Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-09-16


The children's ballet in the Grand
Opera House, introduced in "Midsum.
mer Nights Dream" and which is one
of the attractions of THE Wandering
jew" played there this week, is the re-
suit of an enterprise of Manager DAILY,
having for its object nothing more nor
less than the creation of a school for the
ballet in New York. A reporter of the
Sun, who has been attending both the
representations and the rehearsals of a
fairy spectacle, learned from the box
Office, the stage manager, the children
themselves and their mothers some Gu
rious facts about the creation of that
ballet.
1t struck Mr.. DAILY last spring that il
corps de ballet could be created which
would be free from the reproaches so
often justly cast upon that popular fea-
ture of the modern drama, and which is
so strongly condemned by heads of fam
lies as an unfit exhibition, it would be
doing an actual service, to that portion
of the theater.going public. As soon as
it was known that such corps de ballet
was being formed scores of mothers
presented themselves daily at the Opera
House with their children. Each little
candidate had to be examined as to in.
teligence and fitness, after her personal
appearance gave satisfaction. Then
Madame Lanner began her instructions
and tested the little ones nimbleness Of
foot and grace Of movement, and if found
satisfactory she was enrolled into the
corps. Through the whole summer have
these little girls been in training; re-
hearsing and practising every morning
in the theater. They are of all ages,
from three to twelve years. To see
these children in their ordinary dress at
rehearsals, or at night, coming out of the
Opera House with their mothers, would
dspel the fear which many persons ex-
press that they are overtasked. They
look as bright and fresh after the per-
formances as at the beginning. The
reporter asked several of them whether
they liked to dance in the ballet. Not
one said no. They seem perfectly at
ease, sitting on the benches or on the
knees of their dressing maids, or down
on the floor in their gauzes and spaugles,
the very picture of happy abandon.
%You see," said Manager Wright,
how nice these children are. You
might come here every day for month
and you would never heaF an ugly word
from one of our little girls. They don't
know what bad language means. They
never hear it here. we take the very
best care of them. There are about
twelve dressing rooms for them, and
dressing maid for each room. We sup |
ply all the costumes, from the shoes and |
stockings up When they come off the
stsge after the last act in which they |
perform, the Weids undress them, hang
up their costumes, and put their own
clothes on them again"
IL should think there would be danger
Of their light dresses catching fire as
they run around their dressingrooms,"
said the reporter.
"Lord bless you'll no such thing could
happen" said Manager Wright. %Why,
every gas JET in the house, before and
behind the scenes, is covered with wire
globe. There's no earthly danger
The reporter asked the Office manager,
Mr.; Duff, What wages are paid for these
children.
From So so to SIS per week" was
the answer: "but.the average is not s..
The $l5 wages are paid to a few only as
an incentive to exertion and industry.
Reporter" Mr.. Duff, is this the first
children's ballet corps ever brought on
the stage in New York;"
Mr.. Daft" No. Some years ago
German or Prussiau ballet dancer, Tha /
had retired from the stage because she
had grown very stout brought over to
this country children's corps de bal
let from Vienna. They danced on the
boards Of some Of our theaters and
we're known as the Viennese Children.
The woman was very much censured in
the papers for her treatment of the
children, Who, it appeared, had been
picked up ont of tho streots Of Vienna,
The corps was broken up after few
exhibitions. This is the first ohildren's
ballet troupe trained in New York or in
this country. Children have been taught
10 dance and introduced in crowds and
groupings on the stage, but not dis
tinetively as ballet dancers. From this
time feel assured there will be a school
for the ballet here as in European cities. I
What do you think Of our experiment.
Have the children improved since their I
first appearance last Monday night?
Reporter think you have done
wonders with your material and the
time you have devoted to the work The
children improve in their ease and grace
Of movement their steps and time every
successive evening"
MinsssiA P,rseek, one Of the shAh's