CHAPTER XXIV PREPARATIONS FOR AMERICA Coquelin deserts me—The charm of London—Brussels and Copenhagen—A Danish triumph—A visit to Elsinore—I am decorated by the King—An international supper with international complications—The fickleness of Fame—My farewell reception at Paris—Duquesnel proves himself my friend—A triumphant tour of France—I sign a contract with the “Vaudeville”—I leave Paris 355–367 CHAPTER XXV MY ARRIVAL IN AMERICA The gnome-haunted ship—I embark on _L’Amérique_—Homesickness—The widow of President Lincoln—A snowstorm in mid-ocean—The steerage passengers—A child is born in the steerage—What if the emigrants should mutiny?—Precautions in case of shipwreck—The Promised Land of the emigrants—My fête day—The harbor of the New World—How I was welcomed—A fatiguing reception—Rest under compulsion—The kind of man Mr. Jarrett was—Another reception—The silly questions of the reporters—Press agents and slander 368–385 CHAPTER XXVI NEW YORK AND BOSTON I go to Booth’s Theater for the first rehearsal—The crowd at the stage door—The customs officers come to examine my trunks—The treatment of my costumes—The Brooklyn Bridge—I settle with the Board of Customs—I make my first appearance in “Adrienne Lecouvreur”—I am serenaded—“La Dame aux Camélias”—My sister impersonates me—The journey to Menlo Park—I am entertained in fairyland by Mr. Edison—Mr. Edison and Napoleon I.—We start for Boston—Boston women—An extraordinary personage—My apartments—A curious experience with a whale 386–401 CHAPTER XXVII I VISIT MONTREAL “Hernani” in Boston—Feminine intellectuality—The whale follows me to New Haven—Attentions from the showman—I start for Canada—My entry into Montreal—A cordial welcome—A greeting from a poet—I cause a sensation by fainting—My rescuer and his tragedy—The Bishop of Montreal condemns me—Ottawa and the Iroquois—The Montreal students—An adventure on the ice 402–414 CHAPTER XXVIII MY TOUR OF THE WESTERN STATES Springfield and Springfield audiences—I inspect Colt guns—Baltimore—Philadelphia and Chicago—A pleasant sojourn—A visit to the slaughtering house—Another bishop condemns me—St. Louis—The fish without eyes—My jewels are exhibited—It nearly results in a tragedy—The attempted robbery—The man who would have robbed me 415–427