The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-05-19
MRS. DIMoND's DEBUT.
1t Is olaseed As en- Extraordinary
"Nude- parture"

Wuue-ut phEbuio'
1t has seemed lately as il when
society ladies &C upon the stage
their fancy lightly turns to thoughts
of tights. In Paris the Princess de
Chimay chose that style of costume
as the most appropriate for her
debut, and not to be behind la vile
Lumiere San Francisco has had
and still has-a society lady, Mrs
Dimond, appearin 3 in the same light
and airy costume, Paris went crazy
over the Princess, but, practically
speaking, the San Francisco public
has bestowed upon Mrs. Dimond's
"nude-departure" hose bits OF anato-
my facetiously known as "the CLASSY
eye" "the clammy hand" and "the
marble heart" She has had mild
Success de curiosity" it is true, but
there has been no fighting to secure
seats, no dragging the prices up to
the top notch, no excitement or
hysteria whatever. This may be
due to the innate delicacy OF San
Francisco or it may be personal in
difference to Mrs. Dimond. Per-
haps things would have been differ
ent had she been the beautiful
Princes de Chimay, whose debut was
so neatly nipped in the bud by the
Partisan police. cannot resist
quoting an account Of the affair
written by Paris correspondent:
Twenty-franc boxes we're cheap at
500 francs. The ordinary seat was
quoted at 20 francs, and tho price,
simply for the promenade, had gone
up to 5 francs All this to see the
Princess Chimay in three nude
partures," She was to touch a very
big salary, l know, but the manage
ment would have lost nothing if
they could only have been certain
Of that first nights takings. Sand
wichmen lined the streets announce
ing the appearance Of Clara, and her
name glared at you from every ad-
vertisement pillar on the boulevards.
1t was to be the event OF the season
and big theaters changed the date
of their premiers so as not to clash.
But in France there is a man with
almost unlimited authority and
tremendous suavity, and that is the
Prefet de la Police, M. Lepine. He
called the Princess to his Office and
he also summoned M, Marchand,
her manager, thoughtlessly over
looking Rigo. He seems to have
acted with considerable grace,
He appealed to the better nature
Of the woman. He pointed out that
the mother Of two or three children
could hardly claim the permission
Of the police in the name of Art to
appear as Venus. He also pointed
out that such a performance could
only bring pain on the family whose
name she had borne. Clara replied
in thoroughly American fashion,
81 have the right to appear, and APP
pear will" Then M. Lepine spoke
out: eff you dare to appear to-
morrow night will tell you what
will happen. Ons club alone OF
which your husband is a member
has bought 100 live rabbits, and they
will be thrown on he stage. What
will Be thrown from other quarters
| don't know. This much | tell you
if there is a riot in the hall to-mor-
row night, will close it. If you are
the cause of that riot l shall with
draw your permission de sejour'
and out you CO." Half an hour later
the Princess had doctors certifi-
cate to say that she was suffering
from the influenza.
Mrs. Dimond's debut did not
threaten to be 80 sensational as that
and San Francisco has no urbane
Chief Of Police, with almost un
limited authority" to interpose per
suasive arguments and talk about
bringing pain on the family, and
Mrs. Dimond has appeared as ar