Royalty and Music.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 211, 16 July 1887, Page 4 (Supplement)

Royalty and Music.

Tilk Emperor of Russia is a first-class cornet player. He once accompanied Nilst>on in one of her songs, and not long ago, when feinting before him, she sang the &amo air, much to the gratification of the Empeior. The Queen of Belgium is a devoted musician. The Emperor of Brazil maintains an Italian opera out of his own purse, and he lias one of the most complete operatic companies in the world. The Emperor of Austria also spends over a million of francs a year on the Vienna Opera-house. Rossini used to once compose a trifling melody every year for the King of Portugal. Everybody knows what a passion the late King of Bavaria had for music. King Oscar of Sweden has a magnificent basso voice and sings like an artist. Here are one or two interesting facts respecting the taste for music in the present sovereigns of Europe, The Emperor of Germany, for instance, adores music, and never misses an opportunity to hear Patti or any other celebrity. He always goes behind the scenes after the performance to thank the artiste. Her Majesty is also a great amateur of music, and sings very beautifully. She was a pupil of Labiache, and he used to say that if she was not Queen of Great Britain she might be a queen of song. The late Prince Consort's passion for music is well known. He made Mendelssohn known in / ngland and protected him. The Prince of Wales is also a good musician, and the Princess of Wales is one of Halle's best pupils. The Duke of Edinburgh, as we all know, could earn his living with the violin if necessary.

Kid gloves on the hands of the fair are a great leveller. One is unable to tell whether the protuberances on the fingers of the gloves are the outlines of rings or warts. "Yes, my child, yes; dun is the future tense of due." Have the grass cut if you want your lawn a la mowed. There is one word in tho English language that admits of four degrees of comparison—bald, balder, baldest, wig.