IfIwerenowimprisonedonamountainsummitahundredmilesnorthwardofthispoint，andwasdeniedatimepiece，I
　　couldgetalongwellenoughfromfourtillsixoncleardays，forIcouldkeeptraceofthetimebythechangingshapesofthesemightyshadowsoftheVirgin’sfront，themoststupendousdialI
　　amacquaintedwith，theoldestclockintheworldbyacoupleofmillionyears。
　　IsupposeIshouldnothavenoticedtheformsoftheshadowsifIhadn’tthehabitofhuntingforfacesinthecloudsandinmountaincragsasortofamusementwhichisveryentertainingevenwhenyoudon’tfindany，andbrilliantlysatisfyingwhenyoudo。IhavesearchedthroughseveralbushelsofphotographsoftheJungfrauhere，butfoundonlyonewiththeFaceinit，andinthiscaseitwasnotstrictlyrecognizableasaface，whichwasevidencethatthepicturewastakenbeforefouro’clockintheafternoon，andalsoevidencethatallthephotographershavepersistentlyoverlookedoneofthemostfascinatingfeaturesoftheJungfraushow。Isayfascinating，becauseifyouoncedetectahumanfaceproducedonagreatplanbyunconsciousnature，younevergettiredofwatchingit。Atfirstyoucan’tmakeanotherpersonseeitatall，butafterhehasmadeitoutoncehecan’tseeanythingelseafterward。
　　TheKingofGreeceisamanwhogoesaroundquietlyenoughwhenoffduty。Onedaythissummerhewastravelinginanordinaryfirstclasscompartment，justinhisothersuit，theonewhichheworkstherealminwhenheisathome，andsohewasnotlookinglikeanybodyinparticular，butagooddeallikeeverybodyingeneral。ByandbyaheartyandhealthyGerman
　　Americangotinandopenedupafrankandinterestingandsympatheticconversationwithhim，andaskedhimacoupleofthousandquestionsabouthimself，whichthekingansweredgood
　　naturedly，butinamoreorlessindefinitewayastoprivateparticulars。
　　"Wheredoyoulivewhenyouareathome？"
　　"InGreece。"
　　"Greece！Well，now，thatisjustastonishing！Bornthere？"
　　"No。"
　　"DoyouspeakGreek？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Now，ain’tthatstrange！Ineverexpectedtolivetoseethat。Whatisyourtrade？Imeanhowdoyougetyourliving？
　　Whatisyourlineofbusiness？"
　　"Well，Ihardlyknowhowtoanswer。Iamonlyakindofforeman，onasalary;andthebusinesswell，isaverygeneralkindofbusiness。"
　　"Yes，Iunderstandgeneraljobbinglittleofeverything
　　anythingthatthere’smoneyin。"
　　"That’saboutit，yes。"
　　"Areyoutravelingforthehousenow？"
　　"Well，partly;butnotentirely。OfcourseIdoastrokeofbusinessifitfallsintheway"
　　"Good！Ilikethatinyou！That’smeeverytime。Goon。"
　　"IwasonlygoingtosayIamoffonmyvacationnow。"
　　"Wellthat’sallright。Noharminthat。Amanworksallthebetterforalittleletupnowandthen。NotthatI’vebeenusedtohavingitmyself;forIhaven’t。Ireckonthisismyfirst。IwasborninGermany，andwhenIwasacoupleofweeksoldshippedtoAmerica，andI’vebeenthereeversince，andthat’ssixtyfouryearsbythewatch。I’manAmericaninprincipleandaGermanatheart，andit’sthebosscombination。
　　Well，howdoyougetalong，asaruleprettyfair？"
　　"I’vearatherlargefamily"
　　"There，that’sitbigfamilyandtryingtoraisethemonasalary。Now，whatdidyougotodothatfor？"
　　"Well，Ithought"
