Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-06-04
NIILSON AND THE SHAH.
The Interesting Statement OF the
Way These Parties Net.

lsOudOu III tne summer OF 1900 the
season Of her Msjesty's opera at Drury
Lane theatre wSs st its hight, ana the
lord Chamberlain ordered the d.
rector to make arrangements for y
special performance 10 be given in
honor of his Oriental Majesty. For the
special performances at Dury Lsno in
honor of this petentate, y programme
made up Of acts from various operas
was 10 be prepared, To the surprise Of
all her fellow-artists Mile. Nilsson sn.
nounced that she would opea the per.
torrance, y task which is not much
sought for, as all the audience does not
generally get seated until half an hour
or so after time for beginning, and the
cieakipg OF bouts, the rustling of silk
and the clatter Of the stalls ON their
hinges did not improve the effect of q
singers voice. But WILSON'S fellow
artists did not then know, rs she did,
that the Shah was due at the gold.
smiths ball in the city at 10 o'clock,
AMI would consequently be obliged to
leave the opera before that time. The
Swedish singer had private information
from an authentic source. The others
learned the secret of her apparent self
sacrifice later on, and some of them
probably felt piqued. SO the pro
gramme was arranged with Nilsson in
the first act Of "Traviata" to open the
performance, to be followed by an act
of "Favorita," with Tltiens, an elabor-
ate ballet, and the first act of "Mignon,"
in which Nilsson would again appear.
For the "rraviata" act the prima dom
ia ordered y magnificent new costume
from Worth, aud on the night of the
performance, before the curtain was
raised, she was attired in splendor, and
her fair face was wreathed in smiles. 1t
was $50 o'clock, the members OF the
orchestra were in their places, Sir
Michael Costa held his baton in his
hand, and there were no signs of the
Shah. The Prince of Wales had ar.
rived punCtually and waited at the en-
trance, with the director, for the Shah.
The brief overture was played, the
curtain was rung up, and the perform
ance began. STILL no signs ofthe Shah.
AS the act of "fraviata" proceeded,
the smiles on Fiokha'S face changed by
degrees TO frowns. Her performance
was very spirited. The closing aria
came i'll due course. and the Shah had
not yet arrived. 1t was 10 O'Clock
when he entered with his swarthy suite
and took his place in the royal box. The
Prince of Wales understood the situa.
ton, and saw at once that u gentle
breeze WAS in store for the director. He
suggested that Mile. Nilsson might be
pacitied by an introduction to the Shah
in his box. Mr.. Mapleson erasped at
the suggestion as drowning man
clutches at bit of seaweed. The
Prince addressed the ice.Chamherlain,
who conferred with the translator, who
in in his turn spoke to the Vizier, and,
after the suggestion had been made to
four or five other important officers, il,
finally reached the Persian monarch
while he was devouring peach, which
he held firmly in the palm of his hand,
unmindful ofthej juice, which WAS run
nlng down his coat-sleeve. Then the
Shah's Willingness 20 grant an audience
TO Mile. Christine Nilsson was trans
mitted through the same series of Off.
GERS to the Prince of Wales. When Mr..
Mapleson went upon the stage to notify
the prima donna she had already de-
spoiled herself of her "Travitata" SPLEEN
dor, and was alfred in rags of beg
gar, for "Mignon," with bare feet. AZ
filst she would not hear of the intro
duction, but she finally consented, and
went to the royal box with the director.
Mr.. Mapleson spoke to the Prince, and
preparations were made to inform the
Shah in the usual dignified fashion that
the singer awaited the monarch's
pleasure, when, to the horror OF all who
saw it, Mile. Nilsson WAS observed
standing face to face with the Shah in
his box, shaking her forefinger in his
face, while the attendants regarded the
intruder with flashing eyes, some OF
them putting their hands on their
clmeters. She was telling the monarch
in French that he was very bad Shah
(chat) and that if he had come mt the
proper time he would have seen her
splendidly dressed, whereas she was
now in rags and without shoes or stock.
ings. Then she held up.her foot, and the
EoHab, a. very HehI elSuJeu DiOuhTCu, leu
down his head, and the the toe OF the
prima donna touched the nose of the
potentate. There was a moment of
terrible suspense, but the Shan laughed
heartily, and all the others readily
joined him. His Majesty at once for
got all about the golLsmith's ball, and
the Lord mayor and the city digni.
taries, who bad been anxiously await.
ing him for three hours, and resolved
to remain and see more Of that remark
able woman, who sang and acted charm
ingly IN 'Mignon," the performance Of
which did not close until nearly u 80
o'clock.