The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-07-18
Visit 10 VICTORIA
Described by a Chicago Girl
Who Sings In Opera.
NICE LITTLE OLD LADY
Who Plays She's Pleased, No
Matter How Bored.

| Arthur L. Clarke, foreign correspondent
of the Chicago Tribune, writing from
London, says:
| A kindly old woman Of wonderful en-
ergy; a stately queen. whose home, a
frowning fort. lies like shadow on ahil-
top in the sunny walls of the Thames
such is the impression Queen Victoria
and the castle, at Windsor made on Fan
chon Thompson, the Chicago singer, who
appeared as Lola in "Cavalleria Rusti-
cana" at the castle recently.
Truly she is a wonderful woman. and
Windsor is a wanderful place, quite ag-
gressive in its grandeur said Miss
Thompson. "But for me, would rather
| retain my American independence and live
in some vine-covered cottage than be a
queen and dwell at gloomy old Windsor.
AS you see it there on the hill, a grim,
gray mass, amid the wonderful green Of
the English forests, it strikes you as a
fortress or prison. not as the home of a
peace-loving kind old lady. And surely
Victoria is that.
from a drive through the royal park. AS
she sat erect in her open landau, a little
woman all in black alert to all that was
passing, it seemed impossible that she was
over 20 years of age. 1t seemed impossi-
bic that all the cares of great ruler
were hers. wonderful old lady is this
queen of England.
And when we were presented to her in
the state apartments after the perform
ance, six hours later, she had a smile and
a pleasant word for each-just as if she
enjoyed the long ceremony Of which she
must have grown tired years ago. No
wonder her people love her.
THAT performance Of 'Cavalleria was
the most interesting and in some ways
the most remarkable I ever took part in.
What do you suppose was our dressing
room? Nothing less than the throneroom
of the castle! 1t is long apartment
hung with wonderful old tapestries and
paintings of royal personages dead long
since. %?
Il had ordered a new gown for the per-
formance-an Italian dress of brilliant
colors. The skirt was blue, the bodice
brown and the apron green. Then over
my shoulders I wore bright yellow
shawl that set off the dress splendidly
But it caused me a dreadful half hour
just before the performance. When I
came to put it on it wouldn't meet in
front by several inches. My woman
tugged and pulled, but simply couldn't get
me in. Do you know it took about five
women to lace that gown up? But then
it fitted beautifully once it was on. My
presentation gown was my pride. 1t was
made of white crepe de chine, tastefully
draped with spangles and embroidered
with turquoise
"The stage was erected In the Waterloo
room. 1t was tiny, tire is no other word
for it. We scarcely had room to act, yet
the queen seemed highly pleased and
applauded frequently. She sat at a little
table in front of the audience. And what
an audience! Every man there was dec
grated with medals and wore a brilliant
ribbon around his cnest. while all the
women were gorgeously gowned I am
sure each one had string Of titles as
long as her train.
''CaIve sang divinely. In fact we all
worked harder to please that little old
woman in the black gown than ever we
had to win the gayest house in Paris.
And surely we were right, were we not?
after the performance we hurried into
our court dresses, and were presented to
the queen. 1t seemed 10 me that her eye
sight is nearly gone. She kept her eyes
nearly closed all the time, and as each
one approached opened them only a min
ute and with apparent difficulty. Would
it not be dreadful If she became blind?
after we had been introduced to all
the guests at the performance. the Prin-
cess Maud and the Princess Beatrice pre-
scented US with the gifts of the queen.
received a beautiful turquoise pin and a
gold smelling bottle both having the
monogram Of the queen upon them"
Miss Thompson declares that although
her home Is in Paris she is a Chicago
girl, and is proud of 1t. Dear old Chi
cage! How I would like to see it." was
the way she expressed herself. The peo-
pie here are so different" she explained.
They are so formal. 1 miss the hearty
enthusiasm of America. And yet it Is
only their manner Of expression. Really.
they are as enthusiastic as we are, only
they don't show it in the same wav"