Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-05-29
Fanny Elssler---HIcr Receipts by the Peo-
pie OF this Countrywide Danei"s---Her
Admirers---And the Penny Critics.


Admirers---And the Penny Critics.
Three weeks have scarcely elapsed since Fanny
Essler set her beautiful feet upon our shores aud
In that small space Of time, she has won her way into
public favor with a rapdy really unparalleled.
This has been brought about as much by her lady
like and modest department, as by the grace and
egance of her FORM and the beauty OF her dancing
Before she left England, she was discouraged by
many, who gave her gloomy picture Of theatricals
in this country of the state of financial affairs, Of
the empty benches at every house, almost every
night, which they attributed to deprecated taste.
On the passage over, she had great doubts about
success and Landed in New York with any thing but
sapoune anticipations. Soon after her arrival, she
waited on Mr.. Simpson, in company with Monsieur
Svlvain and the characteristic coldness and sang
froid of the manager almost chilled the few remain
inc hopes that she had cherished OF success On
leaving Mr. Simpson, she observed to Mons. Syl-
yan Z" Can it be possible that he is the Director 90
she is the Director replied Mons. s. "Well,
WE'LL" said Fanny, signing, 'he is so cold, and so
distant, and so unconeerned, thought that he was
merely like the box book-keeper, receiving orders
for seat" Never mind, Mademoiselle," uns wer.
ed Monsieur Sy lvain, "when his house is filled by
your dancing, those circumstances will change his
manner which has had much to it Of late, atm
told. Circumstances, you know, change manners
very much" "Ah, oui, oui," said Fanny, but we
shall see"
On Monday morning, all the papers which were
unbiased by paltry and contemplate prejudices
and spleen against the manager, came out in praise
of the divine danseuse, whose powers they knew
were unsurpassed by any living artistic. These re-
marks aroused the public, who Immediately set off
10 the box Office of the Park THEATRE secure seats
for the first second third, fourth, fifth sixth, sew
epth and in some instances for every night of her
per fermance. Simpson was astonished. He imme-
diately put on his hat, and waited Fanny at the
American Hotel-solicited a sight Of her pre-
gramme-was quite lively and enthusiastic-spoke
\, warm terms Of the prospect ahead, and seemed
sarcuine of success Ga his departure, Fanny turn.
cd round to Mons Sylvan with an arch smile and
said. .You are right-very right; circumstances
alter manners very much"
At this point of the proceedings, two or three
miserable penny critics, who had concerted before
h.r arrival that they would write her down unless
hey received bonus from the manager, bsgan 10
sneak desparingy Of her abilities, and cause the
,,bl;c for express sing such anxiety to her. In
Ibis miserable attempt they most mserably failed
and remain monuments OF folly for attempting TO
sneak on a subject of which they entirely ig.
which thew had neither soul nor sense to compre-
s.ra or appreciae Finding at last all these efforts
nhor,;ve and that they had made superlative asses
r. ,hamselves they turned round and abused us for
r,;.inr her but of this penny mosquito attempt TO
blow against thunder, more by andby.
N,aemoiselle Elssler brought letters of introduc-
ton 70 several of the most distinguished families in
the city; and, previous to her rst elrance she
was waited upon and fefed by the ehfe OF New York.
sLD.a do liant at h e.. IA
"a miles that pos scss the true nobility Of nature At
lev 9th the night Of her first appearance arrived, and
sbe was timd and fearful hey ond all precedent The
delay had raised the excitement IN the public mind
total failure Trus, she had played in London, be
fore the frat critics OF the age with the most perfect
nonchalance She had undergone the severest cri-
ticsm in Europe with the highest eclat. But here
tyery thinc was so different TO what she had seen
before She had never met with such excitement
in any part Of Europe. She was perfectly astound-
ed at the enthusiasm her arrival had created. The
house was crammed To snhocation-all the seats
were taken for several nights and size alone the
Wi these feelings, and under these circum-
stances, she reached the aS 'neare on tue hght OF
her debut, and hurried to the dressing groom She
trembled in every limb with nervous apprehension
Of failure. During the whole OF the time that size
was dressing for the "Cracovienne, she Kept talk
ing 10 herself as schoolboys whistle in the dark TO
k.ep m their courage. Her cousin, whe was as
sistng her to dress, occasionaily made remark,
which was UNDECIDED by Faany. The thought Of
fill 1re haunted her. She exclaimed TO herself
"Courage FANNY courage, courage! Then she
mt ON her unique steel-heeled boots, and began to
paw the floor like an impatient steed Again she
cried out to herself, Courage, Fanny! courage!"
and vet again, "Courage, Nademoiselle FANNY!
courage!
AZ last she was dressed; she gave one look at her
III in the mirror; this gave her new hopes; she
cave one toss of her beautiful head, bounded down
the stairs like a young off the mountains, and in
a few moments on the stage. Her cousin TO-
lowed her to the side wing; all the actors crowded
down behind the scenes; the bell rung, the house
was breathles. the sleep OF death the music com.
mencrd. every eve frightened, aud every heart beat
aaIibly The curtain rose; Fanny stood pluming
herself like a young eagle, at the d y. upper en-
rance, 10 king down at her ieet. aud again eIacu-
la'ing F" Courage. Fanny, courage" There was one
raon. NJ Of intense cXciiins suspense, and on she
bounded, beautiful. graceful sgiaed, agile, doubt
ing. asd yet desperate
The de was cast She was stopped short by peal
on psal Of the most deafcnng tremendous applause
that ever was heard within the walls Of theatre
since Roscius was an actor in Rene. There she
stood In the centre Of the stage pale marble sta
tue; her beautiful bosom hesving with wild thrill
ling vet delicious excitement; and her eyes lte-
r,llv suffvsed with tears. Her young cousin was
ten times more frightened than Fanny She looked
round the side wing, the novelty II her Situation,
could NOT the cause ef IT. and wringing
her hands. cried out most piteously, oh. mon
Dieu mon Dieu poor Fanny-she IS frightened
20 death Oh, mon Dieul mon Dieu! she Is
friqhtened all TO death" There was cessation Of
elegance but not with her ssusl skill Her parting
smile, however, made amend; and she was en-
cored. She had partially recovered herself, and
drew down again overwhelming applause. She