The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-03-11
Too Much Claimed For Cyrene.

The manager OF the dancer Cyrene asserted
lately that his salta orial star had appeared
professionally at the White House and his
statement erept into print. Thereupon a
Washington correspondent OF THE CALL takes
him to task in the following interesting fashions
The idea that Cyrene or any other dancer
ever appeared at the White House profession
ally or in any capacity, except as mere sight
seer, is wildly, utterly and superlatiyely false.
1t would not be necessary 10 deny This any
where within a radius OF thousand miles Of
Washington. While few persons outside Of
asDlngton know the caSt-iron etiquette which
governs the White House, yet people who are
at all IN touch with tile capital understand In a
neral way that professional dancers would
not furnish The class of entertainment provided
al the White House.
1t Is not too much TO say that if Miss or Mrs.
Cyrene had danced at tile White House IL would
nave raised very serious question whether
President Cleveland's mind was altogether
right. / have made some inquiry and lind that
Cyrene did dance one summer al River View, a
cheap place OF resort down The Potomac. aud
also during The cheap season OF summer ore a
al Albaugh's Opera house, first-class theaIer
here. But the summer opera could not be
Called first-class entertainment.
There Is something grOte>Que 10 the very act
OF denying this prepOsIerUus assertion that d
professional dancer gyTaied at The White House.
1 there seems 10 be an unwritten law all over the
world that professional dancers should not be
hired 10 dance IN house having an official
character. although they may be presented in
private houses. Our laIe Minister 10 Paris, Mr.
Thomas Jefferson Coolidge. gave the utmost
offenSe 10 Partisan society by having Loie
Fuller TO dance Al the American legation. Ii
was conslde. ed SO great breach of the pro-
pIteties that In receiving Mr.. Eustis, MIR. Cool
ldge's successor, President CarDOt omitted any
alusion 10 the preceding American MiniSier-a
diplomatic stub OF the most pronounced de-
scTipTiOn.
When 1t is known that The White House Is
the most stTaight-laceG official house Ia the
world perhaps. the screaming absurdiiy of say
ing that professional dancer appeared be-
comes still more apparent. AS matter of fact.
dancing at the Whiie House is officially un-
known. Occasionally, when there is a young
woman in the Presidential family. small dances
have been given Informally. Mrs. Mckee, eX-
/ President HaTrisQD's daughter, gave a small
one-tbe first since President Grants daughter
was 10 the White House. IL Is one of the un-
wri ten, unDroken laws that the LADY of the
White House must not dance more than three
or four quadIilles at the few balls which ELI
quette permits her TO attend. II she were to
dance rUbnd dance II would be thought a
shocking invasion OF etiquette and tradition.
No lady Of The White House has ever done il,
and none ever Will. Cyrene's advertising agen +,
though, is as much OF story.teler in saying
that she is the only professional ever admitted
to perform at The White House as TO say thai
she was ever there professionally at all.
IL is The custom for artists of high character.
personally and professionally, TO be asked &C.
casiOnally TO the While House. both socially
and professionally. President arthur was a
great admirer OF Nine. Christine Nilsson, and
sue uIn VI dt lhC w bilC hOusc db Stdic ulUDcf.
She also sang there professionally, when MIR.
Abbey had leEand Paul and SembrIch, Gers.
ter, etc. IN that famous opera company of his
ten or ell ven years ago. President Arthur en-
gagged the leading Artists of the company for a
private concert, except Patti. This nearly
broke the diva's heart, yet it was perfectly
lnadmlssl6le 10 have any artist at the White
House whose character was not absolutely
without a flaw. So Patti, the queen OF tile
organiZa ton, was left out, in compliance with
The wholesome and stringent rule OF century's
ind ~ a
little too enterprisng. A WASHINGToNIAN.
Washington, ID. C., February 27 1894.