thatothersecondhasinformedM。Noir。\"
\"H\'m!Imighthaveknownit。ItisjustlikethatFourtou,whoalwayswantstomakeadisplay。\"
AthalfpastnineinthemorningtheprocessionapproachedthefieldofPlessis-Piquetinthefollowingorder:firstcameourcarriage——nobodyinitbutM。Gambettaandmyself;
thenacarriagecontainingM。Fourtouandhissecond;
thenacarriagecontainingtwopoet-oratorswhodidnotbelieveinGod,andthesehadMS。funeralorationsprojectingfromtheirbreastpockets;thenacarriagecontainingtheheadsurgeonsandtheircasesofinstruments;
theneightprivatecarriagescontainingconsultingsurgeons;
thenahackcontainingacoroner;thenthetwohearses;
thenacarriagecontainingtheheadundertakers;
thenatrainofassistantsandmutesonfoot;andafterthesecameploddingthroughthefogalongprocessionofcampfollowers,police,andcitizensgenerally。
Itwasanobleturnout,andwouldhavemadeafinedisplayifwehadhadthinnerweather。
Therewasnoconversation。Ispokeseveraltimestomyprincipal,butIjudgehewasnotawareofit,forhealwaysreferredtohisnote-bookandmutteredabsently,\"IdiethatFrancemightlive。\"
\"Arrivedonthefield,myfellow-secondandIpacedoffthethirty-fiveyards,andthendrewlotsforchoiceofposition。Thislatterwasbutanornamentalceremony,forallthechoiceswerealikeinsuchweather。
Thesepreliminariesbeingended,Iwenttomyprincipalandaskedhimifhewasready。Hespreadhimselfouttohisfullwidth,andsaidinasternvoice,\"Ready!Letthebatteriesbecharged。\"
Theloadingprocesswasdoneinthepresenceofdulyconstitutedwitnesses。Weconsidereditbesttoperformthisdelicateservicewiththeassistanceofalantern,onaccountofthestateoftheweather。Wenowplacedourmen。
Atthispointthepolicenoticedthatthepublichadmassedthemselvestogetherontherightandleftofthefield;
theythereforebeggedadelay,whiletheyshouldputthesepoorpeopleinaplaceofsafety。
Therequestwasgranted。
Thepolicehavingorderedthetwomultitudestotakepositionsbehindtheduelists,wewereoncemoreready。
Theweathergrowingstillmoreopaque,itwasagreedbetweenmyselfandtheothersecondthatbeforegivingthefatalsignalweshouldeachdeliveraloudwhooptoenablethecombatantstoascertaineachother\'swhereabouts。
Inowreturnedtomyprincipal,andwasdistressedtoobservethathehadlostagooddealofhisspirit。
Itriedmybesttoheartenhim。Isaid,\"Indeed,sir,thingsarenotasbadastheyseem。Consideringthecharacteroftheweapons,thelimitednumberofshotsallowed,thegenerousdistance,theimpenetrablesolidityofthefog,andtheaddedfactthatoneofthecombatantsisone-eyedandtheothercross-eyedandnear-sighted,itseemstomethatthisconflictneednotnecessarilybefatal。Therearechancesthatbothofyoumaysurvive。Therefore,cheerup;
donotbedownhearted。\"
Thisspeechhadsogoodaneffectthatmyprincipalimmediatelystretchedforthhishandandsaid,\"Iammyselfagain;givemetheweapon。\"
Ilaidit,alllonelyandforlorn,inthecenterofthevastsolitudeofhispalm。Hegazedatitandshuddered。
Andstillmournfullycontemplatingit,hemurmuredinabrokenvoice:
\"Alas,itisnotdeathIdread,butmutilation。\"
Iheartenedhimoncemore,andwithsuchsuccessthathepresentlysaid,\"Letthetragedybegin。Standatmyback;
donotdesertmeinthissolemnhour,myfriend。\"
Igavehimmypromise。InowassistedhimtopointhispistoltowardthespotwhereIjudgedhisadversarytobestanding,andcautionedhimtolistenwellandfurtherguidehimselfbymyfellow-second\'swhoop。
