Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-09-11


the starring enterprise that was about
10 open In America with uiyreu as the
principal feature. she asked for a place
IN r. membership. | have always on
tertainod the highest esteem for Miss
Fuller's dramatic talent and Inn
modigtely closed a contract ior her APP
pearance Ia the forthcoming prpduc
tion. In one OF Miss fulicr's visits to
Paris during tho exposition she was en-.
tertalnod by AN exhibition OF terpsicho-
rcan art as demonstrated BY the Nautch
girls She was fascinated by the odd
dress that they use and as carly IS pos
sihle secared ono, She was alsea great
sdmircr Of the wcll-knowu English
dancer, Lefty Lind, and by seeing hcr
specially various limos secured per.
teui Insight into her hower dance.
at was not long before she was COM
PEELED to pturn 70 this country to hl
her professional engagement with me.
1 had cast her for part that had suited
her perfectly and during the rendition
OF II she was to Introduce the hOwor
Ounce. The novelty Of the dance was
more IN the dross than the figures, the
dress being made SO that al various
movements bouquet Of flowers was
formed
"Qaack NJ. D. the farclcal comedy
that Fred Maisdou had writicn Tor me,
did not possess in n very hhers. degree
tho ingredients essential to u theatrical
success. had secured strong conn
pany, but Che piece was no 80. II was
durlng our engagement at the Park
theatcr Boston, the latter part Of last
September, that the Incident oc-
% Il Naa. N...s
of tho dance now SO famous Il
Fuller, who had used tho gown
Obtained at Paris rs a walking dress,
was too much iatigucd 70 make a
change, so that when her timo oaue
she had on only the one that was COPY
of the Nautch girls costume. was Ia
the wings Watching the action, aud
when Miss Fuller began 20 dance my
attention WAS attracted by tho working
Of the costume l saw there was Ia
great opportunity for AN innovation Ia
dancing. The resources OF seventy
yards Of Indian silk seomod 10 warrant
The making OF dance that would
catch public favor With pretty poses
and intricate handling OF the skirts
saw novelty that perhaps would re-
deem the laimroof Tho production,
"Whcn Miss Fullor came on the
stage told her Of my discovery, ro-
qucstcd her 20 rchearsac with me the
following morning which she did and
for ton days ! WA. busy drilling hor Ia
poses. steps and tho treatment of the
dress that has now made the dance so
famous, Ten days afterwards we
opened Ia New York city. The piece
was the usual disappointment, but the
dance created a fuoro. New York was
captiyUted with IT, Everybody paid
tribute to the novelty aud TO the nrtist
that was soou 10 its rendition.
"Clusing the season, We repaired TO
my country homo at Asbury park, N.
j., and commenced rchearsals OF tho
new comedy, Tangled Up Miss Full
Ter WIS to Introduce the dance 10 tho
new production rs wcll as playing one
Of the leading parts We had MOI yet
christencd the dance. Ny father Dr.
De Lano, at the dinner nbln one day
suggested tho name 'scrpentine'
scoied at the idea but Miss Fuller was
pleased and announced that Thereafter
the word 'serpentine' would be applied
TO it.
"Our season opened at Philadelphia
tho week before Chriainms, and wnH 10
be followed hy low woeka' rest, Miss
Fuller was aided this time by the sue
cess Of Iunglcd OPP, and The scrpcn-
tine dance was one Of its biggest feat
uro5 Mr.. Ar0nson, OF the Casino, hav-
ing made Miss Fuller a liberal offer,
Mr., Rising aud | released her from her
contract aud secured for her place Miss
Iottie Mortlmop professional dancer
This IL the real history OF The dunce,
It's inception and the origin Of its
namcn