Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-06-01
An Agile Princess.

The Princess Metternich was always
Il great admirer of Wegner, and the
composer, finding all the usual ways
blocked for the introduction of his
operas in France. bethought himself of
the sportlve and popular princess, and
wrote her letter, under cover of
one from King Louis of Bavaria, ask
ing her influence to secure him Par
isian recognition. AS in everything
else she undertook, Princess Meter
Mich set herself to work theoretically,
determined not to fail. She sent for
the director of the oprea, but, to her
cha9rin, he was as impermeable to
her entreaties as flint. 1t was out of
the question, he said, to put 1.-THE
Tannhaeuser" on the boards, us the
singer refused to perform Wagner's
excerable music. 'But it the emper-
or should command it!' asked the
princess. "Of course" answered the
director, ''his majesty's orders should
be obeyed.' To the emperor, then,
the princess went, and obtained All
immediate audience at the palace.
Yet with Napoleon III. her smiles and
tears were in vain. Il cannot COM
mand the oprea singers to right about
as can command my army said the
emperor, and In his quite, half sleepy
way the refusal was us final as words
could make it. Just then NJ. Fleury,
the minister of the interior was an.
n0unded, and entered the chamber.
"Ah, NJ. Fleury, my dear excellency'"
exclaimed Princess Metternich, "please
help me to persuade his majesty to di.
rect Richard Wagner's sTannhaeuser'
to be performed at the Grand opera. :"
Fleury as an experienced diplomist,
made some faint excuse and turned
the conversation into another chan
mel by telling of remarkable arrest
made the proceeding evening at the
Jardian Mabille. "There," said he,
'ssome noted females were dancing the
can-can in such an outrageous fashion
that the sergeant of police, who was
present. thought it necessary to stop
them. But the women did not heed
the order, and one of. them displayed
such wonderous dexterity and agility
of limbs that she actually danced off
the sergeant's hat from his head by
kicking it away with the tips of her
toes" "Impossible," said the empe.
ror, ':that cannot be done!" ''Quite
possible, your majesty" rejoined
Princess Mettenich: 81 can do it my
self, II should like to see your high
ness do it," answered Napoleon, with a
smile. ''Very we'll, replied the prin-
cess, quite resolutely ''if your majesty
will play the can.can on the piano,
I shall dance off Minister Fleury's hat,
but only on condition that if l do it,
your majesty will order the 'Tann-
haeuser' to be sung at the Grand op-
era. II accept the condition. said
and the three retired to
an adjoining parlor, where the empe.
r0r seated himself by piano and be-
gan to play the can.can. Fleury stood
in the middle of room with his hat on,
and the princess, singing the melody
and gathering her long, trailing skirts,
opened the dance. She threw her
legs in the air with amazing rapidity,
and suddenly one of her feet swung
gracefully over the head of Minister
Fleury, and his hat rolled upon the
the carpet. s'Bravol" shouted Napo.
leon. s'Your highness has won the
bet" The order was issued to the di
rector of the Grand opera on the
same day. The ''Tannhaeuser'' was
performed, and Richard Wagner
owed his introduction to a Partisan au-
lience to the expert can-can dancing
Of the Austrian Princess Metternich.