Difficulties, however, are only obstacles set in one's way in order to be overcome, and mine have never caused me any serious trouble. I am disposed by nature to take a cheerful view of things, and I can scarcely think of any dilemma in which I have been placed, however serious, which has not presented its bright, or at least when I came to think of it, its amusing side. When, moreover, one has had, throughout a long career, difficulties, often of a very formidable character, to contend with, the little inconveniences of life are scarcely felt. I remember one day dining with a millionaire of my acquaintance who got red in the face, stamped, swore, and almost went into convulsions because the salmon had been rather too much boiled. He had led too easy a life; or so trifling a mishap would have had no effect upon him. Often when affairs looked almost tragic, I have been able to bear them by perceiving that they had also their comic aspect. The reader, indeed, will have seen for himself that some of my liveliest anecdotes are closely connected with very grave matters indeed. Of such anecdotes I could tell many more. But I feel that I have already taken up too much of the reader's time, and, having several important projects on hand which will take up the whole of mine, I must now conclude. APPENDIX. SINGERS AND OPERAS PRODUCED BY ME. The following is a list of the principal artists whom I first had the honour of engaging for this country, and, with two exceptions (marked by asterisks), of introducing for the first time to the British public:-- _European Prime Donne._ *Adelina Patti, Christine Nilsson, Etelka Gerster, Marguerite Chapuy, Ilma di Murska, Marie Roze, Marie Marimon, Emelie Ambré, Caroline Salla, Lilli Lehmann, Eugénie Pappenheim, Harriers Wippern, Victoire Balfe, Jenny Broch, Elena Varese, Marianina Lodi, Alma Fohström, Caroline Reboux, Clarice Sinico, Louise Sarolta, Mathilde Sessi, Bianca Donadio, Matilda Bauermeister, Zelie Trebelli, Sofia Scalchi, Anna de Belocca, Borghi-Mamo, Carolina Guarducci, Caroline Bettelheim. _American Prime Donne._ *Emma Albani, Clara Louise Kellogg, Alwina Valleria, Marie Vanzandt, Emma Nevada, Emma Abbott, Marie Litta, Lilian Nordica, Louise Dotti, Hélène Hastreiter, Emma Juch, Annie Louise Cary, Kate Rolla, Laura Harris-Zagury, Lilian Lauri, Marie Engle, Genevieve Ward, Minnie Hauk, Nikita, Etc., etc., etc. _Tenors._ Pietro Mongini, Roberto Stagno, Italo Campanini, Luigi Ravelli, Dr. Gunz, Carlo Bulterini, Ernesto Nicolini, De Capellio-Tasca, Victor Capoul, Giovanni Vizzani, Tom Hohler, Allesandro Bettini, Antonio Aramburo, Giuseppe Fancelli. _Baritones._ Enrico Delle-Sedie, Mariano de Padilla, Charles Santley, Enrico Fagotti, Jean de Reszke, Antonio Galassi, Giuseppe Del Puente, Innocente de Anna, Pandolfini, Agnesi, Senatore Sparapani, Colonnese, Varese, Badiali, Paul Lhérie, Giovanni Rota.