. Solemn hymns
were to be sung at the uncovering of the statues, beside other
festivities. I was fortunate enough to receive an invitation to this
festival, which was to commence a little past seven. Before that I went
to the theatre, which, I was told, would open at half-past six. I
intended to remain there half an hour, and then drive to the palace,
where my friends would meet me to accompany me to the festival. I went
to the theatre at six, and anxiously waited half an hour for the
commencement of the overture; it was after half-past six, and no signs of
the commencement. I looked again at the bill, and saw, to my annoyance,
that the opera did not begin till seven. But as I would not leave until
I had seen the stage, I spent the time in looking at the theatre itself.
It is tolerably large, and has five tiers of boxes, but is neither
tastefully nor richly decorated. I was most surprised at the exorbitant
price and the variety of seats. I counted twenty-six different kinds; it
seems that every row has a different price, else I don't understand how
they could make such a variety.

At last the overture began; I listened to it, saw the curtain rise,
looked at the fatal spot, and left after the first air. The door-keeper
followed me, took my arm, and wished to give me a return-ticket; and when
I told him that I did not require one, as I did not intend to return, he
said that it had only just commenced, and that I ought to stop, and not
have spent all the money for nothing. I was unfortunately too little
acquainted with the Swedish language to explain the reason of my
departure, so I could give him no answer, but went away. I, however,
heard him say to some one, "I never met with such a woman before; she sat
an hour looking at the curtain, and goes away as soon as it rises." I
looked round and saw how he shook his head thoughtfully, and pointed with
his forefinger to his forehead. I could not refrain from smiling, and
enjoyed the scene as much as I should have done the second act of
Mozart's _Don Giovanni_.

I called for my friends at the royal palace, and spent the evening very
agreeably in the brilliantly-illuminated galleries of antiquities and of
pictures. I had the pleasure also of being introduced to Herr Vogelberg.
His modest, unpretending manners must inspire every one with respect,
even if one does not know what distinguished talent he possesses.

The royal park is one of the finest sights in the n