the waving of hats,
handkerchiefs and whatever was in hand. Certainly Madam Urso had never
in her whole experience seen such enthusiasm and she may have well
wondered if it was not all some strange, fantastic dream. The band gave
a selection from "Tannhauser" and then the concert closed with the "Star
Spangled Banner" given with cannon, big drum, church bells, organ and
great chorus.

The concert on the second day was honored with an audience of fifteen
thousand persons, the largest assembly that had ever met in California.
The programme began with the overture to "Ali Baba" which was followed
by the "Gloria," from Mozart's Twelfth Mass. Then the orchestra gave two
movements from the symphony in C, by Gade. "Sleepers wake," from St.
Paul, and the "Prayer," from "Moses in Egypt," were next given in such a
superior manner by the chorus, that the last number won an encore.

At this point Madam Urso appeared and met with a reception that for wild
enthusiasm and fervor has probably never been exceeded by any concert
audience. The very proper coldness and passiveness of Eastern audiences
finds small favor beyond the mountains. The fifteen thousand people met
under that roof tendered her an ovation the like of which has probably
never been given to any artist in the world. Respect and love for the
woman who had done so much for them, admiration for her genius, and
gratitude for her splendid efforts in behalf of the Mercantile
Association roused the people to a pitch of excitement almost past
belief. For a few moments it seemed as if they would never cease
cheering, nor stop piling the mountains of flowers at her feet.

Then she took her violin and played for them, giving the Beethoven
Concerto. The building was too vast for all to hear her instrument but
they listened in eager silence and at the close there was another
tempest of applause and showers of flowers till the stage about her was
literally "knee deep in fragrance." She was twice called out after the
performance, but the excitement and fatigue were too much for her and
she declined to play again.

The chorus--"The Heavens are Telling," the overture to "Der Freyschutz,"
the Anvil Chorus, and the "Hallelujah" chorus, from the Messiah
concluded the entertainment and the vast audience quietly dispersed.

The third day of the Festival was perhaps the most remarkable of all.
The chorus on this day consisted of two thousand public school children,
under the musical dire