IfIwerenowimprisonedonamountainsummitahundredmilesnorthwardofthispoint，andwasdeniedatimepiece，I
couldgetalongwellenoughfromfourtillsixoncleardays，forIcouldkeeptraceofthetimebythechangingshapesofthesemightyshadowsoftheVirgin’sfront，themoststupendousdialI
amacquaintedwith，theoldestclockintheworldbyacoupleofmillionyears。
IsupposeIshouldnothavenoticedtheformsoftheshadowsifIhadn’tthehabitofhuntingforfacesinthecloudsandinmountaincragsasortofamusementwhichisveryentertainingevenwhenyoudon’tfindany，andbrilliantlysatisfyingwhenyoudo。IhavesearchedthroughseveralbushelsofphotographsoftheJungfrauhere，butfoundonlyonewiththeFaceinit，andinthiscaseitwasnotstrictlyrecognizableasaface，whichwasevidencethatthepicturewastakenbeforefouro’clockintheafternoon，andalsoevidencethatallthephotographershavepersistentlyoverlookedoneofthemostfascinatingfeaturesoftheJungfraushow。Isayfascinating，becauseifyouoncedetectahumanfaceproducedonagreatplanbyunconsciousnature，younevergettiredofwatchingit。Atfirstyoucan’tmakeanotherpersonseeitatall，butafterhehasmadeitoutoncehecan’tseeanythingelseafterward。
TheKingofGreeceisamanwhogoesaroundquietlyenoughwhenoffduty。Onedaythissummerhewastravelinginanordinaryfirstclasscompartment，justinhisothersuit，theonewhichheworkstherealminwhenheisathome，andsohewasnotlookinglikeanybodyinparticular，butagooddeallikeeverybodyingeneral。ByandbyaheartyandhealthyGerman
Americangotinandopenedupafrankandinterestingandsympatheticconversationwithhim，andaskedhimacoupleofthousandquestionsabouthimself，whichthekingansweredgood
naturedly，butinamoreorlessindefinitewayastoprivateparticulars。
\"Wheredoyoulivewhenyouareathome？\"
\"InGreece。\"
\"Greece！Well，now，thatisjustastonishing！Bornthere？\"
\"No。\"
\"DoyouspeakGreek？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Now，ain’tthatstrange！Ineverexpectedtolivetoseethat。Whatisyourtrade？Imeanhowdoyougetyourliving？
Whatisyourlineofbusiness？\"
\"Well，Ihardlyknowhowtoanswer。Iamonlyakindofforeman，onasalary;andthebusinesswell，isaverygeneralkindofbusiness。\"
\"Yes，Iunderstandgeneraljobbinglittleofeverything
anythingthatthere’smoneyin。\"
\"That’saboutit，yes。\"
\"Areyoutravelingforthehousenow？\"
\"Well，partly;butnotentirely。OfcourseIdoastrokeofbusinessifitfallsintheway\"
\"Good！Ilikethatinyou！That’smeeverytime。Goon。\"
\"IwasonlygoingtosayIamoffonmyvacationnow。\"
\"Wellthat’sallright。Noharminthat。Amanworksallthebetterforalittleletupnowandthen。NotthatI’vebeenusedtohavingitmyself;forIhaven’t。Ireckonthisismyfirst。IwasborninGermany，andwhenIwasacoupleofweeksoldshippedtoAmerica，andI’vebeenthereeversince，andthat’ssixtyfouryearsbythewatch。I’manAmericaninprincipleandaGermanatheart，andit’sthebosscombination。
Well，howdoyougetalong，asaruleprettyfair？\"
\"I’vearatherlargefamily\"
\"There，that’sitbigfamilyandtryingtoraisethemonasalary。Now，whatdidyougotodothatfor？\"
\"Well，Ithought\"
