Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1884-04-26
Embarrassing to the American
An Episode at Berlin i'm Which Materna
and q BOb-TatIed Coat Figured Large

An Episode at Berlin i'm Which Materna
and u BOb-TatIed Coat Figured Large
ly.
From the Boston Transcript
A friend of mine who spent some time in
Berlin ten years or SO ago told me to-day of
an incident that occurred in which he and
Materna played conspicuous part. 1.-TWO
or three of US young fellows" he said, ''wers
in Berlin when Wagner was at work on his
'Valkyrie.' The emperor expressed desire
to hear some selections from the work, and
this was q big advertisement for Wagner,
who consented to have some portions sung
by MaternR and Niemann. The court re-
tanned good portion of the tickets to the
hall in which the affair was to take place, and
the rest were sent to the various foreign le
gationsin Berlin, and could be obtained by
foreigners from their respective ministers on
the payment of good round sum. which, ]
suppose, went into Wagner's pockets.
swell, we went to the American legation
and secured three tickets. On the day of the
concert we went on an excursion into the
country, and missed the train that we ought
to have taken to reach the city in time to
dress. The next train took US to Berlin, and
there we were confronted by unpleasant al
concert would begin in a few minutes, but
we were not dressed for an entertainments OF
this sort. My companions wore dark clothes,
but had on a suit of light tweed, which,
being 'bob-taiIed' into the bargain, I knew
would be too conspicuous altogether for q
SWELL concert, in which the emperor and
the court and the representatives OF foreign
governments would make up the greater part
of the audience. On the other hand, we
could not 90 to our rooms at the other side
| of the city, dress and return inside of an
| hour and half. So we decided to go to the
concert as we were and take our chances OF
being refused admittanee. We went in all
right, however, and were shown to our seats,
which we're up front, but just around the
corner of the stage, so that we couldn't see
Wagner and the singers. The space In front
of the stage was open SO as not to obstTuct
| the. yiew of the emperor and the court. The
| audience was, of course, as brilliant gath
ering as could be got together in any city In
the world. We three fellows were sitting in
chairs, and I proposed that we slide our
| chairs around the corner and in front of the
| stage, SO that we could see the singers. We
| did this, and sank as far as 1 could out OF
sight, expecting every moment to be thro wn
| out of the hall.
stWell. we heard the 'Valkyrie' music and
the excitement was great. Within four or
| five feet of where was sitting were few
rather rickety steps leading up to the stage.
Down these came the singers after the con-
cert was over. The audience had been
wrought to a high pitch of excitement by the
| wonderful music and the impassioned singing
of Materna and Niemann. Shouts of ap-
plause rang through the hall, loads of flowers
were thrown on the stage and Wagner was
| being crowned with laurel wreath. When
Materna was half way down the steps-you
know what a big woman she is-she made a
gesture as if she were afraid of falling, or as
if the steps were in danger of breaking. In
stinctively I stepped forward to aid her, and,
taking her hand, helped her safely down.
Imagine my sensations when she took my
arm, and we walked across the hall in front
of the stage and before the eyes of the
court Materna stopping every step or two
to bow in response to the cheers, and ours
ing nay bob-tailed coat under my breath and
Iackey. It was great experience for me,
but Materna was SO excited that she didn't
know what she was DOING