Morning journal and courier., 1880-08-04

From the Pail Mall Gazettel
 M Ludovic Halevy, in a very bright and curious book which has jumped, quick as thought, into second edition, has just given us glimpse of life behind the scenes of the opera in France; and, as his name is one of high account in French contemporary itera- ture, the information he sets forth is well worth having. What he tells of the mech anism of pleasure is very quaintly and pretti- ly narrated with an underlying vein of pa- thos for those who can read between the lines and it all bears upon it the impress of truth told by man of the world of great ex- perience, who is consummate master of style and language.
 So drol book has seldom been printed and yet it deals with class of professional subjects which doubtless do not appear at all funny to those whom they concern. He re- lates with much spirit and humor the real story of the Parisian ballet-girl, and traces her throughout every stage of a career to which she is often enthusiastically attached. Her life is very hard one. She must get up before daybreak on the cold raw mornings of midwinter to take her dancing lesson; and again at midnight when the opera is over, she has to find her way on foot through snow and rain to her humble lodging at Montmartre or Batignolles. The idea of riding in omnibus must not enter her head; for while in the lowest rank of her calling she has but franc night, and even when
  drille" she earns only roof. year, or e29 sterling Of such stern material are our en- tertainments made, and in no department of public anlusements is @ more rigid economy practised than in the salaries of dancers Ad- vancement comes very slowly, and there is great deal of competition for every vacancy in the higher ranks of the profession. Even after the most meritorious and indefatigable labors the native French girl constantly finds herself eclipsed by Russian and Italian dan cers. The hierarchy of the dancing world is as narrow and as rigorous as the hierarchy of the army. It bristles with examinations competitive struggles and inspections.
 It is considered great thing to move up from the ''second quadrille" to the first quadrille," |" for then the salary is raised to l, ,O00f., or e4O yearly being just enough with frugal management to keep body and soul together. From the first quadrille'' to the second ''coryphees'' is still more wig orous step forward and isrewarded with 1900 f. year. or, say, just e1 week. The next step upwards is to the envied position of ''premiere coryphee,'' possessing the superb emoluments of 1900 f., or e60, year. Fiji nally, after years and years of patient study, the dancing girl attains the summit of her ambition, and rises into & petit sujet," which gives her individuality before the footlights. This giddy height of glory and pay, amounting to 1900 f., or in exceptional cases to 2000 f. year, is the largest reward that dancing genus can expect under ordlna- " circumstances; for the Elslers and Tag honis form class apart. Here and no far ther can good dancing girl go, after blame less youth passed in diligent capers at re- hearsals and in public. Well may M Halevy remark that we little know of how much la bor and misery the pirouette of a dancing girl is made. It seems that the lessons of the little creatures destined to figure on the stage are conducted on strict disciplinary principles. Corporal punishment is in ire quent use; but, inasmuch no French dan cling master would dare to venture on hos tile encounter with a French dancing girl, administer correction to them when refracto- ". The charge of these ladies on an insur- gent mob of chattering children who have driven their dancing master well nigh to des- pair generally restores order. Without this