

pins, and

in two

left hand,

of

one.

poor

stumble

years,

her

length

a

hang, accentuating a good figure and

Occasionally

known

throws

pull here,

the stuff

and

pins

She

right,with A

shudder.

you

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in

in her

the scissors

MUELLE

shoulders, puts

the material

bunching

MARIE

shears.

of

huge pair

ing

with

OF

the

bit of cloth of silver and

a

up

on

slashes.

The

effect

charmed

her. '^Tenez!" We'll

keep

"La

the

is

since

Maison

said, "That

that for La

one

her

of

Berlin

days

Muelle, and

outer

room

celebrities great and

good

too

Miss

as

Muelle's

list of Mademoiselle's The

is

her.

for

Geraldine."

Belle

Geraldine,"

Belle

Paris, Ever

she

Farrar

most

she

she

is known

constant

has

been

stands

very

in

patrons. costumed

by

high

the

in

favourites. may

contain

small, but "179"

the

photographs

in the inner

room

of

there

CONFESSIONS

just two

are

and

lined

with

other

work, where and that

gilding.

does

She

is is

idea

Her

good

and

of

a

applique

with

ing stencil-

metal

thread

the

is that

silks and

ting cut-

Muelle

rooms.

content

the secret

has

boxes

for

rooms

embroidery are

of

of

use

satins, real velvets

necessity in these days of electric lighting,which

a

as

revealing

went

of the best materials

accumulated years

"Salome" Muelle

was

all a

cabinets, but dress A

armoires

and

they contain Theatre

Chatelet

called upon,

was

furnish

There

the

at

costumes

in the

expense.

the were

special production

the

by

of gas

use

justifythe greater

collections

ago

the

superior wearing qualitiesalone

capacity of her

The

with

out

that tlie

theatre, and

of

sunlight; that the substitution

as

fabrics

imitation

to

fittingrooms

the

come

costumers

first-class materials,

Elizabeth

as

stacks

embroidery

solid

tarnish.

not

Farrar

and

armoires

the

quantities of

uses

SINGER

reception and

main

sewing, and

and

Miss

ceiling. Then

the

to

OPERA

Carmen.

as

off the

others

running

portrait of

myself

Opening are

a

"

of

one

AN

OF

in

of

size

tested of

the

some

Strauss's

Paris,

when

ridiculouslyshort notice,

at

for

a

royal ransacking

of

cast

people.

150

cupboards

ready

everything was

of

and

on

time

the

order

jewel

for

the

rehearsal. greater the

new

feather

in her

productions of "180"

cap

was

the Russian

to

tume cos-

Ballet, from

DALILA

AS

I

NOW

DRESS

IT

designs by

less

no

ensued

fringes which

like

delivered

and

finished

had

share, if

a

first

Astruc's

She

Elysees.

well

as

the

as

genius

at

Persian,

held of

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gossip.

Many

not

old a

turned

But

though

to

she

and

Sebastien"

been

has

her

the

presiding

note

have

we

to

tell her, and

enjoys

a

"181"

head,

her

prosaic

see

we

choice

changed

nor

still loves

had is

come

the

or

homes.

She

friends.

hope that she will of stories

for

Society knows

Parisian

exclusive

delighted that Mademoiselle and

"St.

lovely gardens behind

in

her

the costuming

exquisite fete, Greek, Roman,

an

all this has

toward

she

Champs

Ballet, and

Russian

D'Annunzio.

stage, for

many

exteriors

her

the

has

costumed

des

Theatre

portant im-

an

Muelle

She

responsiblefor

been

of

Pisanelle"

hardly

charge.

the

in

were

time.

in which

spectacleslike Debussy's

great

ming hum-

costumes

been

has

entire

productions of

of many

"La

not

the

appointed

there

season

has

the

in all Paris

event

costume not

ting knot-

and

establishment

problems, at

triumph

that

Since

a

beehive.

a

all their thousand

For

dyeing of silks and

a

the whole

set

Leon

great

stringing of breads

printing of chiffons, a of

the

than

personage

a

Then

himself.

Bakst

MUELLE

MARIE

OF

ART

THE

from

her

returning me.

shall

a

"

to

I have

die

of

good "I

am

Paris,

ties quanti-

ing." laugh-

tidbit,she will tol-

CONFESSIONS erate

malicious

no

tried

lady

firmly,from

tell tales

to

of

Muelle's

chosen

case

was

typical.

is the

enemy

people, the

she

makes

One

that I

case

with

debut, leading her wardrobe after

her

for her

make

her, and

the

in

a

her

girlmade

a

be

engaged

her,

start

whose will

and

all.

at

to

needless

impossible

This

faith

had

Muelle

But

clothes, unpaid for,

several

to

a

disappointment

one

that it seemed

so

say, is

a

is

now

faithful

well-

a

adherent of

instance

one

more

many

many,

does

kindness

last

At

years.

only

tjiereare

Mademoiselle's

not

find

a

reward. I heard

salaries show

failed

She

Muelle.

Muelle.

have

Often

girl

ordered

the kind, and, of course,

monetary

A

she

great hit in Russia, and

Maison

unending.

is

and

for

of the

which

artists

first engagement,

presses

singer,and,

in

always referring to

arranged

beautiful

known

stage

had

the

kept

age

voice

to

came

advancing

personally is typical.

beautiful

a

of

one

this

in

popularity for

to

debut, however,

to

hanging

to

from

after another

in

of

now

against

So-and-So!"

kindnesses

unusually

an

Mere

an

because

revenge

that

of

point

a

"La

her

list of

knows

refused

singer

Her

excellence

delinquent as

The

She

She

school

of

out

SINGER

one

favourites.

par

so

OPERA

tale-bearing.

order, tactfullyand the

AN

OF

a

are

not

girl how

her suggesting economy in the to

costume

"182"

"fabulous" two

to

those

class.

roles, with

She

the

ART

THE

MARIE

OF

and

dresses, by combinations

same

thought Elizabeth side

out

and in

An

extra

an

Ophelia

Elsa

role and

one

tabard to

the

tricks of the trade, and

gowns

of

cleverlythem.

mantle, right other.

in the

out

embroidery

or

well

so

detect

same

side

wrong

of brocade wear

the

wear

may

changes

public won't

that the keenest

out

MUELLE

will allow

Marguerite

all

"

in the Maison

understood

Muelle.

Brilliantly clever, natured, and the

faithfulest

by the hardest her

big-hearted,a of

title of "First

splendid organizer

friends, Marie

of hard

capable, good-

immensely

work, and

Theatrical

Paris, but of the world.

"183"

Muelle now

Costumer,"

has

and

earned

justly enjoys not

only

of

XVII

CHAPTER

NON-MILITARY

THE

OFFICER'S

GERMAN

A

OF

SIDE

LIFE

of

ONE

of

police

You

trifling.

parents' their

own,

what

they

number, little

blue unusual

an

claim

she

because

the

in

her and

Every

signed

A

servant

by

the

girl

police

at

records

of and

and

Berlin

any

If

you

Jean, as

was

in

when

you

christened

Jean

and

official

the

believe

that

your

single,

or

inquisition.

of

birth,

dead

are

to

was

said

but

Johanna, a

man's

that! has

maid

police

they

children,

won't

I knew

any,

married

your

the he

date if

occur

holds

policeman

French

of may

name,

it.

is down

name,

who

if are

you

ages

that

detail

Prussian

you

and

names

extra

have

of, whether

died

witli

ages,

of

stuffy office, and

profession

and

birthplaces

An-

admits

and

appointed

their

names,

a

the

called

is

experience

the

at

acquaint

to

This

birthplace

nationality,

your

your

to

go

arriving

on

is

presence.

fearsome

a

do

you

Germany

in

your

It is

meldung.

tell

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residence

new

no

first

the

when "184"

a

you

book, engage

which

her,

be

must

and

when

A she

GERMAN

leaves

When order

that she may This

employer

Many to

is ill.

and to

The

warmed She

has

week

of black and

;

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lock

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her

bed

so

be offended

if you

nine

in

the after-dinner to

in

Times,

two,

Germany I

or

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per

thing every-

after

two

Berlin. nap; even

where

remember "185"

four,

the

three. the a

sing.

sleeping

also

dare

banks You

when

night, all

at

must

you

or

sacred

Nothing even

and

decides

nine

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to

if you

piano

your

taboo.

are

in

Anmeldung

on

morning,

after dinner, from

one

The

play

not

instruments

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luxury.

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many

key.

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registered,too,

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comfort,

bottles of beer

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servant

is comfortable!

for

the

other.

employed

dog,

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the

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highly for

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her

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a

from

of

not

musical

with

and

year;

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"rights" including

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have

Before

hour

bread

a

big enough, airy enough,

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ance insur-

the

entitles

in the

too, in

proper

servant

in which

is

room

she dare

under

her

careful

the house

long

a

This

very

place.

five dollars

dispensary or are

another

angemeldet

with

about

it all.

winter, and

in

loaves

the

her

be

one-half, tlie

police

that

see

take

must

to

pay

visit to

a

pay

LIFE

may

charged

amounts

pays

at

she

be

employers

treatment

she

her

engage

tax.

the

before

you,

you

OFFICER'S

served ob-

interfere are

write

Englishman

be

closed to

writes

perfect avalanche

the to

of

CONFESSIONS

OF

would

house

in Darmstadt

cards

anonymous

OPERA

AN

because

practise with

thought

neighbours

it

SINGER

windows

her the

was

child

a

in

our

and

open

Hofopernsaengerin

Howard. The

intricacies

study. Foreigners the country

months,

parts

of

Halle

to

pay

town

if, after picking

hittingthe day when locked

the

on

ninth

and

month

are

for A.

M.,

nine taxes

and to

of

right,you

may

two

larger if out

did

and sister

was

with

the

type

of German

county

ones

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if you

had

asked

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in

official poor

say a

that

church

are

in

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ting get-

tunately Unfor-

inational undenom-

for were

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we

hour,

Catholic

are

tlie word

know

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eight to

from

seven.

the

day

the wrong

in

sign

on

by declaring myself neither.

large contempt

ledig?!' She,

to

small

not

so

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P.

small

If

easilystrike say,

succeed

"Closed

month."

every

lucky

very

A

open.

greet you:

Evangelical.

are

of these

place is

four

very

you

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five

twelve, and

besides,

you

payable,

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to

right month,

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Staedtische

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in

different

two

you

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payable

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at

and

taxes,

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months,

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out

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county

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taxes

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taxes

You

town.

your

pay

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alternate

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the

paying

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; town

three

of

"heathen."

rasping official voice, filled for

which

women

a

certain

always reeks with, ''Sind Sie

dear, had "186"

never

heard

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A

GERMAN

before, and

rapped

had

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been

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What

but Berlin

in

wanted

children

only.

not

to

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forgotten! )

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feet.") Towels, brushes, I believe

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phases

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and

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The

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the

into

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through

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at

through Germany

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for

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etc., all say

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ways I al-

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on

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Germany.

in

first is annoying,

at

to

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tempt

on

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schriftund stamp

walk

to

horses,

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paths

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nicht."

weiss

"

were

answer

The

used

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verboten,

later amusing.

question

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up

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everything seems

way

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of her

All these little things are

The

The

said, ''Ich

she

and

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man

LIFE

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and

again,

she

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stammered

out

When

OFFICER'S

you.

with

different

intonations

of this word. A

rather

annoying

custom

over-celebrated

in

way

the bakers

had

usually the "Erster, Zweiter,

tag"

first,second

not

those

"

on

if you

had

three

third

and

days.

Darmstadt

holiday.

every

und

holiday,

Dritter

All the bread

exceptionallylarge "187"

and

They Feier-

they toiled

and

could

you

neglected to provide enough,

baked pretzels,

the

was

was

hard.

get,

square

This

CONFESSIONS

all

so

even

third

a

have a

holds

in Berlin, Rahm in other

name

forgotten. You firm, delicious

in

For

instance,

Darmstadt, and

parts of Germany, get

can

cake,

wonderful

a

I

which

never

getting it just right in Southern

in

has I

Sandtorte

Berlin, but

in

vary

in the north

good

south.

the

in

SINGER

only, as they

custom

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quite unknown

is Sahne

cream

OPERA

AN

Darmstadt

a

Germany,

over

be

may

"

been

have

may

OF

ceeded suc-

Middle

or

Germany. A

quaint old the

on

day, and

the

Duke

in

Grand

The

Advent.

play

to

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he

the

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town.

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We

gave

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business, but

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on

into

shop

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at

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in town

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every

could

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the

move

such

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people thronged

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extra

merung,"

as

Sunday

country

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band

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first

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Duke

A

in Darmstadt

custom

with

us

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his presence,

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had. The

shopping We

that of

after

meat

eleven

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visible

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is taken

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in

away

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was

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morning

white-tiled on

"188"

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thing scrap

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seriously,of above

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any

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and

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vegetable by

having

A

GERMAN

its

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subscribe

day,

and

lasts

at

subscription

the

at

LIFE

OFFICER'S

beginning

of

the

is delivered

asparagus

that price, the

is, you much

so

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season.

of the market. The

market

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days. of

their

lanes Brilliant

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out

to

is

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superior tone every

had

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lacks

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enough

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you?" French

ancient

all "n's"

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attention

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sure

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uneven

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"Madamsche'

the

have

while

vegetables,

between

in

castle just behind.

Aren't

Hessen

left

dle mid-

sit in the

the

"Well, Madamsche',

you,

times, and

and

along

umbrellas

awning

frowning

would

women

way

full market

delight on

a

fruit

had

they

the

of

piles

in the sun,

glow

was

old

grumpy

threaded

you

place

to

loudly

They

calling and

ears,

and

their

"'r's."

tale of

a

"Station

out

persistentlyas

they

"Starrrrr-rtion

tell

were

Now "

ordered

they

Damstadt!"

to to

call

out

and

noy an-

pay in

feel

is satisfied.

exceptional opportunities

of all classes, from "189"

the

of

mans knowing Ger-

cleaning women

in the

theatre

from

varied, ranging

met

In

Darmstadt.

and

know

to

grew

and

With

have of

walls

afternoon of

wooded

quiver

that

in Metz

of

It to

in

of

the

ethereal

Virgin

only

broken

by

branches.

Suddenly

far

and

a

They into

We

all the

just where

parts

genuflected before woods,

in

their

studied

1870,

the

voices

old

the and

F

the different

the

above of

songs

of

in

the

singing;

into view,

they

as

us,

on

us

came

Virgin

and

walked. off

wound in

tance. the dis-

battlefields,so

fiercely

dying

would

regiments

"190"

down

sound

of children

well-harmonized

in

often

contested

procession

off the

a-

grass

wind-flowers.

looked

gurgling high

singing

one

side, thickly

sun-flecked

birds, twittering and

slowly

remember

I

either

on

white

blue-robed was

by, and

still,steep-sidedravine, the

a

giant beeches;

the wood-hush

we

of the thousands

one

Germany.

with

a

the

in

and

little villagenear at

tenant. lieu-

picnicked

early spring,

or

we

year,

Bavarian

young

and

was

some

dot

myriads

a

drove

we

rising sharply

shrine, with

and

their families, both

it

with

South

the

to

ways.

in the woods

Gasthduse

Junker

Prussian

German

fond

country.

tea

our

Sunday

A

be

take the train

would

the

most

are

Metz, during the last

him

Metz

lovely

SINGER

military types

officers and

many

OPERA

with his easy

gemuetlicherBayer, We

The

royalty.

to

AN

OF

CONFESSIONS

away

point

advanced

out

and

to

us

fell.

