The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-02-05
The Ballet Girl.

hind the Scenes" By Olive Logan:
| remember one evening, in Paris, being
inside the Grand Opera House, on an occa-
sion which the most unobservant person
could not have failed to see was one of
great interest.
The street on which the opera house was
situated was literally .jammed with vehicles
resplendent in golden trappings. velvet
hangings, emblazoned panels, drawn by
thoroughbred horses richly caparisoned,
and bearing the very flower of the beauty,
wealth and distinction of both hemispheres
fair women, laden with diamonds blazing
like stars; brave men, equipped in brilliant
uniform and glittering with orders, stars,
crosses and carriers to proclaim their valiant
deeds or gentle blood; the graceful Eugene,
Empress of Beauty and Of the French:
Louis Napoleon, proud and happy; German
Princes English dukes and duchesses; the
young and graceful lad with the red hair
which has run through the race for genera
tions, the Marquis of Douglas; generals,
magistrates, statesmen, merchant-princes
from New York, scholars from Boston. eel
ebrated beauties from all parts of the
globe.
What was the occasion Of this great
gathering? Was it COUNSEL of nations, an
opening Of Parliament, the reception of
foreign potentate
No; it was simply first appearance in
public of young girl less than seventeen,
and whose only claim to attention was that
she was dancer.
Her name was Emma Livry. From her
earliest childhood she had been devoted to
tie art of dancing-though this was no ex-
traordinary thing, for there are large
lumber of girls always in training for the
Grand Opera, in Paris, who are taken at
the age Of four years, and kept in constant
practice until they reach womanhood, when
they appear in public.
But this girl had shown extraordinary
genius. In her later years the celebrated
dancer Marie Taglioni, Countess de Noisins,
hearing of the new dancer, left the villa on
ice to come to Paris to give the girl les
sons.
Her improvement was miraculous. Tag
Iona said she would renew the triumps
herself had won in former days
And now she glided upon the stage Tie
brilliant audience ceased their chatter as
she appeared. The occasion took the char
acter of what it was afterwards called in
the newspapers great solemnity'
She was very young, and was Just at that
period in the life of a girl when her figure
IS apt to be what old fashioned people call
raw-honed. She was tall. tln and pale.
Her face was not handsome. Her form
gave no evidence of physical strength.
She was received in hush of silence
Let us see," this great audience seemed
tn say, ''what you really can do in this
poetic art.
Any one who could have connected sem
suality, grossness with the girl, would have
been baser than a syborite; and yet her
dress was the conventional dress of ballet
dancers-short to the calf of the leg, but
thicllly clad above.
She began. o grace. you never found
prototype till now! painting sculpture,
you paled before this supple, elastic, firm
y, dainty tread.
At the conclusion Of her first movement,
when with n gush of sweet music she
|Sprang like a f,wn to the footlights, and
extending her slender arms and delicate
hands toward the audience, as if to ask,
Come. what is the verdict Oh me now -
a burst of enthusiastic applause, loud
shouts of brava,'' bravissima,' ''e'est
magnifquc," waving of handkerchiefS, a
deluge of sweet flowers, formed the re-
Spouse.
The Whole evening was series Of tri
nmphs. The Emperor and Empress seat
an aid-de-camp behind the scenes to offer
her the Imperial congratulations. Marie
Iagloni, accompanied by her noble hns-
band, sought the girl also, and taking from
her breast magnificent diamond star,
which had been givon her in former days
by the Emperor of Russia" Here" said
she. take this-the queen of dance. Marie
Taglioni, is dead-long live tho Queen,
Emma Liyry,''
as passed out amongst the den SC crowd
which composed the audience, saw we
man Of middle age, and respectfully dress
ed, leaning against one Of the marble col
umns in the vestibule. Her face was flush
cd, and she was wiping tears from her ,.yes
You weep, Madams?" said q gentle
man who was PASSING.
Yes, mousieur," SIZE replied, "but it i
with iey. Who would not be proud O
such daughter, and of such tribute t,
her genius %
Tho early death of this young artist wa
n sad event. If she had lived she woul,
have conferred honor upon an art wllicl
has so much to degrade it-so much to con
tend against.