The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1896-08-18
Elsie Adair.


taken people by storm all over the
world, is with us once more after a
couple Of years absence, and people
Of the city at all affected by the
artistic are cougratulating them
selves OF once more having the op.
portunity of seeing the unparalleled
dancer perform.
1t is no more than natural that
people should have great curiosity
to know something Of the life of
woman so prominent in theatrical
circles as Miss Elsie Adair, and in
order to satisfy the readers of this
paper reporter Of the staff called
on Miss Adair at the hotel yester-
day and was favored with most in-
teresting story
Before beginning for an interview
won't you please to teach me how to
pronounce the word aloha, for its
sound expresses just the feeling l
have for this dear old place." said
Miss Adair. "Everything is so mel
low and calm, and the whole world
seems to be at peace, inviting one
and all to partake of the beauties
strewn in profusion on every hand.
And the people-well, they are in
harmony with the pervading atmos-
phere Of the place feel as if /
could make my home here where all
is a quiet delight and a dream.
Wherever l may be, rest assured that
Hawaii will be ever fresh in my
memory and that shall have moth
ing but words Of kindness to ex-
press. II you will remember, was
here some two years ago and | can
say in all candor that have sound
ed the praises of your island home
throughout the Orient and in Am
erica, from the Atlantic to the Paci-
fc. l tell you sincerely that am
most glad to be here and content to
be Hawaiian while in Hawaii"
"You would like to hear some-
thing of my history as dancer |
will do the very best l can. When
| first went on the stage it was the
dramatic part that | sought and
critics gave me very favorable men-
tion but l gave it up to become dan
Ger, seeing more of success in that
line. From the time Of my childhood
dancing was an infatuation with me.
1t was in my nature and l followed
it as devotee. was kindly received
from the beginning and the more [
danced the more my dancing SEEM
ed to please. OF course | was much
pleased and made an arrangement
with the Madison Square Garden
management to play during the
Worlds Fair year which did, The
press gave me the most compliment
tary notices, and accounts of my life
weresought after, From the differ
ent newspaper reports which have
read about myself l was born in
seven different places, Paris being
the favorte spot of the reporters.
To tell you the truth | was born in
no less an unassuming place than
the State of California, and am
an American through and through,
"When first | started to dance |
received but small sum, but at the
completion of my engagement at
the Madison Square Gardens theatre
l was drawing very large salary.
81 received offers from all over
the country to fill engagements at
various places Of amusement, and in
going from place to place l was
struck with the idea of making a
trip to the Orient, combining busi-
ness with pleasure, No sooner had
this idea been conceived than l
started on the trip which brought
me here on July 5th, 1894, the day
after the formation OF the Republic
of Hawaii My company, which
played here on that night, was the
first to perform under the new Gov
ernment.
"With the exception Of few en-