Patti.

Manawatu Herald, 9 January 1896, Page 3

Patti.

The reappearance of Patti in Italian opera calls to mind one or two amusing stories tnld by the famous singer, says the Westminster Gazette. • For a great and unexpected honour most gracefully tendered,' said she (one evening after dinner at the castle). • I have experienced nothing that has touched me deeper than a compliment paid by the Prince of Wales and a distinguished company, at a dinner given in honour of the Duke of York and the Princess May, a little while before their wedding. The dinner was given by Mr Alfred Rothschild, one of my oldest and best friends. There were many rcyaHps prepenr,. and more dukes and duchesses than 1 can easily remember. During the ceremonies the Prince of Wales rose, and, to my great astonishmont, proposed the health of his " old and valued friend, Mme. Pafcti." He

made such a pretty speech, and in

the course of it said that he had first and heard me in Philadelphia 1860, when I sang in 4 i Martha," and that since then his own attendance at what he was good enough to call my " victories in the realm of aong " had been among his most pleasant recollections. He recalled the fact that on one of the occasions when the Princess and him^'f had invited ma to Marlborongh House, his wife had he'd up liUle Prince George, in whose honour we were this night assembled, and bade him kiss me, so that in nfter life he might say that he had kissed the famous Madame Patti." And then, do you know, that whole company of royalty, nobility, and men of genius rose and cheered me and drank my health. Don't you think that any little woman would be proud, and ought to be proud, of a spontaneous tribute like that ?