GERMAN

A A

way

off seemed

dreamed

what

long

never

descend

to

the

among

The and

the

got

to

know

The

yet they tell

early days

side

that

by

manners

we

were

soon

their

it

smartest

of course,

good

officers

The

of

some

very

both

ones,

as

trained

are

were

Belgium.

well,

the

artistic

they

me

were

superior officers.

the

were

of

they

kind

in Metz,

of

told

were

we

us;

in

rampant

delightfulmanners

charmed

their

English wives, who

the officers had us.

the

in

worst

with

Bavarians

military spiritwas

we

and

war,

horrors

greater

days, and

those

in

of

horrors

the

much

LIFE

us.

on

loved

We souls

OFFICER^S

to

always social

to

cavalry regiments Metz

in

and

Darmstadt, the Infantry being solidlyartistocratic,but less

The

dashing.

Pioniere

despised socially,while The

to.

in

pride.

in

blue

dark

wear

their

tunics; the

their

light blue

change

them.

wearing

his

other

Bavarians, trousers,

The much

badly fittingboots.

Prince too

in

in

no

"191"

and its

riches

hardly

special social resented rep-

they make

infantry regiments

matter

however,

what have

colour stuck

to

spite of all attempts Regent

long, and The

sariat, Commis-

or

upon

German

trousers,

rather

were

nobilityis largely

they lack

the

All

down

the old

What

it.

Train

poor

infantry has

Bavarian

standing, because

up

the

utterly looked

was

bowed

(Engineers)

smartest

was

very

famous wrinkled

officers

wore

to

for over

the

CONFESSIONS Ballon

Muetze

Prince

and

by

of the old the

are

the

less

two

above

it is low

higher

your

at

look

collar, always

the

In

cer sterlingoffi-

a

comfy;

the smarter

If

are

collar.

creases

height of the

The

and

the

they of

back

to

It

higher than the

thing.

school,

father.

his

by

officers.

important

three

or

by the Crown

it is much

smart

is the other

collar

you

because

SINGER

introduced

ineffectuallyforbidden

worn

ones

OPERA

(balloon cap)

"balloon"

is called

AN

OF

the

fat, neck

unmistakably

me

"

German.

to

ideas.

our

Their

tremendously real

showing teach

his

Bavarian when

shoulders

slumped

to

connect

who

treated

as

he

arriving

to

be

with

difference

and

upper

ones,

their in "192"

his to

be

masters,

character.

to

write, and

these

in

and

men,

rookies, and

absolutely

was

and

thick-headed

the

fall, as

in the

officer has

non-Prussian

read of

them

used

F

amazing;

straightened,lower

had

by

of

place

ambitious,

men.

told

usually chooses

friends

meeting Some

most

to

ones

The

intelligently. Each servant,

their

in

year's training,

a

decided

them

saw

workers,

stories

peasants.

we

after

hard

illiterate

the

were

many

is their

Casino

officers' club.

an

interest

more

ing simple, accord-

general very

is in

evening, like

in the are

they lead

life

The

jaws had

eyes

Bursch one.

if the

or

focused

private

These

are

latter

pen hap-

I said

once

to

F

Karl

"Is

he

I

while

sang

Diedenhofen

where

the Metz had

He

I

that

One

night,

a

was

laid

azaleas

to

present

and

blue

the

house

discouraged

the

streets

Asking the

admirer

quite often

We

about

F

young

to

superior officers

caught many

young it

was

times

not

would their

eyes,

the

heads

etiquette

in

as

two

refuse

"193"

to

on

afternoon.

only

was

that

they

toasted If these their

dinner,

grew

have

drunk

and

raised

o'clock

smile

ruptly. stopped ab-

glasses, when

they

warded re-

must

the

notice,

naturally to

dame

told that it

were

white

false-teeth

regimental dinners.

their

of

old

flowers

five

by tlemen gen-

glasses, the

silly

befuddled,

empty

I

as

officer had

officers very

about

at

we

during

fellows'

the

young

empty at

as

this,we

if

ones,

obliged

were

saw

Metz,

in

The a

flowers.

basket

huge

raged en-

so

part,

my

footlights,which

the

over

my

a

general with

in

the

night the

ribbon.

satin

receiving them

on

with

me

the

handkerchief

his

took

the

was

me

sitting near

glove, which

kid

contralto

that

and

up,

selected

of

way

send

to

acknowledged

never

ugly old

an

used

opera,

against the palm of his white me

mein

is

occasionally

we

applauding by flapping

and

stage

with

was

flowers.

gorgeous

he

"No,

said.

officer in

An

servant?"

your

,

Freundf"

LIFE

OFFICER'S

GERMAN

A

their

but

glass.

CONFESSIONS This

custom

and

was

The

the used

to

and

often

to

up saw

meeting, riding races

giant the

and

ladies'

has

deprived

seems

an

the

the

favourite him

his

of

He

impossible thing

to

These

would a

horrible

have

or

on,

make

his beau

great

that

accident the

in

times some-

look

was

beauty

of

opportunity

and

come

the

We

names

the Kaiser, and

ring.

and

duced intro-

pink.

daring.

Schaumberg-Lippe

round

selling

cousins, whose

skill and

would

the

"gentlemen races,"

had

great

Eitel-Fritz

mince

for the

and

they

the

wore

encouraged by

Prince

dandy

horse

with

much

were

and

never

we

buying

were

in

ones

Darmstadt

Northern

own

knew, but whom

we

In

Frankfort

our

clever

Many

English hunt,

go

Ensign,

or

English dogcarts,and

themselves.

amongst

Faehnrich

a

of horses,

out

money

SINGER

with.

away

dashing.

cavalry made

OPERA

on

officers had

smartest

certainly most

them

hard

very

done

later

was

AN

OF

battlefield,

happened

to

just

him. Our

friend

"Revolver

young

table

riche,

who

the

of

evening

had much F

in

title he

earned

of

much

in

the

more

recounted

regiment

as

through

his

hittingthe bull's-eyein great

smart

a

cavalry

tjian brains,

money

to

friend, exclusive

most

goodnatured

"194"

his

known

His

conversation.

regiment,

One

This his habit

and

nouveau

butt

was

mouth."

witty tongue his

F

chaff

from

was

F .

a

group

of

brother

who

S

officers how

LIFE

OFFICER'S

GERMAN

A

for his absent-

notorious

was

,

and

mindedness

"I

S

'phone, saying

his

for

a

arrange

Metz,

to

S

trade.

Of

greeted him,

a

S

on

him."

call him Guten

would

when

poor

tag! rately elabo-

of

jeering

the horse

S

kept cals ras-

young

discovered

though the joke

was,

on

public spot

with

never

tonishment, as-

choosing

in

very

appear

group

and

Pumpernickel

Graf

course

he

some

to

was

appointment, only

the

in

utter

?

Then

horse?"

in

to

S

"Is this Herr

rendezvous

which

at

he wished

used

F

F

your

sharpness

Pumpernickel."

Graf

am

where's

forgotten to get

trading horseflesh,and

the

in

have

must

away

road.

looking down

famous

was

and

I

S

true," said

"That's

dusty

a

said, "But

and

him

hailed

down

galloping

home,

from

miles

seen

was

memory,

poor

who

often

was

repeated. The proves

very

money

in

the

marry

have fine

question

money

a

girlthey

certain

young

and

way

sum,

the

They

serious.

any

of

except choose a

officers and

frequently

officers,often

poorer

forbidden

are

to

by writing. They unless

between this

minimum;

results

the

on

keeps

man's

far-reaching evils of entangling affairs, and children. he

had

no

An

officer said

children, but

a

"195"

to

pretty

me

woman

once,

cannot

them

charming girls from

he who

earn

they many

mony; matri-

side

in

mate illegitithought kept

a

CONFESSIONS Kathedral

the

in

shop

and

pillow

he

clothes, and Graf

with

of

Talking

on.

told

and

the

for

of his had

had

officer involved In

in

before

debts

in

usual

thing

of

the

so

America.

singing

was

Austrian

obtain

to

work

him

to

during

clear

came,

it away,

and

a

was

one

ance acquainthis

by

manding com-

finding himself

on

York

heavy and

literallya

moment's

ordered

pay

the

to

a

in

with

fall

then

noticing her "196"

The

marriage the

they

told

us

most

peared disap-

once,

while

winter, with

one

man

your

regiment.

knew

Seebold

New

debts, you

had

you

Sometimes

Frau in

An

the hand

girl you

prima donna, that

for

He

then

leave

or

bank-account.

attractive

she

days,

was

at

Colonel, and

attractive

most

to

summoned

many

F

affair.

regiment, if

your

frowned

tion, possible solu-

him

sent

affair

an

regiment

gentle hint,

a

be

to

in

day,

life.

one's

revolver

scandalous

a

liable

notice

as

one's

of

end

to a

Bavarian

one

were

honour

expected

sometimes

less penni-

some

one

the only

often

was

that

exquisite Paris how

officers' troubles

that suicide

me

in the most

Officiallysuch things are

of them.

one

baby's

cinating certainlyfas-

are

hopelesslyinvolved

become

may

a

just what

understand

to

him

sure

demi-mondaines

it is easy

SINGER

sent

once

quite

was

dressed

creatures,

OPERA

Platz

never

Berlin

The

meant.

AN

OF

applied at of

come

strong

snow.

an

the door She

told

in for his money.

accent,

asked

if

"no," he burst his

a

into

comfort

to

The

regiment.

him.

He

had

they

"A

say,

marks

is very

expensive; their

always be spotless,and every

day,

your

finest broadcloth, and silver

The

year.

though

a

dash

a

your

of rain "197"

arrive

his

ruins

a

has

I

may

knots both.

many Ger-

in

debts." come in-

decent

only eight of

uniforms

uniform

sword

and

ago,

party

at

Parade

parade

their

belong except

pays

you

by

above

equipment

though

ers wait-

comrades

Colonel

Bavarian

A a

to

where

still exists.

on

Lieutenant

slow, and

takes years. thousand

falls

He

York

years

was

place

a

silence

is very

Promotion

such

whether

sudden

a

this

sank

drivers, or

could

one

the

snow.

carved

were

no

All

birth.

high idea

When

crests

he

and

gentlemen

wall, and

the

on

no

their

how

New

in

truck

coachmen, be

on

shovelled

club

a

head

told her

he

the

of

honour

his

put

as

was

could

said

He

of

sobbed

were

by day,

places

the

a

had

and

him,

for

fellow

through

trouble in

in

lieutenant

a

trust

America

to

there

ex-officers who

night.

been

her

cofifee and

hot

him

into

gotten

poor

her

told

cloth

told

lower, till finallyhe

and

have

and

made

and

table

kitchen

those

of German,

she

disappear

to

lower

replying

betraying his

officer

brother

also

flood

a

regiment, had

smart

had

her

while

pitifulstory,

tried

On

long left tlie Fatherland.

had

she

LIFE

OFFICER'S

GERMAN

A

wear

must

cer offi-

an

must

tricot be

of

of

shining

The

scarlet

CONFESSIONS collars

extravagant

more

are

cloth ones,

white

as

perspirationmakes the

one's

make

reduced

perhaps

leap.

orchestra and

rates,

always framed

to

ever

the dull

beautiful

that

the stage in

slightest fore all be-

was

was

forms uni-

If

so

thing

a

the

to

first four

for

officers at

border

brilliant

a

with

khaki.

reserved

were

once

dazzling

Darmstadt

In

white

the

This

drabber, for the colour

heart

the

in

rows

and

the

least

at

delicate, and

too

given place for is the

Germany

than

lasting stain.

a

though,

war,

have

is

SINGER

even

cleaned

be

may

scarlet

gasoline,but

OPERA

AN

OF

colour

of

band

on

opera

nights. In

the

Metz

the

street

see

us

was

in

rule very

full

a

set

against appearing strict,and of

racket, though he had Darmstadt

the

of ours,

and the

order

a

very

when

he

about

army?"

"Plueskow,

was

Plueskow, a

as

him, "Who was

because

the he

"198"

to

come

his

life!

young

of

out

should

friend

A

who

was

man,

to

uniform, see

him,

arrest!

room

a

In

high position,had

twenty-four hours'

in France

on

brandishing

in

Plueskow

General

to

prevailed.

a

General

was

quip

the German was

him

when

way,

feet seven,

made

comers,

the terrible

case

played

strictness

same

Major holding

round

dodge in

a

flannels

never

"Civil"

used

F

tennis

in

about

By six

the French

is the tallest officer in

question, and is Plus

que

the

haul.''

answer

CHAPTER

XVIII

GEESE

I

WAS

the

All

role

in

ladies I

was

such

in

greatly enjoyed

performances. that

or

"Evangeliman," Schwaben,"

all

etz,"

"Zar

Such

things

were

always We

out

in

charming and

the

most

sets

sympathetic

appealing at

the

in

end

the of

for

clever the

plain

little

with

voice,

high

"199"

first

it, lit in a

the

this

in

try, coun-

"Sieben

"Wildschu-

"Lustige

the Our

though

toire reper-

etc.

Weiber,"

play.

Germany.

soprano,

heavenly

to

and

"Koenigskinder"

gave

brought

delightful

the

those

Dame,"

"Weisse

Diavolo,"

"Fra

as

of

"Undine,"

Lortzings,

Zimmermann,"

und

of

Heiling,"

"Hans

the

in

heard

for

me

gaiety

operas

never

use

Prinzessin,"

and

many

by

me

occasional

an

"Dollar

dancing

had

seldom

are

could

they as

to

came

found

the

We

work

by

things

Darmstadt.

in

brightened

They

operetta.

smart

and

it

happy

very

contralto

leading and

right,

whole

the

on

GUESTS

AND

part.

last

act,

a

it

year

signed de-

Kempin modem

way,

had

thing,

During as

a

quality

floating

just

was

the we

miere Prewere

CONFESSIONS caUs

taking our bearded

OF from

of

Humperdinck, from

minute

of

and

us,

He

not.

he

or

heard

he

would

not

He

said

nothing

why

to

as

pleased with

have

shown

the

us.

in

a

to

any

he

did

tion, produc-

himself; indeed word

no

joined

recognized

been

pleased, but

was

public,a strange

I

speculated

have

must

SINGER

wings and

whom

photos.

often

we

of the

out

course,

his

OPERA

enthusiastic

an

stepped

man

AN

we

vouchsafed

was

us.

For

our

being bigger their

opportunity

of

their

of

real

lives, and water

splash, but

do

them

go

it?

foreigners gobbled

The

others

could

get it, and

unanimity

any

up

the them

among

hissing as only

depression

on.

