CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 32, 14 December 1945, Page 16 (Supplement)

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

Of one Yuletide spent in St. Petersburg, before the war, Dame Nellie Melba the world-famous singer tells 9 9 the. following story: "On Christmas Eve, after singing 111 opera to a densely crowded audience, 1 was called before the curtain for a whole hour and a half until from very fatigue 1 was compelled to take a .seat during the short interval of the deafening applause. And when at last I was allowed to escape, a crowd thousands strong followed me to m3 r hotel and serenaded me through an intensely cold night until three o'clock in the morning.

"When a few hours later I reached the station to leave St. Petersburg, I found it packed with my admirers of the night before. It was with the utmost difFicultj' that a way was made for me to my carriage through the cheering, hat-tossing, delirious crowd who when at last I

'1 9 had sccurcd a refuge in the carriage, sent in countless throngs for my autograph, and finally, seizing the pencil and my gloves, tore them to pieces to keep as souvenirs."

Of another Christmas a very different and beautiful story is told, by the prima donna. As she was leaving the theatre at Philadelphia, and was about to step into her carriage, her arm? laden Avith flowers, an old woman wno liad waited for hours in the bitter cold, stole up to her and timidly asked for a singly flower To remeiliber her by. In a moment Melba had handed to her hut entire floral burden, and then, swooping down, kissed her. "God bless your beautiful heart!'' was all the poor woman could find voice to say; but if even a benediction found its way to high heaven, surely that one did. .On one Christmas Eve when Melba was travelling to Minneapolis to sing a boy, selling J'ruit and candy, entered her car and after making some purchases she asked: "Would you li'ke to go to the opera tonight?" "Well sure!" said the boy with a grin. "Would you like to hear Mel. ba?" she continued; and the lad answered: "Well I should smile !" "Then," said" Madame, pointing to her manager, "go over to that gentleman and tell him I said he would give you tickets for yourself and your mother or some friends." The hoy in amused surprised asked ''Well Avho are you, any way?" "T am Madame Melba" she answered whereupon the. unabashed youngster sent her into convulsions by retorting: "Co on! I've seen Madame Melba, and she's real pretty."