\"Ofcourseyoudid。Youwereyoungandconfidentandthoughtyoucouldbranchoutandmakethingsgowithawhirl，andhereyouare，yousee！Butnevermindaboutthat。I’mnottryingtodiscourageyou。Dearme！I’vebeenjustwhereyouaremyself！You’vegotgoodgrit;there’sgoodstuffinyou，Icanseethat。Yougotawrongstart，that’sthewholetrouble。Butyouholdyourgrip，andwe’llseewhatcanbedone。Yourcaseain’thalfasbadasitmightbe。YouaregoingtocomeoutallrightI’mbailforthat。Boysandgirls？\"
\"Myfamily？Yes，someofthemareboys\"
\"Andtherestgirls。It’sjustasIexpected。Butthat’sallright，andit’sbetterso，anyway。Whataretheboysdoing
learningatrade？\"
\"Well，noIthought\"
\"It’sabigmistake。It’sthebiggestmistakeyouevermade。Youseethatinyourowncase。Amanoughtalwaystohaveatradetofallbackon。Now，Iwasharnessmakeratfirst。DidthatpreventmefrombecomingoneofthebiggestbrewersinAmerica？Ohno。Ialwayshadtheharnesstricktofallbackoninroughweather。Now，ifyouhadlearnedhowtomakeharness
However，it’stoolatenow;toolate。Butit’snogoodplantocryoverspiltmilk。Butastotheboys，youseewhat’stobecomeofthemifanythinghappenstoyou？\"
\"Ithasbeenmyideatolettheeldestonesucceedme\"
\"Oh，come！Supposethefirmdon’twanthim？\"
\"Ihadn’tthoughtofthat，but\"
\"Now，lookhere;youwanttogetrightdowntobusinessandstopdreaming。Youarecapableofimmensethingsman。Youcanmakeaperfectsuccessinlife。Allyouwantissomebodytosteadyyouandboostyoualongontherightroad。Doyouownanythinginthebusiness？\"
\"Nonotexactly;butifIcontinuetogivesatisfaction，I
supposeIcankeepmy\"
\"Keepyourplaceyes。Well，don’tyoudependonanythingofthekind。They’llbounceyoutheminuteyougetalittleoldandworkedout;they’lldoitsure。Can’tyoumanagesomehowtogetintothefirm？That’sthegreatthing，youknow。\"
\"Ithinkitisdoubtful;verydoubtful。\"
\"Umthat’sbadyes，andunfair，too。DoyousupposethatifIshouldgothereandhaveatalkwithyourpeopleLookheredoyouthinkyoucouldrunabrewery？\"
\"Ihavenevertried，butIthinkIcoulddoitafteralittlefamiliaritywiththebusiness。\"
TheGermanwassilentforsometime。Hedidagooddealofthinking，andthekingwaitedcuriouslytoseewhattheresultwasgoingtobe。FinallytheGermansaid:
\"Mymind’smadeup。Youleavethatcrowdyou’llneveramounttoanythingthere。Intheseoldcountriestheynevergiveafellowashow。Yes，youcomeovertoAmericacometomyplaceinRochester;bringthefamilyalong。Youshallhaveashowinthebusinessandtheforemanship，besides。GeorgeyousaidyournamewasGeorge？I’llmakeamanofyou。Igiveyoumyword。
You’veneverhadachancehere，butthat’sallgoingtochange。
Bygracious！I’llgiveyoualiftthat’llmakeyourhaircurl！\"
ATTHESHRINEOFST。WAGNER
Bayreuth，Aug。2d，1891
ItwasatNurembergthatwestrucktheinundationofmusic
madstrangersthatwasrollingdownuponBayreuth。Ithadbeenlongsincewehadseensuchmultitudesofexcitedandstrugglingpeople。IttookagoodhalfhourtopackthemandpairthemintothetrainanditwasthelongesttrainwehaveyetseeninEurope。Nuremberghadbeenwitnessingthissortofexperienceacoupleoftimesadayforabouttwoweeks。Itgivesoneanimpressivesenseofthemagnitudeofthisbiennialpilgrimage。
Forapilgrimageiswhatitis。ThedevoteescomefromtheveryendsoftheearthtoworshiptheirprophetinhisownKaabainhisownMecca。