ThenIproppedmyselfagainstM。Gambetta\'sback,andraisedarousing\"Whoop-ee!\"Thiswasansweredfromoutthefardistancesofthefog,andIimmediatelyshouted:
\"One——two——three——FIRE!\"
TwolittlesoundslikeSPIT!SPIT!brokeuponmyear,andinthesameinstantIwascrushedtotheearthunderamountainofflesh。BruisedasIwas,Iwasstillabletocatchafaintaccentfromabove,tothiseffect:
\"Idiefor……for……perditiontakeit,whatISitIdiefor?……oh,yes——FRANCE!IdiethatFrancemaylive!\"
Thesurgeonsswarmedaroundwiththeirprobesintheirhands,andappliedtheirmicroscopestothewholeareaofM。Gambetta\'sperson,withthehappyresultoffindingnothinginthenatureofawound。Thenasceneensuedwhichwasineverywaygratifyingandinspiriting。
Thetwogladiatorsfelluponeachother\'sneck,withfloodsofproudandhappytears;thatothersecondembracedme;
thesurgeons,theorators,theundertakers,thepolice,everybodyembraced,everybodycongratulated,everybodycried,andthewholeatmospherewasfilledwithpraiseandwithjoyunspeakable。
ItseemstomethenthatIwouldratherbeaheroofaFrenchduelthanacrownedandscepteredmonarch。
Whenthecommotionhadsomewhatsubsided,thebodyofsurgeonsheldaconsultation,andafteragooddealofdebatedecidedthatwithpropercareandnursingtherewasreasontobelievethatIwouldsurvivemyinjuries。
Myinternalhurtsweredeemedthemostserious,sinceitwasapparentthatabrokenribhadpenetratedmyleftlung,andthatmanyofmyorganshadbeenpressedoutsofartoonesideortheotherofwheretheybelonged,thatitwasdoubtfuliftheywouldeverlearntoperformtheirfunctionsinsuchremoteandunaccustomedlocalities。
Theythensetmyleftarmintwoplaces,pulledmyrighthipintoitssocketagain,andre-elevatedmynose。
Iwasanobjectofgreatinterest,andevenadmiration;
andmanysincereandwarm-heartedpersonshadthemselvesintroducedtome,andsaidtheywereproudtoknowtheonlymanwhohadbeenhurtinaFrenchduelinfortyyears。
Iwasplacedinanambulanceattheveryheadoftheprocession;
andthuswithgratifying\'ECLATIwasmarchedintoParis,themostconspicuousfigureinthatgreatspectacle,anddepositedatthehospital。
ThecrossoftheLegionofHonorhasbeenconferreduponme。However,fewescapethatdistinction。
Suchisthetrueversionofthemostmemorableprivateconflictoftheage。
Ihavenocomplaintstomakeagainstanyone。Iactedformyself,andIcanstandtheconsequences。
Withoutboasting,IthinkImaysayIamnotafraidtostandbeforeamodernFrenchduelist,butaslongasIkeepinmyrightmindIwillneverconsenttostandbehindoneagain。
CHAPTERIX
[WhattheBeautifulMaidenSaid]
OnedaywetookthetrainandwentdowntoMannheimtosee\"KingLear\"playedinGerman。Itwasamistake。
Wesatinourseatsthreewholehoursandneverunderstoodanythingbutthethunderandlightning;andeventhatwasreversedtosuitGermanideas,forthethundercamefirstandthelightningfollowedafter。
Thebehavioroftheaudiencewasperfect。Therewerenorustlings,orwhisperings,orotherlittledisturbances;
eachactwaslistenedtoinsilence,andtheapplaudingwasdoneafterthecurtainwasdown。Thedoorsopenedathalfpastfour,theplaybeganpromptlyathalfpastfive,andwithintwominutesafterwardallwhowerecomingwereintheirseats,andquietreigned。AGermangentlemaninthetrainhadsaidthataShakespearianplaywasanappreciatedtreatinGermanyandthatweshouldfindthehousefilled。Itwastrue;allthesixtierswerefilled,andremainedsototheend——whichsuggestedthatitisnotonlybalconypeoplewholikeShakespeareinGermany,butthoseofthepitandgallery,too。
