THE OPERA


A few years after the restoration of the Bourbons, the opera was the
grand resort of all the fashionable world. Sostennes de la Rochefoucauld
was Minister of the Household, and his office placed him at the head
of all the theatres. M. de la Rochefoucauld was exceedingly polite
to our countrymen, and gave permission to most of our dandies to go
behind the scenes, where Bigottini, Fanny Bias, Vestris, Anatole, Paul,
Albert, and the other principal dancers, congregated. One of our countrymen,
having been introduced by M. de la Rochefoucauld to Mademoiselle Bigottini,
the beautiful and graceful dancer, in the course of conversation with
this gentleman, asked him in what part of the theatre he was placed;
upon which he replied, "Mademoiselle, dans un loge rotie," instead of
"grillee." The lady could not understand what he meant, until his introducer
explained the mistake, observing, "Les diables des Anglais pensent toujours
a leur Rosbif."


FANNY ELSSLER


In 1822 I saw this beautiful person for the first time. She was originally
one of the figurantes at the opera at Vienna, and was at this time about
fourteen years of age, and of delicate and graceful proportions. Her
hair was auburn, her eyes blue and large, and her face wore an expression
of great tenderness. Some years after the Duke of Reichstadt, the son
of the great Napoleon, was captivated with her beauty; in a word, he
became her acknowledged admirer, while her marvellous acting and dancing
drew around her all the great men of the German court. The year following