The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-04-21
QUEEN VICTORIA AND MEN,
DEL SSOHN

QUEEN ViCIORlA AND MEN,
DELSSOHN.
We have charming picture of domes.
tic life in the letters Of the great musica
composer Mendelssohn, who was in Eng
land in the summer of 1912 observing
that with foreigners, on visit, the Prince
could allow himself far more freedom
than on principle he permitted himself
with English subjects. Buckingham
Palace u.s." as Grail says, "the one really
pleasant, comfortable English house in
which one feels q son aise. OF course I
do know a few others, but yet on the
whole agree with him. Joking apart,
Prince Albert had asked me to 60 to him
on Saturday at two o'clock, that I might
try his organ before I left England. 1
found him alone, and as we were talking
away the Queen came in, also alone, in a
simple morning dress. She said she was
obliged to leave for Claremont in an
hour, and then suddenly interrupting
herself, exclaimed, But, goodness what
confusion 7 For the wind had Uttered
the whole room, and even the pedals of
the organ (Which, by the way, made
very pretty feature of the room), with
leaves of music from large portfolio
that lay open. AS she spoke she knelt
down and began picking up the music.
Price Albert helped, and I, too, was not
idle. Then Prince Albert proceeded to
explain the stops to me, and she said that
she would meanwhile put things straight.
I begged that the Prince would first
play me something, that I might boast
about it in Germany land he played Choir
ale by heart, with the pedals SO charm
ingly and clearly and correctly that it
would have done credit to any profession
al; and the Queen, having finished her
work, came and sat by him and listened
and looked pleased. Then it was my turn,
and l began my chorus from st. Paul.
How lovely are the messengers. Be
fore had got to the end of the first verse
they had both joined in the chorus, aud
all the time Prince Albert managed the
stops so cleverly for me- and all
by heart, that 1 was really quite enchant-
ed. Then the young Prince of Gotha
came in, and there was more chatting,
and the Queen asked If 1 had written
any new songs, and said che was very
fond of singing my published ones. You
should sing one for him. said Prince AL
bert; and after little begging she said
she would try the 'Fruhlingslied' in B
fiat, if it is still here, she added, for all
my music is packed for Claremont.'
Prince Albert went to look for it, but
came back saying it was already packed.
But one might perhaps hunpack it, said
1. we must send for Lady -,'she said Il
did not catch the nsme). So the bell was
rung, and the servants were sent after it,
but without success, and at last the
queen went herself, and whilst she was
gone Prince Albert said to me, She begs
you will accept this present as a remem-
brance,' and gave me case with beau
tiful ring, on which is engraved V. r.
1912. Then the Queen came back and
said, Lady - is gone and has taken
all my things with her. 1t is really most
annoying"
However Mendelssohn begged that he
might not be the sufferer, and after some
consultation Prince Albert said, ''she
will sing you something of Gluck's."
Then they proceeded to the Queens sit
ting-room, where there stood by the
piano a mighty rocking horse and two
great bird-csges. The walls were decora-
ted with pictures beautifully bound books
lay on the tables, and music on the piano.
Mendelssohn found among the music a
set of songs Of his own, and, first sending
away the parrot, "for he will scream
louder than I can sing" the Queen sang,
schooner und Schooner schmuckt sie,"
quite charmingly, in strict time and tune,
but with one slight error. Mendelssohn
confessed that the song was not his, but
his sister Fanny's; and she then, with
some doubt, undertook to try to sing his
"Pilger Spruch, Lass dich nur, which she
did quite faultlessly and with charm ing
feeling and expression. l thought to
myself, one must not pay too many COM
pliments on such an occasion, so mere
ly thanked her a great many times, on
which she said, "Oh if only had not
been so frightened, generally have such
a long breath" Then I praised her heart
lily and with the best conscience in the
world, for just that part, with the long @