Anothertime,wewenttoMannheimandattendedashivaree——
otherwiseanopera——theonecalled\"Lohengrin。\"Thebangingandslammingandboomingandcrashingweresomethingbeyondbelief。TherackingandpitilesspainofitremainsstoredupinmymemoryalongsidethememoryofthetimethatIhadmyteethfixed。
Therewerecircumstanceswhichmadeitnecessaryformetostaythroughthehourhourstotheend,andIstayed;
buttherecollectionofthatlong,dragging,relentlessseasonofsufferingisindestructible。Tohavetoendureitinsilence,andsittingstill,madeitalltheharder。
Iwasinarailedcompartmentwitheightortenstrangers,ofthetwosexes,andthiscompelledrepression;
yetattimesthepainwassoexquisitethatIcouldhardlykeepthetearsback。Atthosetimes,asthehowlingsandwailingsandshriekingofthesingers,andtheragingsandroaringsandexplosionsofthevastorchestrarosehigherandhigher,andwilderandwilder,andfiercerandfiercer,IcouldhavecriedifIhadbeenalone。
Thosestrangerswouldnothavebeensurprisedtoseeamandosuchathingwhowasbeinggraduallyskinned,buttheywouldhavemarveledatithere,andmaderemarksaboutitnodoubt,whereastherewasnothinginthepresentcasewhichwasanadvantageoverbeingskinned。
Therewasawaitofhalfanhourattheendofthefirstact,andIcouldnottrustmyselftodoit,forIfeltthatI
shoulddeserttostayout。Therewasanotherwaitofhalfanhourtowardnineo\'clock,butIhadgonethroughsomuchbythattimethatIhadnospiritleft,andsohadnodesirebuttobeletalone。
Idonotwishtosuggestthattherestofthepeopletherewerelikeme,for,indeed,theywerenot。Whetheritwasthattheynaturallylikedthatnoise,orwhetheritwasthattheyhadlearnedtolikeitbygettingusedtoit,Ididnotatthetimeknow;buttheydidlike——thiswasplainenough。Whileitwasgoingontheysatandlookedasraptandgratefulascatsdowhenonestrokestheirbacks;
andwheneverthecurtainfelltheyrosetotheirfeet,inonesolidmightymultitude,andtheairwassnowedthickwithwavinghandkerchiefs,andhurricanesofapplauseswepttheplace。Thiswasnotcomprehensibletome。
Ofcourse,thereweremanypeopletherewhowerenotundercompulsiontostay;yetthetierswereasfullatthecloseastheyhadbeenatthebeginning。Thisshowedthatthepeoplelikedit。
Itwasacurioussortofaplay。Inthemannerofcostumesandsceneryitwasfineandshowyenough;
buttherewasnotmuchaction。Thatistosay,therewasnotmuchreallydone,itwasonlytalkedabout;
andalwaysviolently。Itwaswhatonemightcallanarrativeplay。Everybodyhadanarrativeandagrievance,andnonewerereasonableaboutit,butallinanoffensiveandungovernablestate。Therewaslittleofthatsortofcustomarythingwherethetenorandthesopranostanddownbythefootlights,warbling,withblendedvoices,andkeepholdingouttheirarmstowardeachotheranddrawingthembackandspreadingbothhandsoverfirstonebreastandthentheotherwithashakeandapressure——no,itwaseveryrioterforhimselfandnoblending。
Eachsanghisindictivenarrativeinturn,accompaniedbythewholeorchestraofsixtyinstruments,andwhenthishadcontinuedforsometime,andonewashopingtheymightcometoanunderstandingandmodifythenoise,agreatchoruscomposedentirelyofmaniacswouldsuddenlybreakforth,andthenduringtwominutes,andsometimesthree,IlivedoveragainallthatIsufferedthetimetheorphanasylumburneddown。
