The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-05-21
Embarrassing.
Boston Transcript.

Boston Transcript.
A friend of mine who spent some time
in Berlin ten years ago or so told me to-
which he and Materna played a con-
spicuous part. "Two OF three of the
young fellows" he said, "were in Berlin
when Wagner was at work on his
'Valkyrie.' The Emperor expressed a
desire to hear some selections from the
work, and this was big advertisement
| for Wagner, who consented to have some
parts sung by Materna and Niemann.
The court retained good portion of the
tickets to the hall il which the affair
was to take place, and the rest were sent
to the various foreign legations in Ber-
lin, and could be obtained by foreign
ers from their respective Ministers on
the payment of good round sum,
which, ! suppose, VENT into Wagner's
"Well, we went to The American
Legation and secured three tickets.
On the day of the concert we W mt on
an excursion into the country, and miss
ed the train that we ought to have taken
to reach the city in time to dress. The
we were confronted by unpleasant al
ternatiyes. We were near the hall, and
the concert would begin in a few
minutes, but we were not dressed for
an entertainment of this sort. My COM
panions wore dark clothes, but had on
a suit of light tweed, which being bob
tailed into the bargain, | knew would
be too conspicuous, altogether for a
swell concert, in which the Emperor
and the court and the representatives of
| foreign Governments would make up
the greater part of its audience. On
the other hand, we could not go to our
rooms at the other side of the city, dress
and return inside of an hoar and half.
So We decided to go to the concert as
we were and take our chances of being
refused admittance. We went in all
right, however, and were shown to our
seats, which were 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 obstruct the view of the
Emperor and the court. The audience
was, of course, as brilliant a gathering
as could be got together in any city in
the world We three fellows were sit
ing in chairs, and / 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 could out of sight, expecting
every moment to be thrown out of the
hall.
aWeIl, we heard the sValkyrie' 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 concert 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
applause rang through the hall, loads
of flowers thrown on the stage, and
Wagner was being crowned with q lau-
rel wreath. When Materna was half
way down the steps you know what a
4 big woman she isshe made a gesture
as If she were afraid of falling, or as il
the steps were in danger Of breaking.
/ lInstinctiyely / 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 cnrsing my
/ b0b-taiIed cost under my breath and
wondering whether she took me for 4
liveried lackey. Il was 3 great expert
ence for me, but Materna was 50 excited
that she didn't know what she was do
1 inr.