Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-04
AN EMBARRASSED AMERICAN.
An Episode in Berlin in which Materna
and Bobtailed Coat Firgured.



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 a conspicuous
part. 1.-TWO or three Of us 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 a
big advertisement for Wagner, who con-
sented to have some portions sung by
Materna and Niemann. The court re-
tanned good portion OF the tickets to the
nall in which the affair was to take place,
and the rest were sent to the various
foreign legations in Berlin, and could be
obtained by foreigners from their respee-
tive Ministers on the payment Of a good
round sum, which, l suppose, went into
Wagner pockets.
''Well, we went to the American Lega-
ton and secured three tickets. On the
day of the concert we went on an eXcur-
sion 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 We're con-
frOnted by unpleasant alternatives. We
were near the hall, and the concert would
begin in few minutes, but we were not
dressed for an entertainment of this sort.
Nv companions wore dark clothes, but 1
'bOb-taileP into the bargain, | knew
would be too conspicuous altogether for a
swell concert, in which the Emperor and
the court and the representatives of for
eign governments would make up the
greater part of the audience. On the
other hand we couldnOt 90 to our rooms at
the other side of the city, dress and return
inside of an hour and IA half. So we de-
cided to gostO the concert as we were and
take our chances of being refused admit
lance. 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 oren 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 sitting in chairs, and l proposed
that we slide our chars around the cor
ner and in front of the stage, so that we
could see the singers. We did this, and
sank as far as l could out of sight, ex-
pecting every moment to be thrown out of
the hall.
"Well, we heard the 'Valkyrie' music,
and the excitement was great. Within
four or five feet of where L 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 imprisoned singing of
Materna and Niemann. Shouts OF APP
piause rang through the hall, loads of
flowers 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 GESTURE as if she were
afraid of falling, or as if the steps werein
danger of breaking. Instinctively l
stepped forward to aid her, and, taking
her hand, helped her safely down. I'm
agine 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 l cursing my bOb-tailed coat under
my breath and wondering whether she
took me for a liveried lackey. 1t was a
a great experience for me, but Materna
was so excited that she didn't know what