Weonlyhadonebrieflittleseasonofheavenandheaven\'ssweetecstasyandpeaceduringallthislonganddiligentandacrimoniousreproductionoftheotherplace。
Thiswaswhileagorgeousprocessionofpeoplemarchedaroundandaround,inthethirdact,andsangtheWeddingChorus。
Tomyuntutoredearthatwasmusic——almostdivinemusic。
Whilemysearedsoulwassteepedinthehealingbalmofthosegracioussounds,itseemedtomethatIcouldalmostresufferthetormentswhichhadgonebefore,inordertobesohealedagain。Thereiswherethedeepingenuityoftheoperaticideaisbetrayed。Itdealssolargelyinpainthatitsscattereddelightsareprodigiouslyaugmentedbythecontrasts。Aprettyairinanoperaisprettiertherethanitcouldbeanywhereelse,Isuppose,justasanhonestmaninpoliticsshinesmorethanhewouldelsewhere。
IhavesincefoundoutthatthereisnothingtheGermanslikesomuchasanopera。Theylikeit,notinamildandmoderateway,butwiththeirwholehearts。
Thisisalegitimateresultofhabitandeducation。
Ournationwillliketheopera,too,byandby,nodoubt。
Oneinfiftyofthosewhoattendouroperaslikesitalready,perhaps,butIthinkagoodmanyoftheotherforty-ninegoinordertolearntolikeit,andtherestinordertobeabletotalkknowinglyaboutit。
Thelatterusuallyhumtheairswhiletheyarebeingsung,sothattheirneighborsmayperceivethattheyhavebeentooperasbefore。Thefuneralsofthesedonotoccuroftenenough。
Agentle,old-maidishpersonandasweetyounggirlofseventeensatrightinfrontofusthatnightattheMannheimopera。Thesepeopletalked,betweentheacts,andIunderstoodthem,thoughIunderstoodnothingthatwasutteredonthedistantstage。Atfirsttheywereguardedintheirtalk,butaftertheyhadheardmyagentandmeconversinginEnglishtheydroppedtheirreserveandIpickedupmanyoftheirlittleconfidences;
no,ImeanmanyofHERlittleconfidences——meaningtheelderparty——fortheyounggirlonlylistened,andgaveassentingnods,butneversaidaword。Howprettyshewas,andhowsweetshewas!Iwishedshewouldspeak。
Butevidentlyshewasabsorbedinherownthoughts,herownyoung-girldreams,andfoundadearerpleasureinsilence。Butshewasnotdreamingsleepydreams——no,shewasawake,alive,alert,shecouldnotsitstillamoment。Shewasanenchantingstudy。Hergownwasofasoftwhitesilkystuffthatclungtoherroundyoungfigurelikeafish\'sskin,anditwasrippledoverwiththegracefulestlittlefringyfilmsoflace;
shehaddeep,tendereyes,withlong,curvedlashes;
andshehadpeachycheeks,andadimpledchin,andsuchadearlittlerosebudofamouth;andshewassodovelike,sopure,andsogracious,sosweetandsobewitching。
ForlonghoursIdidmightilywishshewouldspeak。
Andatlastshedid;theredlipsparted,andoutleapsherthought——andwithsuchaguilelessandprettyenthusiasm,too:\"Auntie,IjustKNOWI\'vegotfivehundredfleasonme!\"
Thatwasprobablyovertheaverage。Yes,itmusthavebeenverymuchovertheaverage。TheaverageatthattimeintheGrandDuchyofBadenwasforty-fivetoayoungpersonwhenalone,accordingtotheofficialestimateofthehomesecretaryforthatyear;theaverageforolderpeoplewasshiftyandindeterminable,forwheneverawholesomeyounggirlcameintothepresenceofherelderssheimmediatelyloweredtheiraverageandraisedherown。
