The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-01-09


CHEvALHR GArLLARDET ON FANNY ELssLxR's
FAME AND FoRTUNE.-F. Gaillardet, Chevalier OF
the Legion Of Honor, and editor Of the Courier dss
Etats Unis, relterates his assertion, founded he
calls it, on an official source" (what is that that
Fanny Elssler sustained pecuniary losses In this
country and thar she is in complete possession Of
all the property she accumulated /" in America. He
goes into some details, and refers to MIR. Auguste
Belmont, and Mr.. John Duer, of this city-elso to
several persons in Philadelphia.
No doubt Fanny Essler sustained no losses from
these agents-the reputation Of these honorable
men forbid the idea. Neither do we impute any
improperly of conduct to any person. We merely
stated what heard Fanny Elssler herself declare,
relative TO the proceeds of her American engage
ments, during an interview which took place
sometime in the month Of July, 1913, in her
apartments in Haymarket, London, before seve-
raj other persons In that interview she stated
positively, that, out of the whole proceeds Of
her American engagements, of two years, amount
ing to about $4,000 or $4,000, she had only re-
naming about f8OOO or $40, OO0-and that the ba-
lance, being about onehal she had lost by improper
conduct. Her female cousin and attendant con
frmed this statement even more positively than did
Fanny herself. These are the naked facts, coming
from her own lips, which was heard by two per-
sons now in this city. We accuse no one-make
no insinuations against any body-but simply state
Fanny Elssler's own declarations, which may go
for what they are worth
With regard to her "brllliant talents" and to the
dignity and purity Of her private ife,'' we have
no reason to believe but that Chevaer Ga;llardets
statement is correct. Soon after Fanny Elssler
10 hor bill liant Jshssf IN
statements were made and published in certain
quarters, against the purity OF her private life.
We made inquiry relative to this matter of
Henry Wikoff, native of Philadelphia, who had
attended her during her voyage, transacted her
business in New York, and accompanied her
during her whole American career. He assur-
ed us, on the honor Of gentleman, Qor we
knew little Of her history ourself,) that in pr
vate life she was one of the purest, and best,
and most virtuous Of beings-that she had re.
ceived letters from distinguished American dplo.
matiss in Europe, to their friends in this country
that his Excellency, Christopher Hughes, was one
of those riends-and that she had been received in
the most respectable circles in New York. Mr..
Wikof, during the two years, uniformly gave the
same evidence Of the purity and excellence OF her
private character and we have no reason to doubt
but he was perfectly competent to give this testi-
mony, tor he accompanied Fanny Elssler to Phila-
delphia-he accompanied her to Baltimore-he &C
companied her to Boston-he accompanied her to
New Orleans-he accompanied her to Havana-he
accompanied her to Coney Island for the benefit o.
sea bathing-he accompanied her to Niagara Falls
in short, he accompanied her from Europe to
America, and from America back to Europe
None, therefore, could be more capable of judg-
ing of her private character than Mr.. Wikof
was and on his invariable testimony, we, there.
fore, concur with the Courier des Etats Unis,
te-totaly and unqualifedly. But in the matter of
the fortune we believe Fanny Elssler's own positive
declarations, backed by the equally positive assu-
rance OF her female cousin, in preference to any
anonymous statement put forth to the con-
trary by Chevalier Gaillardet. In doing So
however, we make no insinuations, nor cast
any imputations against any person, male or
female, either in Europe or America, in Heaven
above, or the earth below, or in the waters
under the earth We merely say and think, with
out caring anything about the matter, that Fanny
Elsser ought to know her own affairs the best-thats
all We believed at the time that she told the truth;
for she could havano motive to do otherwise-and
we have seen nothing since to make US believe
the contrary.