THE BALLET.
THE Ballet, alas ! is a mere caput inortuton, wanting its sole TAGLION/. PERROT, to be sure, is an active and vigorous limb, and bounds about with his wonted agility ; but the rest are in a state of suspended animation. The body, too—a corpse de ballet indeed—is curtailed of its fair proportions. Or if this simile be too material and ghastly for a subject so evanescent, let it be likened to an insect remaining in its chrysalis state, till the butterfly TAGLIONI bursts forth to flutter for a brief season in the sunshine of the stage-lights. CLARA having wearied out the audience with the pantomimic pathos of methodical madness, PERROT put on a pair of nether integuments of gray silk, with an apology for a jacket, and pirouetted in the part of Paul, CLARA tripping it as Virginia. It is amusing to see, for once' and away, an antiquated ballet resuscitated, were it only to make us marvel at the easy manner in which audiences were entertained in former days. Paul and Virginia were, of course, over feet and ankles in love ; and pleaded in a pas-de-Aux, whose pathos should have been irresistible ; but they were ruthlessly condemned to pas seal for the remainder of their existence. However, a terrific storm of rosin andsheet-iron, and a tumultuous ocean of seesaw canvas, revoked the cruel decree, and made them partners for life ; the curtain falling on their bridal " balaneez." The last novelty is a Divertissement, entitled Zephir Berger ; and the solitary incident in this brilliant invention of the Balletmaster's fancy consists in PERROT personating a painted canvas statue, which slides off its pedestal to make room for him ; and the best of the joke is, that the nymph who adores this statue is supposed not to be aware of the transformation, until the living form descends. It serves, however, for an opportunity for PERROT to display his extraordinary feats of agility ; the too constant repetition of which will render them tiresome. When one has two or three times seen a man spin round like a tetotuin, till the outline of his figure is lost in the whirling motion,— swing round as on a swivel, confounding front and back,—and bob up and down sometimes on one leg and sometimes on two,—our curiosity is satisfied, and we are willing to take the artist's powers for granted. We cannot for ever be astonished at the same wonder. PERROT, however, has latterly taken to dancing; and he executes TACLIONI'S steps with great ease. The danscuses also perform them ; but they appear like the fashions of last season worn by ladies' maids. The dancing of Vaitiu and CLARA is beautiful nevertheless.
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