Shebecameasortofcontribution-box。Thisdearyoungthinginthetheaterhadbeensittingthereunconsciouslytakingupacollection。Manyaskinnyoldbeinginourneighborhoodwasthehappierandtherestfulerforhercoming。
Inthatlargeaudience,thatnight,therewereeightveryconspicuouspeople。Thesewereladieswhohadtheirhatsorbonnetson。Whatablessedthingitwouldbeifaladycouldmakeherselfconspicuousinourtheatersbywearingherhat。ItisnotusualinEuropetoallowladiesandgentlementotakebonnets,hats,overcoats,canes,orumbrellasintotheauditorium,butinMannheimthisrulewasnotenforcedbecausetheaudienceswerelargelymadeupofpeoplefromadistance,andamongthesewerealwaysafewtimidladieswhowereafraidthatiftheyhadtogointoananteroomtogettheirthingswhentheplaywasover,theywouldmisstheirtrain。Butthegreatmassofthosewhocamefromadistancealwaysrantheriskandtookthechances,preferringthelossofatraintoabreachofgoodmannersandthediscomfortofbeingunpleasantlyconspicuousduringastretchofthreeorfourhours。
[HowWagnerOperasBangAlong]
Threeorfourhours。Thatisalongtimetositinoneplace,whetheronebeconspicuousornot,yetsomeofWagner\'soperasbangalongforsixwholehoursonastretch!
Butthepeoplesitthereandenjoyitall,andwishitwouldlastlonger。AGermanladyinMunichtoldmethatapersoncouldnotlikeWagner\'smusicatfirst,butmustgothroughthedeliberateprocessoflearningtolikeit——thenhewouldhavehissurereward;
forwhenhehadlearnedtolikeithewouldhungerforitandneverbeabletogetenoughofit。ShesaidthatsixhoursofWagnerwasbynomeanstoomuch。
Shesaidthatthiscomposerhadmadeacompleterevolutioninmusicandwasburyingtheoldmastersonebyone。
AndshesaidthatWagner\'soperasdifferedfromallothersinonenotablerespect,andthatwasthattheywerenotmerelyspottedwithmusichereandthere,butwereALLmusic,fromthefirststraintothelast。Thissurprisedme。
IsaidIhadattendedoneofhisinsurrections,andfoundhardlyANYmusicinitexcepttheWeddingChorus。
Shesaid\"Lohengrin\"wasnoisierthanWagner\'sotheroperas,butthatifIwouldkeepongoingtoseeitIwouldfindbyandbythatitwasallmusic,andthereforewouldthenenjoyit。ICOULDhavesaid,\"Butwouldyouadviseapersontodeliberatelypracticehavingatoothacheinthepitofhisstomachforacoupleofyearsinorderthathemightthencometoenjoyit?\"ButIreservedthatremark。
Thisladywasfullofthepraisesofthehead-tenorwhohadperformedinaWagneroperathenightbefore,andwentontoenlargeuponhisoldandprodigiousfame,andhowmanyhonorshadbeenlavisheduponhimbytheprincelyhousesofGermany。Herewasanothersurprise。
Ihadattendedthatveryopera,inthepersonofmyagent,andhadmadecloseandaccurateobservations。SoI
said:
\"Why,madam,MYexperiencewarrantsmeinstatingthatthattenor\'svoiceisnotavoiceatall,butonlyashriek——theshriekofahyena。\"
\"Thatisverytrue,\"shesaid;\"hecannotsingnow;
itisalreadymanyyearsthathehaslosthisvoice,butinothertimeshesang,yes,divinely!Sowheneverhecomesnow,youshallsee,yes,thatthetheaterwillnotholdthepeople。JAWOHLBEIGOTT!hisvoiceisWUNDERSCHO\"Ninthatpasttime。\"
