[Boston—Sunday, 4 June 1871]
Sunday June 4th Louise Kellogg & her mother lunched here. The latter a coarse woman, but with the cleverness of a double distilled Yankee. Her talk is one flow of continued sparkles. Louise sang very sweetly at my new piano which dear J. has given me for a birthday present. “Going to Sleep” by Mrs Akers—music by Alfred Pease—also a little “Lullaby” which she caught from Nillson and one or two other songs—indeed she was very kind as she always has been about singing.
In the evening came Adelaide Phillipps to tea. She gave us no music but we had a pleasant talk together and suggested words for songs, Dobells Nuptial Eve etc.
She gave us a queer picture, behind the scenes of Brignoli—an enormous man with a tenor voice who has sung much here. It seems he is very timid and is often shaking with fear while he appears to the audience stiff and indifferent. He is also credulous with regard to signs and wonders and travels with a large pair of antler’s horns upon his lap wherever he goes, against accidents. In a carriage where it will nearly put out the eyes of the persons opposite, in the rail car where he requires an extra seat for the same, every where has this absurdity accompanied him. He wears tiny representations of the same upon his watch-chain etc.
