The Mapleson Memoirs, vol II

. I performed La Favorita that evening, and gave orders for the Company to start at 2 a.m. for the Far West. At about a quarter to one my agent called me, stating t

the midst of my trouble a little card was brought in enclosed in an envelope, stating that Mdme. Patti would like to see me. She, too, had been on the point of going to bed. But on learning the strait in which I was p

adjoining room requesting a word with me. On entering Mdme. Gerster's apartments I f

call in at Denver and arrange for a performance of Mdme. Patti in La Traviata on the following Saturday morning on our way through. We d

ay to Europe. It was, indeed, a sore trial to bring matters to an amicable conclusion; but in this I eventually succeeded. I assured Mdme. Gerster

likewise the Hon. Jones, Ford, and Miller, and some forty other representatives of the Upper and Lower Houses of the great territory of the West. We were agreeably surprised when the train pulled up. To my great astonishment both Houses had been adjourned in honour of our visit. Th

opera to be given during our visit. At the conclusion of the reception Gerster was accompanied to the hotel. Two hours later there was to be a serenade to Mdme. Patti, who at a given time was drawn into the station. The brass band, being placed in a circle with the bandmaster in the centre, commenced performing music which was rather mixed. Mdme. Patti requested me to ask the bandmaster what they were playing; but on my attempting to enter t

Cheyenne is but a little town, consisting of about two streets, it possesses a most refined society, composed, it is true, of cowboys; yet one might have im

. The club house is one of the pleasantest I have

we all returned to the train,

nd capable of seating 12,000 persons, the idea immediately crossed my mind of giving, if possible, a concert there on our return from San Francisco; but I was unsuccessful in my endeavours to obtain the use of it. I thereupon reso

day previously, expressing a strong desire that she might be allowed to try her voice there, which led on to my observing that a regular concert would be more desi

tle songs the Prophet was so impressed that he actually consented to a concert being given in the Tabernacle the following month. On my suggesting three dollars for the best seats an objection was in

atre in presence of all the prominent inhabitants of the love

reporters, who had been waiting a couple of days to meet the party, determined if possible to secure an interview with the Diva. In the meantime they busied themselves writing a description of the magnificent train of boudo

During this time the reporters had ample time to interview everybody, as the railway car

cks. She placed herself at the piano and commenced singing nursery rhymes. She likewise whistled a polka very cleverly to her own accompaniment; which made the papoose laugh. She th

the Indians, resembling a kind of war-whoop, in

r Majesty!" "God bless Colonel Mapleson!" the crowd, as usual, being largely composed of Indians

r reporters got in, insisting up

? No, sir, you cannot interview Patti. We have a lot of beautifully-written interviews already in type in my ante-room, and you can go and select those you like be

that kind of way. I have come several hundreds of miles to interview Patti, and see her I must. Refuse me, and I shall simply telegraph two lines t

terview me instead?" feel

lied he; "Patt

ing the Diva. Summoning a swarthy valet, he ordered him to conduct

er to be seated, and the long-expected interview was about to take place, when Nicolini suddenly returned and commenced ringing the electric bells. In an instant all was confusion. Valets rushed hither and thither, Nicolini d

n. She said she was tired of ice and snow, of Colorado and Montana, and that she was very pleased at being able to reach San Francisco. At the conclusion of the interview the reporter left the room, went to the end of the train, and dropped a

ed me that the engagement was going to be a great success, tw

whom expressed amazement at having been brought some 3,000 miles to do nothing. In fact, I myself felt rather for the moment nonplussed. I nevertheless immediately

voyage of pleasure to the Far West, I had persuaded them to give a performance. I had selected the ensuing Thursday-the only blank night I had. At the same time, in justice to those who had subscribed so liberally for the season, I notified that the original subscribers should have the

ellers, and begged them kindly to dispose of the few remaining tickets at their shop, on the foll