ked the Music Hall with
an audience such as it never saw before. About the same time she was
elected an honorary life member of the Philharmonic Society of
Philadelphia. This Summer, like the last, was passed in Bologne and
Paris and was wholly devoted to study and practice, with some
recreation.

CHAPTER II.

THE SILVER BRICK.

On the 24th of September (1869) Madam Urso started from Paris for a new
and untried field. Stopping one week only in New York she pushed on
towards the Pacific and landed in San Francisco on the 22d of October.
Only four weeks from Paris to San Francisco including six days in New
York. This will illustrate her power of physical endurance, and the
experience that followed this rapid journey will serve to show her
business capacity, her executive talents, and her indomitable energy.
The seven months passed in California make one of the most remarkable
episodes of her life and it must be examined in some detail.

The party took rooms at the Occidental Hotel and the very first evening
Madam Urso was honored by a serenade, though no announcement of her
arrival had been made. Certainly, the musical people of the Pacific
Slope were eager to welcome her. It seemed so, for on announcing a
concert at Platt Hall, there was a greater demand for tickets than had
ever been known in that part of the country for any entertainment
whatever its character. Three more concerts were given with every
available seat and standing place occupied, and then three sacred
concerts on successive Sunday evenings at the California Theatre, were
announced. All of these concerts were of a classical character, the
first of the kind ever given in the State and to bring them out properly
the best talent to be found was engaged, including the Brignoli Opera
Troupe then traveling in California.

Never in her experience had concert giving been more successful and
profitable than here. It seemed as if she had captured all their hearts
and brought the golden State to her feet by one wave of her violin bow.
Deeply sensible of the feelings of respect and admiration entertained
for her by the people she resolved in some way to testify her
appreciation and to give material expression of her thanks. She looked
about for some worthy institution upon which she could bestow the
benefit of a series of concerts, or musical festival. After some
investigation and private correspondence Madam Urso wrote the following
letter that was d