The New York herald., 1878-11-28
NO LITTLE BUTTERFLIES.

COLONEL MAPLEsoN's CHILD BALLET DOES NOT
DANCE-THR SCENE AT THE ACADEMY OF
MUSIC LAST NIGHT.
No children danced in the ballet OF Les Papillons
the Butterfes) given last night at the Academy Of
Music after the opera of Lucia di Lammer-
moor had been rendered. This ballet has been made
somewhat famous by reason of the sensational arrest
Of the impresario Of Her Majestys Opera
Troupe, Colonel James Henry Mapleson, on q
warrant sued out by the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Children. He was taken
before Judge Morgan at the Jefferson Market Court.
and held for trial in $500 bail. This promptly
furnished. When the Colonel returned to the
Academy he was naturally indignant and ne pro-
claimed his intention to give the ballet when it was
necessary, and make test of the matter
in tho courts He expressed himself late as
yesterday afternoon; but when HERALD reporter
him last night in the lobby of the Academy he had
changed his mind. He said to the reporter :I have
seriously considered this affair. and, although am
sure Of my legal position in the matter have deter
mined to exercise the equity Of courtesy and to keep
the children element OF the ballet of until the ques-
ton is settled in the courts"
coNDoLENcE
During yesterday hundred letters and cards
from the fashionable and opera-g0ng people Of New
York city were left at Colonel Mapleson's hotel.
of capitalists offered themselves BAIL nearly
every piano manufacturer being represented in the
~A-S
Guilty had already been arranged the superhuity
Of the .profferings could do more than
many OF them being from the mothers of the little
butterflies. The arrest was sensation: the re-
suit ovation. 1t was the first time that Fou r
teenth street had been treated to genuine thrill for
long time. and the most made Of 1t. 1t is even
rumored that French lbrcttist talked amicably
upon the subject to Rullman lbrettst. But this
mere gossip. and should not be relied upon.
THE CHILDREN
The HERALD reporter made his way through the
rain TO the stage door OF the Academy
street. The curtain was down on the first act of
Lucia. On the farther side Of the stage there is
antc-grecnroom, i'll which about fifteen little girls
in wraps waerproofs and cloaks were gathered
Four or i've mothers moved among them, the mini
mum OF mammas simply showing that the decision
about the ballet was sudden and recent one, and
that the had not travelled to the homes
Of all of these little 'papillons.' The reporter
asked planfaced woman who was closely wrapped
in shawl damp with rain, whether she desired her
child to dance in the ballet. She answered that she
did This was the expression of opinion given by
every nlatron present. Poor things" said one lit
is recreation after being in school,. ut is not
hard as being in school," said another. "But the
children. let hear them. DO you like this ballet
business? Are you content to continue your butter
fly e,sistencel r so said the reporter to the girls
The "Ycs" that not exactly howl, but il
powerful enough in fasctto sense to drown the
noise of the storm that was making grmly irregu-
The chubby children crowded about the reporter as
il he were Commissioner of Charities and Correc-
tion regular tour, and seemed very much in
terested in the event. II vote had been taken
among them the Society for the Prevention Cruelty
to children would have been defeated.
.'As FOR my little girl, remarked a mother in
plain shawl .'she is always doing something like
this And here the woman with the pnchcd features.
and more suggestion naturally of dance about her
than there is in the sphinx, executed attempt at
waltz movement that no doubt brought up
OF her. youth, when such things both possible
and delightful
THE INFANTILE BALLET.
Besides Mile Marie Muller. who is twelve years old
there twenty-four little girls who have attacte
the attention OF the Society FOR the Prevention Of
cruelty to Children. Their Annie Sticklcy,
Harriet Kenny, Louise firmen. Alice Yeuther,
Bertha Hancock, Hattie Fevcrt, Lily tiottlier,
Hattie Bullwinke. Susan Bickcl, Josephine Muz-
ger, PauIipc Drcscher. Rosa Mccormack Dora
Trocmcl. Lizzie Keans. Dora Edwards. Kate
Arnoux Louise Croius, Netie Harper, Kate Drcscher
Annie Dunz Lizzie Firincn. Julia Giroy Pauline
tioenne and Oracle Koch The reporter saw nearly
all of them, and in instance did ne hear word of
complaint to the rigor of the ballet exercise. On
the contrary. there seemed TO be- genuine and uni
versal desire to 60 out the stage and dance,
whether the Society for the Prevention uf
Cruelty to Children willing or not.
As mothers began to arrive the children prepared
reluctantly t. depart, and many tiny butterfly.
huldleJ mp in waterproof shawl, sighed. as she
passed along Fourteenth street in the rain for the
glitter and glare OF the staee-for the music, the
warmth of the house and the gossamer wings at the
shoulders. The ballet went ON all tho same with
Mile. Malvina Cavalazzi and the other premieres IN
their y0tes.