The

there

were

second eleven

foot, squawked

all

actors

One

the

near

loudly and followed

of them, and

in turn

waddled "200"

they all on,

kept do. the was

ing do-

were

largest immediately

and

to

night the largest

Italian

a

hisses

they

not.

into

tank

was

goose

that there

time

something they should stepped

a

food, before

when

was

inch

they loved

Ominous

all the

saw

an

was

German

caught his foot, squawked

a

within

which

a

suppose near

they

There

it.

and

sides Italians, be-

The

numerous;

stage, in

they hated

and

away,

more

they took

you

to

Italy.

bully the Teutons

the

on

allowed

ever

to

from

were

beauties

Pomeranian

grey

birds

white

immense

had

we

geese

to

the

lights, foot-

passed suit;

caught

great

de-

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light

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though considered the

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of

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Schumann-Heink,

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She

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the

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act

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the

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SINGER

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OF

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of

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a

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Berlin, for

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beautiful

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performance.

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took

Duke

tlie Grand

there, and

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the

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If you person

study

life,you

you are

CHAPTER

Grand

evening

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to

with

portraits

like

fair

when

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the

used

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Duke's

it

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wall

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the

improved

with

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went

tone

life This

that

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as

with

grey

young

huge

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to

up

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piano

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music

box,

sounding

female

Buddha-like

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sisters

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in

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invited.

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Highness's

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told

hung

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were

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violets.

seldom

hollow

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palace

room

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having

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gowned

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bunch

of

in

sisters.

portraits

and as

the

to

me

dined

me.

Germans

the

asked

to

sister

my

to

beautiful

his

girls.

Czarina

woman,

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Czarina

the

young

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quite

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referred

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PREFERRED

always

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talking

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me,

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liked

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AND

COMMON

RUSSIANS,

THE

XIX

guests

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set

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His

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COMMON

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father

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Duke

Edward's

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to

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rather

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Christian, King

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afterwards

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be

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ing, charm-

a

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supper-dance

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comer

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my

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her mother, Princess

Duke

Grand

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his cousin, the

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a

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In

played

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piano and

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melodies

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grotto, also blue

figure, and

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he

"

beautiful.

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a

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rings of glass,suspended

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sapphire lightpoured. managed,

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the

horizontally from

for

played

he

provided by

was

"

side, on

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either

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mysteriously at

PREFERRED

AND

guests,

hour, because court

himself.

she made "207"

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effects, German.

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insisted wife

on

wore

herself,copied from

CONFESSIONS

OF

in his music

the fresco

shaped

green

and

room,

she

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awfully kind

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sang

theatre

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put

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Marjorie

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so

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Lune," to

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instrument

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Marjorie

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help

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tenor's

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functions

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fingerto

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intimate

accompaniment.

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French

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to

to

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as

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to

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to

caps

with

popular knew

get

invited, so

music

chrysophrases,

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despair

at

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days

was

them

pear-

me.

in town

one

sung

was

played

I

as

huge

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supper,

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she could

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our

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gold beads

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wonderful

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ball-room, but

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in

engaged

Duke

all

thinking of the chryso-

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had

SI1MGER

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neck

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Grand

the

At

inset

Baroness

The

as

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she

so

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Royal Highness."

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It

her

stone.

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phrases

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room.

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emeralds.

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off very

as

a

Pierrette.

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beckoned

the Baroness

well, and

the

day

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with

danced

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along,

went

changed

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Later

saved.

was

AND

COMMON

RUSSIANS,

He

always held his partner waist, and

favourite of

friend a

partner

in the

which

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be

to

with

entitle

walls.

all danced

We

looked

the peasants I collected

pfennige

his head,

on

benches to

solemnly in

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hat

pfennigs

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happened which

tickets

large

in

peasants

round

the

playing,while

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of the court,

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on

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their

benches.

the violinist

all.

his

concert

a

violinist

the

with

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wooden

put

travel

to

you

arm

B

von

fourth-class

took

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practical

very

by part

famous

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one

beautifully and

attended

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same

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comfortable.

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costume,

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to

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favourite

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Duke,

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about

PREFERRED

It

was

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lovely

a

trip. heard

We

amusing.

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have

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consisted German

Royal

all the

formal

balls

them

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as

were

had

presented formally, though this

ham

and

simplicity.

difficulties. dancers

court to

went

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easilyarranged.

largely of

under

and

We

ourselves

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the

of

some

had

The

spinach, typical of the The

dancing

Reversing was to

"209"

go

usually

supper

in

the

same

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was

ducted con-

allowed, direction.

OF

CONFESSIONS the Grand

When Iain

in front

went

permitted de

the

ladies

have

wear

skirts

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gown

will

at

wore

you

including

spurs,

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to

Kiel

fatal

has

Duke that

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it is

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say:

trains

As

And

the

as

not

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frequent trips

gown,

memory

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to

was

were

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in

are

old

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terrific

short

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it

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women

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to

room

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men

the way,

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their

up

rigueur and

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nearly

clear

to

SINGER

dance, his Chamber-

to

crowded.

pick

to

OPERA

wished

of him

dreadfully

always

were

Duke

AN

two

the

is

years

a

ago,

isn't it?" All

Major

invited

be

must

invitations

pretty,

bride

his

of

forgotten

She

lifted

finery

bridal

spurs,

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the

Royalty

of

floor.

floor,upon

out

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of

drop

to

and

member

She

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the

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way

husband

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again switched

which

"210"

ceive re-

families,

about

rule

the

honour), requested her The

a

a

the

politely requested by

was

forgot the warning from

the

in

position, and

social

in

tell her

to

her

devastating messenger

him

of

rank

ball.

first court

her

to

lower

poorest Darmstadt

and

beneath

but

had

up

balls, and,

court

Lieutenant,

One

too.

oldest

of the

one

brought

She

the

to

the rank

above

wives

principalitylike this, those

small

of

their

officers and

the

oldest to

felt it

Alas! train

Ehrendame

leave so

a

the

ing danc-

keenly that

he

asked

have

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his request

and

town,

granted.

of He

choosing

the

of

one

young

duties

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and

Taenzer

erster

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usually

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to

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the hostess

another

in

regiment

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highest birth,

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officers of

to

was

custom

a

big ball.

every

assist

transferred

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to

PREFERRED

AND

COMMON

RUSSIANS,

all

the dances.

etiquette is really

Court

I

might

introduce

not

liche

I in

might

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painful

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bristlingwith back

of

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the

minutes'

left

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and

her

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of the

tortuous

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or

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the a

As

us.

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kiss

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rings;

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give her

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crowded

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rings, and

slow,

few

"Yes, Sir,"

say

for

and

glance

muddy

had

simple English

it, risking cutting your

head, and the

both

lady

one

a

Duchess

the Grand

When

the

follow

Royalty, and

talking with

Sir."

after

but

through with,

gone

ivohl, Koenig-

"Ja

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the

on

Royal Highness,"

Your

paralyzing in German,

more

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to

tongue-paralyzing "Yes,

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Your

for instance,

deadening effect

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first the

At

conversation.

be

topic, he had

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naturally has

This

leads.

Duke

talking to the Grand

In

stitutio in-

hampering

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In the

OF

CONFESSIONS Duke

Grand to

the

same

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suddenly

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dragging

Duke

Grand

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and

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the

Kaiser

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we

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at

pass,

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dirt

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to

visit her

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the

she

hands

But

what

would

he

have

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Czar's

own

she

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the

Czarina,

suddenly, Darmstadt. food

poisoned A

ment monu-

shows

Darmstadt,

at

in

gnomes

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brushes

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covered. re-

was

the

very

children.

the

with

"Snow-White,"

had

fairy princess.

left

some

Garten

in the Herren

weeping

Duke

had

aunt,

died

when

perfect health

her

a

your

children's

town

there

While

to

said

glass coffin of the fairytaletype;

Above,

me

the Grand

they

the

asked

is believed

to

day

one

little daughter Elisabeth

and

one, was

in

prepared

would

give

beings."

which

adored

Petrograd.

though

and

you,

Darmstadt

to

tragedy from

a

the

you

say?

His

it lies

ing sleep-

around

her.

fingers over

sleeping princess.

We

had

"Flapper" word us

skirt

King, who

or

like human

eyes

Before

a

let him

to

best

your

and

street

narrow

immensely popular

thought how

say,

She

a

SINGER

knee-strainingcurtsey.

the Prince

at

OPERA

against the wall

up

time

I often

had

AN

than

several comes

Backfisch admirers;

anything

closely in the

streets

I

know. for

"212"

English

translating this strange

to

nearer

the

a

These year

and

girls followed finallymet

us.

first my

At

AND

COMMON

RUSSIANS,

Finally they dwindled

of

element

which

fond. who

count,

flower

delicate

his

girls were illness

with

was

get

funeral. afford

were

a

explain

and

as

them

in time

The

girlswere

often

at

our

for

make

to

left

have

can

a

a

was

Their

possiblefor to

come

When

for the

they

in

tell

way

if you to

girlsby us

with

to

incredulous,

was

funeral

a

not

tried

sneering laugh:

the poor

"213"

could

badly off,and could

pauperis

and

long

brother

reason

some

the

and

his

arrangements

brutal

done

lived

who

grief from

undertaker, he

the

to

they used

pretty,

finallydied,

with

bent

regiment, and

Everything

hard

of

old

very

His

mother

my

pretentious ceremony.

you

one."

of

the trials of nursing him.

this

a

was

were

General

old

finallysaid with

course

E

fond

very

The

his

to

and

German

daughters

seclusion.

great

spirit

,

worn

and

in

better

were

father

Their

L

then.

us

then, the

and

now

girl friends

our

lived

who

daughters

with

revealing glimpses of the

engulf all the

house.

noble

house, and

and

of

Two

General

but

ing charm-

very

colonel, a

a

mine.

sweet,

became

we

us

to

seems

famous

fair

to

came

now

people.

as

whom

said, strange

I have

Hun

not

very

had

I

girl.

a

As

a

just two,

military with

strict and

very

and

daughter of

the

Marjorie's was was

to

girls,of

young

band

her

had

sister

PREFERRED

"Of want

make

it all

these

brutes,

floods

of

tears

CONFESSIONS

OF

of the insults

they

arrived, and

of

he

uniform a

the

family

bowed

was

Czar

of

the

at

Russia

Darmstadt. all the Russian School to

They

took

a

such

in

man

small

a

precautions,however,

great

of

nical the Tech-

such

It seemed

side out-

thought

the

at

us

his

with

always throng

who

Darmstadt.

at

to

came

rest

to

types.

hunting lodge, just nervous

were

students

bomb

thing

Duke's

We

word

in

only

as

brutal

such

by

coming

was

appeared

served

in October

year

Grand

and

to

Germany

last the brother he

as

soon

down

in

the second

During

as

SINGER

At

swallow.

to

course

is served

uniform

that

had

OPERA

AN

an

easy

quiet and

town.

nothing

happened. I sang

times

many

of

good enough

to

of his wife."

sit in

In

send

Olga,

a

box

"Papa,

with

stage

the

all. in

come

"as

a

them and to

and

they

playing

would

with

climb

his hair.

watch. "214"

all It

over

was

to

Duke.

Duchesses, Anastasia,

call

always spoke English togetlier. He

used

Grand

sometimes

here; do Papa

was

sapphire

He

the

would

he

remembrance

little Grand

They

formances per-

left

with

wreath.

laurel

Marie, and

of

one

a

were

and

Tatiana

brooch

he

Imperial crown,

the

nearest

next

littlest

by

When

etc.

me

It is the

box

a

the

the

Dalila,

surrounded

eyes,

for the Czar, in "command

in

dear." would

the

tervals in-

They go

to

him, petting him rather

charming

COMMON

RUSSIANS, Prince

of

Henry

friends.

fast

had

never

procession, and

she

The and

Czar

Sunday

on

him. suffered

I had

as

in

side.

my

able

be

The

Sunday

off in

me

in

operation. and

The

they told

I was,

me

the Czar

as

successful a

hour

an

before

to

the

wished left

to

Monday,

I

I

that

had

know

if the

town.

I

appendicitis

an

Duke

night.

packed

operated

was

a

I would

who

surgeon,

for

sent

performance

the

with

weeks

afraid

was

hospitalfor

the Grand

he

I

morning

next

several

for

bad

for

sent

turn

where. no-

frightfullyill,and

morning

get through the

to

doctor

felt

doing

so

went

the

on

the

one

the theatre;

to

came

a

sing "Meistersinger" for

I had

doctor, the pain being not

never

to

been

which

Darmstadt

were

we

we

left in

just then, and

leave

day before

The

pains

Czarina

to

was

a

them, but

see

knew

ever

one

or

are,

theatre

the

closely hooded,

intensely nervous

was

Henry

left

to

these

as

glimpse of them, for five

motors,

no

too,

Prince

they

a

as

The

in.

was

When

much

so

black, mysterious

Czar

there

was

always gathered

crowd

curious

Prussia

Duke, Czar, and

three, the Grand were,

PREFERRED

AND

sent

to

upon,

ask

how

operation

thought

was

it showed

charming, kindly thoughtfulnessof others. The

nurses

all

were

most

kind

me

in the

utterlyuninterested

but

the

surgeon

but

the

healing of the wound

was

to

"215"

itself,and

in

hospital, anything

paid

abso-

CONFESSIONS

lutely

OF

attention

no

of my

strung,

took

he

as

said

hotels.

a

the train

went

south

for

of

the

for the

the

helped

would

come

by

watch and

the

scene

was

Niklaus

first time

give

to

That

as

coming.

fifty pounds,

I

rushed He

and

the

tempi,

and

up

only

veniently con-

me

on

to

it

as

tance dis-

short

for

enough

a

heim in Mann-

piano and

without

never

tell him about

two

colliding

with

him

a

having not

in

the

that

the

flat down

weighed

"216"

away

very

a

or

for

me

trying experience,

a

knocking

tenor

tea,

rehearsal, having

a

at

the was

for

was

close

without

me

local

the

at

in "Hoffmann"

room

my

dinner,

or

trips, surrounded

Mannheim

or

in

would

Heidelberg

"

away,

over

Darmstadt short

for

hour

an

him.

with

we

he

because

eat

to

craving

supper.

opera.

Venetian

fit

Frankfurt

us,

part

Kapellmeister seen

fared

I remember

luncheon

for

to

I sang

visit.

learnt

half

nothing

by interesting towns

day's

Frankfurt

ourselves

situated is

highly

a

have

suite, and insulted

salad, and

chicken

or

Wiesbaden

to

to

was

American

lobster

that

see

would

secretly quite agreed

often

wild

currences distressing oc-

much

(one hour),

there

I

We

could

woman

were

Wiesbaden

to

or

One

rather

the Czar's

with

was

Darmstadtites

always

other

American

SINGER

OPERA

him.

