The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-25
SUCH WAS THE RECEPTION AC-
CORDED MABEL DAVIDSON,
THE FANCY SKATER.
ENGLAND WAS FORBIDDING,
BUT AFTER A TIME ALSO CONCED-
ED THE FAIR AMERICANS
EXPERIENCES.
rEDALs AND DECORATIONS.
Tributes From NabObs and Bouquets
From the Fair Admirers of
Her Art.

Miss Mabel Davidson, the champion
female fancy and trick skater of the
world, returned to her home in this
city yesterday, after g. years unqual-
flied artistic success in Europe. On the
artificial ice rinks of London and Paris
Miss Davidson exemplified the Amer1-
can style on the steel blades, creating
an innovation by her grace, daring
and accomplishment, which won fame,
large audiences and financial success.
Making her debut in London, where
she pleased the imperturbable English
until her skill became heralded In
Paris, when she accepted an engage
ment in the French capital, for two
months she skated before audiences
which tested the capacity Of the Palais
de Glace, the largest rink in the world,
giving a performance every evening
and three matinees each week. After
the season in France Miss Davidson
returned to London and received the
official stamp of foreign success by
skating before the Prince of Wales at
the Princess rink, over whose smooth
surface none but the nobility enjoy the
exhilarating sport of skating. Miss
Davidson brings home with her medals
innumerable attesting her proficiency
and artistic merit, while columns of
clippings from the London and Paris
press speak the popular favor with
which the young American girl was
received.
Miss Dayidson's success is of her own
tel
tration of the indomitable pluck of an
American girl. Conceded the honor OF
champion in this country, where she
has skated in all Of the large cities,
she decided to visit Europe, and Who'll
lv alone. with nothing in the shape or
an engagement in sight, she sailed Tor
London last November. Skating is
much more generally INDUCED Ill
across the water than in this country,
however. where the rinks are more In
the nature of theaters with ice attrac-
tions, and Miss Davidson was hrm IN
the determination TO capture the Tor
eigner's favor and to make t1nanc1al
success of her venture. Arriving In
London, she stopped with friends until
afforded an opportunity of displaying
her skill to the manager OF the Ma
+ional rink. The result was that the
voung woman received an engagement,
at none too f1attering figures, however,
but it's acceptance proved the stepping
stone to better things. The LondonerS
had never before seen woman so ac-
complished on skates, so graceful, so
daring in her execution and so wholly
at home on the steel blades, and the
little American girl made a decided hit.
The rink was crowded every night, her
salary was raised, and Miss DAVIDSON
became one of the chief amusement
attractions of the city.
Then came the offer from Paris. Ihe
MANAGEMENT of the National rink WISH
ed Miss Davidson to remain in London,
but the inducements held out at falIs
decided her to seek the gay city, where
after her first appearance at the Palals
de Glace she signed a two months con-
tract. After the uncertainty OF the
venture at the outset, the triumph
which greeted Miss Davidson at Paris
was exceptionally gratifying. She was
given an ovation at every performances.
Paris society turned out to witness the
wonderful feats of the little American
and the Partisan chapp1es sought her
acquaintance through invitations 10
s11nper. the opera and other subter-
fuges, but disappointment was the only
portion of the young men, Ior MISS
Davidson was never without hef stern
chaDerone. and when the "mashers"
found the charming little skater pos
sessed the sterling qualities of Amer1-
can womanhood with her professional
skill and winning manner, she was
more popular than ever Night after
night her appearance on the ice was
the signal for veritable shower OF
flowers. Roses, violets, and bouquets
of all kinds were thrown from the au-
dience to be gathered in the arms OF
the girl whom residents OF this city
have frequently seen in her difficult
and graceful maneuvers on the Ice. The
real merit of Miss Davidson's perfor-
nance can be judged in a measure from
the fact that many of her floral gifts
were from women in the audience who
admired her cleverness and skill.
Miss Davidson would still be delight
ing Partisan audiences had she not
overtaxed her strength and been order
ed home for a period of rest. The
great physical strain of her perform
ances threatened her health, and after
several weeks in the mountains of
Switzerland she sailed for America. On
account of her health, she was obliged
to refuse offers Of engagements at st.
Petersburg, Russia, Brussels and other
foreign capitals After a rest of per-
haps a year, Miss Davidson will re-
turn to Europe in search Of new laurels
in the skating world. In the mean