The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-06-04
HOW SHE WON.
How Wagner's Tannhauser was Per-
formed In Paris.
[St. Louis Republican. ]

formed In Paris.
[St. Louis Republican,
The Princess Metternich was always
q great admirer of Wagner, and the
composer, finding all tho usual ways
blocked for the introduction of bis
operas in France, bethought himself ol
the sportive and popular Princess, and
wrote her letter, under cover of one
from King Louis of Bavaria, asking hel
influence to secure him Partisan recog-
milton.
As in everything else she undertook
Princess Metternich set herself to work
energetically, determined not to fail
She sent for the director Of the opera.
but, to her chagrin he was as i'm mperme-
able to her entreaties rs flint 1T was
out of the question: he said to put "The
| Tannhauser on the boards, as the
singers refused to perform Wagner s
execrable music. But if the Emperor
should command it ?" asked the Prin-
cess. "Of course" answered the direc-
tor. his Majcsty's orders should be
obeyed.
TO the Emperor, then, tho Princess
went, and obtained an immediate au-
dience at the palace. Yet with Napoleon
Ill her smiles and prayers were in vain.
Il cannot command the opera singers
to right about as | can command my
army said the Emperor, and in his
quiet, half sleepy way, the refusal was
as final as words could make it. just
then Monsieur Fleury. the Minister of
the Interior, was announced, and en-
1srsd TIcrv tine v on"m3Gs , 3GSscellency MaQG9S!sar
cd q IF PfHlihcess Ii cts Metternich, please help
me me to persuade his Majesty to direct
Richard Wagner's "Tannhauser" to be
performed at the Grand OPERA"
FIeury, as an experienced diplomatist,
made some faint excuses and turned the
conversation into anotherschannel by
telling of u remarkable arrest made the
preceding evening at the Jardin Ma
billie. There" he said ''some noted
females were dancing the can-can in
such outrageous fashion that the ser
geant of police, who was. present,
thought it necessary to stop them. But
the women did not heed tho order. and
one of them displayed such wondrous
dexterty and agility of limbs that she
actually danced off the sergeant's hat
from his head by kicking it away with
tho tips of her toes"
impossible" said the Emperor;
chat cannot be donel" Quite posi-
Bile, your Majesty" rejoined Princess
Metternich; II can do it myself. -
should like to see your Highness do it..
answered Napoleon with smile. very
well, replied the Princess, quite reso-
lutely; ''If your Majesty will play the
can-can on the piano, ! shall dance off
Minister Fleury's hat, but only on con
dition that il do it, your Majesty will
order the 'rannhauser" to be sung at
the Grand Opera"
Il accept the condition" said Napo-
leon and the three retired to an adjoin-
ing parlor, where the Emperor seated
himself by a piano and began to play
the cancan. Fleury stood in the mid
die Of the room with his hat on. and the
Princess, singing the melody and gath
ering her long, trailing skirts, opened
the dance. She threw her legs in the
air with amazing rapidity, and sud
denly one or her feet swung gracefully
over the head of Minister Fleury, and
his hat rolled upon the carpet. Bravo"
shouted Napoleon. "Your Highness
has won the bet" The order was is
sued to the director Of the Grand Opera
on the same day. The "Tannhauser"
was performed, and Richard Wagner
owed his introduction to Partisan au-
dience to the expert cancan dancing OF
the Austrian Princess Metternich.