Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-01-16


colonel has found il good rule to cross
the wills az singers rs little MS possible,
and 10 generally give way 10 their
whins, The most famous artists OF the
operate stage, with y few exceptions,
have been eccentric characters, emo.
tional in all their dispositions, and Ii
able to outbursts Of temper, on the
slightest provocation. This, indeed is
true of successful artists generally, oC
composers and instrumentahsts as well
es OF singers, and of actors ON the dra-
matte stage. When tho shah Of Persia
was IN London, in the summer of 1873,
the season OF hor Majesty's opera at
Drury Lane theatre was ut its height.
and the lord-cnamberlain ordered the
director TO make arrangements for n
special performance TO be given in hon
or OF his Oriental majesty. A royal
guest in Great Britain is not permitted
to follow his own fancy in the matter of
sightseeing; on the contrary, he is car.
rl,d about from point to point; from
the opera,house 10 the ballroom, from
the royal palace to the public square,
in accordance with programme ar
ranged under the direction Of the lord
chamberlain. The guests desires arc not
consulted tall, ana II is expected ot
his attendants that they shall have him
at the various specified places ON
time. The attendants Of the shah
found il no easy task to do their duty in
this particular while the Persian mon
arch was in England. He had u habit
Of going TO bed NJ the most unaccount.
able hours, and of refusing to get ur
when his presence was required hy the
curious, hospitable public. In fact, he
proved himself u be very lazy shah,
indeed For the special performance
1T Drnry Lane, Ill honor OF this poteu.
tate, n programme made up of acts
from various operas was to be prepared,
To the surprise of all her fellow artists,
Mile. Nilsson announced that she would
open the pertormanca u task which is
not much sought Or, as all the audi
ence does not generally get seated until
half an hour or so after time for begin
nmg, and the croaking of boots the
ruslGng of silk, and the CHATTER OF the
stalls ON their hinges do not improve
singers voice, But Missions fellow
artists did not then know, as she did,
that the shah was due ut the gold
smiths hall, in the city, nj 10 O'clock,
and would, consequently be obliged 80
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 program
mo was arranged, with Nilsson in the
first act of rraviata to open the per-
formance, to he followed by an act of
"Favonta," with ntiens, nm elaborate
ballet, and the first net of "Mignon," in
which Nilsson would again appear For
the "Trayiata' act the pfima donna
ordered magnificent new costume
from Worth, and on the nb,ht Of
the performance, before the .rtaiu
was raised, che was attirei in splendor,
and her fair face was wrcRlhed in
smiles. II was $50 O'clock, the mem.
hers 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
entrance, with the director. for the
shah. The brief overture was played,
the curtain was rung up, and the per-
Torrance began. Still no signs OF the
SHAH. As the act OF "Trayiata" pro.
ceeded, the smiles ON Violetta's face
changes by degrees TO frowns. Her
a.
closing aria came in due course, and
the shah had not yet arrived, II was 10
o'clock when he entered with hisswarthy
suite and took his place in the royal box.
The prince OF Wales understood the
situation and saw at once that n gentle
breeze was in store for the director. He
suggested that Mile. Nilsson might be
pacitied byan intr )ductou TO the shah
in his box. Mr.. Maploson grasped at the
suggestion rs n drowning man clutches
Mt n bit of seaweed. The prince nd.
dressed the viee-chamberlain, who con.
ferred with the translator, who in his
turn spoke to the vizer,and after the rug
gestlon 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 ofhis hand, unmnd.
full Of the juice, which was running
down his coat sleeve. Then the shahh
willingness TO grant an audience 10
Mile. Christine Nilsson was transmitted
through the same series Of officers TO
the Prince of Wales. When Mr.. Maple
son went upon The stage to notify the
prima donna, she had already despoil-
ed herself Of her 'Trayiata" splendor,
and was alfred in the rags Of beggar,
for Mignon,n with bare feet. At first
she would not hear Of the introduction,
but she finally consented, and went to
the royal box with the director. Mr.
Mapleson spoke to the prince, and pre-
parations were made to inform the
shah in the usual dignifed fashion, that
the singer awaited the monarch's pleas
ure, when to the horror Of all who saw
it, Mile. Nilsson WAS observed standing
face 10 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 put
ting their hands on their cimeters. She
was telling the monarch IN French that
he was very bad shah (chdt), and that