The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-04-11
rrom Once A wek.I


oosTUsBs-THE BALLET GIRL MORALLY AND AN
KsTHETIcALLY cossIDERKD.
IFrom Once weck1
The ballet is almost always associated with
comic, or at least mirthful, Incidents; that is TO
say, it is properly an sppendsge OF comedy and
not Of tragedy; and 1t evidently pertains TO that
species Of comedy which Mr.. fhackeray has de-
scribed so happily in his lecture upon Congreve.
This il notthe comedy OF humor, nor the comedy
OF satire, but the comedy of pleasure; Of reckless
jovial employment; Of epicurean dissipation per-
petual gsyety, and wanton frolic. Now we all
know what have been the stage traditions upon
this subject from the time Of Psutus to the time OF
NJ. blanche. We cannot describe them better
than in Mr.. Thackersy's own language:
al fear the theater carries down that ancient
tradition and worship as Masons have carried their
secret signs and rites from temple 10 temple.
When the libertine has carried of the beauty In
the play and the dotard Ia laughed to scorn for
having the young wife; In the ballad when the
poet bids his mistress gather roses while she may,
and warns her that old time is still s-fying; when
harlequin, splendid in youth, strength and agility
dances danger down; when Mr.. Punch, that god
less old rebel, breaks every law and laughs at it
comedy, in the song IN the dance, In the ragged
little Punch puppet show, the Pagan protest.
Doesn't il seem as II life puts in its plea, and
sings its comment!
constant protest Of the animal nature OF man over.
flowing with hilsrity and health. against all pre-.
cepts. ~
ment OF this idea. When the troop Of nymphs
come floating gracefully on to the stage, DO they
not once suggest III Youth, and love, and beau
ty; dancing, singing sn6 feasting life Of voup-
tuous softness and Paphsan slumbers, unbroken
by a sirgle toll, untroubled by single care and
unencumbered by any OF those vexatious scruples
and groveling prejudices with which the common
place work.s-dsy world so needlessly torments It
self? Why else those laDguishing glsnces and
Iascivous gestures those alluring tones and those
engaging attitudes, Do they not seem TO sing TO
us the universal song of the sirens; Come TO the
arms of beauty; come to the bowers OF love-
the lutte and the flask; turn your backs upon care
and labor. upon the thumbing bilow, and the
groaniDg oar come to the fairy groves; come to
the golden Islands; come TO the garden OF the
hours: or any other place which the taste OF the
author may have suggested.
This we say Is the true significance of the ballet,
as the special exponent OF the comedy OF peasure;
II IL these immemorial associations connected
with il that invest its costume with an aspect 30
repugnant 70 decency. II we saw woman dressed
in style for the performance OF an athletic feat
We should think nothing OF 1t. But when we see
Il on the stage we see Il the representative OF
that "ancient tradition and worship" which Mr.
Thackeray spoke OF. II Is not the dress. Dut the
bscchic theory which IT represents, that Is the
true source OF the improperly complained OF In
In fsct. we believe that the dress rather
dininishes than enhances the immoral tendencies
sphere OF real life into the region OF fable, and
away from all similar associations. The effect OF
twenty young girls going through regular pal-
let and throwing themselves into all the postures
which that performance Is supposed 70 demand,
attired, at the same t.me In the ordinary ball
dress OF the period wbuld, In our opinion, be ten
times worse. Il might be less indecent. but IL
would certainly be MORE voluptuous Inc con.
clusion seems TO be that the complaint Of short
skirts tight feshipgs, land so forth, rests upon
O. very weak foundationj But at the same time, we
wo1ld not ignore IL altogether. There Ia no rea-
son wby the dress Of kris engaged IN these per.
formances should bel reduced below certain
poInt and IL any shoot to the feelings OF respect
able persons is spared by keeping them st that
point, by gil means LEI II be done. To Us IL doss
not seem matter Of rtuch moment whether fen
inches more or less OF the lady's person be ex.
posed TO view, II we tolerate performance, the
whole spirit Of which i such as we have described
IL 10 be. The ballet thas OF late years become
much too prominent, on the stage, and the true
remedy IL 10 curtail 10 dimensions and change its
character rather THAI to lengthen its skirts and
augment petticoats. This remedy the public have
In their own hands, aSd we should not be sorry Il
The London Review abiding to the late circular
of the lord chsmberssn, relating to indecencies VI
The most curious ksult of the publication Of
this orcular is the rf4elation of the intense fog
which enveiops the fublic mind on such matters
The philosophers OF tie Daily Telegraph were 81
once down on such al enticing subject. Accord
ing 10 one of these INGENIOUS Subjects an actress
may dress or undresss she plesses, so long as shs
considers such lack q costume necessary 70 bel
mart without offeri{y any indecent exhibition
but so soon as she us9s scsnty dress or even yo
luminous clothing suggestive OF concealment. fol
the purpose Of making that suggestion attractive
then she Is guilty ON indecenoy. The indecencJ
lies in the intentiorsof the poor little womsn'
mind consequently The public, when it observes
the heroine OF panes,mime como suddenly upor
the staqe-apparent'y having been so preoccupies
with her part as % have forgotten her petit
coats-must demsndsa ply steal explanation Of he
conduct before telling her TO lengthen her trunl
hoee or heiQhten he'd bodice. Then we ind IN
comfortable referenxss TO the nude pictures In thu
galleries: here and there q hint as to the condi
lions of artistic Representations; protest on be
half Of the theaters, is compared with music halls
an indignant disclaiFser on the part Of the music
halls; q charge against girls In non-professiona
life Of appearing IN 3sesses short ss those on To
stage; and q piteouS complaint from o young &C
tress, who says she 3 forced to lose half her sa
ary because abe wishes to escape the necessity Q
playing " boys psrS." This latter young lady
very practical, and{forswears metaphysics. Ac
stresses, she remark6, have their dresses made 10
them al the directios Of the manager, Who In turn
Is at the mercy OF tie popular taste: the youn
men in the stalls wisl TO see N9res dressed msrel
IN the tanges OF het own hair, Neyea has to sun
NIT, or else relinqw'sh her post. "kepugnanc
to assume the costSfles referred TO is general !
profession;" and II IL only because the public
attracted that managers and actresses alike hav
been recently engaged in stripping the ngle'
apron OF its leaves.
Through these vatious statements. counter-ststs
ments, efforts Of metaphysical ratiocinaton, 90
the exhibition Of personal experienced, ther
seems TO glimmer at least thin one notion-tha
indecency is very rpuch relative thing, regulate
contemporary opthion which has 90 far PR
nounced sgainst the extreme want OF clothin
which has been introduced into some burlesqus
and nearly all the pantomimes OF two thing
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