IfyouarelivinginNewYorkorSanFranciscoorChicagooranywhereelseinAmerica，andyouconclude，bythemiddleofMay，thatyouwouldliketoattendtheBayreuthoperatwomonthsandahalflater，youmustusethecableandgetaboutitimmediatelyoryouwillgetnoseats，andyoumustcableforlodgings，too。
Thenifyouareluckyyouwillgetseatsinthelastrowandlodgingsinthefringeofthetown。Ifyoustoptowriteyouwillgetnothing。TherewereplentyofpeopleinNurembergwhenwepassedthroughwhohadcomeonpilgrimagewithoutfirstsecuringseatsandlodgings。TheyhadfoundneitherinBayreuth;
theyhadwalkedBayreuthstreetsawhileinsorrow，thenhadgonetoNurembergandfoundneitherbedsnorstandingroom，andhadwalkedthosequaintstreetsallnight，waitingforthehotelstoopenandemptytheirguestsintotrains，andsomakeroomforthese，theirdefeatedbrethrenandsistersinthefaith。Theyhadenduredfromthirtytofortyhours’railroadingonthecontinentofEuropewithallwhichthatimpliesofworry，fatigue，andfinancialimpoverishmentandalltheyhadgotandalltheyweretogetforitwashandinessandaccuracyinkickingthemselves，acquiredbypracticeinthebackstreetsofthetwotownswhenotherpeoplewereinbed;forbacktheymustgooverthatunspeakablejourneywiththeirpiousmissionunfulfilled。
Thesehumiliatedoutcastshadthefrowsyandunbrushedandapologeticlookofwetcats，andtheireyeswereglazedwithdrowsiness，theirbodieswereadroopfromcrowntosole，andallkindheartedpeoplerefrainedfromaskingthemiftheyhadbeentoBayreuthandfailedtoconnect，asknowingtheywouldlie。
Wereachedhere（Bayreuth）aboutmidafternoonofarainySaturday。Wewereofthewise，andhadsecuredlodgingsandoperaseatsmonthsinadvance。
Iamnotamusicalcritic，anddidnotcomeheretowriteessaysabouttheoperasanddeliverjudgmentupontheirmerits。
ThelittlechildrenofBayreuthcoulddothatwithafinersympathyandabroaderintelligencethanI。Ionlycaretobringfourorfivepilgrimstotheoperas，pilgrimsabletoappreciatethemandenjoythem。WhatIwriteabouttheperformancetoputinmyoddtimewouldbeofferedtothepublicasmerelyacat’sviewofaking，andnotofdidacticvalue。
Nextday，whichwasSunday，weleftfortheoperahouse
thatistosay，theWagnertemplealittleafterthemiddleoftheafternoon。Thegreatbuildingstandsallbyitself，grandandlonely，onahighgroundoutsidethetown。Wewerewarnedthatifwearrivedafterfouro’clockweshouldbeobligedtopaytwodollarsandahalfextrabywayoffine。Wesavedthat;anditmayberemarkedherethatthisistheonlyopportunitythatEuropeoffersofsavingmoney。Therewasabigcrowdinthegroundsaboutthebuilding，andtheladies’dressestookthesunwithfineeffect。Idonotmeantointimatethattheladieswereinfulldress，forthatwasnotso。Thedresseswerepretty，butneithersexwasineveningdress。
Theinteriorofthebuildingissimpleseverelyso;butthereisnooccasionforcoloranddecoration，sincethepeoplesitinthedark。Theauditoriumhastheshapeofakeystone，withthestageatthenarrowend。Thereisanaisleoneachside，butnoaisleinthebodyofthehouse。Eachrowofseatsextendsinanunbrokencurvefromonesideofthehousetotheother。Therearesevenentrancedoorsoneachsideofthetheaterandfouratthebutt，eighteendoorstoadmitandemit1，650persons。Thenumberoftheparticulardoorbywhichyouaretoenterthehouseorleaveitisprintedonyourticket，andyoucanusenodoorbutthatone。Thus，crowdingandconfusionareimpossible。Notsomanyasahundredpeopleuseanyonedoor。Thisisbetterthanhavingtheusual（anduseless）