　　"Ofcourseyoudid。Youwereyoungandconfidentandthoughtyoucouldbranchoutandmakethingsgowithawhirl，andhereyouare，yousee！Butnevermindaboutthat。I’mnottryingtodiscourageyou。Dearme！I’vebeenjustwhereyouaremyself！You’vegotgoodgrit;there’sgoodstuffinyou，Icanseethat。Yougotawrongstart，that’sthewholetrouble。Butyouholdyourgrip，andwe’llseewhatcanbedone。Yourcaseain’thalfasbadasitmightbe。YouaregoingtocomeoutallrightI’mbailforthat。Boysandgirls？"
　　"Myfamily？Yes，someofthemareboys"
　　"Andtherestgirls。It’sjustasIexpected。Butthat’sallright，andit’sbetterso，anyway。Whataretheboysdoing
　　learningatrade？"
　　"Well，noIthought"
　　"It’sabigmistake。It’sthebiggestmistakeyouevermade。Youseethatinyourowncase。Amanoughtalwaystohaveatradetofallbackon。Now，Iwasharnessmakeratfirst。DidthatpreventmefrombecomingoneofthebiggestbrewersinAmerica？Ohno。Ialwayshadtheharnesstricktofallbackoninroughweather。Now，ifyouhadlearnedhowtomakeharness
　　However，it’stoolatenow;toolate。Butit’snogoodplantocryoverspiltmilk。Butastotheboys，youseewhat’stobecomeofthemifanythinghappenstoyou？"
　　"Ithasbeenmyideatolettheeldestonesucceedme"
　　"Oh，come！Supposethefirmdon’twanthim？"
　　"Ihadn’tthoughtofthat，but"
　　"Now，lookhere;youwanttogetrightdowntobusinessandstopdreaming。Youarecapableofimmensethingsman。Youcanmakeaperfectsuccessinlife。Allyouwantissomebodytosteadyyouandboostyoualongontherightroad。Doyouownanythinginthebusiness？"
　　"Nonotexactly;butifIcontinuetogivesatisfaction，I
　　supposeIcankeepmy"
　　"Keepyourplaceyes。Well，don’tyoudependonanythingofthekind。They’llbounceyoutheminuteyougetalittleoldandworkedout;they’lldoitsure。Can’tyoumanagesomehowtogetintothefirm？That’sthegreatthing，youknow。"
　　"Ithinkitisdoubtful;verydoubtful。"
　　"Umthat’sbadyes，andunfair，too。DoyousupposethatifIshouldgothereandhaveatalkwithyourpeopleLookheredoyouthinkyoucouldrunabrewery？"
　　"Ihavenevertried，butIthinkIcoulddoitafteralittlefamiliaritywiththebusiness。"
　　TheGermanwassilentforsometime。Hedidagooddealofthinking，andthekingwaitedcuriouslytoseewhattheresultwasgoingtobe。FinallytheGermansaid:
　　"Mymind’smadeup。Youleavethatcrowdyou’llneveramounttoanythingthere。Intheseoldcountriestheynevergiveafellowashow。Yes，youcomeovertoAmericacometomyplaceinRochester;bringthefamilyalong。Youshallhaveashowinthebusinessandtheforemanship，besides。GeorgeyousaidyournamewasGeorge？I’llmakeamanofyou。Igiveyoumyword。
　　You’veneverhadachancehere，butthat’sallgoingtochange。
　　Bygracious！I’llgiveyoualiftthat’llmakeyourhaircurl！"
　　ATTHESHRINEOFST。WAGNER
　　Bayreuth，Aug。2d，1891
　　ItwasatNurembergthatwestrucktheinundationofmusic
　　madstrangersthatwasrollingdownuponBayreuth。Ithadbeenlongsincewehadseensuchmultitudesofexcitedandstrugglingpeople。IttookagoodhalfhourtopackthemandpairthemintothetrainanditwasthelongesttrainwehaveyetseeninEurope。Nuremberghadbeenwitnessingthissortofexperienceacoupleoftimesadayforabouttwoweeks。Itgivesoneanimpressivesenseofthemagnitudeofthisbiennialpilgrimage。
　　Forapilgrimageiswhatitis。ThedevoteescomefromtheveryendsoftheearthtoworshiptheirprophetinhisownKaabainhisownMecca。