Sazonoff the

the

to

ilhiess.

nervous

with

badly

AN

hundred in

mid-

I

career, on

At

Frankfurt

Mildenburg in

heard

we

I felt at

the

woman,

so

end

if I had

as

marvellous

witli

to

Her

creature.

draperies, the

clutching, bony

effect

she

clearly to We

this

to

know

different

he

to

her

time

men's dressed

in

ever

the

uniforms as

they

well

a

his

the

At

saddle

made, were.

or

and

"217"

much

us

of

hair,

a

and

exotic

skin

like

a

full-lipped,blood-red she

the

rode

They

whose

creatures

frail

home in

told

seemed was

tiniest

seen.

boy,

He

She

us.

exact

strongly and

Russian

sister

acter, char-

theatre.

big

curly, bronze

very

I have

the

on

barely

queen's

it

convey

in

lingers

give the

to

in Darmstadt.

gardenia petal, and mouth

seat

and

world

looking, with

to

very

interests

and

Russia

and

tlie farthest

grew

combined

trayal por-

large face,

she seemed

of the

psychology

together

wanted,

family had of

the

insane

an

scarlet, gold-embroidered

her

eyes,

erect,

produced.

Bahr-Mildenburg's

haunting, sick

keep all

a

Strauss

jewelled staff,the swaying body

able

forget

never

watching

been

was

of the half -demented

pale,

shall

I

effects

the orchestral

it, nor

Bahr-

conducting and

Strauss

Klytemnestra.

as

performance of

wonderful

a

Richard

with

"Elektra"

her

flat

down

by going

way

back.

my

her

right of

him

gave

PREFERRED

AND

COMMON

RUSSIANS,

stables. out

could

with both

of

most

spent

She

had

the

officers

drink

enor-

CONFESSIONS

quantitiesof

mous

and

pension, and

of

dressed

I

nose

flowing horrified

that he and that

had

He

I

his

sister

evening

gown

and

no

seemed her of

of

dress.

party

that time, brother

she

as

did

any.

After

would

wander

and

however,

not a

seem

the

at

was

so

genuinely esthetic.

more

She

cent.

a

so

during the

apparently clothes.

he

as

had She

shortcomings

any

only

ridiculous

me

was

false

Gretel,"

S

felt the

once

of

lack

arranged something for her

We had

no

to

money

think

to

spend,

it necessary

particularly successful the

I grew

und

shabby

only

blissfully unaware

wardrobe, a

had

never

to

fore wreaths, be-

some

money

range ar-

beautiful, and

something

to

spending

desired, but

he

a

big

a

all had

and

witch.

that

in

would

we

looked

once

changed

much

as

half

finallysaw I

he

"Haensel

in

and

never

after

night I remember

Witch

Greek

half

spout

lived

with Suff^ragette,

a

pink.

and

we

or

Sometimes

pagne cham-

flush

that time

monotonously

so

with

talkative

locks, spectacles,and

grey

unhappy

even

in sheets

as

the

costume,

evening

never

"Carmen,"

say

One

being

as

it up

At

Romans

dressed

wear

follow

very

fete.

as

all

our

down

came

mine,

satisfied.

was

SINGER

Saturday night

elaborate

an

of

become

to

every

performance

tired

and

the hour.

by

verses

he

Bowie

OPERA

punch, and

used

appear

AN

Swedish

Only S Greek

OF

deserted "218"

streets

and

to

and

her

give her

fete, S kneel

before

COMMON

RUSSIANS, fountains them

in the

with

his

as

libations

me.

And

believe

he

newspaper

soldier's

of

little coin

into

her

keeping with

their

singing

not,

or

roles

my

big

red

roses,

Honolulu

or

or

drunk, if

called

will

you

how but

he

rather

China.

found

receive

He

of even

all tliese

I believe

to

quite

was

sublime.

out

the

I

was

of

one

basket

monstrous

baker

world.

whether

for my

to

birthday candles.

-219-

in

belonged

remembered the

's

regulated and

orchids, cabled

cabled

with

a

Frau

so

L

to

trip round

a

purse

night after singing

some

armful

Torte

been

made

the

at

no

stuffed

indifference

me

I would an

luggage

goatskin,

bag, and

Russia,

to

birthday, and wonderful

earth

always

position if they had

seemed

knows

Goodness

the

on

girl had of

case

all have

afterwards

S

from

water

shabby hand-baggage,

The

own

than

country

typical and

of

Their

it.

would

a

he

as

least

parcels.

things which

other

pile

a

emptied

possessions

any

in the

not

it

pouring

they left the pension their

mostly A

dipping

squares,

only fearfully Russian.

consisted

von

PREFERRED

Athene,

Pallas

was

station

a

public

derby hat, and

to

me,

When

but

AND

send

of

from

hund's DachsPeter

CHAPTER

grandmothers'

THE

this

ALL

I

time

the

all

of

Weber

Everything

and

terribly

difficult

sounds

in

French,

but

natural,

though in

and

surely

enter

into

is

into

nearly be

only

all a

is

a

singing?

the

love

question

has

time

flowered "220"

an

or

had

with and

they

are

ing guess-

that

insult

against be

to

and

text,

can

they

will,

us.

reached

In

as

ery Ev-

the

How

prejudice

countries

of

understood

phrase

The

quite

singable.

when

opera

vernacular

European

composers

an

sonorous

seem

thing.

important

German

the

nor

however,

lations trans-

seemed

the

to

to

came

tlie

it had

after

beautiful

so

is the

that

myself

German

never

of

first

Carmen,

or

Humperdinck.

some

At

accustom

spirit of

the

tenor

to

audience,

this

German,

from

operas

to

up

cluding in-

from

operas,

German

poor.

latterly

whether the

some

Dalila

the

the

the

at

large,

very

Italian

Mozart in

given

was

good

one

and

hard

very

was

the

and

Wolf-Ferrari,

time

working

repertoire

nearly to

BALLET

was

Our

opera.

Verdi

XX

lating trans-

in

overcome

I

suppose,

Russia, their

eratic op-

world

GRANDMOTHERS'

THE

prominence only after for

the

for

the

libretto.

BALLET

Russian

the

it

adopted,

was

Italian libretti

imagine

one

sande" find

to

these

its

matters

always thought

I have

contribute

would audience

than

the

as

a

I

were

and

German,

I did

gabble

profitablethan

an

famous

such

stage, aimed

the

in the subtle

at.

as

I

for

steadilythrough the

to

us

showed

every us

pauses

weeks

exactly

and

season

on

which "221"

was

a

though is

more

a

more

on

women country-

my

own

of

their

between

chance.

a

of rehearsals two

heard

often

they waited

hoping

of

almost

as

experience

appearance

many

long

scheme

even

charm

me

work

routine

this

occasional

against intrigue, and

The

of the

of words,

accepted

time

Surely

German.

a

must

by foreign speech.

colleagues by this

My

school

general pleasure

misunderstood

us

upon

Meli-

et

question whether

I

though English is perhaps lacking worked

any

good English translation

a

to

more

a

"Pelleas

can

hurried.

be

can

also

France

Each

and

tongue,

own

came

operas

In

a

libretto?

Italian

an

long Strugs

generations,but

for

Debussy composing

a

itself in

before.

not

used

were

a

of German

used

was

discarded

was

language of the singers only after

gle, but the great abundance after

Italian

Germany

In

language

roles, while all worked

We

rehearsed worked

struggles

out

every

and

day. given

printed Spielplan. This operas

and

plays

were

CONFESSIONS scheduled we

for the

should

AN

OF

have

OPERA

all the rehearsals

fortnight,and

next

attend, beginning with the

to

for the soloists alone, then

and

finallythe

rehearsal

the

on

At list of dates

of

works

without

My

and a

role

may

be considered I remember

had

Dalila

in

the

Prague

and

in

travellingdress and all

then

rush

very

I should

have

week

passed

restless and

learn

and

velop, de-

tility Versa-

operatic stage,

Fides

to

soubrette

sticks to you,

week

Prague

to

the

dress

Third

with

a

you

night,changing

at

black the

Dresden "222"

for

for Dalila. in

Tuesday

I could I had

thrown

train.

the

We

middle

I

ning. eve-

in

arrive to

"Zauberfloete"

cloak

in

particular.

Wednesday

late train

a

Lady

straightto

on

in

scheduled

was

by taking

in time

last bit of

from

strenuous

"Zauberfloete"

Darmstadt,

probable

fairlyversatile.

one

sing

to

the

on

formance. pertive tenta-

a

something.

the audience

parts in operetta, and

a

work

rare

to

me

attribute

all the way

play

a

was

taught

the

I grew

once

aim

useful

most

if you

least

at

at

their

time

If

myself.

constant

every

with

this made

and

last orchestra

or

Spielplan was

exactly what

for

singing

my

unhappy.

and

All

I knew

what

of the

hearsals re-

chorus

everything as

preparation

appearance.

study and

is

in

with

Probe,

stage, with

the side

systematic,and for

General

room

the stage rehearsals

chorus, the stage rehearsal

without

piano,

SINGER

over

sing in me

travelled of

the

night, and

waiting

Arrived

at

old

with

one

back

himself.

smoke

yet

I had

as

journey I

typicalbottle it.

happened

we

the

handed

received

who I

was

We

very

while

was

had

had

We

I wanted

a

of vin The to

wine

"

it

was

troubles that

the

train not

were

with

the

have

through

The

happened

November,

"

the

handed

train

window

sick

very

in London

We

bit of

gium. Bel-

in with

the

Marjorie slowed

to

nor

down and

us,

the

I

driver,

Belgian imperturbability.

true

baggage."

a

engine beside

an

chestra, or-

only brightspot

neither

our

a

night for Edin-

crossed

and

time

next

tired and

arrived

have

to

much

appear

basket

rouge,

it with

thing that hasn't our

My

we

lunch

absolutelyexhausted.

lost

how

long and tedious, and

was

remember

can

matter

to

was

Reich

sing Frau

to

sped

and

following night in Glasgow.

the

on

I

Dalila

my

the train

take

to

boro, Scotland, where and

no

swallowed.

have

you

over

touch

lightnessof

sang

tiring lady has

this

in this

time

I believe, directed

was,

I had

where

Thursday night; and certain

duly

I

Darmstadt,

to

and

me,

vanni" Gio-

footlights. "Don

for

given for the first

was

time.

some

straightto the theatre, the

lamps

gas

for

station

noisy

I went

they told

theatre Mozart

by

the

at

Prague

of Mozart very

BALLET

GRANDMOTHERS^

THE

nel. crossing the chanterrible

storm,

ing feel-

Marjorie said, "The

only

in

a

is, that

we

have

on

the cold

till all the

luggage

waited

"223"

not

yet

platform had

been

CONFESSIONS taken

of

out

I went

OF the

She

all of

"

could

we

if

of

sort

continued

that

night I the

broke

almost in

concert,

Marjorie comforted which chilled nerve

I

in

back

came

following night Darmstadt

the

six countries

We round of

me

walked

the

for

songs.

thawed, and

my

I scored

a

Darmstadt,

as

many

great and

the

ously nefari-

calm.

day Mon-

the

in

world.

whiskey

Gradually the with as

it,my

I did

the

went

back

to

having

been

in

then

quickest possible way,

in

for

dared

voice

We

Glasgow.

when

wait

some

success,

a

we

platform during

hugest halls sent

next

during the

to

they

between

and in

on

and

me

gulped down

blood

down the

of

one

Scotland

the Sabbath

break

and

slipout

to

know

and

amused

to

and

The

found

had

and

towels

is.

much

they

met

me

it you

were

night before

of the

friendly cover

for

gown

that

were

stations

Sunday

done

us.

Marjorie

the

was

a

ever

left for

that

and

Sunday,

on

for

might be

coast

found

We

trains

no

of

day

next

you've

journey.

our

found

day

the

early the missing trunks

morning

we

round

all-nightfuneral

an

trunks

sleptthat night in

We

concert.

underclothes, and what

from

possibly have

not

the

at

use

familiar

the

The

avail.

no

SINGER

hotel, leaving poor

made

possible trains

where

OPERA

no

"

the

to

out

worn

struggle.

to

vans

AN

days. deal

in

I sometimes

charming bridle paths. "224"

We

the beautiful rode made

over

country the miles

expeditionsinto

Taunus

the beautiful

coffee

The

is

Wald

having

in

in

direction

every

ure. expeditionsa great pleas-

these

city,makes

the

round

scarlet

gold and of

distances

convenient

at

all

country,

delightful custom

The

autumn.

Haeuse

BALLET

GRANDMOTHERS^

THE

ways al-

cakes

the

and

usually good,

so.

Darmstadt

with

year

they only word

to

came

extremely rich

was

good The

for

therefore a

to

said

I have

As

I

because

was

the

of

days

to

the residence to

be

mother

simply paid

but

me,

in the

about

had

we

a

to

several

house.

the old Schloss of the

comfortable.

take

near

passed "225"

that

Edward,

explained They

myself.

see

really of

care

relation

no

me.

picturesque privileges

I used

to

"

go

the theatre, no

reigning family I

why

was

King

Duke, which

were

and

us,

Grossherzogliche Beamtin

Royal

who

town,

One

live in.

I could

which

and

sister

my

to

of the Grand

him

to

"easy"

an

mark.

a

Germany

cousin

likeness

said

that

illegitimate daughter of

a

I found

colleagues, so

my

lived

American

They

beggars.

round

stories circulated

choose

the

was

to

not

passed

least

at

strangest

should

we

and

me

and

pestered

people they said, and

been

have

must

highway

a

were

we

of

stream

constant

a

and

Germany,

usually ex-theatre

were

I

Bergstrasse,almost

the

on

that part of

through one

is

under

as

it

was

shadowy

an

ployee em-

tain cer-

on

longer too

old

arches

CONFESSIONS and

till I

windows, lived.

I went

bowels

of

orders

the

at

much

who

The

special rates,

Duke

wonderful, but think

I

neither be

later in the

the chorus

fee

took

just

how

bottle of champagne

asked

was

the ballet

it to

the cellars

I believe

never

and

to

in my

were

investigate.

to

had

at

flunkies

deliver

would

sum

entitled

were

large

two

principals

nor

him

and

this

privilege,

sharing it,but

I may

mistaken. ballet

Our

was

hesitated

standing, and

clothes

a

babies

to

were

pitiful.

dismiss

faithful

of the

the chorus

handsome son

rather

the result

particularI

in

eldest

to

the back

at

was

the

only

the

a

employes

day.

I

greeted by

got it duty free

small

a

the

ridiculouslysmall

a

uniforms

Grossherzogliche

very

his

as

we,

into

told

I

Kellermann

apron

perhaps

or

Grand

For

too.

apartment

table.

paid

and

was

by aged

stair

stone

white

a

and

treat,

it all.

I

wore

I wanted,

a

surrounded

old

steep

a

SINGER

the Schloss

earth, where

Rotwein

rate

where

candle-lit

a

for

this

down

OPERA

courts,

to

came

Cellarman,

Head

AN

cobblestone

through

for

OF

was

a

stage.

and

almost

of

twenty-four

was

bom

of all ages

while came

in

of

phalanx I used

to

I

about

and was

between.

