The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-08-30
THE GIRL OF sHAPELY LIMB.
A Ballet Master Discusses the Maiden
of Abbreviated Costume.
From the Netc York Graphic.

From the Netc York Graphic.
"You want 20 know all about ballet girls,
do you,n said an old manager the other day.
well, l guess can tell you as much about
'em as any one. We have % advertise for
them. Iput little notics in the daily
paper of not more t1an three lines, reading
out in this style: 'Wanted-100 young
ladies to appear in the ballet; they must be
young, gOOd-looking and of fine form.
Apply at the stage door at o'clock a. m
and the next morning the street is block
AIDED with the most picturesque swarm
of noisy and chattering women i'm
aginable. They come from every
section of the city, and from ali the differ
ent occupations with which females are
privileged to be identified Sometimes it is
quite difficult for me to squeeze through
the tnrong after sending out a notification
of the nature given above When finally
get to the door and open it grand rush is
made to gain admission, and frequently. on
such occasions. quality of female temper
is developed hat means danger TO anything
and everything coming within its reach.
| have a large room in the rear of the stage,
with leather covered benches arranged on
three Sides When my fair audience has
become thoroughly composed | sit down at
a little table Immediately in front of them
and make hurried
SURVEY OF THE CHARMING CIRCLE.
Then beginning at the right call the
first one TO me. l can tell in an instant
whether or not she will suit In the Sc
lection of a ballet there are three essential
qualifications which must be observed, and
these are: First, a shapelY FORM second,
youth, and third good looks. The two latter
| can determine myself, while the quality
Cf the former must necessarily be more or
less speculative. | generally ask them if
their legs are straight and symmetrlcally
formed, ana it is rarely receive a negative
reply. When see them in costume why
then | can place my own estimate upon
their anatomical points"
How do you dispose Of the surplus after
having made the necessary selections?n
81 call them up the same as the others,
ask their address, write it down in my book
and tell them if they are wanted will send
for them by letter. Occasionally when the
summons is not forthcoming they return
with fire in their eyes and make my sur
roundings uucomfortably warm If they
have the slightest suspicion they were re-
iected because of their advanced years then
look out. If one Of these learns that friend
or acquaintance Of hers has received an en-
gagement she opens the walls of her wrath
and pours out the most uncOmpllmentary
illusions against her competitor. What,
she will eXclaim, am / not as good
looking as that scarce-crow4 Am | not
as young as she is! And as for shape
why look at me- and the irate Hebe poses
in such manner as will emphasize all her
physical endowmentS in the most startling
manner. Sometimes q mother and daugh-
ter will come together. The former will
tell me that her child has had longing t.
go upon the stage from the time she first
began to lisp. The histrionic germ was
planted in her at birth, and has been grow
nd Nb1v- hoAl, L
reached the coming season. The woman
show great interest i'll her daughter and
believes that under proper training a great
future will be opened to her. at the
same time she has a fear of the stage
and all who are connected with it, and,
providing her daughter is selected to appear
i'll the ballet she must accompany her to the
play house, and remain there until it is
time for her offspring to return home
These solicitous mothers generally express
themselves as being perfectly willing to
have their children begin at the first round
of theatrical life. aud ascend step by step
in public favor and experience These
creatures seldom realize the dream of their
lives. Not one in twenty ever gets beyond
the stage door"
after you have made your selections
and begun drilling the girls, are your labors
ended, and are you freed from further an
| noyance by themn
Not altogether. Sometimes we take
girl and spend hours In teaching her the
| filling-in business and the next day she fails
to show up. Her best fellow has probably
objected to his sweetheart going before the
public and
EXPOSING HER ANATOMY
before the eyes of 500 bald headed rascals
and another 500 of exquisite young men
| who are present for the purpose Of exchaug-
| ing views on the comparative merits Of
this or that girl so far as her physical out
] lines are ccncarnal l ram lam lnI: r-a hcA n