　　IfyouarelivinginNewYorkorSanFranciscoorChicagooranywhereelseinAmerica，andyouconclude，bythemiddleofMay，thatyouwouldliketoattendtheBayreuthoperatwomonthsandahalflater，youmustusethecableandgetaboutitimmediatelyoryouwillgetnoseats，andyoumustcableforlodgings，too。
　　Thenifyouareluckyyouwillgetseatsinthelastrowandlodgingsinthefringeofthetown。Ifyoustoptowriteyouwillgetnothing。TherewereplentyofpeopleinNurembergwhenwepassedthroughwhohadcomeonpilgrimagewithoutfirstsecuringseatsandlodgings。TheyhadfoundneitherinBayreuth;
　　theyhadwalkedBayreuthstreetsawhileinsorrow，thenhadgonetoNurembergandfoundneitherbedsnorstandingroom，andhadwalkedthosequaintstreetsallnight，waitingforthehotelstoopenandemptytheirguestsintotrains，andsomakeroomforthese，theirdefeatedbrethrenandsistersinthefaith。Theyhadenduredfromthirtytofortyhours’railroadingonthecontinentofEuropewithallwhichthatimpliesofworry，fatigue，andfinancialimpoverishmentandalltheyhadgotandalltheyweretogetforitwashandinessandaccuracyinkickingthemselves，acquiredbypracticeinthebackstreetsofthetwotownswhenotherpeoplewereinbed;forbacktheymustgooverthatunspeakablejourneywiththeirpiousmissionunfulfilled。
　　Thesehumiliatedoutcastshadthefrowsyandunbrushedandapologeticlookofwetcats，andtheireyeswereglazedwithdrowsiness，theirbodieswereadroopfromcrowntosole，andallkindheartedpeoplerefrainedfromaskingthemiftheyhadbeentoBayreuthandfailedtoconnect，asknowingtheywouldlie。
　　Wereachedhere（Bayreuth）aboutmidafternoonofarainySaturday。Wewereofthewise，andhadsecuredlodgingsandoperaseatsmonthsinadvance。
　　Iamnotamusicalcritic，anddidnotcomeheretowriteessaysabouttheoperasanddeliverjudgmentupontheirmerits。
　　ThelittlechildrenofBayreuthcoulddothatwithafinersympathyandabroaderintelligencethanI。Ionlycaretobringfourorfivepilgrimstotheoperas，pilgrimsabletoappreciatethemandenjoythem。WhatIwriteabouttheperformancetoputinmyoddtimewouldbeofferedtothepublicasmerelyacat’sviewofaking，andnotofdidacticvalue。
　　Nextday，whichwasSunday，weleftfortheoperahouse
　　thatistosay，theWagnertemplealittleafterthemiddleoftheafternoon。Thegreatbuildingstandsallbyitself，grandandlonely，onahighgroundoutsidethetown。Wewerewarnedthatifwearrivedafterfouro’clockweshouldbeobligedtopaytwodollarsandahalfextrabywayoffine。Wesavedthat;anditmayberemarkedherethatthisistheonlyopportunitythatEuropeoffersofsavingmoney。Therewasabigcrowdinthegroundsaboutthebuilding，andtheladies’dressestookthesunwithfineeffect。Idonotmeantointimatethattheladieswereinfulldress，forthatwasnotso。Thedresseswerepretty，butneithersexwasineveningdress。
　　Theinteriorofthebuildingissimpleseverelyso;butthereisnooccasionforcoloranddecoration，sincethepeoplesitinthedark。Theauditoriumhastheshapeofakeystone，withthestageatthenarrowend。Thereisanaisleoneachside，butnoaisleinthebodyofthehouse。Eachrowofseatsextendsinanunbrokencurvefromonesideofthehousetotheother。Therearesevenentrancedoorsoneachsideofthetheaterandfouratthebutt，eighteendoorstoadmitandemit1，650persons。Thenumberoftheparticulardoorbywhichyouaretoenterthehouseorleaveitisprintedonyourticket，andyoucanusenodoorbutthatone。Thus，crowdingandconfusionareimpossible。Notsomanyasahundredpeopleuseanyonedoor。Thisisbetterthanhavingtheusual（anduseless）
