of the houris of the ballet, have any conception of the amount of labour
and torture gone through, before even an approach to perfection in the
Terpsichorean art is accomplished. Alberic Second, the very witty author
of a very amusing book (albeit in thorough French taste) "Les Petits
Mysteres de l'Opera," to whose pages Mr. Hervey confesses himself
largely indebted, gives many curious details on this subject. An immense
amount of courage, patience, resignation, and toil, is necessary, to
become even a middling dancer. The poor children--for dancing, above all
things, must be learnt young--commence with the stocks, heel to heel and
knees outwards. Half an hour of this, and another species of martyrdom
begins. One foot is placed upon a bar which is grasped by the contrary
hand. This is called _se casser_, to break one's self. After this
agreeable process come the thousand and one steps, essential to an opera
dancer. "Such," says an imaginary _danseuse_ from whom M. Second
professes to receive his information, "are the agreeable elements of the
art of dancing. And do not suppose that these rude fatigues are of short
duration. They are perpetual, and on that condition only does a dancer
retain her activity and suppleness. A week's idleness must be atoned for
by two months' double labour. The opera-dancer realises the fable of
Sisyphus and his rock. She resembles the horse, who pays with his
repose, his flesh and his liberty, the rapid victories of the
racecourse. I have seen Mademoiselle Taglioni, after receiving a two
hours' lesson from her father, fall helpless upon the floor, and allow
herself to be undressed, spunged, and again attired, without the least
consciousness of what passed. The agility and wonderful bounds with
which she, that same evening, delighted the public, were at this price."
Besides these terrible fatigues, dancers often run serious personal
risks. So, at least, says the author of the "Petits Mysteres" who, as a
journalist and frequenter of the _coulisses_, is excellent authority. He
cannot resist a joke, but it is easy to sift the facts from their