Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-06-14
HOW SHE WON.

HOW SHE WON.
How Wagner's Tannhanser was Performed
in Paris.
From the st. Louis Republican.
The Princess Metternich was always
a great admirer of Wagner, and the
composer, finding all the usual ways
blocked for the introduction of his
operas in France, bethought himself of
the sportive and popular Princess, and
wrote her letter, under cover of one
from King Louis of Bavaria, asking her
influence to secure him Partisan recog-
milton. AS IN everything else she under
took, Princess Metternich set herself to
work theoretically, determined not to
fail. She sent for the director of the
opera, but, to her chagrin, he was as i'm
permeable to her entreaties as flint. It
was out OF the question, he said, to
put ''Ihe Tannhauser'' ON the boards,
as the singers refused to perform Wag-
ner's execrable music. "But if the
Emperor should command it?" asked
the Princess. "Of course" answer
ed the director; ellis Majesty s
orders should at once be obeyed. %
To the Emperor, then, the Princess
went, and obtained an immediate audi
ence at the palace. Yet with Napoleon
III. her smiles and prayers were in
vain. 81 cannot command the opera
singers to right about as I can COM
mand 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 entered the chamber. ''Ah, Mon
sieur Fleury, my dear Excellency,"
exclaimed Princess Metternich. .splease
help me to persuade his Majesty to
direct Richard Wagner's, 'Tannhauser
to be performed at the Grand Opera. y
Fleury, as an experienced diplomatist,
made some faint excuses and turned
the conversation into another channel
by telling of remarkable arrest made
the preceding evening at the Jardin
Mabille. "There," lie said, "some no.
ted females were dancing the can-can
in such 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 wonderful
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 Emperor;
"that cannot be done!" "Qu1te pos
sible. your Majesty" rejoined Prin-
cess Metternich; /" I can do it myself y
81 should like to see our Highness do
it," answered Napoleon with smile.
Very we'll" replied the Princess,
quite resolutely, ''if your Majesty will
play the Can can on the piano, [ shall
dance off Minister FIeury's hat, but
only on condition that if I do it, your
Majesty will order the 'Tannhauser to
be sung at the Grand OPERA
1 accept the condition." said Napo-
leon, and the three retired to an adjoin-
ing parlor, where the Emperor. seated
himself by piano and began to play
the canes 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 suddenly
one of her feet swung gracefully over
the head of Minister Fleury, and his
hat rolled upon the carpet. "Bravo p
shouted Napoleon. "Your Highness
has won the bet" The order was issued
to the director of the Grand Opera on
the same day. The Tannhauser" was
performed, and Richard Wagner owed
his introduction to a Partisan audience
to the expert can-can dancing OF the
Austrian Princess Metternich.