"226"

a

in

The

years'

ers grandmothgive

and

ballet women,

creature

of

servants

adopted.

rectors di-

Kind-hearted

old

my

ily fam-

one

mother

poor

forty-five.

carpenter,

and

Darmstadt. The

father

Her two

dren Chil-

drank

and

used

gaily

as

the

amongst them

much

very

"Empire"

creations

has

got

school

a

and all

were

It

boys.

the

but

part

tried

boys

one

the

in

much,

somebody

seemed

to

and

think left

behaved, The

his ridiculous

they

These

to

but

the

the

in

mendously tre-

boys most

the knee, wide

round

The

woods

well

looked

after,

dressing the

were

these

themselves

to

German

boys

students

beer-drinking type little coloured

side of his head, thinks "227"

shoulders

boots.

laced

period

the

dressed

who

tame

most

bully them.

student, with on

all

are

correctly. When

to

Paris

in

tended largely at-

in

their

shirts.

flannel

and

quite well

were

gowns

is not

town,

was

hump-toed

wore

husky specimens, hats

Darmstadt

amused

ladies

round, and

year

f oresty of forest clothes, boots western

tribute dis-

to

it

month

a

boys padded

Western

our

very

me

thing

walk-on

forestryin the

of

American

by when

were

help.

to

had

We

all the

paid

if it is

the

of

officers'

evening

latest

Eighty marks

comedies.

French even

backs

the

on

the

as

to

refurbished, doing duty

and

or

gowns,

old

their

see

they

believe

I

home

the

clothing to

women.

to

and

things worn

always washed,

washed, as

these

about

dance

to

go

told

I

by little

had then

and

gypsy,

sending their

about

kind

or

Little

misery.

I knew

wives

boy

peasant

who

mother,

the

ill-treat

to a

all that

BALLET

GRANDMOTHERS^

THE

he

owns

his

cap own

of

stuck par-

where

ticular cafe

his Stamm-Tisch

They objectedto their

replied in

quite unknown

challenge

a

The

American

and

refused

good

students

wired

to

both

other

sides

the

more,

contributed There

friend

American

college,told combats.

heard nerve

of the

an

is

anesthetic, and It is

tremendously steady,

through the stated number

slowly through

a

regular "228"

clean

each

respect

subsided.

The

stadt, in Darm-

to

go

the

an

technical

extremely bloody yourself sewed

have

fighting,and

on

the

of duels, course

at

supposed and

and

in town,

corps

student

a

glory

sickening details.

were

the disturbances.

duelling ours,

up

heard, but

undesirable

of witnessing their

us

Part

without

of

and

gradually

largelyto

several

were

a

got

who

never

we

element, usually rather

Russian

think

tonight and

over

understand

trouble

ing send-

can heard, the Ameri-

countrymen

happened to

grew

was

custom.

and

dust

Finally, we

Frankfort, "Come

in

I

fists.

the

their fellow

their

to

with

bit

the

nothing of duelling

knew

turn

fighting

repliedby

according

Germans

fat

fist

who

fight except

to

Exactly what

up."

up

in

vengeance.

boys

as

boys

many

swearing

duel

to

boys

by knocking

of

the Germans,

to

be.

to

the American

way

method

This

down.

Germans

happen

of the American

cafes, and western

own

SINGER

may

mannerisms

various

visited these

who

boys

OPERA

AN

OF

CONFESSIONS

to ones

make who

fightingtheir

of

we

your go way

progression, al-

THE the

ways

GRANDMOTHERS' winner,

The

proof. it existed

in

while on

his

return

members

indeed

must

authorities

was

of his

shock

be

frowned

on

nevertheless.

force we

BALLET

were

there; he

treated corps.

One

as

a

That

training.

"229-

was

the

and

disgust

practice but

boy killed

other an-

imprisoned,

but

by

the

conquering

hero

surely belongs

to

Hun

CHAPTER

STAGE

FASHIONS

AND

played

WE

June, I

holidays.

not

Through cousins

remote

the

in

I

dearly

architect,

The

who

abdicated

for

the

German

German

of

his

throne

dozens

all

King

of tions rela-

famous

nearly old

three

as

Munich

the

the

tives rela-

officers.

have The

built

for

Munich

married

son

who

the

blood),

also

tember Sep-

for

German

Germany.

loved.

from

scattered

many

we

of

Munich

in

Bavaria,

ancestors

Klenze,

von

buildings

sisters

north

to

have

COLOUR

months

then went

of

OF

nine

and

We

drop

a

grandfather's

my

GLORY

often

Festspiel.

(though of

THE

continuously to

Wagnerian

XXI

court

the

noble of

Ludwig married

my

"

mother's

charming

very

lived

in

East

quite

and

artistic,

relations.

peoples meets

and

and In

in

to

their

North

Darmstadt

they and

sorts.

"230"

we

critical, as

of

I

cousins

who

always

heard

and

found

seem

course

always

were

northern

Prussia

cold,

friendly,

character, all

descendants The

me.

different,

were

one

and

aunt,

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southern

our

between in

warm,

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two

theatre

her

sister

the

fat little

herself.

the

remarks

her

on

not

were

undiscerning

as

bers mem-

the

between

friends

her

to

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about

remarks

screamed

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of the company and

colours

plastering the family jewelry all

and

body,

gance proved her ele-

She

brilliant

most

Schwabia,

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was

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was

by wearing

over

COLOUR

Souffleuse, "Bobberle,"

Our and

OF

GLORY

THE

acts, you

as

might think. The

for

reserved

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often

in

without

my

having

mother

the

orchestra,for which

oldest

sat

mothers

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of

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they thought, and who

new-comer

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S

the

Raben's

influence

familiar

hanging

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little

chin

ask

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betide

woe

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take

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raven's

over

us

on

Kaethe

that

divine

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stage.

were

right,

was

called

we

felt its

I

made

quite

was

nightly:

spielt ja Heute!"

rail, and "231"

her

and

back

be

comments.

nest), and the

to

one-eyed Frau

's chair.

W

rapturously, die

The

comparatively

some

to

venture

in

seat

time.

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by

just while

seat,

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each

theirs

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Katy plays tonight"), the

announce

was

could

speciallyreserved

a

the remarks

with

"Ach! our

Nest

for

sister, in

seats

would

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as

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my

fat Frau

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ask

to

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the

joy

unending

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in

in state

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my

house,

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the

of

right side

the

on

used

sister

walk

box

top

("Oh!

mother settle bent

of down

like

Katy with

a

jack-

CONFESSIONS

OF

knife, for three hours had

probably

seamstress

to

There of

An sure-fire

of

in front

from

the one

but

eye,

She

two.

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of her

Paris:

of close

at

by shade and

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curls

being

lorgnon

then

type

worn

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hair

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of

by

the

storm,

conceivable turned

into

praktisch!

least three

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of

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course

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be

say,

In

multitude

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ribbon

in every

much

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the whole

years

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styleof

two

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to

to

ble possi-

Darmstadt

sorry

in

close

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bow

a

only

This

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black

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head,

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belongs

wearer

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rather

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version.

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repeated

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tight

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make

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puffs and

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the footlights. and

years

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as

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and

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out

Prinzessin"

curls

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set.

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worn

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to

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used

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She

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leghorn,

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Kaethe

provincial

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SINGER

props

to

viewed

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out

gorgeousness

OPERA

proud

most

certain

are

whether

of

toiled turn

AN

if

you

person.

"232"

are

If

elegant,"also quite playing you

read

an

that

elderly tunics

GLORY

THE are

Paris

in

worn

though they Even

them

put

you

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may

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out

at

renounced

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bridge

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of

you.

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it

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mitted ad-

was

in

Paris

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actress

is

one

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gowns,

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on

up

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hideously unbecoming

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outline

COLOUR

OF

should

,

lag behind?

Darmstadt

problem

The

and

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place

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Metz

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further

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conventional

coat.

In Darmstadt tried

In

shirts.

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today.

terrific knows

perhaps

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rigid formality

of

dress

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fashion,

of

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every

for

quest

in

to

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allowances

in

astray the

think

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one,

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ape

brushing,

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the

men

knew

better,but

the

officers in

the

huge delight of "233"

some

walk, monocle, the

of them or

officers.

hair One

CONFESSIONS clever

OF made

always

actor

throwing hack what

"There,

do

revealing the course

knew

before

a

club

box, and missed

Duke

take

his box

Sometimes have

this

me

be

me,

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had

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hard

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to

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do

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old me

always

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in

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in

felt he

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never

him.

to

scrutiny. ple peo-

was

a

gentleman many

brought

spurs

in

to

"234"

if

on

painter

what

say

his mind

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saw

pleasure the

I had to

to

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Egyptian striven

know

so

that I

it. town,

postcards back

you

of

quite unknown

great pleasure

suggesting

search

in

Dutch

course

by recreating in

silhouettes

manicured

that well-known

you,

a

word

me

clusive ex-

accordingly.

always missed

wandering

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front,and this knowledge, and the

in

Amneris.

as

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its

most

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was

gets messages

some

are

it

one

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in.

empty

out

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and

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of

man

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This

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finished

lining.

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you

you

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When

and

by

speech, and

life, valeted, perfumed

Grand

he

as

satin

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man

irreproachably, and The

SINGER

that?"

to

black

at

you,

edge

coat

say

gorgeous

You

world

his

you

OPERA

his greatest climax

unanswerable,

was

effect.

AN

to

who

from

him

had

travelled

Spain, because his

happy

days

THE there.

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Orlofsky

me

kept

with

me,

them

for ages

give

to

took I

as

in

was

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for

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Berlin

either

opera

not

get

and

so

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To

or

back

to

such

make

friends success

it

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The

"

tell them

and

I have "235"

rehearsed I had

wards, after-

rehearsal I must

be I

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ble. impossi-

was

rehearsing,especiallyfor

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as

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von

truth

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of

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concert

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rehearsal

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artist

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Erich

my

musical

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at

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in

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good.

than

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me.

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program

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continued

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longer

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evening

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told

of the greatest

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go

friend

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concert,

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bad

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concert,

Mr.

to

up

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of Coenraad

recital,he thought

very

could

him

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friend

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in me,

the

he

leaves

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my

play

when

silvered

Darmstadt

in

have

another

made

winter

I heard

to

heavy

music

Germany.

before

day

in my

interest

dress.

gold lettered inscriptions,and

Bureau, and

an

my

court

severe

of

for

always afterwards

I

try-out recital.

a

the great Wolf once

wreaths

and

"Order"

Russian

gentleman's

During the last Berlin

real

a

that

to

sent

were

COLOUR

OF

"Flederraaus," which

in

wreaths

Laurel

I

sent

with

wore

GLORY

life

my a

play for was

worked

very

calling

up

new

read

recital.

hard all of

find. such

me,

preparing

later Berlin

of his never

to

It

notices

that his was

as

I received

from

foreignerhad

all the

with return

three

or

felt

wanted

that

three

and I liked

the to

of

outcome

then

absolved to

into

go

farewell

My people

to

take

side

with

all round

me

in

a

Darmstadt to

worlds

more

come

waiting

for

the

the

After

stage

when

,

at

on

then

went

up

and

For

I

reason

followed

"236"

me

back

came

side

to

grouped

and

down

at

my

I left the theatre

when

the stage door

some

I

last curtain

and

banked

the

and

filled from

was

were

curtain

friends. me

quer, con-

who

S

times, till I felt like weeping

not

I

work.

"Carmen"

minute, and

a

The

all these kind

to

depending

contract,

was

me.

flowers; they me.

but

Darmstadt,

eflfect.

calls

my

opportunity of

Gastspiele,or guest performances, the following October, my contract

for

left the stage

to

two

good

were

cert con-

obliged

was

sing for Baron

to

that

up

criticize my

to

offered

and

me

be

Munich

to

went

kissed

beginning. in

on

I wanted

bigger town

a

nary extraordi-

repertoire faithfullyfor

the

that

I

unusual

sign

to

followed

lost the

so

an

sung

and

years,

of

me

had

I

no

me

Papa Fernow

but

more,

duties, and

reaping the reward

They

and

unanimous

immediately

have

my

told

They

papers.

such

SINGER

room.

two

to

OPERA

first recital,and

a

in the green

I should

had

ever

praise for me

AN

OF

CONFESSIONS

numerab in-

leaving cab

did

the crowd

home, calling

THE "Come

out

back

kind

many

GLORY

OF

things. These

and

the life I led

I think to

the ideal

being

near

it

page's small the

study

and

rian, no

spoke

the

as

King

moved

to

what the musical the

side

my

vessels."

as

hideous Some

he

to

me

I said

tlie

not

Chatelet.

would

I did

he

the

was

take

only

comfort

told her

her,

as

had

that it did she

seemed "237"

to

as

German

a

The

or

so

singers

Burand

grapes,

as

no

one

could

able

Madame!'*

the

to

were

derstood un-

not

on

would

crowd intelligent actors,

I remember

unattractive

so

ager man-

"Bring golden

opera.

not

get

speak

to

he

young

an

all

all the business

throne."

study the

the

rehearsals.

person

of

charge

whom

so

finallythe stage

**Suivez

girl,who

was

wine

saying, and

was

I took

it, and

wished,

stage," etc.,

to

at

for

cry

get what

of

of

We

"figurants,"supers,

well

go

returning

"Salome."

little French.

very

"Remove

many

little one

this, on

stage manager

and

I

cue.

"Clear

supers,

wanted

the

very

singer.

opera

before

at

of the stage.

yell. So

of

an

and languages fluently,

two

asked

to

The

Things did

one

for

happy,

comes

years,

part in Strauss'

all Germans,

French.

three

part, just for the fun

opera.

of course, were

those

performances

six

artist's life very

years

I took

perhaps great

not

are

an

one

two

was

Paris, that

gave

for

and

Wiedersehen,"

"Auf

soon,"

triumphs, but they make

COLOUR

matter

one

lip.

sore

much,

who

trying

depressed about

it,

OF

CONFESSIONS but

she

was

always

deceived

their

Salome

pours

that my

huge

two

chats

painted that

I had

back

and

walks

My

brother's

beauty

is

new

us.

jam solid waves,

by

dozens

it

as

"

types

I

results

achieved have

done. have

to

the

and

first time

to

dreary on

the

and

art

ciation asso-

my

Salons,

stumbled

Spanish school, at

museums.

all the we

time,

Cecil,in

of

much to

my

same

its

vision

go

had

Strauss

as

owe

to

resting

"238"

simple strength

Reszke

clear

used

canvases

de

Paris

and

looked

of

sisted con-

such

sculptorbrother

my

the \'ividly

Venuses,

cats,

having, at

about

We

had

the

she

to

was

of the modem We

a

wore

considered

gold, where

of could

usual

as

phrases

she

mad

"

and

know

talks

him.

I remember

to

polite

too

the love

character

music,

clouded,

never

specimen

of

wonderfully

with

a

his

the

put in order

our

and

suited

singer I

gone

taste

my

existence

were

friends

voice, and

put in order, and

voice

to

always heavily protected,the

are

her

it with

other

no

effort

lurid

though

enrages,

heads

animal

acting

and

French

young

quality of her

of

John;

at

of stage villainesses tense

otherwise

an

in thrillingly

rose

chiefly of had

brave

"it

doubt.

voice

costume

This

however, though they

one

Destinn's that

of

impression

SINGER

replied darkly,

lost."

days

seven

no

show

to

OPERA

inconsolable, and

was

the

create

AN

wastes

then

on

quite

of raspberry of

most

still in the Louis

XVI

crests

GLORY

THE

I called was

big

a

child from

of

square

flaming colour

checked

red

in

Cec, something new!"

