Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-09-21
Petra, the well known Andalousian dan.

Petra, the well known Andalousian dam
se,tSe.
The assembled guests, the receptions
once over, mounted to the Sale de Comidi.
arranged under the direction of Sechau.
the expert scene painter of the Grand
Opera, who with wonderful rapidity had
In few hours, prepared stage, foot.light,
and curtain. besides painting such scenery
as was required himself Henrie Monnier,
the author and performer of Joscph Prud-
hoH'me, aided by some ofhis artist friends.
played the Fdmille Improriser, his chef
d'onre, in which he fills five parts, with
all his admirable and laughable talent.
Ahttlelncident which occurred appears
to have added to the gaiety of the per-
fCrinance. AT the moment when Mon
nier, after having PLAYED Coquerel, was to
appear as Joseph Prudtomme, he was sew
cral seconds behind his time, and thrill
ran through the audience as NJ. Pescheux
who filled the post of stage manager, came
omlnouSly before the curtain to announce
that, :. Mr.. Monnier having drunk great
deal Of faro during his four months res:-
dence in Belgium, could not get with his
former facility into NJ Ptudtnmmc's black
pantaloons. Pcscheux was overcome
with shouts of laughter, that only gave
way to the applause which assailed Mon
nier few moments after, when he ap-
peared with pantaloons fairly on, and con-
tinued his performance.
When supper was announced the guests
descended to jardue d hirer which the
poet had had cOnstrcted in what was orr
glnally his court yard. Above and around
the glass casing was one mass of trained
ivies and creeping plants, tropical shrubs
and exotic flowers. Among the myriad
leaves and colorcd lights, nightengales
tluttered at liberty, while candelebras
and lustrcs litup the fairy-like scene with
marvellous effect.
As the Spanish guests could not speak
French, and as the other guests knew but
few words of Spanish. the consequence
naturally was conversation made up of
the hybrid French, and still more anus
ing, impossible Castillian. Nevertheless,
the supper appeared to have been very
gay, and the toasts to have been multi
piled and interchanged, until the scene
was perfect Tower of Babel of enthusi-
asm and hurrahS. But all this was no.
thing to the dancing which came next in
order, not the revised and corrected STYLE
given On the boards, but the indigenous
dance, with all it's grace and temeritv, its
caprlces and improvisations.
After a pas lie deur and pas de quatre,
came a pcs de hmt, called the Ole, which
is the national dance of Grenada, and Sc
vile. The castinettes played with re-
doubled vigor, the guitars and singers in
creased their melancholy eastern accom-
paniment. The cries of the audience ex-
cited those of the dancers, who from eight
grew to twelve, and from twelve to twenty,
until all the Senores and Senoras with one
accord, sprang forward, intermingled, ST.
parated, met, and darted back again in
one merry whirl, and the saloon re-echoed
with frantic applause. 1t was half past
three when their Wearied mamma gave
hint to La Petra and Anna, to stop the in
furiate dancers, and "alas." saws the
writer, " broke up the ball" In the dim
gray light of the coming morning the de-
parting guests bid farewell to Dumas,
VINO, lnueiailSaDie t0ller and man APP
parently without sleep that he is, mount
ed to his " cabinet de trardi," to finish the
fourth act of LA GeaneSse dc LOUIS XIV"
which piece, complete in five acts, was
read to and accepted by the Academic
Franchise, on the lst September. He has
had bat two days in which to write his
fifth act, but Dumas can work twenty
hours out Of the twenty-four. The play
is already in rehearsal, to be produced
tn. &C months hence. FRANCO.