Page:Anecdotes of Great Musicians.djvu/187

Rh having hot and cold water, was of solid silver! The key of the outer door of the car was of 18 carat gold, and a Steinway grand pianoforte, costing £400, had a case of sandal wood.

Adelina Patti's home is amongst the Welsh hills. Her castle, near the town of Neath, is named Craig-y-nos, which is the Welsh for "night rock," or "rock of the night." Here the great singer lives in a style befitting her exalted position in the realm of song. The magnificent conservatory, a sort of winter garden, illuminated with myriads of electric fairy lights, has been described as "a hall of enchantment."

Patti is very fond of billiards. In the billiard-room is a huge orchestrion, made in Switzerland, which plays many tunes, from "La Fille de Madame Angot" to the "Pilgrim's March" from Wagner's "Tannhauser." A theatre, complete in every department, is also a feature of this palatial dwelling-place. There is room in it for a band of twenty performers, and the necessary scenery for mounting six or more of the Diva's operas is on the spot. All that Patti has to do when she wishes to sing in any particular opera for the delectation of her friends, is to send for her head scene-shifter and give her orders as she would to her cook or coachman. Patti's diamonds are quite in keeping with the glories of Craig-y-nos, and are almost as wonderful as her notes. At one of her appearances in New York she is said to have worn no less than £60,000 worth of precious stones.

Patti's pets include some remarkable parrots. One, named "Cookie," exactly copies his mistress's fioriture. Another is gifted with some linguistic capabilities, which he can use with excellent effect when occasion requires. If a guest knocks at the door, Charlie will cry, "Entr-r-rez." When he is asked "How are you?" he will reply, "Pas mal; et vous?" which of course is in very polite French. But when a guest ventured to sprinkle some water on his poll, Charlie replied (in vigorous English) "You pig!"