The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-03-23
Copyright, 1896 J

Now, IL seen the ballet i-lrI tunes WlLhOuN
number on the stage, one Of hundred
others. pointing her satin toe, radiant ID
professional snlle and gauZe skirt half
ward long: I'd seen her behind tho scenes
vawUing dreadfully, her queer. little heeiess
1eet me4l,ly crossed; III her dressing room
squeezing herself into nineteen inch corset
with zeal worthy better cause; she was
familiar TO me even in the mystifying twir'
Of a ballet school. where a pOmpOus little
Frenchman. 81 sort of Gallo Turveydropr
taught her endurance by making her hold her
leg in a position almssU perpendicular while
be counted ND TO a given number; and no"
often had / stopped before show windows Oh
Union square to admire her IN ali sorts OF
chic postures in innumerable French printSl
But al home she was a mystery to me. In
deed, Ihad never even fancied her having one.
Armed with terse letter Of introduction,
started the next day to pay her visit On
the top floor Of a house in the neighbOrhod Of
University place / found her.
She was not dark. thin, oldish as | had fan
ried, neither was she smoking cigarettes nor
drinking champagne III the middle of tho
dav. She did not wear a loose pink wrap
per and have her hair in curl papers and tho
remains of the preceding nights blush still
upon her cheeks. All of these items l was
prepared for and it was startling to have my
theory 50 completely upset.
Celestine tas | shall call her because that
was not her nance was as fresh as pink.
She was deHciously young, and in an irres-
ular, FrenchY way, decidedly pretty. Her
movements were quick, her eyes quick, her
laugh quick, and altogether she was the
most piquant and refreshing bit of femininity
l had chanced upon in many-n long day. But,
stranger than all, she was buS1y making
straw hats for the spring trade at so much
dozen.
Poor Iittle Celestine! After dancing until
midnight she was sewing at monday. All,
madam You who have watched the ballet girl
pirouetting for your pleasure, did you ever
fancy what her life might be apart from the
booming of the big drum and tho glare of the
lime Ight' fancy l hear you say that this
IS a very exceptional ballet girl That may
be. too. Butif found this one there may be
Others and how if it be the exception" YOU
are struggling your shoulders at. the girl who
leaves the stage to watch all night by the bed
side Of a sick mother that you are mentally
drawing your pure garments from.
l spent a delightful hour with Celestine
Shevery obligingly kicked of her slipper and
showed me her poor, little fiattened toes, and
she chartered, while she stitched with a ridicu-
lousy long thread. OF the life which seems so
exciting and varied TO tne great. unthinking
world, but which in reality is made no of very
prosaic fines, petty jealousies, fatigue, little
thanks and numerous colds.
As an offset TO the hardship Of her i'll paid
profession she delighted in the possession of
"a white kitten answering to the name OF
''Cherie' and in the crayon drawing Of a
youth with his hair corcbed up from his fore
head and Gallo twist 70 his tiny mustache,
whom l rightly judged Jc be Celestines
young man
Her idea Of pleasure was Sundays outing,
followed by dinner in a Bohemian restau-
cant where she could sit BY window lnger-
Ing over demi-tassc and watch the people
20 by. She looked forward to being married
t. the young man with the waxed mustache
aforesaid. and She did not know any of the
gilded youth Of the city nor had she ever
graced q champagne supper in hey life.