PATTI ON THE BRAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1538, 16 January 1875, Page 6 (Supplement)

PATTI ON THE BRAIN.

[Madame -AdeIjAIDE Path received 800 guineas for singing " Sweet Home," and three other ballads, at the Liverpool Musical Festival in October last. Mr. Banks, from whose po6ms the Evening Stab's motto is taken, has written upon the fact as follows] :— " Eight hundred guineas for singing four songs," The price of a few moments' fleeting delight I Eight Imndred guineas for ftnir little songsYet not such as Sappho could sing or indite. O ! fortunate songster ! with fortunate art^ So to ravage the purse without brealang the heart! There have been mighty poets who died singing lays, Wuich will' live and be famous when Patti's unThey were crowned by the critics and won the world's bays, , Yet scarcely could pick up a crust or a bone; Cruel neglect, from the lap to the sod, Was the only pay known by these singers of God! There have been, too, composers whose glorious airs Fell on raen, as the dew of the mom on the flowers,— Constituting a pait of society's prayers, And gilding with sunrise life's dreariest hours— Who have perished in garrets, and no hand to stay The souls of the singers from passing away. " Eight hundred guineas for singing four songs I" No wonder the poet to grief should be brought, When all the gold coin of the gold getting throngs Is heaped upon one who but echoes his thought! " Eight hundred guineas!" A word, sir, from you— Is the world gone stark mad, or say, is it true ? G. Linn.s;t;s Banks.