The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-05-02
Fanny ElssIer In the United states-Con
tlnuation Of the Wik0H COrrespon dence.

We give to-day another instaiment Oh the WI
koff correspondence, giving a.curious and original
historical narrative Of the extraordinary progress
of Fanny Elsslenin this country. This instalment
comprises some letters during the year 1910, from
Boston, not included in our former batch, and
bringing down the record of her doings to the md
die of 1871, when, tired and worn out she was en-
deavoring TO recruit her health at several of the
watering places round about the country.
| twill be seen from this correspondence how ut
terly unworthy OF credit the man Wkoff is, in the
recent extraordinary statement which he published
IN the New York papers. Throughout the whole
OF this business in connection with Fanny Essler,
| II we committed any error, 1t was permitting our
good nature, generous impulses 10 lead us to do
too much for the interests of mere GaNseuse great
to be sure but not requiring any great effort our
| part. In this correspondence it will be perceived
| that Wikoff audes to some remarks which had APP
peared IN the Herald relative to their movements
| in Havana and New Orleans Let us state the
| facts.
During the visit of Fanny Elsser at Havana,
| and whilst ] absent at Washington, a
letter was received from correspondent in Havana
giving an account of her reception there both a
dansewse and private individual, and describing
in very flattering manner some attentions which
she had received from Spanish nobleman there.
But, unfortunately, our correspondent coupled
| with the name of Wikof1, the designation of
"clerk," or "agen," which latter term he himself
| appropriated in some subsequent communications
| to the press of this city. Much about the same
| time there appeared number OF articles IN the
American papers, taken from the English papers, IN
| which the career of Fanny Elssler was compared
with that of Taglioni, her age given, and other
historical facts, relation to her previous life,
which had not till then been known here. These
statements it seems made their appearance in the
European papers after the first accounts went
out there, andwere published on the heels ofhe great
excitement which Fanny Elssler had been producing
IN the United States. Some of the descriptions
of her progress in the South, furnished by this very
Wikoff to the papers there, had been republished
| in New York, been sent to Europe, and were there
commented on rather severely by the critics as be-
| ing very ridiculous. This naturally made those
connected with the press in Europe give an hiso-
rical sketch of Fanny Elssler, which was very gen.
orally copied in the American papers here. but we
| did not copy them at all. On leaving Havana
Fanny Essler and Wikof went to New Orleans,
where the excitement ragged beyond even common
decency. The newspapers of that city took the
matter up, and here are two paragraphs referring
| 10 it,
| From the New Orleans Advertiser
FANNY ELssLER New ORLEANS Tuesday night
May H. ls4l, will be memorable in the
history Of rows srppers and serenndes, in New Or
leans Fanny Elssers admirers assembled in the street,
late hour in front of her chamber, at the st Charles
Hotel and being prepared with music stands lights sc
they gave her moroccan truly delightful
Just at the nick Of time the bells began to ring uously
and the fire engines and the hose carriages moving
up Common street. right through the army of Fanny's
musical worshprers their stands broke their
lights and came killing one of Apollos fair haired
After this discontinue the musicians prepar
ing to give another piece, having INDUCED heartily in
upon their durbers When horrible to relate the
engines returned to the attack and halted in the midst OF
the serenaders The remen wishing to show their devo
ton TO the fair danseuse began to ring the hose carriage
bells wheop halo and to make all Of discord
ant sounds The goddess not reshng such an assault
upon her pretty orders for the music to enter
her hotel where she tried to listen to it, amid the huzzang
| and bell ringing without When the serenaders withdrew
the fremen did the and there ended this little bit OF
| skirmish Of opinion and music.
Previous TO all this and shortly after Fanny's return
from the theatre where she had benefit Of SO
and where she received two bushels Of and
magnificent supper which she gave in honor Of the Press
and OF her especial friends Viands abounded and
SO did the sparkling champagne Our noble brothers OF
tive American and Of the Omnibus were perfectly at
home They hobbed and nobbed with Fanny the
familiar style talked French Pangaise, and the
Jolly looking dogs assembled around the festive
board fbeauty and dancing Now and then Fanny
made some odd sort Of movements with her thumb upon
her nose gyratng with her fingers but what she meant
| was hey ond Interpretation.
In the hall stood several Of her devoted admirers
who had expended their hundreds the goddess but
she not caught INDUCING in any generalities the
occasion and she invited only the elite of society
who could help her hereafter in getting up ed
ton of the art Of humbug as practised by her
Taken all in ALL the doings were upon the most exten.
the fremen most deserving of applause in their up
| roarious a;tentsn
| From the New Orlesns Bulletin
The moral Of this business lies upon the surface Some
friends of Fanny Essler were disposed to pay her the
compliment oil serenade and some fool wished the affair
10 assume the dignity OF national demonstration, and
thus converted harmless piece of galantry into
Of ridiculous contention Persons in Fanny Esslers sit
uaon apt 10 have dangling to their apron strings
malsper ofcious toadies who derive consequence
from their reflected popularity and give themselves the
airs OF nabobs and she we opne Is not exempt from
this misfortune OF her The popularity of artistic
can long survive such drag and the sooner they are
acquainted with the TACT the better it will be for them
might not be proper 10 volunteer advice of this nature
without but when a community i. nearly set to-
gether by the through the meddng of such persons
hint Is not without its import II is well enough too
suggest those whose ambition IL satisfied by the
torefy Of artse travelling agent that their
tempt to make communities appear ridiculous 1t might
not be amss 10 remind them also OF the improperly OF
constituting compliments to popular iavortes to their
singing anthems when signora soLfadoreamis theatr
| cal broker vets his whistle.
! on which we made the following remarks-
From the New York Herald May -, Is4I.l
After these events and having cleared probably $l5 900
in New Orleans making in all $4,000 since crossing the
Atlantic Fanny with her SUITE embarked in the steamer
Queen Of the West for Cincinnati. But whether she
| will make as much money, and many asses her
journey westward she has done in the north and south
we cannot say We think full time for Fanny and heI
advisers TO stop their "dd nonsense" Major Jack
Dow ming would say. they do not, must administer
little Of our advice TO them-snd we do well msk
pretty efficient We cannot afford TO be the laughing
stocks Of the deanh Of Europe any longer Fanny ma,
make much money as her leg bring her-but sh
must conne herself 10 her position and 10 her
society, and manufacture supreme blockbeads
u viii not longer do 10 set M for patriot philosopher
leader OF the fashion. Ter IN OF the She Is
siniule dansesss. and be nothing else except she
should end her ~ her does a rsigcuss Al
the sCharle Thes,e her receipts s25s7 81
her benefit - stsmakirg ~ AL 90 for that engage
ment. A. The French Theatre hFr engagement welded
probably over $500. mskag siseeo for months hops
let this conten, ihs derssrss without other ambitious
separations Making monntehanks Ia 200 much for our