In nothing artistically distinguished it makes an unexampled appeal to the multitude.

Some years ago a burlesque on "Cavalleria rusticana" was staged at a theatre in Vienna.
[figure: a musical score excerpt] It was part of the witty conceit of the author to have the intermezzo played on a handorgan.

Up to this point the audience had been hilarious in its enjoyment of the burlesque, but with the first wheezy tones from the grinder the people settled down to silent attention; and when the end came applause for the music rolled out wave after wave.

A burlesque performance could not rob that music of its charm.

Ite missa est.