The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-12
Mascagni and His Com
pdny Begin in New York
Their american Tour ~
AN AMERICAN DANCER
CALIFORNIA GIRL WHO REPRESENTS
POETRY OF MOTION.
An Interpretation Of Music Tint SAT-
isnes Artistic Ideals-In Great
Demand.

Correspondence OF the Indianapolis Journal
MUNICH. Oct. 1.-TWO kaisers lighting
for California girl-and a little one at
that. Francis Joseph wants Issdora Dun
can for his court ballet. and Kati Schratt
is in mortal fear that her left-handed mar
rage TO the old oeau will never come OF.
William thinks his own opera house the
only nj frame for Isadora's poetic dance
panoramas. and the good-natured Empress.
who delights in everything her husband
likes. is adding her entreaties to the Kali
ser's. At the same time Munich's artist
population is trying to persuade our coun-
try-woman not to take away her inspiring
presence. You will have to fight for your
wages in Vienna" they warn her; think
of the late baIlet-girl strike"
William will make you conform 20 his
personal notions OF art-all straight lines.
crossed feet and a peacocks feather fan
while here you may do as the spirit moves
you. Create-we will copy-and you shall
be more famous than saharet. immortal
lied by Lenbaoh and Stuck"
Isadora has not yet decided between the
three capitals of German-speaking Europe.
Francis Joseph was very kind TO her when
she danced fer him in his Ischl villa, and
promised her gold and jewels galore IL she
would consent to brighten his declining
years by accepting an engagement at the
Hofburg The alter. But a place in the Kai-
ser's opera house is not TO be sneezed at.
either. There may, not be much money in
ii. but. as everybody knows. the Kaiser is
the most enterprising and successful pub
licity agent the world over.
Meanwhile the "Poetess of Dance" the
BLACK Sappho.'' as Isadora is variously
called. is filling the exclusive Kunstier
Haus ARTISTS Halll nightly with fashion
ables and bohemians. There shining uni
forms and court dress edge long names.
unkempt boards and extrayagant cravats;
celebrities of the palette. the malet and the
pen vie with royalty and the 400 in ex-
pressions of admiration for the art OF this
unassuming American girl
When your correspondent mentioned the
proposed Berlin engagement to Lenbach
the painter of Saharet few into a rage.
Impossible that she waste her art on
the general public on a large stage" he
cried. "Isadora appeals only to artists and
connoisseurs; she will always be caviar to
the masses. which can neither understand
nor appreciate her."
SHE DANCED CHOPIN.
Miss Duncan opened her performance
with the celebrated Chopin waltz COP. 81.
No. 2. Cis-moD. and reused particularly
the musical portion OF her audience TO wild
applause. The Interpretation of this dim
cult piece seemed to come natural to her.
Her delivery was Of rare clearness. the
technical dexterity indescribable. even the
melancholy tints in the shading were per-
ceptible. Zone might think Paderewski
fingers at work instead of Isadora's toes"
as Siegfried Wagner expressed IL.
Poetry OF motion may be hackneyed
term, but II can hardly be avoided I'm de-
scribins this performance. which. but for
the composer notes, would mean a worlc
OF originality. OF constructive ingenuity.
There was melody and melodic ornament,
harmonic sequence and figuration, tender
and voluptious sentiment. genuine poetic
reverie. all pervaded by an echo OF melan-
choly longings. We listened to the sonor-
ity of a full orchestra now-to scherzos.
preludos and concertos the next minute
only that the sound. the idea of perfect
| harmony, entered through the eye instead
OF the ear
II the melancholy Pole had only lived TO
see this exquisite Interpretation Of his
works-this remarkably seIf-centered must
cian-dancer. Though really glorying i'm
plnying- his own works only he would nave
fallen under the sensuous charm I'm touch
and tone of the California girl.
Chopin is alive again. cried the enthu-
siastic: his spirit lives" and. in
deed. dance and music. or psntomime and
music lin the preludes and nocturneD.
formed harmonic unity as rare as II was
! pleasing.
A DANCE REFORM
Miss DUNCAN represents the emancipation
| OF the ballet from traditional influences
its authoritative assumption of poetic
thought. Like the pages of a good book.
her dancing tells story TO the behoder.'
Isadora is a pretty girl. 1.-THE and blonde.
and. like all good actresses. knows how TO
dress her part TO perfection. When.
| after the interval. she reappeared 10 in
terpret classic poetry she wore skirts.
waist. corsets. laces or other modern par
aphernalia for adorning the body female
| just fesh-colored silk tights. ending some
| what mysteriorsly between the calf OF
! the leg and ankle and no shoes or slippers,
of course. Cover was afforded by the sauze
/ cloth in her hands. IL rested upon her
shoulders now; again II was wound around
| her waist. or draped her back.
The girls naked feet are models OF beau
| ty and slenderness. An artist sitting next
/ to me grew excited az she stepped on the
stage. He said he had been after just such
| pair of feet ever long TO use In his
picture of the Virgin, that remained unfin-
| ished because of his inability TO fnd the
| classic article. Ii she but allowed him TO
portray her feet on canvas his fortune was
| made
Her Interpretation OF classic poetry-Hor-
| ace and CatuIIus-could hardly be called
dancing in the accepted sense OF the word.
| Dancing. as we know II. consists In the
! rhythmic play OF the feet or the graceful
! swaying OF the torso. OF arms and legs.
| This California girl dances by hundred
variegated poses. each of which delights
| the artistic eye. Her every movement -
worthy OF reproduction on canvas. I'm mar
bic or bronze" say the artists. And. though
| Miss Duncan appears at times almost I'm a
state OF complete nudity. there Is never a
suggestion of anything improper. TO which
fact the character OF audiences bears singu-
lar testimony.
| l saw in IL very few young men, and
none classed as golden youth" The ma
| Jority of Miss Duncan's patrons are. as
stated, artists and society people. particu-
larly women. The latter are mainly at
! ,ra,tad ~ the rarou,ise that Miss DfInca n