Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-10-11

A STUPID MAYOR AND PLUCKY PRIMA
DoNNA.-At the Gloucester, England, musical
festival held at the cathedral in that town,
scene occurred which is described at length IN
the London Times. Mr.. Sims Reeves, tbs well
known tenor, had been much indisposed
The performance of the "May Queen" was
taking place, Madame Novello had sung open
di per me-" and on her retiring, as there were
no signs Of Mr.. Reeves, the audience began to
be FESTIVE, and would not be pacified until one
of the stewards came forward and addressed
them He sad Ladies' and gentlcmen-it
seems to be the principal duty of the stewards
to make apologies for Mr.. Sims Reeves. The
stewards have done all in their power, but as
Mr.. Sims Reeves has quietly walked off, the
stewards cannot bring him back, and hope
they will not be blamed. He has found good
friend in Madame Novello, who has kindly
consented to sing song in his stead" This
address was received with mingled applause
and misses. 1t did not, however, satisfy Mr..
Reevess substitute, who protesting that it
conveyed an erroneous statement of the facts
declared that she would not sing until it had
been corrected. The Mayor of Gloucester Ton
the refusal of colleague to set matters right
then volunteered a further explanation which
amounted to this =
"Ladies aud Gentlenen--I have the pleasure to in
form you that Madame Novello will give another
song in place of Mr.. Sims"
Cries of "Not enongh," 1--WE know that al
ready" greeted the ears of his worship, after
he left the platform, after having delivered
himself of this weighty piece of information.
Being appraised of the inadequate manner in
which he had accomplished his self-imposed
task, the mayor returned to the charge, and
addressed his turbulent c0-citizens afresh, La
dies and gentlemen" he said, 81 am to state
that Mr.. Sims Reeves, being ILL., was compell-
ed to leave" This speech, worthy pendant
OF the other was answered by shouts OF laugh
ter and it seemed unlikely now that the dis
turbance would be quelled at all. After long
interval, during the progress of which the
shire hall threatened to be turned into a bear
garden, Madam Clara Novello made her APP
pearance on the platform, to fulfill, as was gem
eally surmised, the task she had undertaken
as deputy. Shouts, cheers and plaudits greet
ed her from every part of the room, and when
these subsidized, she opened her lips, but not to
sing. Instead of "Bonnie Prince Charlie" it
was 'Iadies and Gentlemen" Calmly, unaf-
fectedy, and yet firmly, Madam Noveilo, like
a musical Porta admonished her hearers
She spoke to the following purport
Before he went away, very ill, Mr.. Reeves
explained to the conductor his total inability to
sing his ballad in the second part; but with q
desire that the audience might not be losers
through his indisposton, which was not his
fault he applied to me to introduce something
in its place, and even sent for copy of the
ballad which am now going to have the hon
or of singing to you, with much less ability
than he would have shown. Mr.. Amott with
whom alone the artists engaged at the festival
can communicate on business, was consulted,
and gave his approval and not satisfied even
with this, Mr. Reeves spoke with one of the
Stewards, who also consented TO the change.
Had this been stated, no fault could possibly
have been laid to his charge, thus take the