Letters of a Diplomat's Wife, 1883-1900Waddington, Mary King
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Letters of a Diplomat's Wife, 1883-1900
Waddington, Mary King
Europe -- Social life and customs
I will write you about the performance at once, as I am too tired to do
anything else, and have dined quietly at home. We had a last repetition
this morning--Mlle. Levisohn directing from a small platform covered
with red cloth. For the first time I thought it would go--really almost
all the instruments were in tune and in time. Francis had been giving
private rehearsals all the morning to Wilhelm Deichmann (trumpet) and
the child, I forget which one, that had the triangle. The performance
began at 4, and the orchestra was most effective. All the young ladies
were in white and the men in dress clothes and white boutonnieres. It
was killing to see all eyes fixed upon Mlle. Levisohn as she stood on
her platform with her baton raised. It really went extremely well.
Pfeffer happened in, and said he had never heard the Romberg Symphony
better given. After the music was over Francis and Hilda Deichmann
played a little comedy, "La Souris," really very well--Mdme. Thenard had
coached them both. They weren't at all shy, and looked funny perched on
chairs, standing, afraid of an imaginary mouse. They wound up with a
dance, Gevers leading a most spirited cotillon. Francis danced with
Nannie, who looked very pretty. He was very proud of his American
cousin. Mlle. Levisohn had many compliments, and I think she was
pleased. She certainly took no end of trouble.
#Albert Gate#,
Thursday, April 28th.
I had a nice ride this morning with Pontavice. W. and Francis went off
on Monday--W. to Laon and Francis to school. Last night Henrietta and I
went to the Italian Embassy, where there was a contract party for
Tornielli's niece, who is to marry the Marquis Paulucci, one of the
secretaries. The fiancee looked charming in pink satin, with a very
pretty diamond tiara that her uncle had given her. There were a great
many people. I had the Camerons with me--Nannie looking very pretty and
chic in red satin with gold wings in her hair. I told her the dress was
much too old and heavy for her, she should have been in white tulle,
with nothing in her hair, but she says all the American girls wear
satin. The Tornielli entertainments are always handsome; their full
dress livery red is so effective. Henrietta and I have been driving
about shopping. I never go near a shop alone, but Mrs. Edwardes told us
there were wonderful "occasions" for silks at Marshall & Snelgrove's. We
did pick up several things not dear. The English shops are not at all
like the French ones.
_To H. L. K._
#French Embassy, London#,
May 1, 1892.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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