Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-02-26

A PRMA DoNNA's LHE.-Emma Albani
has been persuaded into talking about her
self by western reporter; and among
other things remarked that " Even though
Italy Il the land of flowers, and they are Of
ierred for sale on every street corner in Flo
renee and Milan, think St Petersburg and
Moscow subscribers are perhaps more gen
erous. There are so many noble and dis
tinguished personages to attend, who are 50
very rich and liberal that they often cover
the stage with bouquets. They are Of all
sizes and mado of the TareSt flowers, which
in Russia arc almost as valuable as gold OF
silver Some Of the bouquets in 81. Peters
burg were IS large around as this table lat
least five feet in diameter) and required
several men to carry them on and off .he
stage. | learned some Of their Russian
songs. and they learned that the lily of the
valley was my fAyorite flower, and we ex-
changed songs for flowers. But ALWAYS
had .Ae bouquets whether sung the ballads
cr lot. When left, after my season was
over, they draped nv railway car with flow
ers-iilies of the valley" Nv hat queried
the reporter, "is the sensation Of standing
and being made the target Of bouquets ?''
"Oh it Is delightful. You cannot imagine
the pleasure unless you have experienced it.
1t is applause intensified. They sometimes
come 50 fast you cannot dodge them. And
then to be compelled 10 wade through bill
lows Of howcs- amid the braves Of YOUR
audito.s. "Oh it is very nice :" And
then the reporter, evidently a woman, had a
look at the unaffected young woman : Jewels,
"a gold mounted star set with great bril-
liants, attached to a double necklace of
pearls and gold given her BY the czar, on
her appearance at the marriage of his daugh-
ter with the duke Of Edinburgh feather of
fretted silver set with diamonds parure of
diamonds. pearls and turquoises massive
gold bracelet from the Earl Of Dudley, with
the word "Amite" in inch long letters of
diamonds and more wealth that makes one
enyious to name. "This, said she, "was
presented by the subscribers at the end of
my Moscow season. Is not beautiful - and
she lifted = .iewelel butterfly that quiyered
ana sparkled at every motion. The body
was composed Of an emerald, and the wings
of diamonds, bOrdered with rubies. emeralds,
and sapphires. 1t was larger that any liv-
Ing insect OF the species. This was given
me by Queen Nictoria,' and she lifted a
necklace Of pearls. with large diamond and
pearl cross attached. "The queen never
goes to opera since Prince Albert's death
and those artists whom she desires to hear
90 TO Windsor and sing in private before
her. She treated me with much considera-
i40n, like a mother in fact, and was pleased
most when sang the Old Scotch ballads,
"Rosin Adait, and Blue Bells of Scotland
This you may have heard of before; the
papers mentioned it, and she, lifted dia-
dem Of brilliants, studded with diamond
bouquets. An Indian prince threw it, at
my farewell benefit in London, as | was bow
ing, and it struck me on the forehead. They
thought was seriously injured, because
staggered and came near falling. My fore
head was badly bruised, and the prince was
grieved lest he had done me harm" And it
was but few years since this favored Young
woman was the daughter of an Albany
crganist