　　elaboratefireproofarrangements。Itisthemodeltheateroftheworld。Itcanbeemptiedwhilethesecondhandofawatchmakesitscircuit。Itwouldbeentirelysafe，evenifitwerebuiltoflucifermatches。
　　Ifyourseatisnearthecenterofarowandyouenterlateyoumustworkyourwayalongarankofabouttwentyfiveladiesandgentlementogettoit。Yetthiscausesnotrouble，foreverybodystandsupuntilalltheseatsarefull，andthefillingisaccomplishedinaveryfewminutes。Thenallsitdown，andyouhaveasolidmassoffifteenhundredheads，makingasteepcellardoorslantfromtherearofthehousedowntothestage。
　　Allthelightswereturnedlow，solowthatthecongregationsatinadeepandsolemngloom。Thefunerealrustlingofdressesandthelowbuzzofconversationbegantodieswiftlydown，andpresentlynottheghostofasoundwasleft。Thisprofoundandincreasinglyimpressivestillnessenduredforsometimethebestpreparationformusic，spectacle，orspeechconceivable。Ishouldthinkourshowpeoplewouldhaveinventedorimportedthatsimpleandimpressivedeviceforsecuringandsolidifyingtheattentionofanaudiencelongago;insteadofwhichtherecontinuetothisdaytoopenaperformanceagainstadeadlycompetitionintheformofnoise，confusion，andascatteredinterest。
　　Finally，outofdarknessanddistanceandmysterysoftrichnotesroseuponthestillness，andfromhisgravethedeadmagicianbegantoweavehisspellsabouthisdisciplesandsteeptheirsoulsinhisenchantments。Therewassomethingstrangelyimpressiveinthefancywhichkeptintrudingitselfthatthecomposerwasconsciousinhisgraveofwhatwasgoingonhere，andthatthesedivinesoulsweretheclothingofthoughtswhichwereatthismomentpassingthroughhisbrain，andnotrecognizedandfamiliaroneswhichhadissuedfromitatsomeformertime。
　　Theentireoverture，longasitwas，wasplayedtoadarkhousewiththecurtaindown。Itwasexquisite;itwasdelicious。
　　Butstraightwaythereafter，orcourse，camethesinging，anditdoesseemtomethatnothingcanmakeaWagneroperaabsolutelyperfectandsatisfactorytotheuntutoredbuttoleaveoutthevocalparts。IwishIcouldseeaWagneroperadoneinpantomimeonce。Thenonewouldhavethelovelyorchestrationunvexedtolistentoandbathehisspiritin，andthebewilderingbeautifulscenerytointoxicatehiseyeswith，andthedumbactingcouldn’tmarthesepleasures，becausethereisn’toftenanythingintheWagneroperathatonewouldcallbysuchaviolentnameasacting;asaruleallyouwouldseewouldbeacoupleofsilentpeople，oneofthemstandingstill，theothercatchingflies。OfcourseIdonotreallymeanthathewouldbecatchingflies;I
　　onlymeanthattheusualoperaticgestureswhichconsistinreachingfirstonehandoutintotheairandthentheothermightsuggestthesportIspeakofiftheoperatorattendedstrictlytobusinessandutterednosound。
　　Thispresentoperawas"Parsifal。"MadameWagnerdoesnotpermititsrepresentationanywherebutinBayreuth。Thefirstactofthethreeoccupiedtwohours，andIenjoyedthatinspiteofthesinging。
　　ItrustthatIknowaswellasanybodythatsingingisoneofthemostentrancingandbewitchingandmovingandeloquentofallthevehiclesinventedbymanfortheconveyingoffeeling;
