River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-02-15
How Frederick the Great Cured Primf
Donna.

There is curious story told of the
manner in which Frederick the Great
could deal where other men had failed,
with a prima donna of the period who
was inclined to set too little store by
the public. This great artist seemed
to catch a cold which had the effect of
rendering her hearse and consequently
unable to sing whenever anybody or
thing had displeased her.
One day a certain opera was to be
performed at Berlin before the King
himself. At the appointed hour the
manager came forward and said :
Ladies' and gentlemen, we grieve to
inform you that our prima donna has
a sore throat, and that the representa-
ton announced cannot therefore take
place." The stolid Teutonic audience
| seemed no whit. surprised, and was
moving out TRANQUILITY, when the King
rose and commanded the musicians to
! keep their places. The audience sat
down again and waited patiently on
events.
In less than quarter of an hour the
managers reappeared and spoke as fol-
lows; Ladies and gentlemen, ] have
| the most unfeigned pleasure in in
| forming you that our prima donna is
completely cured of her sore throat
and will have the honor to sing before
you tonight. Surely enough, the ia
nous singer soon appeared, and never
had she sung better. Her triumph was
complete.
The Kings prescription had been a
very simple one, The prima donna,
| having dismissed the unhappy mana
| ger, was sitting comfortably before the
| fire in her own room, and rather pleas
ed at the idea of having spoiled the
pleasure of several hundred of persons
when the door was violently thrown
open. and there entered an officer, fol-
! lowed by four Dragons, 'Mademoiselle'
| quoth the officer, 1.-THE King my
master, has sent me to ask after your
/ health "The King is very good;
| have a bad sore throat" His Ma
| jesty knows it, and has charged me to
take you at once to the military hos.
| pltal, where you will be cured in a
few days" Mademoiselle turned pale,
"You are TESTING" she simpered; but
Prusslan officers, she was informed
never jested. The Lieutenant gave
the order to his men, who seized
Mademoiselle and carried her out OF
the theater.
A coach was in attendance the lady
was deposited therein, the officer took
his place beside her, after shouting
his address to the driver. 1.-The mill.
! tary hospital; ;" and off they went, the
! dragons riding alongside. In few
seconds: "Stay," said the lady; 81
think | feel better" ''The King is
anxious. Mademoiselle, that you
should feel quite restored, and even
that you should sing tonight" 81
will try" murmured the prisoner
''Back to the theater," cried the Off
Ger to the coachman. Arrived there
MademOiselle began to think she had
yielded too easily, 81 will sing, since
his Majesty commands me- she said
"but God knows how" s'You will
sing" replied the officer, ''like the
great artist you are Il shall sing
like an artist with a bad cold" 81
think not" "And why!' .'Because
a couple of dragons will be in attend
ance behind the scenes, and at the
least cough they have orders to arrest
you and carry you off again to the
military hospital. The hoarsenesS
was now completely gone.
One of our citizens paid his first
visit to Niagara, few days ago. lie
stopped over a train, and was escort
ed around by a hackman. He was
first shown the Canada Falls, and adj
mired them. Then the hackman pro
ceeded further. ssThis is the Horse
shoe FALL" he said. The Danbury
man looked at it. 'sThat's pretty
| GOOD ,, ba observed. ssbut want tC