elaboratefireproofarrangements。Itisthemodeltheateroftheworld。Itcanbeemptiedwhilethesecondhandofawatchmakesitscircuit。Itwouldbeentirelysafe，evenifitwerebuiltoflucifermatches。
Ifyourseatisnearthecenterofarowandyouenterlateyoumustworkyourwayalongarankofabouttwentyfiveladiesandgentlementogettoit。Yetthiscausesnotrouble，foreverybodystandsupuntilalltheseatsarefull，andthefillingisaccomplishedinaveryfewminutes。Thenallsitdown，andyouhaveasolidmassoffifteenhundredheads，makingasteepcellardoorslantfromtherearofthehousedowntothestage。
Allthelightswereturnedlow，solowthatthecongregationsatinadeepandsolemngloom。Thefunerealrustlingofdressesandthelowbuzzofconversationbegantodieswiftlydown，andpresentlynottheghostofasoundwasleft。Thisprofoundandincreasinglyimpressivestillnessenduredforsometimethebestpreparationformusic，spectacle，orspeechconceivable。Ishouldthinkourshowpeoplewouldhaveinventedorimportedthatsimpleandimpressivedeviceforsecuringandsolidifyingtheattentionofanaudiencelongago;insteadofwhichtherecontinuetothisdaytoopenaperformanceagainstadeadlycompetitionintheformofnoise，confusion，andascatteredinterest。
Finally，outofdarknessanddistanceandmysterysoftrichnotesroseuponthestillness，andfromhisgravethedeadmagicianbegantoweavehisspellsabouthisdisciplesandsteeptheirsoulsinhisenchantments。Therewassomethingstrangelyimpressiveinthefancywhichkeptintrudingitselfthatthecomposerwasconsciousinhisgraveofwhatwasgoingonhere，andthatthesedivinesoulsweretheclothingofthoughtswhichwereatthismomentpassingthroughhisbrain，andnotrecognizedandfamiliaroneswhichhadissuedfromitatsomeformertime。
Theentireoverture，longasitwas，wasplayedtoadarkhousewiththecurtaindown。Itwasexquisite;itwasdelicious。
Butstraightwaythereafter，orcourse，camethesinging，anditdoesseemtomethatnothingcanmakeaWagneroperaabsolutelyperfectandsatisfactorytotheuntutoredbuttoleaveoutthevocalparts。IwishIcouldseeaWagneroperadoneinpantomimeonce。Thenonewouldhavethelovelyorchestrationunvexedtolistentoandbathehisspiritin，andthebewilderingbeautifulscenerytointoxicatehiseyeswith，andthedumbactingcouldn’tmarthesepleasures，becausethereisn’toftenanythingintheWagneroperathatonewouldcallbysuchaviolentnameasacting;asaruleallyouwouldseewouldbeacoupleofsilentpeople，oneofthemstandingstill，theothercatchingflies。OfcourseIdonotreallymeanthathewouldbecatchingflies;I
onlymeanthattheusualoperaticgestureswhichconsistinreachingfirstonehandoutintotheairandthentheothermightsuggestthesportIspeakofiftheoperatorattendedstrictlytobusinessandutterednosound。
Thispresentoperawas\"Parsifal。\"MadameWagnerdoesnotpermititsrepresentationanywherebutinBayreuth。Thefirstactofthethreeoccupiedtwohours，andIenjoyedthatinspiteofthesinging。
ItrustthatIknowaswellasanybodythatsingingisoneofthemostentrancingandbewitchingandmovingandeloquentofallthevehiclesinventedbymanfortheconveyingoffeeling;
