454 
THE STRAND MAGAZINE. 
dancer. The next morning I nervously spoke of my 
hopes to my mother, who replied, “If you are to 
become a dancer you will have to leave me and go to 
the school of the ballet. Does my little daughter want 
to leave her mother ? ” “ No, I don’t want to leave 
you/’ I re- 
plied, half in 
tears, “but 
if it must be 
donein order 
to be a bal- 
lerina, then 
ImustdoitT 
A1 thou g h 
for the time 
being my 
wishes were 
denied me, I 
think that 
conversa - 
tion laid the 
foundation- 
stone of my 
career. 
Eng lish- 
womenhave 
fine faces, 
graceful 
figures, and 
a real sense 
of the poetry 
of dancing. 
They only 
lack train- 
ing to pro- 
v i d e the 
best dancers 
in the world. 
1. MICHAEL MORDK1N. 
2. NIJIKSKI. 
3. TORTOLA VALENCIA. 
