A QUESTION OF PRECEDENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2719, 14 December 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

A QUESTION OF PRECEDENCE.

I HEM ember, writes G' jlonel Mapleson, once arriving at Dublin with a company which included among its members Mdlle. Salla, who played leading soprano parts, and Mdlle. Anna de Belocca, a Russian lady who played and saug with distinction the most important parts written for the contralto voice. Mdlle. Belocca and Mdlle. Salla entered at the same time the best Buito of apartments in the hotel; upon which each of them exclaimed: "These rooms will do for me." " For you r'' said Mdlle. Salla. " The prima donna has surely the light of choice, and I have eaid that I wish to have them." '• Prima douua !" exclaimed Belocca, with a laugh. "There are but two prime donno : mot cl Patti." "You will not have theso rooms all the same," continued the soprano. " We will sco about that," returned the contralto. I was iu despair, for it was now a matter of personal dignity. Neither lady would give way to tho other. Leaving them for a time together 1 went downstairs to the hotel-keeper, Mr Maple, and said to him : '' Have you not another suite of .rooms us good, or nearly eo, as the one for which these ladies aro disputing '' i have a very good suite of rooms on the second floor," said Maple, "quite as good, 1 thiuk, aB those 011 tho first floor." The rooms had already been pointed out to Mdlle. de Belocca through the window. Bat nothing, she snid, would iuduue her to go upstair*, were it only a step. "Come with me, then," I said to Maple. " Mind you don't contradict me; ,ind to begin with, it must be understood rhat these rooms on tho second floor have been specially retained by Lady Spimoer," —Lord Spencer was at tho time Viceroy of Ireland—" and cannot on auy accouut, or under any circumstances, be assii?ueJ even for a brief time to anyone else." Maple seized my idea, and followed mo upstairs. " What is the moaning of thUI said to him, when wo were together, iu the prosenco of the two excited vocalists. "Are these the only rooms you havo to offer us ? They will do for one of the ladies; but which one accepts them th" other must be provided with a set of apartments at least as good." "I simply have not got them," replied Maple. "There is a charming set of apartments on t»e floor above, but th*y are specially retained for the Countess Spencer, and it would be more than my business is worth to let anyone else take possession of them." At I hese words Bcloeea opened her beautiful eyes, aud seemed to be struck with an idea.

"At least wb could see them V' 1 suggested, "You could hoc. tliem," returned Maple, "but thul is all." "Let us go and have a look at them," I said. Maple anrl myself walked upstairs. Belocca silently folia wed us. "We pretended not to see her, but as soon as the cloor of tho apartments reserved for the Countess Spencer was thrown open the passionate young Muscovite rushed into tlietn, shut the door and locked it, declaring that Lady Spencer must be provided for elsewhere.