IsaidshewasdiscoveringtomeakindlytraitintheGermanswhichwasworthemulating。Isaidthatoverthewaterwewerenotquitesogenerous;thatwithus,whenasingerhadlosthisvoiceandajumperhadlosthislegs,thesepartiesceasedtodraw。IsaidIhadbeentotheoperainHanover,once,andinMannheimonce,andinMunichthroughmyauthorizedagentonce,andthislargeexperiencehadnearlypersuadedmethattheGermansPREFERREDsingerswhocouldn\'tsing。Thiswasnotsuchaveryextravagantspeech,either,forthatburlyMannheimtenor\'spraiseshadbeenthetalkofallHeidelbergforaweekbeforehisperformancetookplace——yethisvoicewaslikethedistressingnoisewhichanailmakeswhenyouscreechitacrossawindow-pane。IsaidsotoHeidelbergfriendsthenextday,andtheysaid,inthecalmestandsimplestway,thatthatwasverytrue,butthatinearliertimeshisvoiceHADbeenwonderfullyfine。AndthetenorinHanoverwasjustanotherexampleofthissort。
TheEnglish-speakingGermangentlemanwhowentwithmetotheoperatherewasbrimmingwithenthusiasmoverthattenor。
Hesaid:
\"ACHGOTT!agreatman!Youshallseehim。HeissocelebrateinallGermany——andhehasapension,yes,fromthegovernment。
Henotobligedtosingnow,onlytwiceeveryyear;
butifhenotsingtwiceeachyeartheytakehimhispensionaway。\"
Verywell,wewent。Whentherenownedoldtenorappeared,Igotanudgeandanexcitedwhisper:
\"Nowyouseehim!\"
Butthe\"celebrate\"wasanastonishingdisappointmenttome。
IfhehadbeenbehindascreenIshouldhavesupposedtheywereperformingasurgicaloperationonhim。
Ilookedatmyfriend——tomygreatsurpriseheseemedintoxicatedwithpleasure,hiseyesweredancingwitheagerdelight。Whenthecurtainatlastfell,heburstintothestormiestapplause,andkeptitup——asdidthewholehouse——untiltheafflictivetenorhadcomethreetimesbeforethecurtaintomakehisbow。
Whiletheglowingenthusiastwasswabbingtheperspirationfromhisface,Isaid:
\"Idon\'tmeantheleastharm,butreally,now,doyouthinkhecansing?\"
\"Him?NO!GOTTIMHIMMEL,ABER,howhehasbeenabletosingtwenty-fiveyearsago?\"[Thenpensively。]\"ACH,no,NOWhenotsinganymore,heonlycry。Whenhethinkhesing,now,henotsingatall,no,heonlymakelikeacatwhichisunwell。\"
WhereandhowdidwegettheideathattheGermansareastolid,phlegmaticrace?Intruth,theyarewidelyremovedfromthat。Theyarewarm-hearted,emotional,impulsive,enthusiastic,theirtearscomeatthemildesttouch,anditisnothardtomovethemtolaughter。Theyaretheverychildrenofimpulse。
Wearecoldandself-contained,comparedtotheGermans。
Theyhugandkissandcryandshoutanddanceandsing;
andwhereweuseoneloving,pettingexpressionstheypouroutascore。Theirlanguageisfullofendearingdiminutives;
nothingthattheyloveescapestheapplicationofapettingdiminutive——neitherthehouse,northedog,northehorse,northegrandmother,noranyothercreature,animateorinanimate。
InthetheatersatHanover,Hamburg,andMannheim,theyhadawisecustom。Themomentthecurtainwentup,thelightinthebodyofthehousewentdown。
Theaudiencesatinthecoolgloomofadeeptwilight,whichgreatlyenhancedtheglowingsplendorsofthestage。
Itsavedgas,too,andpeoplewerenotsweatedtodeath。
WhenIsaw\"KingLear\"played,nobodywasallowedtoseeasceneshifted;iftherewasnothingtobedonebutslideaforestoutofthewayandexposeatemplebeyond,onedidnotseethatforestsplititselfinthemiddleandgoshriekingaway,withtheaccompanyingdisenchantingspectacleofthehandsandheelsoftheimpellingimpulse——no,thecurtainwasalwaysdroppedforaninstant——oneheardnottheleastmovementbehindit——butwhenitwentup,thenextinstant,theforestwasgone。Evenwhenthestagewasbeingentirelyreset,oneheardnonoise。
Duringthewholetimethat\"KingLear\"wasplayingthecurtainwasneverdowntwominutesatanyonetime。
