Madam Fanny’s Dilemma.   1     A gentleman’s account.

The London Road wends a long highway…

Along that road, it passed through a small unsuspecting market town in Wiltshire.
This town prided itself on prosperity and sobriety, and it provided for the nuances and titillations of the rising merchant classes.
‘Madam’, arrived one summer’s day in 1907, with her ‘three girls’, they were not her daughters, but certainly ‘sisters under the skin’. In addition, a repertoire for pleasure…

Fanny had originally come from a small place on the outskirts of Calne named
‘Ratford’, but it was only the origins of a crafty female mind…

Fanny had decided from an early age that she did not want to suffer the fate of her mother nor of her three elder sisters. Fanny was going places.

When she was fourteen she ran away to join the circus. She stole a few shillings from her mother’s purse, and pursued the high road. And never looked back.

Circus life was invigorating for the impressionable young girl, and there were romances to flex her attractions. She was a super tumbler, who became a delight on the trapeze and the crowds adored her. In addition, her confidence was molding her personality. She was not a beauty, but this gave her charm. To be succinct, she appeared wholesome and innocent – the ingénue. However, Fanny was anything but naïve…

She toured England with the circus troupe, and they were the caring family she had always longed for. In addition, they for their part adopted her as one of their own.

There was the opportunity of going to Boston in the USA, but Fanny heard bad stories and shied away. She had met ‘Alphonse’ the weight lifter, and he gave her consolation and much promise. And broadened her vistas.

A lull came and Fanny decided to become an ‘Arab Dancer’, on the Music Hall.

She became a sensation, dancing in her gauzy veils while Alphonse did his muscle repertoire. Clearly ‘Beauty and the Beast’, the female audience sighed for Alphonse and the men drooled over Fanny. She was barely nineteen.

There were approaches from ‘the quality’ that ‘toff element’ who knows that everything carries a price…

Soon Fanny and Alphonse were performing a naked tableau at interesting diversions. Notably Windsor Castle for The Prince of Wales and a select group of friends, and not all of them were gentlemen. It was an interesting way to meet people. High Society via the back stairs. And Fanny had plans…

It was whilst Fanny was alighting from a Hansom Cab in London’s Haymarket, that she encountered Ellen Terry the reknown Victorian actress. They had merely bumped into each other outside of The Lyceum Theatre, where Miss Terry was in rehearsal under the direction of Henry Irving. It was inevitable that the two young women were to strike up a conversation amidst the crowds, and adjourn to a near by coffee shop.

Their conversation was amusing and instant trust was built up. Miss Terry was having problems with one of her many admirers, some one ‘notable’ and Fanny duly listenened and imparted her advice. And elaborated on her visits to Windsor Castle. Miss Terry sympathized, and suggested that Fanny should try for the stage.

She further elaborated as to something wondrous that she had witnessed at
The Adelphi Theatre, ‘in town’. A ‘Mesmer Act’, where members from the audience were hypnotized to levitate, sing and ‘just about anything’, as Miss Terry would have it. And she remembered the leading player ‘Seignior Alba’, and that he had rooms in Fulham. She was the one who decided Fanny to go for a new career direction.

Seignior Alba was a fussy little Italian from Greenwich, who had toured the halls with his ‘Hypnosis Spectacle’, for the past nine years. He had like Fanny, started out in the Grimaldi Circus and had married the bearded lady. Who inevitably ran off with the trapeze soloist in Wigan.

Fanny and he, came to the arrangement that for thirty guineas, he would teach her the complexities and mysteries of mesmerism, and that she would accompany him ‘on the road through out the provinces.’
Meanwhile her partner Alphonse had fallen for the charms of a ‘soubrette’ and was living in Camden ‘with the baby’.

Fanny worked hard as was always her determination and ambition. She had determined that Seignior Alba possessed an act of vision and ‘mystery’ that could hold and enthrall a theatre audience. And with the added potential to travel, plus to determine eventual costs and celebrity status.

