Norwich bulletin., 1909-05-22
THE LONG AGO AND THE LATER ON An Experience of Eighty By George Tde Bromley

A
 years to say "FareWell!'
 But we shall meet again. Not soon, perhaps, within these walls, nor In
 the busy hours of day. But in the
 quiet of the night when sleep hath
 come, and many a friend of former
 days shall visit thee in thy distant
 home and bless thy dreamsl =,
 A painting by the artist, Theodore Wores, presented to the club that evening, which now hangs in the Red Room, represents me as having all ready arrived in China, and seated in the chair of state, I am receiving the kowtows of the natives, who seem to have taken me for a sort of Joss Pidgin. During the evening l was presented with a loving cup; Deaufi- fully and appropriately inscribed. Its capacity was tested on board the steamer and found to be equal to three quart bottles of champagne. While making preparations for my departure. l one day received a note from Mrs. M. H. de Young, inviting me to meet her and several other ladies at the Palace hotel, as they had a matter of importance about which to consult me. What in the world can 1t be-" thought I, and as the easiest way of solving the puzzle, l went to the appointed meeting and found in the reception room Mrs. de Young and her mother, Mrs. Deane, and Madame Fabbri After a cordial greeting. Mrs. De Young informed me that the following Saturday would mark the most successful season of grand opera which San Francisco had l ever known, and that 1t was the in- | tention to celebrate the ocasion by | presenting Madame Patti a magnif- cent bracelet. The presentation was | to be made at the close of the opera ] onnrNnr4afn cnapPh delivered from the stage, and I was the man to do it.
 "All right" said I, but how am to | get there ?" for, with the necessary outlay for my lengthy journey, tickets l for the grand opera at Patti prices were set down amongst the unneces- sarv luxuries. But that contingency being out the price of a seat, l was | told that I was to be put on exhibi- | ton in a box So I repaired to the | club library and began to concoct a speech I rung the changes on that | bracelet fin every way that l could conceive of, and when read over my | production I decided that 1t would do, l but that 1t was well worth the price of an opera ticket to do 1t. The next | day met Madame Fabbri in the Cali ! fornia Market. and said she: | "Oh MT. Bromley, l am so glad to have met you. I was just about send- ing for you"
 "Now, what's up?" asked.
 I've have concluded not to present Madame with bracelet"
 It was then felt all my bright am ticipations. "like the baseless fabric
 Of a vision" vanish into thin air But" went on Madame Fabbri, Eve are going to have you present a low ing cup instead"
 "An right" said I; its loving cur year"
 ing cup instead of a bracelet. When I was satisfied with 1t, I committed il to memory, and was on hand at the Grand Opra house in good time on the appointed day. but could not see the ghost of a show to gain entrance, fol the street was crowded for almost the entire block with ladies and gentle men waiting for the doors to be open ed. However, met MT. Joseph Austin who knew pretty much all about every
 thing, and he took me up an alleyway to the stage door, where I found easy access and was soon seated in the
 De Young box. As I sat there alone contemplating the gathering multi tude, Madame Fabbri came in, and said she
 MT. Bromley, there is a magnif-
 gently bound album containing the
 names of those who presented the low.
 ing cup, and they would be pleased tt
 have you include this in your present.
 ation speech"
 All right" said l. and I soon hat
 1t included, and resumed my observa.
 tions. Never, before or since, has the
 Grand Opera house contained such {
 vast audience as on that Saturday aft Rernoon. But soon afterward Madami
 Fabbri made her appearance and in. vited me to accompany her to thu
 vestibuIe where there was standin, the most beautiful floral piece I hay,
 ever seen. It was about six feet high
 and on horizontal arms, were lettered
 in the loveliest blossoms, the name
 of all the operas in which Madam Patti had sung during the season.
 gazed upon it with feelings of ad imitation, when Madame Fabbri re marked:
 "This also Is to be presented witt
 the loving cup and the album" "Ah. 1t is?" said I. "Is there any
 thing else?"
 NO" said she; that is all" fl saw in a moment how charmingl
 the flowers would blend with the mu
 sic in my speech, and returned to m
 seat in the box and listened to tn worlds sweetest singer. Just befor
 Madame Pattrs last song I went be hind the scenes and there I met Mad anne Fabbri holding a laurel wreatf
 and it was:
 , ''Mr. Bromley when you get throug with Patti we want you to make v little speech and crown Arditi wit ! this wreath" ! ! Nov, who the deuce is Arditi?" 1 ! was my turn to ask
 ? Why, the leader of the orchestra, 5 said Madame
 "ADyfhipol Y1oOra fa oo,,o a S,s ,.f-o5 NO, nothing more" And so
 proved that time.
 The floral piece was too ponderou r to be passed over the tootlights, so o was taken around to the stage en o trance and brought on the stage fror
 the side. It was when Madame Pat < appeared in response to an encore fc z her last song that I appeared on th | scene, followed by three of the com ' pany. two bearing the casket contain
 ing the loving cup and one the album d The applause that greeted Madam
 Patti was tumultuous, and as was Q ', speaking terms with more of the aud ence than was the diva, the ovatio i, was somewhat increased. Madam
 Patti was just then absorbed in a6 miring the beautiful floral offerin v and l shall never forget the expres: - ion of her face when she turned ar
 saw me. Had I been a freebooter dt T, manding her Jewels or her life ST
 could not have appeared more astor
 ished. However, I began my speec
 and the stiffness of the house, ait the former outburst, was most in ' kressive Madame Patti manifested ,r deep interest in what I was sayin + Her lips quivered, and her eyes file
 with tears SO that I was beginning r grow a little leased myself. Al ii VI close of my nerforunanoe uvar taIre