The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-17

week. Now I get that much minute.
WhyP Because / won European triumph
made hit in the capitals of France,
Germany, Austria and England and won
unstinted plaudits at Monte Carlo, Nice,
The Hague and along the Riviera.
Nothing succeeds like success.
OF course I was not content with my
original serpentine dance, which, as all the
world knows, I invented. 1 constantly
studied out new ones, for full well 7
know that the public taste is changeable
and that it is constantly hungering for
novelties. I persevered un til had mas
tered some new and fascina ting dances. I
was always watchful for striking color eff
fects, for they charm the public marvel
ously. 1 will just give you an idea of two
of these dances which am now perform
ing in New York. They caught all Eu-
ropo.
In one-the now celebrated fire dance
I stand upon great square of glass which
is indented on the stage, and a scintillat-
ing volume of electric light shoots upward
through the glass and streams upon me,
while high above are placed other equally
powerful lights. The blending of the as
cending and descending rays makes pris-
matte color effects, or light through which
the diaphanous draperies undulate in
manner which the onlookers describe as
bewilderingly beautiful for the eye to look
upon. In another dance form the figure
of huge lily, the upper edge of my skirt
being something like II feet above the
level of the stage.
But it is of my experience abroad and of
the distinguished people met that would
speak. Almost every actress, artistic, sing
or or dancer has some one country which
in her heart of hearts she is keenly partial
80. My own country, of course, has first
place in my affections, but as for the for
eign countries it would be really difficult
to say which I like best, I have been SO
royalty treated in them all. The enthusi-
asm with which I was greeted in Franco
was the most pronounced. A single in
Glance will suffice. On the last night of
che production of ''Salome'' in Paris 900
students from the Beaux Arts attended the
&heater in a body. Each man had big
boutonniere of violets, and at a signal
from the leader they threw their violets at
me, just as 1 had completed my dances,
and fairly deluged me with a floral mum
dation, amid the most maddening enthu
siasm. The president of the Beaux Arts
made graceful speech eulogistic of poor
me, and then presented on behalf of the
students an album containing 80 etohings
of my dance by many gifted artists.
he-Students then unhitched the horses
from my carriage and dragged me to my
hotel, singing joyously all the time. There
they would not let me go until had
shaken hands with all of them. The result
was that 1 caught a heavy cold and was
laid up for a month. But that did not
worry me little Bit was so happy.
In England, too 1 was gloriously re-
ceived, and I met nearly all of that great
country's great people. The Prince of
Wales I found to be one of the most charm
ing gentlemen I ever met, genial, kindly
and democratic in his manner.
In Lord Wolseley and Sir Arthur Roberts
saw two grand soldiers, whose bravery I
trust we will never have to test. Lord
Salisbury looked to me like a veritable lion
fierce and unyielding while Joseph
Cham berlain and Arthur Balfour appeared
more like men of fashion than men of af-
fairs, and the weighty affairs of a nation
at that. But the brainiest, brightest wit
test, cleverest man in all England is
Henry Labouchere, editor of the London
Truth. His store of knowledge borders on
the marvellous. He completely hypnotized
me in the little chat had with him.
Poor Princess Beatrice, generous, graz
cious, kindly woman, well gentle
princess-how I sympathize with her in
her bereavement! gave me q pleasing
token of her appreciation. 1t is a beauti-
full gold watch, studded with diamonds
and pearls, and has an appropriate inscrip-
ton its case. L never leave this treas
ured memento out of sight.
Another nice memento have is gold
chatelaine presented to me by the khedive
of Egypt upon the occasion CT his witness
ing my dance in Berlin. He 1ook such an
interest in me and my work that he made
me promise to visit him in Cairo and
dance there will, too, after get through
my American and English engagements
met Emperor William at Berlin and