butitseemstomethatthechiefvirtueinsongismelody，air，tune，rhythm，orwhatyoupleasetocallit，andthatwhenthisfeatureisabsentwhatremainsisapicturewiththecolorleftout。Iwasnotabletodetectinthevocalpartsof\"Parsifal\"
anythingthatmightwithconfidencebecalledrhythmortuneormelody;onepersonperformedatatimeandalongtime，too
ofteninanoble，andalwaysinahightoned，voice;butheonlypulledoutlongnotes，thensomeshortones，thenanotherlongone，thenasharp，quick，peremptorybarkortwoandsoonandsoon;andwhenhewasdoneyousawthattheinformationwhichhehadconveyedhadnotcompensatedforthedisturbance。Notalways，butprettyoften。Iftwoofthemwouldbutputinaduetoccasionallyandblendthevoices;butno，theydon’tdothat。
Thegreatmaster，whoknewsowellhowtomakeahundredinstrumentsrejoiceinunisonandpourouttheirsoulsinmingledandmelodioustidesofdelicioussound，dealsonlyinbarrensoloswhenheputsinthevocalparts。Itmaybethathewasdeep，andonlyaddedthesingingtohisoperasforthesakeofthecontrastitwouldmakewiththemusic。Singing！Itdoesseemthewrongnametoapplytoit。Strictlydescribed，itisapracticingofdifficultandunpleasantintervals，mainly。Anignorantpersongetstiredoflisteningtogymnasticintervalsinthelongrun，nomatterhowpleasanttheymaybe。In\"Parsifal\"
thereisahermitnamedGurnemanzwhostandsonthestageinonespotandpracticesbythehour，whilefirstoneandthenanothercharacterofthecastendureswhathecanofitandthenretirestodie。
Duringtheeveningtherewasanintermissionofthree
quartersofanhourafterthefirstactandoneanhourlongafterthesecond。Inbothinstancesthetheaterwastotallyemptied。Peoplewhohadpreviouslyengagedtablesintheonesoleeatinghousewereabletoputintheirtimeverysatisfactorily;theotherthousandwenthungry。Theoperawasconcludedattenintheeveningoralittlelater。Whenwereachedhomewehadbeengonemorethansevenhours。Sevenhoursatfivedollarsaticketisalmosttoomuchforthemoney。
WhilebrowsingaboutthefrontyardamongthecrowdbetweentheactsIencounteredtwelveorfifteenfriendsfromdifferentpartsofAmerica，andthoseofthemwhoweremostfamiliarwithWagnersaidthat\"Parsifal\"seldompleasedatfirst，butthatafteronehadhearditseveraltimesitwasalmostsuretobecomeafavorite。Itseemedimpossible，butitwastrue，forthestatementcamefrompeoplewhosewordwasnottobedoubted。
AndIgatheredsomefurtherinformation。OnthegroundI
foundpartofaGermanmusicalmagazine，andinitaletterwrittenbyUhlicthirtythreeyearsago，inwhichhedefendsthescornedandabusedWagneragainstpeoplelikeme，whofoundfaultwiththecomprehensiveabsenceofwhatourkindregardsassinging。UhlicsaysWagnerdespised\"JENEPLAPPERUDEMUSIC，\"andtherefore\"runs，trills，andSCHNORKELarediscardedbyhim。\"I
don’tknowwhataSCHNORKELis，butnowthatIknowithasbeenleftoutoftheseoperasIneverhavemissedsomuchinmylife。
AndUhlicfurthersaysthatWagner’ssongistrue:thatitis\"simplyemphasizedintonedspeech。\"Thatcertainlydescribesitin\"Parsifal\"andsomeoftheoperas;andifIunderstandUhlic’selaborateGermanheapologizesforthebeautifulairsin\"Tannh:auser。\"Verywell;nowthatWagnerandIunderstandeachother，perhapsweshallgetalongbetter，andIshallstopcallingWaggner，ontheAmericanplan，andthereaftercallhimWaggnerasperGermancustom，forIfeelentirelyfriendlynow。
