Opera Forty Tears Ago

It was during my flrst long stay ia America and our comipany was announced for one night, during a terribly cold winter, at Washington. Shall I ever forget the bitter cold of that season? It was as though we had suddenly been trancported to the arctic regions and the theater in which we gave our performance was as inadequate to cope with the frost as though we had flxed up a summer tent for the purpose. "Norma," was the opera and Grisi, instead of appearing in her traditional white robe with flowing folds, was compelled to come on the stage wearlng a huge fur cloak, in whlch she was huddled up almost to her eyes. The house only really rose to the occasion with loud bursts of laughter when Mario made his entrance holding a coachman's umbrella over his head - he, as Pollio, being confronted by Norma in their tragical meeting- under which prosaic eafeguard both artists cowered while singing their grand duo. The roof of the theater had given way under the weight of a heavy fall of snow and lts coating of ice, melting under the heat of the gas, was