Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-02-06
Vol. l..
OPERA DANCING.

As this amusement is becoming very
fashionable in the United States, the follow
ing letter, written by Mrs. Adams-wife of
our second Prcsident-while in France in
1884, will be read with interest at this time:
ITO MRS. CRANCH.
"Auteuil, Feb. Goth, 1884.
any DEAR srsTER.-This day eight
months | sailed for Europe, since which
many new and interesting scenes have pre-
sentcd themselves before me. | have seen
many of the beauties, and some of the de-
formities, of this old world. / have been
more than ever convinced, that there is no
summit of virtue, and no depth of vice,
which human nature is not capable of
rising to on the one hand, or sinking into
on the other. / have felt the force of an
observation which | have read, that daily
example is the most subtle of all poisons.
have found my taste reconcillng itself TO
habits. customs, and fashions which at first
disguised me. The first dance which saw
upon the stage shocked me; the dresses and
beauty of the performers were enchanting;
but. no sooner did the dance commence,
than felt my delicacy wounded, and was
clothed in the thinnest silk and gauze, with
their petticoats short, springing two feet
from the floor, posing themselves in the
air, with their feet flying, and as perfectly
showing their carriers as though no petit
coat had been worn, was sight altogether
new to me. Their motions are as light as
fawn and as quick as lightning; they
| balance themselves to astonishment. No
description can equal the reality, trained
to it from early infancy, at royal academy
instituted for that purpose. You will very
often see little creatures, not more than sew
en- or eight years old as undauntedly per.
forming their parts as the eldest among
them.-ShallI speak the truth, and say thai
repeatedly seeing these dances has worn of
that disgust, which | at first felt, and tina
| see them now with pleasurel Yet, when
| consider the tendency of these things
the passions they must excite, and tn
known character, even to a proverb, which
is attached to an opera girl, my abhorrenct
is not lcssened, and neither my reason no
Judgment has accompanied my sensibility
in acquiring any degree of callousness
The art of dancing is carried to the high
est degree of perfection that it is capable
of. At the opera, the house is neither s.
grand. nor of so beautiful architecture, a
the French theatre, but it is more fire
quented by the beau monde, who had rattle
be amused than instructed. The scenery
is more various and more highly decorated
the dresses more costly and rich. An,
Oh the music, vocal and instrumental i
has a soft persuasive power; and a dyin!
sound. Conceive a highly decorated build
ing, filled with youth, beauty. grace, ease
clad in all the most pleasing and variou
ornaments of dress, which fancy can form
these objects singing like chcrubs to tn
best tuned instruments, most skilfully han
died, the softest tenderest strains, ever
attitude corresponding with the music flu
of the god or goddess whom they celebrate
the female voices accompanied by an equ;
number of Adonises. Think you this cit
can fail of becoming Gytherea, and th
house temple of Venus!