"Look,

out

with

fairly zizzed

and

the

in

scarlet

types of work

for

anything modem

brilliant

what

wondered I think

loved

had

stirred

by

was

the

have

I first fell in love

the

this

Spaniard's work.

by

put

Matisse not

past

a

was

agree

never

often

colour

with

it before.

paint

mere

colours

It

on

canvas

that

seems

one

of it, and

lights

I been

together that

that

master

witli him

had

never

had

We

opalescent, shimmering

living dazzling look

might

and

thrilled

can

dwarfed

canvas

man,

and

only rarely

"spot"

have

flirted with

I had

and

and

We

same

the

of his work.

when

was

this

that

in

in Paris.

water-garden series, but

his

in

that

Monet

the

became

though

se,

per

seen

by

one

but

years,

It

sun.

colour, and

the "confetti"

had

some

I had

another

found

had

We

a

tomatoes

radiating, vibrating quality that things have hot sunshine.

It

and

women

"

picking

cotton,

high-trained vines,

glowed

denly sud-

when

pastel-colouredmediocrity,

much

and

era,

COLOUR

OF

man

a

have

nature.

though

even

otherwise, his colour

I

as

will in

sees

so

one

was

a

joythe

Later When

I

I

their

see

they

are

Cubists

with

am

Cecil and

to

invaded

Futurists he talks to

quite clearly,and

aims

trying

and

express,

"239"

me

Paris.

of their work,

understand

for their "line

what

of talk"

is

OF

CONFESSIONS much with

brother

my

lived

We

their work:

I must

confess

sometimes

simply

very

the

at

but

small and

in

brother

had

We

but Americans, much

so

the

Isigny in

his studio

of whom

through talking

more

than

nationalities

our

when

knew

never

might

respect work

to

of

rigid

turn,

intellectual

is most

Rembrandt of whom a

age,

a

Bugatti

was

he

I think

a

was

for

genius, unrivalled

and

very

few

from

us.

is such

learnt

we

"

people

of

a

brother

my

lous marvel-

opinion he

Tlie

other

said, he must

give his

studio, and

your

criticism

mother,

atmosphere best

very

of

because at

encounter

you

stimulating.

pricelessassociation

was

the

into

keep constantlyat

having

every

drop

with

searching inspection.

a

tlie

not

a

French, anything

whose

one

some

little

I had

my

but few

As

place for development.

like little

blocks

Paris

own.

delicious

stubby

as

some

know

we

meals

home.

at

is

sometimes

and

its

house

same

not

am

our

shaped

Spaniards, Norwegians,

met

and

peas,

preparing them

apartment my

d'

crime

I

used.

Paris, having

in

big strawberries

and

pots, and

earthen

he

quartier restaurants,

potatoes, with

whisk-brooms,

when

understanding

my

getting filetsof fresh mushrooms, Paris

SINGER

forget the arguments

I

and

dimmed,

OPERA

than

lucid

more

AN

of

any

"240"

great friend

of my

reallyfond,

and

a

young

by

any

other

student. other age,

and

er's, broththis

was

Bugatti of

man

his

his

tragic

GLORY

THE death

is

a

and

deafness

his

impossible

life

happy

were

the

Zoo

in

figuresthere

Belgium, proved

to

too

what

the

great

him.

"241"

a

he

capes,

in the

Germans

the

of and

wearing

"

cavalry

made

have

must

when

Antwerp,

working all day

compared

growing

recollection

His

him.

His

world.

art

blue, Italian

pipes and "

for

the

COLOUR

sensitiveness

well-known

swinging, dark eternal

to

acute

spent

years

brother

of

loss

great

OF

my

long,

smoking

open

have

burden spiritual

air

in

made

for

CHAPTER

XXII

ROYAL

DURING

that

Munich.

and

me

who

told

I

oifice

me,

especially

the

as

do

Herr

could

one

Vienna

undoubtedly

to

about

Harder,

to

contract

not

was

exacting

very

from

both

would

no

could

according

in

blow

great

see

Intendant

new

a

I

to

gastieren

as

died

a

what

Berlin

to

coming

they

was

know

November,

till

into

and

course

not

must

but

was

of

went

I

me

October,

in

This

S

Baron

summer

I did

contract.

my

HUMOUR

to

really

come

engage

musical

new

later

in

want

to

the

rector di-

season,

choose

their

first contralto.

own

I

However, with The did was

colleagues not

see

right

Berlin,

previous

who and

and

to

do

there

out

the As

to

a

be

I

year

all "242"

for

but

I

it turned

out

I

do

resolved to

of

matter

engaged,

as

to

one

but

extremely, devote

no

was

be

the

heart.

sinking

a

it, and

stances, circum-

trying

and

would

I

recital.

turned

throat

thought was

under

sang

sore

very

"

me

blow

a

and

went

it. to

This return

following fact, this best,

as

pressed de-

up

to

my

apparent so

often

ROYAL

happens,

for

Germany

at

The

the

field is

the

received

rich

a

I had

as

been

hear

Utrecht

to

-smilingup

adorable

in Berlin.

and

to

at

well

as

them. town

wrote

ple Peoto

town

Rotterdam

never

or

to

sung

such

understand

to

as

was

read

Lune"

much

as

Holland,

critics

at

seem

de

I

I had

The

them

They

and in

from

I have

me.

them

to

go

see

"Claire

a

please

would

me

audiences.

languages,

blush

I would

and

me,

girls.

tour

a

in

career

my

Europe

in

I booked

I almost

quite unknown

other

one

caught

and

offices of Bos, where

kindly

eulogies that

seems

several

to

been

have

of the war,

beginning

good beginning.

a

through

to

I should

happened

concert

made

such

otherwise

which

upset,

HUMOUR

in

sung

Schubert's

all

French

cent magnifi-

"Allmacht." The

quite

was

to

grew

strong on

"coffee

however,

to

on

them

My

coffee

the waiters

is

point of

sister

and

It

watch

to

half

back

the

program,

night, but the

used

to

waiters of

the

were

the

round

disturbing,

finish

up

the

hall, while

of first importance,

all of

view. I lived

at

"243"

The

Hague,

I

Evidently

singer quite secondary;

mere

soon

of

carry

of the program.

the audience,

I

smell

rather

was

the

the

at

the coffee, and the

first

enjoyed

audience.

have

down

way

the

me

it, and

the second

and which

for

the

to

to

of the pots,

contents

to

look

smoking

trays

began

shock

a

half

pause"

and

Holland

so

delightfully small

return

there, after the

is

back

I went

town.

offered

was

another

in

concert

returning

was

not

see

my

series

old friends.

to

would

Java, and

could

it, but

undertaken

nearly always

spring for another

the

to

SINGER

could

we

evening's

in

tour

a

OPERA

that

felt that I

of recitals and I

AN

OF

CONFESSIONS

love

have

to

clear

way

just

then. I

In December Harder

sent

word

me

so

trouble, and my

I

now

in the

career

and

Siegfried Erda, singing

asked

He

badly.

so

Pitt,but I

if I

me

sing the list of leading roles which and

on

the

spot;

answering

my

proving,

do

singer of

with

most

any

reputation

usually made what

he

is

if you

you,

even

and

if he

heard

of

going

can

does make

to

not

In

pretty If he

wants

sung

badly

that

him

you,

engage

"244"

the

to

to

me, on

me

very a

has

beforehand you

he

takes

particulartime,

nothing you.

or

of

case

Director

well

do.

want

read

engaged

all, the

at

mind

have

for

ready

were

Gastspielehave

even

engagements.

his

up

the

sang

least, that successful

at

me

Vorsingen and

unsuccessful little to

to

in the

myself

he

in the affirmative

of

one

not

was

disgusted with

was

held

delay and

biggest I

way.

Percy

I had

of

the

for Mr.

I sang

Mr.

contracts

make

two, and

or

minimum

a

to

week

sing for

two

simple

same

when

best of voice

The

was

a

and

come

closed with

been

far had

to

Garden.

Pitt of Covent

for

in Berlin

was

that

I have

HUMOUR

ROYAL This

contract

Nikisch

Arthur der"

of

and

Garden,

I

that

at

closing the I had

where

and

We went

it

refuse

to

might it

The

across

trip

trip with

to

Everything

the hotel

towels.

America

till I

take

a

big journey

all of my

in their music

like this;

profitI

did

and

not

was

in

though

I

only, I

concert

one

few

very a

herd salt

coarse

the

place

and

at

"245"

shared

of

one

the

and

I

tions. sta-

smelt

of fish, even

smelt

felt

only

reindeer, and

muggy

portraitof Miss

shop.

snowy

had

line

of

women

I

the

over

passengers

and

warm

kindly

concerts, a

in

railway,

saw

Two

saw

great

friends, tlie Jones, back

forget. The

with

of fish.

my

One

give three recitals by myself.

never

Bergen itself

charge of

way, Bergen, Nor-

dear

Finse

We

of them

some

pleted com-

in.

engagement.

up

opened, and us.

Dutchman"

by Scandinavia,

the

recently been

tlie

sung

that account.

on

Bergen

glaciers, I shall

Covent

at

had

left for

we

sing with the orchestra

to

in

fed

eat

fascinated

were

remained

the

my

"Koenigskin-

who

sing

to

was

concert

a

that I could

was,

though

have

I

times, and

first time

Flying

contract

advantage of having of me,

the

"The

time.

the list of operas After

Also

of the few

one

was

three

Wagner,

given for

We

following spring.

conduct.

to

was

be

to

was

Witch

the

give the "Ring"

to

were

for

was

managers

far Emma

away

took from

Thursby

CONFESSIONS The

warm-hearted

and

us,

tales

met

we

of

One

regret I had

could

fellow, who

on

under

but difficulties,

less.

The

from

him,

sah

bin

a

all

came

my

a

nice

card

sterblich

and

great

verliebt." I

This

"

saw

you

I

photo

a

Ihnen

ich

bad

the

none

for

"'Seit

saying:

lish Eng-

conducted

was

request

a

little

no

enjoyable

most

was

approximately, "Since

means

heard

to

day by

conversation

I received

day

with

ich

but

me,

first

my

Our

next

with

hardly speak German,

French.

nor

delightful to

were

give her.

to

interviewed

was

SINGER

Grieg's relations, and

study

to

time

no

OPERA

of his cousins, I think,

Berlin

to

AN

Norwegians

many

of him.

the way

I

OF

German

mortally

am

in love."

loved

We when

we

make

out

first arrived

looking in

the

walked

and

having their

discovered You

ours.

at

four, preceded

served

from

women,

at

we

thronged

were

a

with

after

eleven

times

social are

that.

o'clock, then

by

nine, eight-thirty or "246"

We

and

met

quite different

dinner

this walk.

and

We

time.

of coffee, then

early cup

sometimes

good

pedestrians talking and

wonderful

an

not

till three

glitteringavenues,

meal

have

could

o'clock

two

quite empty

healthy red-cheeked

light breakfast or

streets

the snowy,

through

laughing from

and

Christiania

in

afternoon, and

all these

then

the

why

men

I remember

stay in Scandinavia.

our

is

at

a

three

Supper

usually laid

is

out

ROYAL on

long table

a

cold

are

breads;

queer

wonderful

course,

d'ceuvres

told

once

Platte

of

the

of

me

the

In

intended.

of these

eat

about

forty cents the way and

wonderful heard that

home,

I at

of divorces

stories

other

made

having he

seven,

quite often

thought saw

theatre

called

us

He and

"The

had

it time

her, and

had

said

tell her

get

all

he

city,and

its

We

women.

One

found

divorce!

a

her

about

Chickens "247"

hagen, Copen-

objection

no

to

lightful dehis

she

had

He

still

the best friends

they were take

to

at

contrast.

when

to

liked

Misses

and

men

pale by

he

German!

a

that

with

we

butter, for

and

were

all

passionate love affairs,

lover, but

one

in the world.

the

us

big and

nations

told

man

wife

of

race

with

storm-bound

were

fell in love

once

blond

we

I

is

scarlet-painted

witli bread

I wished

and

savoury

Copenhagen,

served

were

man Ger-

him, he

to

and

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style,with

we

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as

tell

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passed

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dainties

"

when

dainty mayonnaise

beams,

carved

could

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the

varieties, for

always

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in the old

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first for

go

could

you

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morsels, instead

decorated

pickled fish;

countless

d'ceuvres

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or

meal

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you

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hors

this is where A

the

in

and

meats

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CONFESSIONS

OF

only restrained

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us

crossed

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the

looked

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friends

because

you

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Can

sing.

wahr.

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fair

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with

hair, he

the train, as

Germany

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he

Russia. "248"

you

he

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one

hand.

my

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tightmouth by his he

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winter

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me

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concert

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little man

the

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on

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eine

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koennen

how

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"

with

sang

his coat, and

good

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artist.

Hamburg.

through the crack

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see

said

down

watched

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Metz

I

of

hobby

a

carefully before

over

shoulders.

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to

him

with told

was

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sympathetic

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Germany,

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master

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stage,

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for

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valet

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SINGER

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to

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phrase.

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sing

to

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account

on

of

the

Helsingfors

to

pours

sensation

drop of beauty from

have

to

the

best

spiring in-

Germany. Through

immensely

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musical

we,

daughters were

girls,frank They

had

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in Berlin

cousins

the

Germany; our

said,

have

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as

moved

just been

enjoyed

we

M

von

back

have

we

to

s.

Berlin

extremely high military position,and

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was

in

knowing

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our

relations

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sang.

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last

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you. one

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path

rehearsal, you

in

from

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get

to

found

have

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and

able

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her

for

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apartment the

of Dalibor

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abnost

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felt

huge pearls. We

were

"249"

asked

seen

to

are.

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though

as

throat

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never

and

large, but

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that

simple

up;

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which

as

stay

so

the

I sang, in

me

such

he

common.

aristocrats

pearls distracted

enormous

"Sapphische Ode."

German

as

concert sat

in

beautifullybrought

natural

musical,

much

had

course,

as

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the

ably unbelievto

Abend-

the

after

essen

showed

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marriage

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Geo,

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dinner

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Kaiser,

to

said,

the

with

ignoring completely the ladies

present,

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table, he

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would

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son,

us

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called

we

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Louise,

Victoria

Duke

the

to

the party.

simplicity of the

with

intimate

very

Princess

daughter,

from

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of

girls were

chiefly of the

over

absolute

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again

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well-born

left

refreshments

us

SINGER

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OPERA

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CONFESSIONS

men

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general reception. to

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present

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after

first time

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made

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the

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private

more

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Kaiser

the

talked

well,

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vited in-

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room

give the

court.

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von

more

then

whole

would

he

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intimately with

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choosing.

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all assembled

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feathers on

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his arm, the

its

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with

Kaiser

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into

room,

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ROYAL

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and

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made that

moment

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need

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helmet

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at,

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and

was

tended in-

was

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Geo, half

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stories

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the

said

quite new!"

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shabby,"

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comment,

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at

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to

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tone.

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situation, and

helmet,

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a

the

guessed

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everlasting

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Geo

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him.

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way

indignantly, half laughing. The this

court

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friends

other

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returning

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bon-bon

a

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entree.

