Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-01
FANNY ELSSLER.
A Sketch of the Famous Danseuse who
Expired in Vienna Thnrsdav Inst

| EApAFeO vienna Thursday Last.
Fanny Elssler. who died in Vienna
Thursday, Nov. 27. says the Philadelphia
Nea1S, was born in Vienna of Hungarian
parentage in 1917. Her father was a mu-
sician, with talents of a high order, a
bosom friend of HadyD, the composer, who
at that time was living in the Austrian
capital. She was trained as a singer by
her father and other masters, but when
about II years old she conceived pas
sion for dancing. After bitterly opposing
her wishes her father gave way, and she
was apprenticed to expert dancing mas
ters for training.
She made rapid progress in the art, and
when she had reached 10 years she and
her sister obtained an engagement at
Naples. In that city Fanny Elssler be-
came great favorite, but she insisted on
returning to Vienna, where she was in
stalled as premier at the Court Theatre.
When she was IL she had become the best
dancer in Germany and was equally re-
nOwned for her beauty. Crowds assem-
bled at the Court Theatre whenever she
appeared. Wherever she went she crea-
ted furore.
SOME OF HER ADMIRERS.
1t was during this period that the Due
de Reichstadt, son of Napoleon l.. fell
IN love with her. He never avowed his
passion, but frequented the theatre
nightly. 1t was only on his deathbed that
he finally confessed his lifelong affection
to his friends. The Baron Won GratZ, at
one time the Minister of Foreign Affairs
of Austria, was another one of Fanny's
admirers. He was So years of age when
he was admitted to the circle of the dan
GERS friends. Four years after the bar
on's death series of letters were pub
lished, in which he repeatedly avowed
his love.
In 1888 Fanny was engaged at His Ma
jesty's Opera House as a premiere dan
seuse. Her success was so great that
NerOn, the director of the French Opera.
went to London for the purpose of induc-
ing her to go to Paris. He gave dinner
to Fanny, and invited a great many of her
admirers. At the toast which honored
the presence of the dancer Veron pre-
sented her with a dessert-dish filled with
diamonds and rubies. Fanny refused the
gift and so surprised Veron that he was
captivated with her disinterestedness. In
1884 she consented to appear at Paris.
WHAT wYKOFF SAID OF HER.
1t was in 1886 that Chevalier Wykoff.
the celebrated Philadelphia beau and
courtly adventurer, first met her. Wykoff
at that time was in the zenith of his pros
perIty. He had exhausted the fashion
able gayeties of Philadelphia and New
York, and was competing with Sam
Ward, Miss Astor's husband and the
uncle of Frank Marion Crawford, the
successful dude modern novelist. for the
entree of the most select circles in Europe.
Wykof was introduced to the Elssler by
the Marquis de Lavalette. In the book of
his adventures, which Wykoff published
some five years before his death. he writes
of the great danseuse:
''She was above the medium height,
finely formed, and her features well
shaped. Her countenance was sweet and
winning, her voice was low and musical.
and her every movement was an incarna-
tion of grace"
WykOf, at the solicitation of Mr.. Price.
the manager of the Park Theatre in New
York, induced Fanny to come to this
country. She arrived here in 1899, and
then began the intimacy which remained
between her and WykOff until his death
last spring. About ten years ago she re-
tired from the stage and lived modestly
on her large income in her favorite city,
Vienna.
Fanny Elssler was the rival of the great
TagllOnl when this century was young,
more hearts by the spice of her cdchucG
than Cleopatra chained with her beauty,
Not alone was she great danseuse, but
she was remarkably handsome. She had
the peculiar witchery of her Magyar
descent, and wherever she appeared she
carried with her long line
of admirers, who vowed their love and
accepted her disdain with acknowledge
ment of its iustica