　　butitseemstomethatthechiefvirtueinsongismelody，air，tune，rhythm，orwhatyoupleasetocallit，andthatwhenthisfeatureisabsentwhatremainsisapicturewiththecolorleftout。Iwasnotabletodetectinthevocalpartsof"Parsifal"
　　anythingthatmightwithconfidencebecalledrhythmortuneormelody;onepersonperformedatatimeandalongtime，too
　　ofteninanoble，andalwaysinahightoned，voice;butheonlypulledoutlongnotes，thensomeshortones，thenanotherlongone，thenasharp，quick，peremptorybarkortwoandsoonandsoon;andwhenhewasdoneyousawthattheinformationwhichhehadconveyedhadnotcompensatedforthedisturbance。Notalways，butprettyoften。Iftwoofthemwouldbutputinaduetoccasionallyandblendthevoices;butno，theydon’tdothat。
　　Thegreatmaster，whoknewsowellhowtomakeahundredinstrumentsrejoiceinunisonandpourouttheirsoulsinmingledandmelodioustidesofdelicioussound，dealsonlyinbarrensoloswhenheputsinthevocalparts。Itmaybethathewasdeep，andonlyaddedthesingingtohisoperasforthesakeofthecontrastitwouldmakewiththemusic。Singing！Itdoesseemthewrongnametoapplytoit。Strictlydescribed，itisapracticingofdifficultandunpleasantintervals，mainly。Anignorantpersongetstiredoflisteningtogymnasticintervalsinthelongrun，nomatterhowpleasanttheymaybe。In"Parsifal"
　　thereisahermitnamedGurnemanzwhostandsonthestageinonespotandpracticesbythehour，whilefirstoneandthenanothercharacterofthecastendureswhathecanofitandthenretirestodie。
　　Duringtheeveningtherewasanintermissionofthree
　　quartersofanhourafterthefirstactandoneanhourlongafterthesecond。Inbothinstancesthetheaterwastotallyemptied。Peoplewhohadpreviouslyengagedtablesintheonesoleeatinghousewereabletoputintheirtimeverysatisfactorily;theotherthousandwenthungry。Theoperawasconcludedattenintheeveningoralittlelater。Whenwereachedhomewehadbeengonemorethansevenhours。Sevenhoursatfivedollarsaticketisalmosttoomuchforthemoney。
　　WhilebrowsingaboutthefrontyardamongthecrowdbetweentheactsIencounteredtwelveorfifteenfriendsfromdifferentpartsofAmerica，andthoseofthemwhoweremostfamiliarwithWagnersaidthat"Parsifal"seldompleasedatfirst，butthatafteronehadhearditseveraltimesitwasalmostsuretobecomeafavorite。Itseemedimpossible，butitwastrue，forthestatementcamefrompeoplewhosewordwasnottobedoubted。
　　AndIgatheredsomefurtherinformation。OnthegroundI
　　foundpartofaGermanmusicalmagazine，andinitaletterwrittenbyUhlicthirtythreeyearsago，inwhichhedefendsthescornedandabusedWagneragainstpeoplelikeme，whofoundfaultwiththecomprehensiveabsenceofwhatourkindregardsassinging。UhlicsaysWagnerdespised"JENEPLAPPERUDEMUSIC，"andtherefore"runs，trills，andSCHNORKELarediscardedbyhim。"I
　　don’tknowwhataSCHNORKELis，butnowthatIknowithasbeenleftoutoftheseoperasIneverhavemissedsomuchinmylife。
　　AndUhlicfurthersaysthatWagner’ssongistrue:thatitis"simplyemphasizedintonedspeech。"Thatcertainlydescribesitin"Parsifal"andsomeoftheoperas;andifIunderstandUhlic’selaborateGermanheapologizesforthebeautifulairsin"Tannh:auser。"Verywell;nowthatWagnerandIunderstandeachother，perhapsweshallgetalongbetter，andIshallstopcallingWaggner，ontheAmericanplan，andthereaftercallhimWaggnerasperGermancustom，forIfeelentirelyfriendlynow。