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from

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ioned small, old-fash-

woolly white vases,

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CONFESSIONS

OF the year

given the Empress would

one

let The

saw

supposed under

his

scenes

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have

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much

is

at

any

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always of

idea

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Russian

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panorama

time.

for

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it

so

saw

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painted castles

as

seem

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stimulating to

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comic

to

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this

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suggested

tents on

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performance. be

cannot

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back-drop

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and

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to

believe

hope

Igor," has

in "Prince

because

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seen

it

mind

simplicity

out

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restaurant

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woods

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excessively naive.

me

pictures; but

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Ballet

scenic

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beautifully reproduced

be carried

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of

spent much

singers.

that

was

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places where

are

is towards

ones.

which

and

one.

might perhaps be

aim

plicity sim-

opera,

favourite

performance, and

those

see

there

scene

making

nificence mag-

extreme

"

house

opera

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he

more infinitely

course,

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It

things,however,

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Royal

in the

his

to

horribly expensive,

before

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to

interest

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flowers

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keen

direction.

and

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way

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felt

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feather

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steam

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and

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lation, simu-

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for

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stimulation a

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and

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tents

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imaginable

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their backs

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birthday went

the

to

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magnificentlyromantic,

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some

score

that

as

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we

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seen

never

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performance

decors,

to

to

while

procession scene,

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the

at

real

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sight.

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off" the

back, will surely

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shade

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Those

of the cathedral

minaret at

up

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given

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figures in the

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to

good example

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with

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if

all

looked

they had

usual

the comic

from

stepped

and

dull

looked One

night

theatre, the

small

"Fruehlingserwachen." ger,

was

box

at

to

in

the

and

opera

the evening

I think

mund.

of the best

American

Saenger

him,

we

as

chose

not

I

walls

of us

the

theatre,

the

lead

the

"

in

world,

those

players, the

most

unhappy

breat^^ess

us

The

and

to

and

in

a

come

had

formed trans-

of

Sieg-

of

the

theatre

which

they in

unseen

the

German

curtain actors

intensity of

they played those

tremulous,

its

wooden box

seeing but

the

we

Never

quiet, dark

opinion, and

with

by chance

applause when

skill with

that

Wedekind.

performance.

with

Wanderer

comfortable

sat,

inadequate

girl-women shriek,left

dazed.

highestpossibletribute some

he

and

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we

my

scene

to

of

children, the

mother, that dark

Saen-

had

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the

go

the

and

into, in which

then

see

him

see

whom

in years,

met

obccurity; the lack

fell, and

to

before.

to

us

forget that evening.

showed the

happened

"Fruehlingserwachen"

shall

to

friend, Oscar

singer, sang

asked

had

Rein-

Griswold, that splendid type

Putnam

night.

Max

to

his first performance

in

tenor,

a

men.

went

dear

town,

into

the

we

Berger, the giant baritone

see

as

women,

Kammerspiel,

My I had

The

plentifullybe-jewelled,

Berlin,

in

SINGER

stage.

opera

inadequate beside

summer

hardt's

OPERA

though

Germany,

in

AN

OF

CONFESSIONS

of those

I pay

to

German

gathered togetherthat "254"

actors, winter

in

ROYAL that theatre. there

"Henry

in

of

and

tlie as

of

home

unrivalled

as

a

Paris

one

to

but

joy

they

by

the into

student. a

were

room,

the

in

perhaps

to

the

was

be,

French

actors

sit down

at no

a

is

Georgette,

table

in

wonderful

and

her of

old butler

to

London,

imitable in-

ures; pleas-

of the French

actors or

seem

ma

always

was

with

be

or

keeper, house-

model able

to

for come

talk for half

gestures, without "255"

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delicious

most

a

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sincerely,yet just

the older

may

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absolutely

were

Lavalliere

see

quite

were

it proven.

the theatre

to

a

With

That

people.

Marquise,

or

case

people

more

go

see

comedy.

"Mile.

as

might

you

drama.

saw

Reinhardt's

ways,

hour, using almost

I

even

To

stage, the Marquis

these

two,

things

polish of

the

as

house,

that the French

me

Europe

in

gamine and

less price-

were

spell bankruptcy

in classic

as

Berlin.

or

all these

"

drawingroom or

such

in

lightlydone

such

his

in

lection sheet; the col-

Tear

not

same

possible till

always seemed

femme";

in the

in that

believed

never

Hal

ing Scene, the understand-

in the Inn

French

a

exception of

at

tions presenta-

why.

night

translation

saw

we

as

people really love it, and

the

reason

next

saw

Prince

as

the Doll

Shakespeare does

Germany, a

Moissy

spiritof Shakespeare

joys.

never

marvellous

such

nor

scene;

hangers-on

of the

The

V,"

deathbed

father's

is

Falstaff I

a

Shakespeare.

of

there

Such

HUMOUR

becoming

an

in

least boresome

the

passion

strong

their French

rivals.

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of

power

actor

for

could

have

the

the

up

then

gloriously,and notable

many

had

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or

from

the

and

depth

of

the

in

The

a

young

fellow

fairy-talespirit,the

a

than

his

grating,fishycroak, "R-r-r-rautendelein!

his

by

most

ing noth-

well, his

faun with

was

also

excellently

marvellous

faun-like

agility;altogetherthese unpretentious people

a

for

splendid

a

unearthy

more

formances per-

Glocke,"

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wetter

R-r-r-r-rautendelein!"

the

come be-

strength and

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Well

been

ter, mat-

greenish fingersappearing clutchinglyfirst,

webbed,

done

for

upon

memorable.

most

was

that

Anglo-Saxon mind;

an

had

we

of

for

away.

Darmstadt

sloshing slowly

and

to

think, excel

just a bit, and

rant

called

you

That

old

least

when

sweeps

in

instance,

at

to

of

scenes

I

or,

and passion, rises thrillingly

completely Even

When

Frenchman,

is inclined

German,

the

SINGER

wanted, the Germans,

unconvincing, but

OPERA

monotonous.

or

are

Latin,

any

AN

OF

CONFESSIONS

wood

imaginative, subtle town

of

Darmstadt's

performance?

"256"

way.

size

realized

feeling of the story, Where could

you

in see

in

America

such

a

CHAPTER

GARDEN

COVENT

due

IN

time

Mrs.

and

Jones

and

butler, lamb,

and

deep

cream!

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Such

by

in

rooms

had

I

previous

Highness

Schleswig-Holstein,

I

concert.

for

present,

them, but chairs

with

a

little

I

and

had after

not

gathered must

table.

the

they

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"257"

had

be

had

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kindly a

I

old of

clotted as

drawinggiven

cital. re-

a

of

Princess

toria, Vicat

patronesses idea

how

to

consented

special

thought

London,

to

Christian

my

directly

put

visit

private

slightest

that

Then

first

daughter. to

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it.

Princess

her

consented

graciously this

and

press im-

polished

silver

in

sung

seasons,

Royal

Her

my

to

legs of

lashings

and

means

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professionally.

with

polish

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Such

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napery,

butlers

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the

by

upon

in

dear

as

cheque

waited

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diggings enjoy,

to

extra

an

tarts,

snowy

English

me

did

plum

able

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of

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delightful

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wife

his

London.

us

sent

with.

London

only

found

AMERICA

"

for

out

Street, which

M Mr.

AND

set

we

had

cousins

XXIII

pair

below "Flowers

to

of the

range ar-

be

fortable com-

stage, or

no

CONFESSIONS flowers?"

OF should

I

English Royalties

are

but

human

a

of

natural be

do the wrong

to

it is

me

acknowledgment each

Princesses

and

curtsey,

and

I

stinctiv in-

ful. distastein the

thing

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but

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send

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SINGER

to

simple

so

of Personages;

presence

loved

have

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OPERA

AN

time

I

great deal, and

a

after

the

an

English,straight-up-and-down

nice

right.

was

I gave

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Germany

back-swaying, one-toe-pointed-in-front curtsey These

the

to

hope that

audience

bow

a

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manded. de-

was

trivial and

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vastly

important. The

decent

of the hall I left

out

Princess be

Christian

singing I

was

Garden." at

nervous

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the

others

the

recognition and

they

than

me

all about

"Ring."

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the

the

he

wonderful have

I

I.

seen

Van

to

said, the

himself

old

giants, the de Reszkes, Teminas,

Brandts, seemed

to

have

died

"258"

out.

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at

nice

and

line

soon

to

me.

told in

wore

as

I

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Rooy.

equal

his

to

was.

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he

armour

whom

famous,

all very

were

enjoyed especiallytalking

soon

so

and

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beginning were

in

to

manager,

passed, "She

she

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capable

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got

said

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Royal Highnesses

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to

in Covent

rather

Garden.

I

getting Their

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derer. Wan-

singers,

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the

look

and for

grand line, the dignity,the flowing,noble

the of

gesture

one

tlie

saw

does

showed

lesser

in his

Wagner

"

noticed

brother, who Nikisch

this.

tlie close relation

the lines of noble

with

pure,

noble

His

what

gestures

lated unre-

he

work would like

were

stay with

to

came

the

sculp

to

again

to

says

the

Air

of this

us

and

freeze

Parthenon

of

a

us,

the lines of music

the outlines

and

its

personality,his

brought home

brother

My

with

seemed

between

took

He

rough strings,and

and

sculpture. The

music?

absolutelyone

just as

rehearsals.

produced

glory.

of the air, and

phrases out

is it not

his

till it

power

sculptor's. My

in

the

dwarfing

memory,

my

dignifiedit by

his brain

both

voice

bigness of their impersonations

blaring brass,

of

and

unified

also

my

girl,but

young

English-sounding orchestra,

sounds

have

very

for the last few

came

raw,

and

a

course,

ones.

Nikisch that

Of

singers,

Rooy, though his

in Van

stamped indelibly on

is

is

the

and

wear,

of

breadth

Wagnerian

it now?

those

are

thing

same

older

see

one

of them

memories

the

in

saw

often

how

but

I

AMERICA

AND"

GARDEN

COVENT

"

Bach

masterpiece,

majesticallysimple, moving

slow, statelyrhythm.

"Ring" three

We

gave

the

Erdas

and

Fricka

"Goetterdaemmerung" Nikisch.

We

only

and

times

and The

Waltrautes. I

enjoyed doing

rehearsed "259"

it at

the

so

the

I sang latter much

piano, and

in

with he

said

he

as

kann

Entweder

did

He I had

cheers

say

the

abysmal, just as

one

phrase

so

more

can

do it.

lunching

were

in the

in

blues. and

a

much

to

saw

for

to

resist the very

to

you

you nerves.

the

such

a

you

the

critic

step

jangling courage

few

The has

out

words "260"

after of

Robin

can

ciative. appremean

thought

so

of

a

coined, unable

winging

come

the stage to

on

your

deep

was

and

Criticism

evil.

We

by

sincere

feel that sardonic

you

and

so

my

graph Daily Tele-

criticism

lot. or

the

on

one

with me.

I

and

the

any

lunch

temptation, will

human

It takes

the contrary,

a

good

role, and afresh

wonderful

words, but

time

next

fell

eye

or

sings

I hear

with

us,

do

never

than

at

up

stage, I

can

head

my

get

particularly

One

I sat

day

the

was

always puts

phrase

cruelly amusing

same

That

a

helped

one

in

often

so

one

any

it

little place near

Legge; just a few It

nothing

Marjorie's

we

I

beautifullydone

much

traute Wal-

ing.") uninterest-

very

leave

I must

like to, and

Marjorie, who

faithful

or

day after Waltraute.

would

but Caruso

the

I feel

inwardly), and

me

sein,

curious.

am

depression

and

neugierig.

langweilig however.

fits of

my

hopelesslybad,

so

am

of

one

find it

not

singing, (when

after

I

beautiful

either be very

can

ich

wunderschoen

Waltraute

die

SINGER

bin

"Jetzt

langweilig." ("Now

sehr

oder

down:

sat

OPERA

AN

OF

CONFESSIONS

sing ing strik-

wave

already quivering that

to

go

on.

On

appreciation of what

"

hCA CARUSO's

CARICATURE

OF

KATHLEEN

HOWARD

tried

have

you

and

is the

stimulates remarks

wound

obliged to

swallow

Personal is

one

policeman's life

the

The

Royal Opera and

market, streets

amusing in

full

are

black

A

back

the

other

"Get

out

of the

roight.Miss,

loidy'swy, always

The

next

and

the

day

it

was

disappointment,

"Ah

I

of

cahn't to

I

and

me

don't

dressed

was

so

with

it 'aaf

like

That's

smart, air

an

so

wen

too."

neat, not

was

said,

and

1yd ies

very

said

pushed

Bill? the

smart

a

me,

me,

yer, see

raining and saw

man

same

sides

loikes

rather

was

Paris, and

right. Miss,

workin', that's

Ahm

both

on

the

arrives

It

porters.

from

but

on,

vegetable

of the

rehearsal.

suit

and

one.

produce

when

to

bravely

porter caught sight of

men

I

happy

cockney

faults.

one's

go

is in the middle

satin

hat.

little white

structive intelligentcon-

feelings deeply, and

hard

days

supposed

he's

correct

one's

day, going

one

new

my

of

An

to

a

ment, discourage-

helpful thing possible,

most

is not

the

on

and

me?

work

to

one

of

do

to

years,

absolutely rotten,

so

it."

about

something criticism

and

"I can't be

that about

write

long

hours

black

many

think:

you

know

to

over

X

didn't

hard, through such

so

tide you

will

.\MERICA

AND"

GARDEN

COVENT

well

of as

yisterdy,Miss." I have "bluff"

chances

often or

heard

"hypnotize"

which

directors

they thought they "261"

could

singers who

of American

were

into

giving

entitled

them

to, and

CONFESSIONS from

which

This

OF

how

"bluff," and

to

but

one,

interested

relinquishher.

The

season

had

passed

dinner

evening,

one

the

I

In

a

to

over

stood

close, and

a

just as

we

called

on

per not

in the

on

go

the second

act was

memory

trembling

in the

"262"

to

and

suddenly

ill

"Tristan," would

second, and

would

up.

I

trusty

my

'phone

is not

easy

quite

not

was

down, hunted

went

"luck."

going

the

taken

of

rehearsal, and

put

one

to

were

to

been

had

first act

I

her.

all the operas

Brangaene

finding my then

to

trusted

for

cues,

never

would

Kirkby-Lunn

tremor,

wear,

went

risk the

make

of all the business

this

ninety-nine per

sung

and

orchestra

found

studied

rightdown

nervous

without

to

the stage

the role, though, in record

was

of the

be able

not

please come

and

that

Kirby-Lunn

beginning

probably

I

always

I could

off well, when,

told Madame at

drawing

mitted sub-

was

on

never

dates, and

concert was

I had

they wanted

I learned

between

Garden

I

having

Brangaene, hoping

it.

at

Isolde, that she had

to

that

tried to

once,

actually sung

especially,and

me

of the roles

cent.,

Covent

Brangaene.

decided, however,

time

I had

weak, compared

so

cent,

for

flying colours.

only

nearly got caught

in Berlin

me

all of them

I

I

SINGER

with

and

I once,

the list of roles

When

OPERA

they always emerged

is the tale of how

lady

AN

out

thing some-

"beauty" wig,

with

an

assistant

standing wings.

