The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-12-01
TIE DAILY DTSPATCH
BEHIND TIE SCENES
AN AMUSING sxrrru

we clip the following clever sketch from, tho
ST. Louis Republican. 1t will be hes, snrra re
ciated by old theatre-goers: "Pp''
lew years ago, danseuse Of considerable
note; ii VINO was serving an engagement at the
Cio 81. Louis" nightly turned every head
WIN plrouettes and other deadly tricks Of the
al'-to say nothing Of her magnificent charms
physique, that went straight TO the heart. On
que ee'ening-when the favorite "Giselle" ap.
poured 10 large audience-we sat in a stage
ooA az Inc end OF the circle, where, in addition
~ the entertainment promised by the pro-
granmc, we quietly enjoyed the occasional
uhdertone directions of the dumb artistes on
Ine boards. Gisele, as the pretty peasant
gn', had ensured a triumph. The part was
rshoered ren TO the life. She was graceful, natu.
H Iai ano winnIngly modest. Her ar,less sim.
traction. Many gentlemen in the pi,. who he.
lieVed they saw veritabe angel in gauze
shoits and silk tights, translated the pas into
prayers and the plrouettes into revivals, and.
unable to contain their feelings, grew at times
Indecorously noisy. GiselIe had discoveries
Duke Alberts deceit, and at the close of the
nfst act had died, very correctly. In the sec.
ono part, according to the legend, she shared
u !he tate in spirit land of all young girls who
mac been too fond of dancing while on earth
sne fad become a Willis. Duke Albert de.
next saw him, he was wandering beart-broksn
IN the dark forest near the silver lake." where
tne Willis held their midnight dances. The
shade OF Giselle glided before him! He out
stretched his arms wildly, bu, the vision was
gone. Next it appeared behind the marble
tombstone. We may state here, par parenthe.
sis, that while the bewildered Albert was en-
gagged in dashing the monument to the ground
theie was lull IN the music, and we heard the
queen OF the Willis wern some mechanic in
the SKIES that IT he did not hoist up a larger
rope they never could get curtain cloud over.
Then there was slig ht shower of tobacco
juice, and voice from above uttered something
IN reply, which, however, we could not under.
stand. GIselle no longer danced her feet bore
iy pressed to the ground the flowers over which
she passed. The deception was complete
Albert cIouched near the footlights, victim
TO the fatal enchantment, when, over Mr.. Ad-
ANS harmony, We disting suppressed
cry OF "Let her rip" and white summer
cloud secured he stage. From the surrounding
mist we discerned the angelic Gisele, grace
fully recumbent smiling with sorrowful sweet
ness on penitent Albert. There was sonnet thing
truly enchanting in the smile; it was crea-
ton OF heart and soul; the angel dwelt sadly
on mortal thoughts. Go it," said voice
sharply from a cluster Of ancient ivy, (ivy
grown by Stockwell,) and the clio nd moved
mysteriously near the silver lake. Faster and
faster 1t came; now past the waters, now over
the graves; and now-hold! quick crack
among the celestial woodwork, and the misty
chariot stands stock still. Giselle smiles vel,
her coral lips half parted, and though they
move not, the whisper reaches US distinctly,
"My God John, what is the matter has the
line broken?' The audience believed the stop.
page designed for effect, and applauded tumui-
tuously. But the cloud remains firm as the
rock. Yulme, pretty Willis, stoops to Gull a
night flower, and we understand her to suggest
the propriety of dropping the curtain. Mr..
Huntey's voice, too, reaches US indstnctfy,
and a prolonged hustle ensues behind the
scenes.
Giselle, gentle shade, is all the while smiling
pensively and sadly from the summer cloud
Her lips, blushing, painting seducers, are yet
parted, and they barely move when she asks,
"Are you gsipg to keep me here all night
Be in a hurry-do something." Now faint,
but regular blows are heard in the heavens
Vulcan, armed with muff1ed hammer, is nail
ing zephyr to the clouds. A moment elaps.
es then, and is all quiet. The audienceIbegin TO
discover the mishap, as appears by a loud hiss
from the galleries, coupled with tiinid cheer
from the pit. Another crash in the machinery.
Patience can do no more-a portentous dark
ness gathers on the brow of Giselle, as she
utters in good, broad sailor nglish, "D-n il,
man, why don't you heave away-take q turn
on the line, you Jackass, and puIIl' What
desecration of divinty-what iniquity in
sanity galb! The transition was shocking -
We reached terra frnaa, from Olympus, in an
instant. About this time the damage in the
Aecting vapors was repaired, and the cloud
skinned, as ifimpelled by hurricane, out Of
view between the wings. We heard no more
OF the by-dialogue, save a single remark from
the mysterious tenant of the venerable ivy
1t was, in substance if not in the very words,
"By gum, boys, we made her hark from the
tomb this time!'