Theminutewegetreconciledtoaperson，howwillingwearetothrowasidelittleneedlesspuctiliosandpronouncehisnameright！
OfcourseIcamehomewonderingwhypeopleshouldcomefromallcornersofAmericatoheartheseoperas，whenwehavelatelyhadaseasonortwooftheminNewYorkwiththesesamesingersintheseveralparts，andpossiblythissameorchestra。I
resolvedtothinkthatoutatallhazards。
TUESDAY。YesterdaytheyplayedtheonlyoperaticfavoriteI
haveeverhadanoperawhichhasalwaysdrivenmemadwithignorantdelightwheneverIhaveheardit\"Tannh:auser。\"I
hearditfirstwhenIwasayouth;IhearditlastinthelastGermanseasoninNewYork。IwasbusyyesterdayandIdidnotintendtogo，knowingIshouldhaveanother\"Tannh:auser\"
opportunityinafewdays;butafterfiveo’clockIfoundmyselffreeandwalkedouttotheoperahouseandarrivedaboutthebeginningofthesecondact。Myoperaticketadmittedmetothegroundsinfront，pastthepolicemanandthechain，andIthoughtIwouldtakearestonabenchforanhourandtwoandwaitforthethirdact。
Inamomentorsothefirstbuglesblew，andthemultitudebegantocrumbleapartandmeltintothetheater。Iwillexplainthatthisbuglecallisoneoftheprettyfeatureshere。Yousee，thetheaterisempty，andhundredsoftheaudienceareagoodwayoffinthefeedinghouse;thefirstbuglecallisblownaboutaquarterofanhourbeforetimeforthecurtaintorise。
Thiscompanyofbuglers，inuniform，marchoutwithmilitarystepandsendoutoverthelandscapeafewbarsofthethemeoftheapproachingact，piercingthedistanceswiththegraciousnotes;
thentheymarchtotheotherentranceandrepeat。Presentlytheydothisoveragain。Yesterdayonlyabouttwohundredpeoplewerestillleftinfrontofthehousewhenthesecondcallwasblown;
inanotherhalfminutetheywouldhavebeeninthehouse，butthenathinghappenedwhichdelayedthemtheonlysolitarythinginthisworldwhichcouldbereliedonwithcertaintytoaccomplishit，Isupposeanimperialprincessappearedinthebalconyabovethem。Theystoppeddeadintheirtracksandbegantogazeinastuporofgratitudeandsatisfaction。Theladypresentlysawthatshemustdisappearorthedoorswouldbeclosedupontheseworshipers，soshereturnedtoherbox。Thisdaughterinlawofanemperorwaspretty;shehadakindface;
shewaswithoutairs;sheisknowntobefullofcommonhumansympathies。Therearemanykindsofprincesses，butthiskindisthemostharmfulofall，forwherevertheygotheyreconcilepeopletomonarchyandsetbacktheclockofprogress。Thevaluableprinces，thedesirableprinces，aretheczarsandtheirsort。Bytheirmeredumbpresenceintheworldtheycoverwithderisioneveryargumentthatcanbeinventedinfavorofroyaltybythemostingeniouscasuist。Inhistimethehusbandofthisprincesswasvaluable。Heledadegradedlife，heendeditwithhisownhandincircumstancesandsurroundingsofahideoussort，andwasburiedlikeagod。
Intheoperahousethereisalongloftbackoftheaudience，akindofopengallery，inwhichprincesaredisplayed。
Itissacredtothem;itistheholyofholies。Assoonasthefillingofthehouseisaboutcompletethestandingmultitudeturnandfixtheireyesupontheprincelylayoutandgazemutelyandlonginglyandadoringlyandregretfullylikesinnerslookingintoheaven。Theybecomerapt，unconscious，steepedinworship。
Thereisnospectacleanywherethatismorepatheticthanthis。
