Morning journal and courier., 1886-02-26
Colonel Mapleson EnduIses in
 EeminiScence.

From the Chicago Newsl
 Colonel J. H. Mapleson, the distinguished impresarie. visited this office yesterday af ternoon to have chat with about the London riots. Although he was in civilians dress he wore number of medals and decor ations that heightened the impressiveness of his appearance. Among these decorations were the ribbon of the BirminghamCantata so- ciety, the order of the St. James natatorium, the cross of the Legion of Calliope, the royal medal of the Essex Gun and Fishpole club, and the ribbon of the American society of Italian Chorus Veterans. Colonel Mapleson said he left his Victoria cross in New York in charge of friend named Solomon Levy; otherwise he would wear it during his Chi cago engagement. This cross was conferred upon him by the Queen for his personal valor in a skirmish with Pagan rebels in southern Africa some years ago.
 "When her majesty heard that was about to embark in grand Italian opera" says Colonel Mapleson, ''she dissolved in Q flood of tears. Although she did not deign to ex- plain this emotional ebullition, it was ap parent to me that she poignantly deplored
 my withdrawal from her military service. l tind it exceedingly distasteful to me to boast of my own prowess, but candor compels me to admit that if I were in London at this moment, the riotous proceedings would soon come to an end. I would summon my regi lnent to the scene of action at once-there would be no delay-it would be 'disperse or diep"
 ttAnd pray, what is your regiment Col onela'
 1.-The 'styhundred and 'tyffth cavalry, 'an- swered Colonel Mapleson. 'You may have read poem my friend Tennyson wrote about 8 charge we made at Waterloo; our ensemble was 500 strong, and we were called the Light Brigade because most of us were blondes.
 t'Yes," continued Colonel Mapleson, Eve did effective work at Waterloo. I did a good deal of solo business at the beginning of tie engagement, but along towards the finale concluded to bring my chorus to bear on the enemy. We began with a moderate tempo and worked in capital unison till the scherzo movement was reached. At this iuncture forty cannon to our right belched forth their profound basso tones, and, from that moment till the concluding passage, the instrumentation inordinate. Napoleon saw me coming. ''Mon dieu!" he cried. Who is that averaging Nemesis coursing this l way on fre-breathing charger! Can it be 1 Bulcher' Mo- said his aid, the Viscount | Beauharnais de Ia Bauxlaires, that is Colo | nel J. H. Mapleson, proprietor of Her Majos- | tvs Grand Opera company Then the ill starred monarch waxed pale. 'Parbleu!' he cried. I have waded through Egyptian sands | and Russian snows-I have scaled the Alps and swashed around in the Danube, but my 1 hour has come at last; see the accumulated l glory of years crumbling before the breath of this desolating impresario! But let us not waste time, mon cher; meet me to-mor- row morning at 6:30 in the baseball park near the Tuileries!' And with these words | the routed warrior clapped spurs to his horse | and galloped off. vivace ct allegro. ooh, yes," said Colonel Mapleson, com placently, eff I had time I could tell you a
 volume about experiences. I mention that episode with Napoleon Bonaparte merely as 6 l casual incident i'll an active and long career he is by no means the only man have beaten"