The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-11-09

Paris Corresnondence N. o. Picayune.

N. ".
OF all barren callings, perhaps. there is
none more sterile and ungrateful than the
dancing girls. They are taken in hand when
they ale seven years old. A traIng school
for the frst-class of dancing girls is scarcely
a less painful spectacle. The first thing done,
is to place the feet in hollow wooden clamps
or boxes, whose bottom und top are stoutly
strapped together. and which are moved by
straps, so rs TO bring the heels of the feet
heel to heel, while the knees remain turned
out. This is extremely painful under any
circumstances it is doubly painful when
the pool. girls feet are swollen and bruised AZ
they almost always are. This exercise lasts
half an hour. Then for another half hour
she is abliged to place first her left and then
her right foot wooden bar, which is
placed on level line with her chin. Then
they dance all the steps used In ballets lies
assemblies, les jetes, les balances, les ronds de
jambe, les fouestes, les cabrioles, les pirouttes
IN the instep, les sautes de basque, les pas
de bourree, les entrechats quatre, six and
huit This series of exercises must be pur-
sued and reviewed all day long, until ex-
hausted nature sinks. It il said, after . les
sen two hours long, without an instsnt's
pause, Mile Marie Tnglioni-IAe Taghoni-
teel half dead on the floor of her chamber,
and was undressed, sponged and dressed be-
FIRE she recovered consciousness. Her father,
who gave her the lesson, stood by and made
no other comment on the scene except to say,
"She will be unusually brilliant tonight
She was unusually brilliant that night. A
danseuse shines in her profession only by
this asslduous exercise, which is given when
abe is seven years old and ends only with her
retirement from the stage. If she cosses it
once-if she goes TO the sea shore for pleas
Cab to& ho al T,rr
creation-upon her return to Paris she must
labor three times more than ever she did TO
regain her old suppieness and elasticity and
airness. And woe to her if idleness brings
flesh that flesh must be dissipated, for fiss
N dancing girls enemy, it will prove her
death. People do not 80 to ballots to see
quivering jelly. There are some dancing
girls. who either are naturally stiff, or are
am bilious to shine in their profession. These
exercises IRE not the only gymnastics resort
ed TO by these stepchildren OF nature, and
these ambitious girls They are constantly
striving ID invent somo new exercise which
shall turn" and ''hreak" themselves. 1t 10
said the beautiful lie Eugene Fiorce-am-
bilious girl has invented process which
possesses the advantage of simultaneously
turning" and breaking" her. She lies on
the floor of her chamber; her face is turned
towards the floor. She then makes her ser
want, Germsn girl of immense weight,
stand on her back and press with all the
weight of her body upon the Ganseuse, who
often finds the pain 80 gEeat as to bring forth
tears despite oil her efforts. Several rival
dauseuses have tried il, but were unable to
Withstand the pain. She says she owes her
marvellous lightuess to this exercise which
she repeatedly takes during the day. 4 den
seuse'e pains do not end here. She has to
expose herself, almost every night che plays,
tt serious dangers. There was in the first
act of Theophile Gautiere ballet La Peri, so
perIous leap, the danseuse who filled the
leading part did really place her life in jeo-
pardy every night she plsye it. One even
ing while Charlotte Grisile was dancing the
part, M. Petipas, her partner, failed to mind
his business. She lacking the proper sup
port. fell with such violence as to fracture
her skull. They are obliged to stand in the
oldest postures on 'practicables" not wider
than lady's hand. They are suspended by
iron wire. necessarily as light as possible for
| Illusions sake-whils flying" to the very
top and bottom of the theatre. There 10 the
perpetual danger of fire. And when the frst
crows foot traces its sinuous lines to the
| eyes corner, and the slender form loses it's
| Diana's firm, full, and yet delicate outlina in
| o mass of fesh-the danseuse's career ia end.
| ed. Until this fatal hour she receive a few
hundred dollars year Cor all these pains. ali
these perils.