The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-31

produce their artistic effects before her
young observation.
In her own art Of dancing, posing and
pantomime, she has been coming on ever
since she was big enough to walk with
another little girl in great ensemble scenes
like that of the third act of IL Etoile.'
The lovely De Saunoy has confided to
me the high emotions that made her heart
palpitate when, having at last been received
in the quadrilles at Is, she took her place
by right in the great salon, which is called
the foyer OF the danse. 1t is the ballet
gr cen room. 1t is more. 1t is a palace
parlor.
In it princes, stat esmen. diplomats. high
functio naries. millionaires who have their
boxes by the year and spendthrifts with
season subscriptions to the orchestra chairs.
make kind of Bealit y-and-t he Beast Club
Stately little creatures, the buds of the
ballet soon learn to receive the homages
society girl in her fifth season. Here, too,
the atmosphere is all artistic; for Parisans
who support grand opera to the point Of
heavy annual subscriptions know the
music and traditions OF both operas and
balIets. being regularly men OF culture,
asked the lovely Jeanne.
Art" she answered. with a solemn closing
OF the left eye.
What kind OF art?'
"The art of dress, the art Of carriage
building, the art Of the jeweller and the
architect, interposed flippant young man,
to the scandal of Jeannes mamma.
THE old Duo de u will 60 on for an
hour about the balets and the stars OF his
youth" said Jeanne. THE music com
a dance air to us, Every functionary thinks
it his duty to talk to US about the devotion
we owe to our art. 1t is highly improving"
The spirit in which the bright girl re-
ceived my question was exactly that OF
mischievous schoolgirl, half upon her dig
questioning. Another student like detail ia
found in the modest remuneration given by
the opera management to these buds OF the
ballet
Note they are very truly civil service en-
ployees, because (a) they enter the school
first by way of competitive examinations;
o. maintain their place and Use in grade
BY means of annual examinations and in
this way (c) acquire fixed employment, at
fixed rates. along long line OF promotion,
ending in the proud rank OF first subject
II not starship.
In his contract with the Government.
on taking possession Of the Opera for a
term OF years, the Director obligates him
self not to reduce or change the personnel
or any of it's salaries except in accordance
himself to specific regulal ions. Among
these are found the scheduled salaries OF
the corps de ballet, from the veriest little
rat. who gets nothing, TO the subject who
may draw as much as $4,000 francs a
year.
"She il II years old and is now drawing
? 500 francs Is5OOl year. says Jeanne's
mamma.
Mother and daughter live alone together
in a tiny apartment up three flights OF
T.. Al orttn he aal tfa
of both being passed behind the scenes
of the Opera, three blocks away.
THAT makes less than $40 week in
our money" said. showing my astorish-
ment an New York. chorus girls, who
cannot stand alone on one leg to preserve
their lives, get double that
Il get my education and serious posi-
ton answered the fair creature.