' Truly grand and majestic
was this same song,--pulsating with truth and passion,--breathing with
the very essence of liberty,--an echo of the heart and soul of strong
nations who struggle, even unto death, for the lawful rights of
humanity denied to them by the tyrants in place and power. As the
superb roll and swell of the glorious music poured through the crowded
house, there was an almost unconscious movement among the audience,--
the people in the gallery rose _en masse_, and at the close of the
first verse, responded to it by a mighty cheer, which reverberated
through and through the immense building like thunder. The occupants of
the stalls and boxes exchanged wondering and half-frightened looks,--
then as the cheer subsided, settled themselves again to listen, more or
less spell-bound, as the second verse began. Just before this had
merged into its accompanying splendid and soul-awakening chorus,--
Pequita,--having obtained the consent of the manager to execute her
'Dagger Dance' in the middle of the song, instead of at the end,--
suddenly sprang towards the footlights in a pirouette of extravagant
and exquisite velocity--while,--checked by a sign from the conductor,
the singers ceased. Without music, in an absolute stillness as of
death, the girl swung herself to and fro, like a bell-flower in the
breeze,--anon she sprang and leaped like a scarlet flame--and again
sank into a slow and voluptuous motion, as of a fairy who dreamingly
glides on tiptoe over a field of flowers.
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