And measure what we owe by what she gave.I saw Grisi in the great role of Semiramide, and with her Brambilla, a famous contralto, and Fornasari, a basso whom I had longed to hear in the operas given in New York. I also saw Mlle. Persiani in ‘Linda di Chamounix’ and ‘Lucia di Lammermoor.’ All of these occasions gave me unmitigated delight, but the crowning ecstasy of all I found in the ballet. Fanny Elssler and Cerito were both upon the stage. The former had lost a little of her prestige, but Cerito, an Italian, was then in her first bloom and wonderfully graceful. Of her performance my sister said to me, ‘It seems to make us better to see ’
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Of especial interest to me was a performance of Macready as Claude Melnotte in Bulwer's ‘Lady of Lyons.’
The part of Pauline was played by Helen Faucit.
Both of these artists were then at their best.
Thomas Appleton, of Boston, and William Wadsworth, of Geneseo, were with us in our box. The pathetic moments of the play moved me to tears, which I tried to hide.
I soon saw that all my companions were affected in the same way, and were making the same effort.
I saw Miss Faucit again at an entertainment given in aid of the fund for a monument to Mrs. Siddons.
She recited an ode written for the occasion, of which I still recall the closing line:—
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