Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-03-17
PATTI IN WILMINGTON.
TINE pRfmA DONNI,s PEREORM-
INCE HERE.
How Two Little Wilmington Lassies
spent II Rainy Spring Day with
the Now Famous Singer.

MIS-. ABuSta ut Bubua, whose cOntfibu-
tions to the STATE Journal have made her
name familiar to our readers, was a Will
mington girl and in the March Aumber of
81 Nicholas, she contributes an article
giving her reGolectiolls ol the appearance
here of the now famous Adelina Patti.
who was then quite a child. The per-
formance took place at odd Fellows Hall
and doubtless is remembered by many of
cur readers. During the day little
Adelina played with Mrs. de Bubua and
her sister, and those who know these
ladies have heard them recount the story
Of that well remembered day. We give
the article from 81. Nicholas in full as
follows;
number ot years ago, certain placards
and programmes, posted and distributed
upon the walls and streets of small
Southern city, heralded the coming of Il
wonderful entertainment.
Among the artists announced upon the
glaring red, yellow and blue bills th4e
were the old and renowned names--Ole
Bull, the celebrated violinst, and Maurice
Strakosch but the largest and leading
letters spelled out the name of the
youngest and tiniest member of the con.
cert troupe: "MADEMolsELLE ADELlSA
PATTI AGED ELEVEN YEARS. 1uE WON
nERFuL CHILD PRIMA DoNNAl
Tickets for the grand concert sold very
rapidly and there was every promise that
u crowded house would welcome to the
town the young singer and her veteran
companions.
The day was dreary and dismal n
sullen spring rain set in during the morn
ing, and gave evidences of lasting many
hours.
Upon the arrival of the troupe at the
hotel, the business manager, together
with Mr.. Strakosch, came over to the
music-store in the place to see about the
sale of seats and tickets, and, while there,
the pleasant musician discovered, playing
behind the counter with their dollies,
two little blonde-haired lassies.
He felt at once that here would he find
relief from the dreariness OF whole day
indoor, for his sister-in-law, whom he
had left already fretting and petulent
He consequently at once made gentle
advances towards acquaintanship, by
telling the two maidens about the lonely
little girl over to the hotel, WHO was
counting rain-drops on the window -panes,
and begging them to come and see the
Little Adelina.' The children's interest
was at once awakened. They obtained
permission from their parents to visit the
little singer, put on clean aporns, and
soon, with their iolies in their arms,
they skipped along in the rain beside
" the greatest living pianist of that day
When they reached the hotel and the
room where the strange little girl was to
he presented Il curious tableau met the
eyes of the lassies, and the first sound
which they recollrct ever hearing from
that voice which has since sung "pearls
and diamonds, was u merry, tinkling
mocking laugh.
The room was 4 great, dull, dark place
scantily furnished, and bare of comfort I;
in the middle of the room there stood Il
tall gentleman with long thick gray hair,
his eyes tightly bandaged, his arms out
stretched in vain rlleavors to catch the
tHntali1ing sprite whose mocking voice
had, for several minutes, led him an illu-
siye dance all about the room.
There was Il sudden pause as the door
opened the gentleman pushed up his
bandage, and the little girl opened very
wide It pair of brilliant dark eyes. Mr..
strakosch came quickly forward leading
the now tinid little strangers, and said
kindly to the famous little singer:
81 have brought you 4 couple of play
mates, Adelina; you will release Ole Bull, ,
now, from his chase OF you, and after YOU
have entertained the little girls, YOU are
10 90 home with them to dine, and play
until tea-timr.N
The little girl came toward the shrink
ing lassies smiled in their faces brightly,
and then kissed each on both cheeks, in a
funny foreign manner.
by this time, TOT, the tall old gentleman
had united his bandage, and was also
beaming down upon the little strangers
with a gentle, kindly smile. kissing them
as we'll. and saving in a soft. low voice 4.
ait is well for the little Adeina to have
some little ones with whom to play-she
tires quickly of us older children. am
too big and tall for her and | will leave.
you now to make friends and play
together" And he nj once walked Ia The
door.
But her imperial highness was not of
tn, same mind. On the contrary. sh. in
sisted stoutly that the omore the
lnerri4r and a,,,in tn. mild hlu4 eyes
Of the Norwegian we're blinded. and down
uuon his knees l,ntlt tLa famoiIs artist ia
"pick M rims and needless .
Al fhe dtsi svmntom. of y4arin.s. on
tn. mart Of tbr children bowevrr The
kird ia ,,a,tl,,,,o,, ,,,,i,l,I,, ,,rt ,;' ua,,
And H., ,ittl,. girIs III, alnya now iooss1
yr,vsI,. ~, ,n., ano,la, frn, to,, 10 tn..
1yitJ, rnrinus ,nin,i. .Iilsnya,,. viii which
ua,,r,. a,,,,.,i,t.,J ,I,;lJrs,, rno,arJ ,..cl
nth,,r Than tI,., l.ssias nn.rod ~. na,y
friend ,l.ir dolli.s which h,d l,in uror
th. t,Ii, dnrin. th,. co,n, hnt sncl
nlavtLin,,s ,r..r. mo-, II, L,., linz Shf
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