Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-05-07
NJ | $ G. T. LII A n Y
From Reynold'' Mi'eelhuy.l
THE BALLET CIR L .

W hfi'
You don't say so? Well ;hatis COM
fort, at any rats! We shall get rId Of thO'o
olious stranscr.girls, who are always
hanging about the wings AMI thrus,ins their
noses where they ars not wanted
"That /. somsthing To rsjoicc at indeed.
don't object to our own ballet ladies' but
to have these extras in,rudIns into the
grccn.room, spying about and listening
To every word tha; is said, declare 1t i'
quite insuiT,rible positively quite :"
The scene where thi. ,o'iloquy was going
on was the grccn.room Of one Of the lead
ing metropolitan thcaior.. The interlocu'
tor. were principals, a. the term goes. and
by virtue Of drawing from the treasury
tho one. fifteen pounds for enacting the
walking ladies and the other six, fOr DO
livering mc--iscs-,hey conceived themsel-
yos entitled To be as ins1lsnt as they pleased
to the unhappy girls, many Of whom posses
scd lar superior talent, but who were Ob!i.
gel To be sontent n gain weekly as many
shilling. as those clever ladies' took pounds.
IL is true they both bad somewhat sud-
dcdy risen from the state they had 50 much
de.piseI. per favor Of a friand, 10 the proud
position they at present occupied; and
though dramatic critic, might dsmur 10
their claims. tncy certainly obtained the
" reward Ol merit" Time had somewhat
eaAcoi their charms. aud the remembrance.
OF their early struggles. yet It had lei. them
the knowledge OF the vulnerable points at
which their young associates might bc most
easily wounded and never had the axiom
that +" knowledge !. power " been more apt
ly illustrated than in the pcaling out Of
their cnycmonci darts.
One Of ,heso plrIahs OF the dramatic tribe
"A balle,.girl-was at tina, moment leaning
her b al upon her clasPcd hands, which
rested on the man,lepIccc. She bad sought
the apartment to bc alone with her thought Is
and as she stood thcrc alone she forsu, tho
scene around her. and saw in her mental
vision, the sad and ds,olatc homo where
she knew that the announcement OF the
withdrawal Of the piece would lrins tears
and condemnation. She knew that upon
her rested vast amount OF responsibility,
f,r she had at home parents sick and almost
destitute. She was fragile girl, and she
hated the profession u which poverty but
not her will consented. There was a look
Of deep anxiety in her cyes-and her face
but Tor the rouge she wore, would have been
pale as marble even through that there
wa. an eIpession OF dep anxiety that suited
III ber girI,sh years. She started. as the
voices Of the ladies aroused her from her
reyeric, and Us she became aware VI the ma.
turo Of the conversation that was going on
- near her. u bright aush suTused her neck
aud mounted even to her brow.
"Do You hear yourself called to so on
the stage. Miss oJdell2' rudcly inquired
the pr ,mp,cr, .huiIlns past, hi' sPectAcles
IN one hand, and his book in the other.
81 am here, cir"
"lIcrc! yc.. see you are here, and |
shall fine YOU FOR talking a, the wings.
Here. indeed how dare you answer me ? I've
taken care you shant be here much longer
We shall got ril Of the whole pack Of you.
Friday night will be your last night and
You'll find your treasury pretty small on
Saturday. have You all down for a fine
your whole weeks salary every one a set
of"-what elegant appella,ion he was
about to apply was about ioaPPly was 'us-
pended by the approach OF an exquisite OF
rank, who faneied himself desperately in
love with the object OF thi, unproyOked at
tack.
The peer eyed him moment contempt
ously through his glass. Whats that you
are 'aying about a fine. sir?"
The promptor mutiercd and bowed.
bah. Bah! What's the damage
Then without waiting for reply. dain,ily
drawing sovereign from his vest" Will
that pay it? Ifitwill take yourself OF,
and don, annoy lady with your imperti.
nence."
Let me beg your Lordship will put up
your purse. ! am net IN the habit OF re-
cciying layors from strangers"
"Stawngers nav nav nav, don't
be cwuel; my deawest cwea,ure Pom
my lie. it's enough to bweak fellows
heart, when you know that am waiting
to thwow my whole fow,unc at youw feet.
| am wcally surprised that you pweferr to
to wemaln in this detestablc position, when
cwewy happiness that wealth and love can
command wait youaw acceptance"
"My lord" said the girl proudly, "thcre
can be no happiness for me eIeep, assOcia.
ted with yir,ue,"
"Now my dcaw cweatuaw," began the
peer but by this time Miss 0ddeli was
to take her place in the ballet
The young man still kept lowering near
her. +" One word, Miss 0ddell."
Have the goodness to make way, my
ord" said che.
"Thcn honaw me by paying the fine out
but of this, my deawest cweatauw! You
lent know how happy you will make me
L you will pswmit me to contwibuto in tho