The San Francisco call., 1908-11-08
ISadOra Duncan Discusses
the Sister of Durrant
Great California Dancer Says Maud Allan Is
Really Relative of Local Murderer
By c. c. Carlton

NEW YORK. Nov. S.-Miss Isadora
Duncan, having terminated her New
York engagement under the direction
Of Charles Frohman, had completed her
plans for returning to Berlin when she
was prevailed upon by some New York
society women 10 give a matinee enter
tainment at the Metropolitan opera
house. Miss Duncan graciously con-
sented-
A fashionable audience greeted her
yesterday afternoon, and the women
especially were rapturOus in their ap-
probation. Miss Duncan was accom-
panied by Walter Damrosch's sym
phony orchestra. AS for the men, only
a few OF whom were present, il must
be said that their applause was not so
ardent. Evidently they have not learned
10 appreciate the kind Of dancing of
which Miss Duncan is the greatest liv-
ing exponent revival of the Greek
art OF 1000 years ago. II remains TO be
seen whether they will better appreci-
ate Maud Allan's style, which was so
enthusiastically admired by the young
bloOds Of London and applauded by no
less a parsonage than King Edward VII
understand that a New York
theatrical manager is negotiating with
MISS ALAaA lDf an ltAlNdn
ment that will include tour embrac-
ing the large cities from New York TO
San Francisco. IT is said, however, that
Miss Allan is somewhat reluctant to
appear in the United States unless an
unusual inducement is offered. She is
the sensation Of Europe at present in
her SalOme dance. and is reaping a
harvest Of box Office receipts; besides,
in view OF the tragic fate of her
TbradC-a n1srranf San
Francisco u years ago, she evidently
fears that the American public would
be sverse to giving her a welcome IL
il were generally known that she was
Miss Maud Durrant.
Although Miss Duncan's engagement
here. was disastrous, from financial
point Of view, il was a success artistic
ally Miss Duncan feels. however, that
Americans generally, not having been
educated up TO an appreciation Of her
art, would not patronize her as literally
as the Europeans, who have made dane
ing more of a study In the principal
countries Of Europe Miss Duncan cre-
ated furOre. Charles Frohman. who
is accounted the greatest Of American
showmen, ever on the lookout for some
thing novel in the way of entertain
ment, induced Miss Duncan to enter
into contract for a limited New York
engagement. He was warned that the
American public would not understand
Miss Duncan't art. but declared that
the successful manager should not
always be thinking of box Office re-
ceipts. but should give the public the
best talent the world afforded. Ger
tainly there are a few people in New
York who viii appreciate the art OF
dancing that has aroused the enthusi
asm OF Europe. and will cater TO those
few even though the engagement may
not be success financially" said he
This morning I called to see Miss
Duncan in her studio at Fortieth street
and Sixth avenue. It is just such a
studio as one might expect to find occu-
pied by a young woman Of Miss Dun
cans esthetic taste. Large, airy rooms
are well lighted by sky windows. The
walls on every side Of one room are
hung with folds OF some thin. gauzy
fabric Of azure that reach gracefully
from ceiling to floor. The room in
which she dances in private is barely
furnished and oTnamented wirh just a
few art objects-urns. vases, etc.-Gre-
clan in design, and some of these were
filed with orchids and chrysanthe
NUNS piano, a few chairs and
shelf filed with classic literature and
rolls OF music constituted the remainder
OF the furnishings.
I half expected to see in the famous
dancers personality a creature OF real.
living flesh and blood-even, IL not OF
the sinuous or voluptuous type that our
ina gination pictures these dancers TO
be- But her style is of the type that we
sometimes call spirituelle or ethereal.
She has a>pale. sweet, wistful face.
There was not the vestige Of that bold
ness sometimes associated with profes-
sIonal dancers. Miss Isadora Duncan is
the personification Of .modesty, of re-
hnement and grace. Her every move
ment was full OF. poetry. Her voice is
sweet. low and soft, almost plaintive.
She seemed 10 have fioated into the
room Certainly I heard no footsteps
and as she stood there. surrounded by
the eerie hangings. through which FL
tered thin rays OF sunshine, she ap-
peared like a vision from another world.
Mary Fanton Roberts in the October
Craftsman has a beautiful word picture
of the California dancer, from which
quote partially:
1T is far back deep down the cen
turies, that ones spirit passes when