Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-08-21
4 Chat with TagliOni.
London Correspondence Baltimore

LOuuOn correspondence DdlIlilOre Sull.
There are many of your readers who
remembar Taglioni, the Queen Of
Dance. It IS very long time since she
gracefully posed before the public, and
made one of "The Graces," Of which
theatrical terpsichore trinity Fanny
Ellsler and Cerito were the two others.
What bounding, fairy-like creature
she was! What q trio Of fairies were
they | remember going to see them
in the ballet between the opera Of "The
Barber of Seville" old Lablanche, the
mighty basso, as Figaro, and Rubin,
the mighty tenor. What q charming
event And what a coincidence That
time [ went to see this operate stnd
Baltimore gentleman. Yesterday IN
the drawing-room Of his good widow, [
met the veritible Taglioni. What a
marvel Of the tenacity of life she is
[ dare not say her age; indeed, [ could
not. Who can? [ doubt if sne herself
can. [ know full we'll she won't. This
is her one tender point.
But be sure of one thing, she is not
old. OF that rare number Of ladies
who age gracefully-N no never become
cats, yet are not reckless like kittens;
of that charming period when the twi-
light Of life softens the coming sha-
dows in the valley of death; that sweet
autumn that recalls summer and
scarcely indicates winter; of that class
of serene, pure natures speaking out
their soul's faith, hope, and charity, is
this esteemed lady, Taglioni. What
charming repertory is her well-stored
mem Dry! All, me, how well her rich
Italian lends color to her exquisite anec-
dotes, while her epigrammatic French
serves as lorgnette by which we see
every point and beauty IN the pleasant
personal pictures F. she draws. What
briliancy and worth in the descriptions!
"WeH, you see," she says, life to me
has been merry dance.a have no err
rors to boast of and no regrets to ex-
press" There's chapter Of moral
philosophy for you in two lines,
Fanny Ellsler? Yes, she went to
live abroad Pas de Roses, yes; we, that
is, Fanny and her dear sister Therse
and myself We three danced in the
Pas de Roses. never shall forget it, for
I nearly was knocked down into the
orchestra by Therese, who had very
long legs--who has them yet, hope.
Not a bit of it I'VE were never in rivalry;
we were the best of friends, all three of
US. We went in different ways after
wards. [ took to the outlet Of study
and my villa here in. London. [ love
good books and all that is good: they
keep me younger. Fanny went back
to Vienna, and a more potent, graceful
politician-in camera, of course-did
not rule in or outside that gay city.
Why, do you know that ?-Well, never
mind. All, so you saw in Paris the tall
and graceful Therese, now the Dowager
Queen of Portugal All! me, how
well [ can see her in the. past. Pray
tell me how she looks now.
'The King Fernando is not half the
King she is Queen, danseuse or no
danseuser' Here Nine. Taglioni
warmed up with professional and
friendly pride that was quite refreshing
to behold. .,. She resumed: why,
Queen Victoria is a cousin to Therse by
this marriage, there are worse cousins, a
great deal, that her gracious majesty
has to receive at Court. But Therese
has prudence with dignity, and goes
only where she is Welcome." [ said
this fair lady-and use the word fair
in its best sense-has a repertory Of
anecdote. I wish I could Gull the leaves
therefrom of incidents of men and
women she has met, and, with the
brightest leaf of all, her own life, shapea
welcome volume, or add d few col
umns to the San.