The times., 1899-07-30
FANNY ELLsLER IN BOSTON.
4 Dancer Who Made the Puritan
Blood Roll.
FTom the Boston Transcript

FTom the Boston Transcrpt)
In these patriotic times, when, more than
ever, We are becoming accustomed to bow
with uncovered heads and reverent hearts
before the grim obelisk at Charlestown,
not uninteresting will it be TO look back
about sixty years to when our grandfathers
and grandmothers were engaged in raising
the necessary funds for its erection, and re-
call little episode in which Fanny Els
Ter, the then inimitable danseuse, and the
naughty monument came into intimate as
sociatiOn.
In 1910 Fanny Ellsler was in this coun-
try. and Boston was, of course, one OF the
favored cities in which she exhibited the
acme of terpsichorean art. Her appear
ance created the greatest emotion and
commotion, and made the Puritan blood
boil-with admiration or Indignation, as
the case might be. The unco guild had
raised their hands in holy horror. She
had been received with adulation and en-
thusiasm all over Europe, and her triumphs
were being repeated in this country. Never
before had an artistic of her genius and ca
paeity been seen here. There were no Loie
Fullers in those days. The young men of
that period lost their heads and wildly
went to every extreme of extravagant ad-
miration Flowers were showered upon
! the divine Fanny" Jewels laid at her feet,
/ and poems innumerable indited TO her
honor. Her horses were taken from her
| carriage, and men were not ashamed tfor
the time at leasu TO take their places in
the shafts, even struggling for the oppor-
tunity to draw the dance queen to her hotel
after each performance.
| Naturally, at such a state of affairs, the
women rose in revolt and the anathemas
OF the church people were heard in the
land.
1t was at this time that the patriotic
citizens of New England, her women to
the fore, were actively engaged in raising
money for the erection of Bunker Hill
Monument. THE Ellsler," with the prov
erbial generosity and liberality of stage
favorites, rose to the occasion, and, with
out waiting to be asked. gave great bene-
fit for the good cause, netting over $4,000.
which sum she offered to the association.
How this large donation from stranger
was appreciated by the press and the pub
lie of those days may be estimated some
what by the following extract from an
editorial that appeared in The Boston
Weekly Magazine" literary paper of
high reputation and wide influence, of the
date of October 10. 1870, copy of which
lies before us at this writing. 1t is only
a fair sample of many antagonistic articles
that appeared in journals Of the time:
THE MoNUMENT-FANNY ELLsLER.
Fanny Ellsler offered the president of the
| Bunker Hill Monument Association a donation
| Of $1,000, or benefit, for the monument, and
as the president left it to her choice, she, OF
course, gave the benefit.
The question is raised whether it shall be
received, and We are glad TO find that the ladies
who have 50 nobly and efficiently come forward
| OF late, and by their energy and hberality, Sc
| cured the completion of the work. object, as
! with one voice, sgainst its reception. In this
they right The wages of obscenity-ior it
is nothing less-shoud not mingle with and pol
lutte the iree-will offering Of New England's
daughters.
But the question Of reception Is to be decided
by the men, not the women; and the rejection
OF the money would be a mortal offence against
"The Ellser-''The divine Fannyi" Well, we
shall See And the result will show whether the
directors have most respect for their wives and
daughters or for a French dancer. We should be
willing 10 have the decision left to the descend
ants OF those who bled on Bunker Hill. Let
them say whether the monument of their faith
ers' and their country's glory shall go up stain
ed with the proceeds Of an exhibition fraught
with indecency, and upon which their fathers
would have frowned with indignation!
Needless TO say, notwithstanding bitter
opposition, Fanny Ellsler's donation was
finally accepted with thanks" by the lev
el-headed directors Of the association. anG
foreign dancer had the honor OF being
a not insignificant contributor to the rear
Ing of the famous Bunker Hill Monument
the pride and boast Of New England.
II has been rumored that the dainty slip
pers in which 1.-The divine Fanny pirouet
ted on the occasion of the benefit wer,
somehow smuggled in among the precious
documents and mementos that were 81
carefully deposited in the cornerstone, ant
that there they palpitate to this day.