Itisworthcrossingmanyoceanstosee。ItissomehownotthesamegazethatpeoplerivetuponaVictorHugo，orNiagara，orthebonesofthemastodon，ortheguillotineoftheRevolution，orthegreatpyramid，ordistantVesuviussmokinginthesky，oranymanlongcelebratedtoyoubyhisgeniusandachievements，orthinglongcelebratedtoyoubythepraisesofbooksandpicturesno，thatgazeisonlythegazeofintensecuriosity，interest，wonder，engagedindrinkingdeliciousdeepdraughtsthattastegoodallthewaydownandappeaseandsatisfythethirstofalifetime。Satisfyitthatistheword。Hugoandthemastodonwillstillhaveadegreeofintenseinterestthereafterwhenencountered，butneveranythingapproachingtheecstasyofthatfirstview。Theinterestofaprinceisdifferent。Itmaybeenvy，itmaybeworship，doubtlessitisamixtureofbothanditdoesnotsatisfyitsthirstwithoneview，orevennoticeablydiminishit。Perhapstheessenceofthethingisthevaluewhichmenattachtoavaluablesomethingwhichhascomebyluckandnotbeenearned。Adollarpickedupintheroadismoresatisfactiontoyouthantheninetyandninewhichyouhadtoworkfor，andmoneywonatfaroorinstockssnugglesintoyourheartinthesameway。Aprincepicksupgrandeur，power，andapermanentholidayandgratissupportbyapureaccident，theaccidentofbirth，andhestandsalwaysbeforethegrievedeyeofpovertyandobscurityamonumentalrepresentativeofluck。Andthensupremestvalueofallhisistheonlyhighfortuneontheearthwhichissecure。Thecommercialmillionairemaybecomeabeggar;theillustriousstatesmancanmakeavitalmistakeandbedroppedandforgotten;theillustriousgeneralcanloseadecisivebattleandwithittheconsiderationofmen;butonceaprincealwaysaprincethatistosay，animitationgod，andneitherhardfortunenoraninfamouscharacternoranaddledbrainnorthespeechofanasscanundeifyhim。Bycommonconsentofallthenationsandalltheagesthemostvaluablethinginthisworldisthehomageofmen，whetherdeservedorundeserved。Itfollowswithoutdoubtorquestion，then，thatthemostdesirablepositionpossibleisthatofaprince。AndI
thinkitalsofollowsthatthesocalledusurpationswithwhichhistoryislitteredarethemostexcusablemisdemeanorswhichmenhavecommitted。Tousurpausurpationthatisallitamountsto，isn’tit？
AprinceisnottouswhatheistoaEuropean，ofcourse。
Wehavenotbeentaughttoregardhimasagod，andsoonegoodlookathimislikelytosonearlyappeaseourcuriosityastomakehimanobjectofnogreaterinterestthenexttime。Wewantafreshone。ButitisnotsowiththeEuropean。Iamquitesureofit。Thesameoldonewillanswer;heneverstales。
EighteenyearsagoIwasinLondonandIcalledatanEnglishman’shouseonableakandfoggyanddismalDecemberafternoontovisithiswifeandmarrieddaughterbyappointment。
Iwaitedhalfanhourandthentheyarrived，frozen。Theyexplainedthattheyhadbeendelayedbyanunlookedforcircumstance:whilepassingintheneighborhoodofMarlboroughHousetheysawacrowdgatheringandweretoldthatthePrinceofWaleswasabouttodriveout，sotheystoppedtogetasightofhim。Theyhadwaitedhalfanhouronthesidewalk，freezingwiththecrowd，butweredisappointedatlastthePrincehadchangedhismind。Isaid，withagooddealofsurprise，\"IsitpossiblethatyoutwohavelivedinLondonallyourlivesandhaveneverseenthePrinceofWales？\"