Undoubtedly we had some fine artists at Her Majesty's, but occasionally Mapleson missed a big chance of securing others. One day we were putting on our wraps after rehearsal when my mother and I heard a lovely contralto voice. On inquiry, we learned that Colonel Mapleson and Arditi were trying the voice of a young Italian woman who had come to London in search of an engagement. The Colonel and the Director sat in the orchestra while the young woman sang an _aria_ from _Semiramide_. When the trial was over the girl went away at once and I rushed out to speak to Mapleson. "Surely you engaged that enchanting singer!" I exclaimed. "Indeed I didn't," he replied. She went directly to Gye at Covent Garden, who engaged her promptly and, when she appeared two weeks later, she made a sensation. Her name was Sofia Scalchi. Besides the private concerts of that season there were also plenty of public concerts, a particularly notable one being a Handel Festival at the Crystal Palace on May 1st, when I sang _Oh, had I Jubal's Lyre_! Everything connected with that occasion was on a large scale. There were seven thousand people in the house, the largest audience by far that I had ever sung to before. The place was so crowded that people hung about the doors trying to get in even after every seat was filled; and not one person left the hall until after I had finished--a remarkable record in its way! Some time later, when I was on my way home to America and wanted to buy some antiques, I wandered into a little, odd Dickens-like shop in Wardour Street. I wanted to have some articles sent on approval to meet me at Liverpool, but hesitated to ask the old man in the shop to take such a risk without knowing me. To my surprise he smiled at me a kindly, wrinkled smile and said, with the prettiest old-fashioned bow: "Madame, you are welcome to take any liberties you will with my entire stock. I heard you sing 'Jubal's Lyre.' I shall never forget it, nor be able to repay you for the pleasure you gave me!" I always felt this to be one of my sincerest tributes. Perhaps that is partly why the night of my first Crystal Hall Concert remains so clearly defined in my memory. My mother's diary of this period continues: _May 4._ Mr. Santley dined with us. Played Besique in the evening. _I beat_. _5._ Louise and I went to St. James Hall rehearsal. After went to Theatre. Learned Nilsson did not have as good a house 2nd night as Louise's first one in _La Gazza Ladra_. Mr. Arditi came to rehearse the waltz. _6th._ _La Gazza Ladra._ Full house--enthusiasm--Duke of Newcastle came in. _7._ Arditi's rehearsal for his concert at his house at 5 P.M.--went--house full--hot and funny. Mr. S---- came in the evening--played one game Besique. _8._ Intended to go to Haymarket Theatre but Miss J---- had headache. Santley came in the afternoon to practise Susanna.