I

the

sure

riedly hurductor, con-

strain,

thought to

COVENT

GARDEN

"Nemesis!"

myself

and

tliat if Madame

"

be

might

it

shivered.

reallywas

just

before

I

What

going

the

because

the scenes,

AMERICA

AND"

hoped

have

to

was

give

to

hind be-

lovely "Warnung"

I had

always

wanted

rouge

soaked

into

up

sing

to

that. There

and

one's

best, leaving Poor

Brangaene.

beautifullyas I

act.

fight. She, however, task

do

to

for

that she

She

rested

the

by

performance,

a

thanking my

and

Italian

they

all

for

report

would

awhile,

but

till all

exhausted

that I had

without

season

to

was

rehearsal.

One

day

as

preparing

for

golden droning

below

rising and

"

Caruso

at

a

less thank-

a

of

asking me

if I had no

I

sung

and

more,

face

to

quested re-

and

over;

that critical

directlyafter

come

dressing room, breath

plucky

adequate preparation.

driftingin during

came

offered

was

was

sin

had

not

ond sec-

hovering, as

than to

the

singer'sperformance,

think

I still

resolved

it

another

not

just as

after her

home

go

finish

to

more

gods

assemblage The

and

real

a

sang

dressing room

at

not

"

after

management,

home,

went

anxious

said she realized

singer

a

is

fainted

let her

and it.

then

her

into

went

face

my

one

Kirkby-Lunn

though, but

ever

when

and

pale

me

Madame

do the last bit and

to

the

always mysteriously does,

it

as

I stood

me, room

"263"

a

last

our

I

was

matinee,

rehearsal.

ours,

days, to in

up

my

I heard

fallingon Words

a

half

cannot

CONFESSIONS describe

the

on

coloured

hat, gloves of

the

near

as

and worked

surface

with

stronger

and

full flood thanked

in

brilliant

English

are

fabulous

I remember of

Portugal

flightfrom his box

in

his

pertinence of was

which our

was

country,

just under

was

Destinn

own

best

It

a

very

acteristic char-

so

the

always just below

the

thrilled

voice

till suddenly in

stream

and

"

a

in

ball

Court ever

one

The

evening dress, the

whole

zling. daz-

aff'air most

shortly after and

holds

seen.

evening seeing King

one

box.

a

began softly

imitation.

1 have

the

and

ductor, con-

As

of

night of

her

is at

woman

solo.

voice.

a

audience

light-

familiar

a

of tone,

stream

its luscious

the

on

He

spite of him,

out

hearsal re-

pale

a

the

on

over

artist, his

for such

anew

Garden

most

jewels

stronger

poured

it

God

Covent the

great

the

and

his eyes

conductor.

this

hear

his famous

running

his emotions,

Opera

strollingabout

for

came

impossible

on

to

wash-leather

effortless

so

the

at

usual, with

as

when

unfamiliar

an

exquisite

me

was

was

footlightswith

his wonderful

music

time

usually do

we

role with with

The

cane.

stood

He

Caruso

"Pagliacci."

Derby

I

chanced

beautifully dressed

stage,

grey

and

SINGER

it gave

later

two

or

OPERA

it, but

errand

some

of

the

day

AN

of

beauty

A

pleasure. House

OF

by

large

an

his

odd

"Exit"

Manoel

hasty

chance

sign, the

striking.

was

Senta "264"

in

"Hollander."

She

was

just back

the Italians,but

from

contracted

At

conductor.

German

everything in

die

witli

her

directions

the

performance real

a

importance

utmost

remarked

in

bridal

Norwegian A

passing

reverent

wonderful,

was

Cockney "I

me,

rected di-

to

every

singers followed

the other

almost

the

tion, tradi-

Bayreuth

the

an

she

of flowers.

basket

to

she

rehearsals

stage

with

slighteststage position;and

wore

had

infuriated

which

accordance

attaches

which

she

rehearsal

at

portamenti which, she said, she had

several

out

cut

and

America,

from

AMERICA

AND"

GARDEN

COVENT

devotion.

At

usual.

She

as

headdress,

his way

on

super,

of

sort

a

out,

price Destinn's

s'y? wot

hat?" It word

facial

whose

expression did

feels diat the inner

one

of

irritation, if

one

sing

to

to

the

to

of the words

this leads the

allows

every

respond

not

meaning

lost, is going for nothing, and sense

where

Germany,

by the audience,

is understood

almost

people text;

from

strange, coming

was

to

is

vague

a

impression

to

dominate. There

several

were

young

gloriousvoices, straightfrom They

to

were

Walkuren

in

ambition

and

the

a

"Ring."

thankful

for

being paid.

One the

or

two

some

were

with

us

studio. of the full

experience they

Some

of them,

quite extraordinary attitude,not "265"

with

de Reszke's

Jean

sing the Rheintochter, and

receiving, while showed

Americans

rare

of

were

however, among

CONFESSIONS students with

of

their

OF

the

of the

the

at

of them

took

him

task

to

her

to

called

comfort

chances

with

Mr.

for

supposed

it.

These

find her

brought

to

knowing

the

your

knees

You

have

I regret

in

her

the chance

say

my

only

one,

a

operatic work and me

what

beginner

make

fuss

no

prophecy

they

ask

you

was

attitude

student

by Schumann-Heink, to

I

said

as

to

will

you you

now

difficult parts and

you

"266"

they owing

them, be

on

hold. with

a

don't

can

correct,

for

girl,has prospered

one

is

nearly

to

assumes

surely follow

reflected is that

"Sing everydiing, no

do."

pleasure dis-

that means."

really serious

a

about

hardly be

could

Opera House,

realize what

and

their

contracts,

day

some

singing

early years

the best advice

on.

engagements of

The in

their

her

fore is be-

When

run.

"Ring," they

great

a

to

career.

of

"Girls,

get such

in

gravely

Opera House,

great

a

signing

game,

in the least to

I think

in

extension

consider

to

at

swings adjusted

a

things were

way

an

great Master seem

for

level and

the repetitionsof the

to

the

and

at

when

day

one

Pitt aside

management,

the

offered

filled

was

girls constantly spoke loftilyof at

were

present

was

having

not

air

thereby incidentally killing

"

the

to

The

for the Rhinemaidens,

Percy

anything a beginner is

I

SINGER

length of rehearsals,

swings

anything and everything. one

OPERA

class.

moneyed

complaints

the discomfort

AN

one's

later, given matter

COVENT It

was

what

amusing

very

the

more

early broad

was

after dark bothered at

and

till the

sun

loathes

rushed

dine;

dresses

home

to

to

be about

is de

rigueur

in the

frankly

some

and

kept

shoulders.

high-necked,

and

pockets,feeling the

their

on

decently down;

suitablynaked and

the curtain

longest

omitted

the

late, splendidly be-jewelled; some

came

was

it

evening dress, the problem

Some and

As

pause.

Besides, evening dress

evening

wore

for

set

perfect Londoner but

formances per-

ning Bayreuth plan, begin-

the

the hour

anything

to

as

the

gave

unusually long

in

dress

first acts

We

wear.

one

the

Garden.

to

discussions

on

as

many.

Covent

pause

with

the

less

daylight at

and

up,

go

or

and

hear

to

should

audience

AMERICA

AND"

GARDEN

and

then

Others

brought

holier

and

evening

coats

bared

their

just dubby

were

sandwiches

their

in

Germanly

more

erent rev-

in consequence.

It is one

with

the

most

make any never

made

great

a

you

help

in opera

conducive home

a

one,

by agent,

first engagement,

of the company

one

had

afford

to

Home

do

you

and

"infamous

or

two

"267"

or

of the

affairs with

have

some

young

are

it is hard

to

absolutely need

not

"morals"

were

proposals"

were

possible. My conductor

to

surroundings

good work,

no

"

able

life.

alone; but

danger me

be

to

if this is not

in to

to

director.

giddier

In

my

members

officers

"

in

no

CONFESSIONS case

relations

that

could

of

and

autumn,

we

road, when of

passed

is," said can't

told

ours

said

friend.

our

be.

Howard

I

stick!" I

the

student work

071

you

believe

that

"I

prim an

the

quaintance ac-

same

thought "So

lady?"

in

forest

a

day,

yet

they

it

come

you

she

her

"268"

will

on

asked to

his

tone!

not

for in

and

being an

I learned

come

it. to

necessary

operatic career, when

America to

beginner's

this in blissful

the time

one

ing behav-

were

holding

opportunity

same

with

they doing?"

business

my

oneself

stage

do

a

was

very

walking

all three

about

not

the

can

a

sister

horrified

learn

find the

can

and

a

talk

has

her,

to

were

were

prepare

time

out

Europe

hope

to

in to

is much

abroad

but

she,

abroad

went

There go

"They

said

the

joke,

a

was

her

and

"What

badly."

friend.

our

who

through

next

the theatre, and

of the singers from very

chap,

"Oh, no," said the other, "she

her

saw

in

in the country

with

The

as

us,

that afternoon

that Fraulein

me

fast

carriage

a

day

lovely, frosty day

a

officer sitting in it.

an

had

told

was

all

were

One

me.

little

man.

exaggeratedly

walk

a

walking

were

we

of woman

It

ours.

from

nice

a

theatre

most

for

went

we

lyricbaritone,

great friend

wife

The

married

a

the

in

exacted

was

SINGER

with

as

demanded.

be

Metz, for example, the

OPERA

other

each

to

behaviour

correct

with

AN

flagrant scandal,

a

Their

OF

the

practice,or faults.

In

semi-obscurity. when

a

I

girlwill

have

not

develop

to

talent, but

her

tlie wonderfulness

are

open

artist will

side

of the

I

as

had, and

to

read

worked

if I

the

unfortunate

that

do

ever

him

near

forced

were

my

the

and

a

which

all.

"269"

I

graph photo-

a

musical

paper

with

husband,

proved to

of

success

the

the of

too

which

with is the

E. the

terprise. en-

man

K.

much I

to

other come, over-

tained finallyat-

I find the

which

B.,

opera,

and

war

suspend.

Metropolitan Opera,

connected,

and

is the type

hearts ; but

our

opened

marry."

met

for

be

saw

the

met

contract,

I

in

I

to

soon

long

a

myself, "That

circumstances we

Garden

America.

absorbingly interestinghouse been

a

hope they may

of his connection

Century,

with

lay very

the

to

me

Baird

Kellogg

"

to

and

and

fairy god-parents,

Covent

at

to

return

I said

which

eyes

Marjorie.

sister

a

off'ered

He

this time, and

I shall marry

of

Century Opera,

new

York.

that I

only say

closed

of Edward

and

whose

perfectly on

more

to

country.

own

for those

Europe

advantage

tlie season

came

it in her

replaced by America,

can

perhaps

finallydecided

I

I

go

of the

in New

order

tlirough in

water.

the tremendous

manager

do

surely flower

those who

After

at

of

AMERICA

went

may

yet be

cannot

real

have

all I

through

go

But

To

AND"

GARDEN

COVENT

most

I have

greatest school

ever

of

CONFESSIONS

OF

AN

OPERA

SINGER

REPERTOIRE

1.

Carmen

In

2.

Amneris

(Aida) French, German,

French, German, English.

English, Italian. 3.

Azucena

man, (Trovatore) Italian,Ger-

English. 4.

Fides

(Prophete) French,

Ger-

"

man.

5. Dalila

(Samson

Dalila)

et

French, German,

6. Martha

(In Faust) French,

lish. Engman, Ger-

English. 7.

Siebel

(In Faust) French,

man, Ger-

English. 8. Maddalena

(In

Rigoletto) Italian,

German, 9.

Nancy

English.

(In Marta)

man, Italian, Ger-

English. 10.

Ortrud

(Lohengrin)

German,

English. 11.

Lucia

man, (Cav. Rus.) Italian,Ger-

English. 12.

Lola

man, (Cav. Rus.) Italian,Ger-

English. 13.

Mary

(Flieg.Hollaender)

"270"

man. Ger-

REPERTOIRE 14.

Erda

(Siegfried).

15.

Erda

(Rheingold).

16.

Schwertleite

(Walkuere).

17.

Grimgerde

(Walkuere),

18.

Waltraute

(Walkuere).

19.

Waltraute

(Goetterdaemmerung).

20.

Erste

(Goetterdaemmerung).

21.

Fricka

(Walkuere).

22.

Flosshilde

(Goetterdaemmerung).

23.

Flosshilde

(Rheingold).

24.

Hexe

(Haensel

Norn

German,

und

Gretel)

English.

25.

Nicklaus

(Hoflfman) German, English.

26.

Valencienne

(Merry Widow),

27.

Frederika

(Waltzertraum).

28.

Dritte

(Zauberfloete).

29.

Oeffentliche

Dame

Meinung

.

(Orpheus

in

der

welt). 30.

Orfeo

(Gluck).

31.

Molly

(Geisha).

32.

Georgette

(Gloeckchen),

33.

Pamela

(Fra Diavolo).

34.

Graefin

(Trompeter).

35.

Orlofsky

(Fledermaus).

36.

Frau

37.

Page

Reich .

.

.

(Lustige Weibe).

(Salome).

,

"271"

Unter-

CONFESSIONS

OF

AN

OPERA

SINGER

38.

Olga

(Dollar Prinzessin).

39.

Magdalena

(Meistersingers).

40.

Graefin

(Heilige Elisabeth)

man, Ger-

English. 41.

Martha

(Undine).

42.

Hedwig

(Wilhelm

Tell) German,

English. 43.

Gertrude

(Hans Heiling).

44.

Marzellina

(Figaro)

45.

Graefin

(Wildschuetz).

46.

Ascanio

(Benvenuto

Cellini).

47.

Jacqueline

(Arzt wieder

willen)

Italian,

man. Ger-

man, Ger-

English. 48.

Gertrude

(Romeo

and

Juliet)

man. Ger-

49.

Stephano

(Romeo

and

Juliet)

man, Ger-

English. 50.

Hexe

(Sieben Schwaben).

51.

Ulrica

(Masken

Ball)

Italian,

German. 52.

Hexe

(Koenigskinder).

53.

Cleo

(Kuhreigen).

54.

Suzuki

ian, (Butterfly) English, ItalGerman.

55.

Magdalena

(Evangelimann). "272"

REPERTOIRE

56.

(Jewels

Carmela

of the

Madonna)

English, Italian,

57. 58.

(Louise)

Mother

.

German,

(Giaconda)

Cieca

English,

Italian.

(Boris).

59.

Nutrice

60.

Blumenmaedchen

(Parsifal).

....

61.

Annina

(Rosenkavalier).

62.

ALbine

(Thais).

63.

Mistress

Benson .

.

.(Lakme).

.

64.

Margarethe

(Weisse Dame).

65.

Cypra

(Zigeuner Baron).

66.

Fattoumah

(Marouf )

67.

Amelfa

68.

Mrs.

man. Ger-

.

(Le Coq d'Or).

(Shanewis).

Everton

Etc., etc. NOT

STUDIED

(Tristan).

Brangaene Mutter

SUNG

Gertrud

(Haensel Etc., etc.

THE

"273-^

END

und

Gretel)