Page:The Strand Magazine (Volume 3).djvu/565

 of straw, and had caught fire, the applause was so deafening, and the excitement so universal." Her singing had all the charm of the spontaneity of a bird, whilst her acting was imbued with such girlish innocent coquetry that many a wise head among her hearers was fairly turned with delight.

Adelina Patti's initial triumph was followed by many another, and after appearing in "la ville Cerveau," where the chorus of London approbation was fully confirmed, she sang in every European capital in succession to win an extraordinary and unheard of popularity.

One character after another was added to her répertoire, and every fresh appearance was a fresh revelation of the young singer's charm and vivacious talent.

As time has crept on prima donna after another has appealed for our admiration and applause, but Adelina Patti still maintains her supremacy, and warbles to this day before audiences as crowded and enthusiastic as in the days of yore.

After having passed some pleasant days at Craig-y-nos Castle, Madame Patti proposed a day's visit to Swansea, the principal town of South Wales, proudly named by its inhabitants "the miniature Bay of Naples," and which before it became so essentially a commercial centre, and darkened with the fumes of copper and chemical works in the neighbourhood, must have been a place of much beauty. It was fortunately a market day, and we could not but be amused, as we wandered about, at the sight of the Welsh-women in their quaint market dress, selling their butter, poultry, and cheese, at what seemed to us merely nominal prices whilst they chattered among them-