The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-01-24
A GREAT SINGER.
MADAM 1NNIE GREY TO 1PPE1R
dT TIME BURNS, CELEBRATION.


fore Queen Victoria at BaImoral Gas.
tle-"VictorLa's" Love for ihe Ole
Scotch Songs.
The appearance of Madam Annie
Grey, the great Scottish prima donna
at the Burns celebration under the
auspices of the New Haven Caledoniar
club, at Warner Hall on the 9th of
January, will be one Of the musical
events of the season. The following in
perlence of singing before Her Majesty
Queen Victoria at Balmoral Castle:
1t all came about in this wise" Mad
anne Annie Grey, Scotch vocalist, who
is now in New York, said yesterday, in
speaking of her visit to Balmoral
where she sang to the queen. while I
was visiting at the Earl Haddington's
In the south of England, the late Dowa-
ger Duchess of Roxbury drove over to
luncheon. Her Grace, you know, was
one of Her Majestys intimates and had
been one of the queens bridesmaids.
AS it was a rainy day l was asked if
I would entertain Her Grace by singing.
OF course / was only too happy to
oblige my friends. Her Grace listened
most attcntively and was deeply affect
ed-in fact, quite overcome-by Aud
Robin Grey Afterward she asked me
if would be willing to sing for Her Ma
jesty. l told her I would be delighted
to. About six weeks later came letter
from Her Grace asking if 1 would come
to Bamoral 1 answered that l would
sing wherever Her Majesty wished me
to. Her Grace then wrote expressing
pleasure at my reply and added that the
command would soon follow.
ARRIVING AT BALMORAL.
80 one November night at ten o'cl ok
arrived at Balmoral Castle I was re-
ceived by a dignifed man servant in
scarlet white wig, breeches and silk
stockings, who didn't speak a word, but
with sweeping gesture passed me on
to a similarly attired man servant at
the door A sweeping gesture from him
transferred me to two men servants at
the foot Of the stairs. Two sweeping
gestures from them bore me on to two
other men servants at the head of the
stairs. Again two sweeping gestures
and I was ushered into a pretty bed
room decorated with the Campbell tar
tan, where was to leave my wraps.
"After quite while two ladies in
waiting entered and looked me all over
to see if I'd do. Finding nothing objec-
tionable in my costume-such as bod
ice too low cut-we went down stairs,
with white Wands With these we
formed a little procession, two of them
marching in front, two behind and we
in the middle. In this manner we pro-
ceeded up the grand corridor, which is
carpeted with the royal tartan of the
Stuarts. At the head of the corridor we
found the Goldstick in Waiting, who
ushered me into a small room.
PRINCE HENRY LEADS HER IN.
"a few minutes later Prince Henry Of
Battenberg entered and led me into the
grand drawing room. Immediately OPP
posite me sat Her Majesty She and
Princess Beatrice were the only persons
in the room who were seated. The 9TH
ers-I should say they numbered about
forty-were standing. / made the very
deep courtesy which etiquette requires
so deep I feared l was going to fall
over and got very nervous. l was glad
when I found myself at the piano which
was Immediately to my left. Princess
Beatrice crossed over to me and asked
for list of my songs. This I gave her,
and she took it to the queen, who read
1t. Then lady in waiting told me Her
Majesty had selected 'Leezie Lindsay
After each song the lady In waiting
came to me and, while the court con-
versed, told me what Her Majesty COM
manded me to sing next. The queen Sc
lected Gloomy Winters Moo Ava and
of a the Arts the Wind Can Blow
THE QUEENS LOVE OF SCOTCH
MUSIC.
''After this song she rose, and coming
over to the piano engaged me most gra-
ciousiy in conversation. After expressing
admiration for the songs, she said
why are they not more frequently sung
in Scotland?' I replied that unfortu-
nately the middle and upper middle |
classes in Scotland consid cred Scotch |
songs vulgar Many of them sent their
children to school in Germany and /
France, SO that they acquired the mus- |
cal tastes OF those countries. Her Ma |
jesty thought that this was a great pity. |
What can l do she asked to make
these SONGS better known I told her
the honor she had done me would give a
great impetus to Scotch music.
after Her Majesty had seated herself |
again she asked for three more songs
Coming Thro the Rye The Keel Row
and The Flowers O the Forest When
had finished this last song Her Males
ty rose. Taking this as signal I left
the piano and retired hastily. I was al
most Immediately Joined by Sir Henry
Ponsonby the queens secretary, who
said: 1t is a pity you retired 50 quick
ly Her Majesty desired to present you
with a memento of your visit. ! have
her birthday book Git was a huge tome
bound in scarlet, in which the desires
you to write your name. I will find the
date for you. I told him / was born on
the 4th of July, adding In
Day. He said banteringly,
How dare you mention that date under
q royal roof? 7 turned over the pages
and found myself in good company
heads, bishops, statesmen and
others
A BRACELET FROM HER MAJES-
TY.