As for Fanny's method; here is a typical example of her
somewhat crude effectiveness in showmanship. Otti had
brought with her from Vienna her native peasant costume. It
is a costume seen daily in the Austrian capital, on the
Ring, in the Stadt Park, wherever Viennese nurses convene
with their small charges. To the American eye it is a
musical comedy costume, picturesque, bouffant, amazing.
Your Austrian takes it quite for granted. Regardless of the
age of the nurse, the skirt is short, coming a few inches
below the knees, and built like a lamp shade, in color
usually a bright scarlet, with rows of black velvet ribbon
at the bottom. Beneath it are worn skirts and skirts, and
skirts, so that the opera-bouffe effect is complete. The
bodice is black velvet, laced over a chemise of white. The
head-gear a soaring winged affair of stiffly starched
white, that is a pass between the Breton peasant
woman's cap and an aeroplane. Black stockings and slippers
finish the costume.
Otti and Mizzi spent the glorious September days in Lincoln
park, Otti garbed in staid American stripes and apron, Mizzi
resplendent in smartest of children's dresses provided for
her lavishly by her aunt.
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