　　Theminutewegetreconciledtoaperson，howwillingwearetothrowasidelittleneedlesspuctiliosandpronouncehisnameright！
　　OfcourseIcamehomewonderingwhypeopleshouldcomefromallcornersofAmericatoheartheseoperas，whenwehavelatelyhadaseasonortwooftheminNewYorkwiththesesamesingersintheseveralparts，andpossiblythissameorchestra。I
　　resolvedtothinkthatoutatallhazards。
　　TUESDAY。YesterdaytheyplayedtheonlyoperaticfavoriteI
　　haveeverhadanoperawhichhasalwaysdrivenmemadwithignorantdelightwheneverIhaveheardit"Tannh:auser。"I
　　hearditfirstwhenIwasayouth;IhearditlastinthelastGermanseasoninNewYork。IwasbusyyesterdayandIdidnotintendtogo，knowingIshouldhaveanother"Tannh:auser"
　　opportunityinafewdays;butafterfiveo’clockIfoundmyselffreeandwalkedouttotheoperahouseandarrivedaboutthebeginningofthesecondact。Myoperaticketadmittedmetothegroundsinfront，pastthepolicemanandthechain，andIthoughtIwouldtakearestonabenchforanhourandtwoandwaitforthethirdact。
　　Inamomentorsothefirstbuglesblew，andthemultitudebegantocrumbleapartandmeltintothetheater。Iwillexplainthatthisbuglecallisoneoftheprettyfeatureshere。Yousee，thetheaterisempty，andhundredsoftheaudienceareagoodwayoffinthefeedinghouse;thefirstbuglecallisblownaboutaquarterofanhourbeforetimeforthecurtaintorise。
　　Thiscompanyofbuglers，inuniform，marchoutwithmilitarystepandsendoutoverthelandscapeafewbarsofthethemeoftheapproachingact，piercingthedistanceswiththegraciousnotes;
　　thentheymarchtotheotherentranceandrepeat。Presentlytheydothisoveragain。Yesterdayonlyabouttwohundredpeoplewerestillleftinfrontofthehousewhenthesecondcallwasblown;
　　inanotherhalfminutetheywouldhavebeeninthehouse，butthenathinghappenedwhichdelayedthemtheonlysolitarythinginthisworldwhichcouldbereliedonwithcertaintytoaccomplishit，Isupposeanimperialprincessappearedinthebalconyabovethem。Theystoppeddeadintheirtracksandbegantogazeinastuporofgratitudeandsatisfaction。Theladypresentlysawthatshemustdisappearorthedoorswouldbeclosedupontheseworshipers，soshereturnedtoherbox。Thisdaughterinlawofanemperorwaspretty;shehadakindface;
　　shewaswithoutairs;sheisknowntobefullofcommonhumansympathies。Therearemanykindsofprincesses，butthiskindisthemostharmfulofall，forwherevertheygotheyreconcilepeopletomonarchyandsetbacktheclockofprogress。Thevaluableprinces，thedesirableprinces，aretheczarsandtheirsort。Bytheirmeredumbpresenceintheworldtheycoverwithderisioneveryargumentthatcanbeinventedinfavorofroyaltybythemostingeniouscasuist。Inhistimethehusbandofthisprincesswasvaluable。Heledadegradedlife，heendeditwithhisownhandincircumstancesandsurroundingsofahideoussort，andwasburiedlikeagod。
　　Intheoperahousethereisalongloftbackoftheaudience，akindofopengallery，inwhichprincesaredisplayed。
　　Itissacredtothem;itistheholyofholies。Assoonasthefillingofthehouseisaboutcompletethestandingmultitudeturnandfixtheireyesupontheprincelylayoutandgazemutelyandlonginglyandadoringlyandregretfullylikesinnerslookingintoheaven。Theybecomerapt，unconscious，steepedinworship。
　　Thereisnospectacleanywherethatismorepatheticthanthis。
