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36 derogatory way, and to the opera as "the circus that von Hulsen runs." As von Hulsen was a court officer, this brought on Bülow's head the wrath of the court, and he was deposed from his rank as court pianist, and stripped of his medals.

Shortly after, von Hulsen died, and at a commemoration concert his successor gave orders to the ushers that they were not to admit Doctor von Bülow, and furnished them photographs of him that there should be no mistake. So when Herr Doctor arrived he was spotted and summarily ejected.

But the pianist had his revenge. The next night, on his appearance at a concert, when he sat down at the instrument he began to improvise on a theme from Mozart's "Figaro," and immediately the audience broke into laughter and applause. The theme he had chosen was in the opera, set to the words "Will the Count venture on a little dance?"  

The great singers of the olden time, even of the first half of this century, would stand aghast at the splendor that surrounds the prima donna of to-day. The most regal elegance is thought none too good for her who has the public at her feet.

The prima donna of "ye olden tyme" traveled in a lumbering stage coach; the most favored one of to-day, in a private car costing some £11,600—for that was the cost of Patti's conveyance. In this beautiful coach the walls and ceiling were covered with gilded tapestry, the curtains were of silk damask, and the furniture was upholstered in the same material. The drawing-room was fitted in white and gold, with paintings by celebrated artists. The lamps were made of gold and the woodwork of sandalwood. The same wood was used in the piano, which alone cost £400.

These are some of the main points in the construction