Theorchestraplayeduntilthecurtainwasreadytogoupforthefirsttime,thentheydepartedfortheevening。
Wherethestagewaitsnevereachtwominutesthereisnooccasionformusic。Ihadneverseenthistwo-minutebusinessbetweenactsbutoncebefore,andthatwaswhenthe\"Shaughraun\"wasplayedatWallack\'s。
IwasataconcertinMunichonenight,thepeoplewerestreamingin,theclock-handpointedtoseven,themusicstruckup,andinstantlyallmovementinthebodyofthehouseceased——nobodywasstanding,orwalkinguptheaisles,orfumblingwithaseat,thestreamofincomershadsuddenlydriedupatitssource。
Ilistenedundisturbedtoapieceofmusicthatwasfifteenminuteslong——alwaysexpectingsometardyticket-holderstocomecrowdingpastmyknees,andbeingcontinuouslyandpleasantlydisappointed——butwhenthelastnotewasstruck,herecamethestreamagain。Yousee,theyhadmadethoselatecomerswaitinthecomfortablewaiting-parlorfromthetimethemusichadbeginuntilitwasended。
ItwasthefirsttimeIhadeverseenthissortofcriminalsdeniedtheprivilegeofdestroyingthecomfortofahousefulloftheirbetters。Someofthesewereprettyfinebirds,butnomatter,theyhadtotarryoutsideinthelongparlorundertheinspectionofadoublerankofliveriedfootmenandwaiting-maidswhosupportedthetwowallswiththeirbacksandheldthewrapsandtrapsoftheirmastersandmistressesontheirarms。
Wehadnofootmentoholdourthings,anditwasnotpermissibletotakethemintotheconcert-room;butthereweresomemenandwomentotakechargeofthemforus。
Theygaveuschecksforthemandchargedafixedprice,payableinadvance——fivecents。
InGermanytheyalwayshearonethingatanoperawhichhasneveryetbeenheardinAmerica,perhaps——I
meantheclosingstrainofafinesoloorduet。
Wealwayssmashintoitwithanearthquakeofapplause。
Theresultisthatwerobourselvesofthesweetestpartofthetreat;wegetthewhiskey,butwedon\'tgetthesugarinthebottomoftheglass。
OurwayofscatteringapplausealongthroughanactseemstometobebetterthantheMannheimwayofsavingitalluptilltheactisended。Idonotseehowanactorcanforgethimselfandportrayhotpassionbeforeacoldstillaudience。Ishouldthinkhewouldfeelfoolish。
Itisapaintometothisday,torememberhowthatoldGermanLearragedandweptandhowledaroundthestage,withneveraresponsefromthathushedhouse,neverasingleoutbursttilltheactwasended。Tometherewassomethingunspeakablyuncomfortableinthesolemndeadsilencesthatalwaysfollowedthisoldperson\'stremendousoutpouringsofhisfeelings。Icouldnothelpputtingmyselfinhisplace——IthoughtIknewhowsickandflathefeltduringthosesilences,becauseIrememberedacasewhichcameundermyobservationonce,andwhich——butI
willtelltheincident:
OneeveningonboardaMississippisteamboat,aboyoftenyearslayasleepinaberth——along,slim-leggedboy,hewas,encasedinquiteashortshirt;itwasthefirsttimehehadevermadeatriponasteamboat,andsohewastroubled,andscared,andhadgonetobedwithhisheadfilledwithimpendingsnaggings,andexplosions,andconflagrations,andsuddendeath。Aboutteno\'clocksometwentyladiesweresittingaroundabouttheladies\'
saloon,quietlyreading,sewing,embroidering,andsoon,andamongthemsatasweet,benignantolddamewithroundspectaclesonhernoseandherbusyknitting-needlesinherhands。Nowallofasudden,intothemidstofthispeacefulsceneburstthatslim-shankedboyinthebriefshirt,wild-eyed,erect-haired,andshouting,\"Fire,fire!