　　Itisworthcrossingmanyoceanstosee。ItissomehownotthesamegazethatpeoplerivetuponaVictorHugo，orNiagara，orthebonesofthemastodon，ortheguillotineoftheRevolution，orthegreatpyramid，ordistantVesuviussmokinginthesky，oranymanlongcelebratedtoyoubyhisgeniusandachievements，orthinglongcelebratedtoyoubythepraisesofbooksandpicturesno，thatgazeisonlythegazeofintensecuriosity，interest，wonder，engagedindrinkingdeliciousdeepdraughtsthattastegoodallthewaydownandappeaseandsatisfythethirstofalifetime。Satisfyitthatistheword。Hugoandthemastodonwillstillhaveadegreeofintenseinterestthereafterwhenencountered，butneveranythingapproachingtheecstasyofthatfirstview。Theinterestofaprinceisdifferent。Itmaybeenvy，itmaybeworship，doubtlessitisamixtureofbothanditdoesnotsatisfyitsthirstwithoneview，orevennoticeablydiminishit。Perhapstheessenceofthethingisthevaluewhichmenattachtoavaluablesomethingwhichhascomebyluckandnotbeenearned。Adollarpickedupintheroadismoresatisfactiontoyouthantheninetyandninewhichyouhadtoworkfor，andmoneywonatfaroorinstockssnugglesintoyourheartinthesameway。Aprincepicksupgrandeur，power，andapermanentholidayandgratissupportbyapureaccident，theaccidentofbirth，andhestandsalwaysbeforethegrievedeyeofpovertyandobscurityamonumentalrepresentativeofluck。Andthensupremestvalueofallhisistheonlyhighfortuneontheearthwhichissecure。Thecommercialmillionairemaybecomeabeggar;theillustriousstatesmancanmakeavitalmistakeandbedroppedandforgotten;theillustriousgeneralcanloseadecisivebattleandwithittheconsiderationofmen;butonceaprincealwaysaprincethatistosay，animitationgod，andneitherhardfortunenoraninfamouscharacternoranaddledbrainnorthespeechofanasscanundeifyhim。Bycommonconsentofallthenationsandalltheagesthemostvaluablethinginthisworldisthehomageofmen，whetherdeservedorundeserved。Itfollowswithoutdoubtorquestion，then，thatthemostdesirablepositionpossibleisthatofaprince。AndI
　　thinkitalsofollowsthatthesocalledusurpationswithwhichhistoryislitteredarethemostexcusablemisdemeanorswhichmenhavecommitted。Tousurpausurpationthatisallitamountsto，isn’tit？
　　AprinceisnottouswhatheistoaEuropean，ofcourse。
　　Wehavenotbeentaughttoregardhimasagod，andsoonegoodlookathimislikelytosonearlyappeaseourcuriosityastomakehimanobjectofnogreaterinterestthenexttime。Wewantafreshone。ButitisnotsowiththeEuropean。Iamquitesureofit。Thesameoldonewillanswer;heneverstales。
　　EighteenyearsagoIwasinLondonandIcalledatanEnglishman’shouseonableakandfoggyanddismalDecemberafternoontovisithiswifeandmarrieddaughterbyappointment。
　　Iwaitedhalfanhourandthentheyarrived，frozen。Theyexplainedthattheyhadbeendelayedbyanunlookedforcircumstance:whilepassingintheneighborhoodofMarlboroughHousetheysawacrowdgatheringandweretoldthatthePrinceofWaleswasabouttodriveout，sotheystoppedtogetasightofhim。Theyhadwaitedhalfanhouronthesidewalk，freezingwiththecrowd，butweredisappointedatlastthePrincehadchangedhismind。Isaid，withagooddealofsurprise，"IsitpossiblethatyoutwohavelivedinLondonallyourlivesandhaveneverseenthePrinceofWales？"