Jula Ward Howe, Reminiscences: 1819-1899

[101] in shape, and the guests were seated along the wall on either side. Before the performance began I noticed a movement among those present, the cause of which became evident when the Duchess of Gloucester appeared, leaning on the arm of the master of the house. She was attired, or, as newspapers put it, ‘gowned,’ in black, wearing white plumes in her headdress, and with bare neck and arms, according to the imperative fashion of the time. She was well advanced in years, and had probably never been remarked for good looks, but was said to be beloved by the Queen and by many friends.

The programme of the entertainment was one which to-day would seem rather commonplace, though the performers were not so. A handsome young man, of slender figure, opened the concert by singing the serenade from the opera of ‘Don Pasquale.’ I felt at once that this must be Mario, but that name cannot suggest to one who never heard him either the beauty of his voice or the refinement of his intonation. I still feel a sort of intoxication when I recall his rendering of “Coma é gentil.” Grisi sang several times. She was then in what some one has termed, ‘the insolence of her youth and beauty.’ Mlle. Persiani, also of the grand opera, gave an air by Gluck, which I myself had studied, “Pago fui, Fui lieto un di” Lord Lansdowne told me that