JUMPANDRUN,THEBOAT\'SAFIREANDTHEREAIN\'TAMINUTE
TOLOSE!\"Allthoseladieslookedsweetlyupandsmiled,nobodystirred,theoldladypulledherspectaclesdown,lookedoverthem,andsaid,gently:
\"Butyoumustn\'tcatchcold,child。Runandputonyourbreastpin,andthencomeandtellusallaboutit。\"
Itwasacruelchilltogivetoapoorlittledevil\'sgushingvehemence。Hewasexpectingtobeasortofhero——thecreatorofawildpanic——andhereeverybodysatandsmiledamockingsmile,andanoldwomanmadefunofhisbugbear。Iturnedandcreptaway——forI
wasthatboy——andneverevencaredtodiscoverwhetherIhaddreamedthefireoractuallyseenit。
IamtoldthatinaGermanconcertoropera,theyhardlyeverencoreasong;thatthoughtheymaybedyingtohearitagain,theirgoodbreedingusuallypreservesthemagainstrequiringtherepetition。
Kingsmayencore;thatisquiteanothermatter;
itdelightseverybodytoseethattheKingispleased;
andastotheactorencored,hisprideandgratificationaresimplyboundless。Still,therearecircumstancesinwhichevenaroyalencore——
Butitisbettertoillustrate。TheKingofBavariaisapoet,andhasapoet\'seccentricities——withtheadvantageoverallotherpoetsofbeingabletogratifythem,nomatterwhatformtheymaytake。Heisfondofopera,butnotfondofsittinginthepresenceofanaudience;
therefore,ithassometimesoccurred,inMunich,thatwhenanoperahasbeenconcludedandtheplayersweregettingofftheirpaintandfinery,acommandhascometothemtogettheirpaintandfineryonagain。
PresentlytheKingwouldarrive,solitaryandalone,andtheplayerswouldbeingatthebeginninganddotheentireoperaoveragainwithonlythatoneindividualinthevastsolemntheaterforaudience。Oncehetookanoddfreakintohishead。Highupandoutofsight,overtheprodigiousstageofthecourttheaterisamazeofinterlacingwater-pipes,sopiercedthatincaseoffire,innumerablelittlethread-likestreamsofwatercanbecausedtodescend;andincaseofneed,thisdischargecanbeaugmentedtoapouringflood。
Americanmanagersmightwanttomakeanoteofthat。
TheKingwassoleaudience。Theoperaproceeded,itwasapiecewithastorminit;themimicthunderbegantomutter,themimicwindbegantowailandsough,andthemimicraintopatter。TheKing\'sinterestrosehigherandhigher;itdevelopedintoenthusiasm。Hecriedout:
\"Itisvery,verygood,indeed!ButIwillhaverealrain!Turnonthewater!\"
Themanagerpleadedforareversalofthecommand;saiditwouldruinthecostlysceneryandthesplendidcostumes,buttheKingcried:
\"Nomatter,nomatter,Iwillhaverealrain!Turnonthewater!\"
Sotherealrainwasturnedonandbegantodescendingossamerlancestothemimicflower-bedsandgravelwalksofthestage。Therichlydressedactressesandactorstrippedaboutsingingbravelyandpretendingnottomindit。
TheKingwasdelighted——hisenthusiasmgrewhigher。
Hecriedout:
\"Bravo,bravo!Morethunder!morelightning!turnonmorerain!\"