St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-13
TAGLIONI's MEMOIRS.
An Interesting Chapter from the Reminis
ceysces OF the Great Dancer


teresting memoirs of Toglioni, of which SC
much has been said since the great dancers
death:
"Here in London again If can only
find the success and homage which greeted
me before! The season is this year except
ionally brilliant (1S44), though bread is said
to be dear and the peoples misery great. One
would not suspect 1t to see so many splendid
equipages, so many diamonds upon the white
bosoms of the ladies. Two Italian opera
houses are open; their performances are
given alternately, but the competition be.
tween them is appalling. Her majesty's d.
rector is Mr.. Lumley; Oovent Gardens is
Mr.. eye. Unfortunately for me, it is at my
theater, Her Majesty's, that Jenny Lind
sings, and all other stars are eclfpsed by her
Evidently the ballet will be sacrificed to her.
She is certainly an admirable artist.
Her voice is of Incompatible
purity, and her taste in singing is
equal to her art. But what difference be-
tween her and Grisi, who Is at Covent Gar
den. The latter is not only a consummate
songstress and musician, but a grand TRACE
dienne besides, and although she may be
nearer to ripe age than to youth, her beauty
still greatly excels. The queen has declared
herself, and is wholly in favor of Jenny
Lind. Not one of her performances does she
miss; often she arrives before the orchestra
has commenced the overture, and rarely de-
parts before the curtain has fallen. At the
first performance of Robert lie Diable,' with
Jenny Lind in the role of Alice, the queen
stood up in her box to applaud her, and
threw her her bouquet. So it is settled Jenny
Lind will be the honess of the season. The
enthusiasm is general. But as for myself,
who have heard Falcon in the role of Alice,
I own that my opinion is qualified. At Cow
ent Garden Albani, Persiani, and the inimit-
able Mario shine beside Grisi. Mario ap-
pears to me little worn. ALI how delicate
these tenors arei Almost as much so as the
danseuses.
''Mr. Lumley, for partners in the dauce,
has given me two charming Italians. Rosati
and Cerito. They really do not dance badly
for Italians. Cerrito is married to 3
Frenchman named Saint Leon, who fills the
position of premier dansuer, and fills it to
perfection. He plays the violin like a master.
It is said that they are engaged at the Paris
opera. If this is so they will not live long
together. At Convent Garden the chief star
of the ballet is Mile. Plunket, who danced at
the Academic Royale in Paris with but mod
crate success. She dances the cachuoha! Who
would talk of a god of the dance if it were
possible for him to see such capers executed
by danseuse of reputation! 1t is frightful;
an ungainly and lascivious display, which
may amuse worn-out pleasure seekers, but is
not dancing. They say, however, that Mile.
Plunkett finds nothing in it to complain Of
so much the better for her. do not believe
that the doors of our Royal academy will be
open to her. She is said to have an en-
gagement in Italy. Mr.. Mitchell, book
seller and ticket agent to the aristocracy, is
manager of st. James Square hall. It is
said his receipts are large. We have had
bouffe; and now Mile. Rachel, Of the Come
die Franchise, has arrived to finish the
| season. l am afraid that she, too, will fail to
| find repeated here those great triumphs that
attended her first tours abroad. At bottom,
the English do not seem to understand very
well the repertoire of Rachel, and they adj
mired her at first good deal as a matter of
| course, when she was, so to speak, under the
patronage of the queen. To-day most of
them attend her performances merely be-
cause it is customary and fashionable to do
SO.
''The members of the highest arostoeracy
frequent our green-rooms, and several of
| them obtain introductions to the chief stars
and ask permission to visit them. 1 have in
another chapter sketched these projectors of
art in general and of artists in particular,
and need not return again to their individ-
ual characteristics. l have my own admir-
ers, whom nothing can discourage; but l am
| now at least spared their declarations and
signs. They have had no better reception from
| Cerrito. So they have resorted TO others,
notably to the cachucha dancer, and she has
received them most Hospitality. Our French
actresses at the st. James also have their
court which is numerous and often changes
personages. Rachel holds the first rank
here as on the stage, and none of these gen
tlemen have any cause to complain; she is
an excellent person, her heart is
! one Of the most compassion
ate. Among our latest visitors l must cite
Prince Louis Bonaparte, who is fresh from
the prison of Ham, whence he escaped some
months ago. He is a rather clever man,
with short legs, not handsome, but possess
/
which are wholly amiable He is very fond
of pleasures, and, as to them, is now max
| ing up for lost time. He consoles himself
for his absent country with everyone who is
| willing to accord him this sort OF consola-
ton. He is especially fond Of tragedy and
the cachucha. He has done me the honor TO
treat me as high-born lady and a country
| woman rather than as a danseuse. / ven
! tured to ask him If he had cured himself of
| his mania for becoming emperor. Not at
ALL he answered; emperor l will certainly
! be- But III not have the trouble of seeking
my crown; it will be offered me- He evil
IDENTITY ia crazy. But think his seven years
! in prison have moderated him.
! cat last Jenny Lind's engagements over,
and the ballet resumes its place of honor. A
step called the ''Dance of the Goddesses' has
been created for Cerrito, Rosati and myself,
which We perform first together and then
separately. Grand success for the three of
u.s. The receipts are magnificent, the bravos
| enthusiastic, and the stage strewed with
bouquets. ALI if only her majesty Victoria
would honor one of our performances by
her preseneei But there is no danger Of 1t
| She forbids even her husband, Prince Albert,
| who is dying af desire, to show the merest
! tip of his nose within the royal box.
am assured, however, that the
/ prince did come one evening, clandestineIy
! and incognito. Ahi if the queen
knew it, But I'd pity the poor fool who
| would 90 near her with such report. would
/ pity him more team even the culprit How
| jolly to be a queen One can at least be
| jealous officially and put some restraint up
on too tickle husband. But this is, not
| they say, the falling Of Prince Albert, who
| loves the queen possfonately. Yet, after all,
| being prince does not make one the less
mani Our season is soon to finish. But
do not think shall ever come back to Lon.
don. The French, and above all the Pari
SLAMS, who are said to be so light Of chgract-