Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-10
SHE WORE HER PANIALETIES.
How Fanny Ellsler was Received the
First Night ID New York.

flrSs Nlgnl 10 New York.
Legs Incased in Tights Were a
Novelty From Paris that Gotham
ties Were Unprepared for, and Till
Fanny Put on Her Pantalettes,
They Kissed Her Vigorously Fin
ally Made Success OF Her Work.
Cleo de Microbes Beauty and Mod
esty Winning Her Friends and So
| cial Recognition.
New York, October a.-New York Is
still talking of the beauty and modesty
OF Cleo de Merode, the danseuse These
charms have made her a great favorite
with her own sex, and bid fair to secure
Tor her sort of social recognition.
Modesty upon the stage is certainly a
novelty to New York theatrical audi
ences, but there was time when it was
insisted upon to what in these days
would be regarded as ludicrous ex-
tent. The first famous dancer that Wis
tied this country from Europe, Fanny
Eilsler, at her debut in the National
Theatre met with a far different recep-
ton from that which greeted the modest
de Merode. The National at that time
was under the management of James
w. Wallack, the father of the suisse
quent popular Lester Wallack.
On the night OF Fanny's first appear
ance the National was crowded with an
audience that represented the best ele-
ments Of New York life, all prepared TO
extend the premiere an enthusiastic
welcome. Fanny appeared, bounced and
plrouetted on the stage in tights. She
had never looked better, felt better,
danced better; her shapely limbs had
plenty OF opportunity to show their
shape, and few of the very young
and the very old-fellows applauded
vigorously, but only a few, and these
soon stopped, frozen down by the icy,
stony, stare of disapproval from those
around them. And soon instead of APP
plause was heard that sound whichxsil
stage folks hate most to hear in this
world-a hiss, Kissing which became
universal-heard from the top to the
bottom and from all sides of the house
"a hiss in which the men in the pit and
the gods of the gallery and the swells
and the ladies in the boxes Joined One
shame" 1t was echoed from a hun
dred mouths shame Then a shrill
female voice cried: Go back to your
dressing room" This advice was in
startly reiterated from all parts of the
auditorium: go back and put on
something" Where are your panta-
lettes?"
Ellsler was dazed and tried to keep
do, &c IL >-,,-. 4
dispair. but the audience wouldn't have
it. They Kissed, and grcaned, and yell
ed till the orchestra stopped, and till
Mr.. Wallack himself, surprised and
mortified, stepped on the stage, with
deep bow full of meaning to the aud
fence, and taking the discounted dam
seuse by the hand, led her away.
Once behind the scenes, out of sight
of the people, Fanny Ellsler gave way
to her grief and wrath. She cried like
a baby and then ragged around the stage
like lunatic. She called the American
people very bad names she knew and
deplored her luck in visiting these
"canaille, these barbarians." And when
Mr.. Wallack mildly suggested to her to
go to her dressing room and put on
something" more than what she had on
DcI. just iuSu she SlduIDtu nGE WELL
shaped but fairly well-sized foot at the
manager and called him "un bette"
But the Chevalier Wikoff, her own pri-
yate and personal manager, coming up
to her and talking to her awEsle ran
aged to 5alm her down and get :. 81 ~,
der control. He Joined her in aa.ssing
the americans in French. but he like
wise insisted thu she must do what the
Americans wanted, if she wanted their
American money.
So pouting and swearing in French.
Fanny retired to her dressing room and
for the first time in her experience as a
ballet dancer put on pantalettes. There
was no help for it. She was absolutely
reduced to the direful extremity of hav-
ing with her own hands to hide her own
delightful eXtremities. She fingered
over the distasteful and unusual occu-
patton and put on her pantalettes very
slowly, it being some revenge for her
to keep the audience waiting Finally
she emerged with her legs draped and
in this condition was led by manager
Wallack before the people, who now re-
ceiyed her with enthusiasm, in marked
contrast with their conduct just before.
Encouraged by this change Ellsler re-
sumed her pirouettes, danced with re-
newed vigor and redoubled grace, and
took the town. But she carefully wore
her pantalettes every time she danced
after that in New York
-O-