Fanny was shrewd, and she knew that destiny lay before her. The invitation beckoned. And only the feint hearted need falter. Fanny was on her way…

 

2*
Madam Fanny’s Dilemma. 2           

Some eighteen months later, while sorting through an old travel trunk, Fanny
came upon a mislaid letter from a former girlfriend she had encountered at the
Hove resort on the English south coast.

Herta Fliechman was a german student newly arrived in England, from persecutions in the old country…

Another chance conversation had developed into a steady, if not devout friendship.

It was Herta who had suggested the expansion of the ‘Mesmer Technique’.
She had known the application as ‘Hypnotek’, and had seen various performances in Hamburg, and later in Berlin.

She had witnessed a large audience in a variety theatre, all divest themselves of their clothing under the instruction of an illusionist, using merely his voice.
A coaxing hypnotic voice…

This had been assimilated by Fanny and she saw a potential vehicle for mind control.Her variety partnership was going well, and the pickings paid for a life of comfort. But Fanny wanted more, she was hungry for adulation and success.
She often thought of Herta’s observations in Germany, so she attempted to locate all she could regarding Mesmer, Hochtoven and Schmeeling.

Exponents of their respective fields. Information often derived from libraries or from the literary papers of the day..

Fanny learned the ‘Eye to Eye’ Technique, and the ‘Bolwereung Tap’. This was part of a studied process of building trust with one’s quarry. Added to which the modulating tones of a woman’s voice .No one would be safe, and added to which, Fanny had charm in abundance.

It was at a society supper, after attending the theatre with friends that Fanny learned how skilled she was.

Her attention was drawn during the meal to a society queen who ridiculed every thing and every one…

Fanny allowed the deprecating tone of conversation to flow…

She arose from her chair and approached the society queen. She spoke quietly and gently in her low modulating tone, with full eye to eye contact, with a pretext of returning a dropped corsage…She played her gambit.

Returning to her seat and friends, Fanny had planted the seed of enchantment,and waited for time to elapse.
.
She waited…

It was morbidly fascinating to await the fruits of newly acquired skills.

Beryl, the society queen began to complain of the heat, she became vexatious and more irritating to those close to her.

In fascinated horror, the assembled company witnessed a stripping of clothes to the flesh. As though in slow motion…
The dress went one way, the stays went the other. All underwear, including stockings and shoes went by the bye. Beryl was oblivious to her state of mind.

The women present were shocked, the gentlemen were quivering with mirth

The company watched as a flabby middle aged woman with pendulous ample breasts sat naked, amongst ‘noblesse oblige’ chattering on regardless.
And by doing so.she had destroyed herself.

And her prized diamond cabouchon brooch was never recovered.

It was the talk of the season when ‘old Beryl got them off’.She was niether heard nor seen ever again. It was rumoured that she retired to Venetzia, with a young Italian lover.Or more likely she had decamped for the colonies.

She was never missed, but she left a vacancy for an aspiring opportunistic country girl…

Fanny never forgot, Fanny never ever seldom forgot. And now she was aware of her armoury…

 

3*

Madam Fannys Dilemma. 3                      

It was a most beautiful spring day when Fanny decided that both she and her companion Herta Fliechman should head for a vacation in Paris…

Life had favoured Fanny, no longer was she performing in variety theater and review, but more for  the select up market demands of the aristocracy and those who could afford to pay for quality diversion.

Fanny had honed her performance to a quality skill, on which there was a rich return. Photographs taken of her at this period show an attractive woman, with hair piled high and tastefully clothed. In addition, the eyes that would seek you out were riveting…

A mere twenty six, she had worked hard from those relentless days as a child in Wiltshire. However, what was it that she was seeking?

They departed for Paris via Victoria Station, a marvel for the epoch.
Deciding on comfort Fanny opted for the boat train as part of the journey. Fanny was aware of travel comfort necessities for both Herta and herself. They had decided to take enough wardrobe to last the fortnight. Both were far from being ‘giddy’, and appreciated that Paris was expensive and deservedly so.

The Channel Crossing to Calais by steamer, was her first experience of leaving ‘Mother England,’ and first witness to The White Cliffs of Dover in their entire splendor. Most of the time was spent promenading on board deck, with the other passengers eager to see their steam ship plowing through the Channel waters. Refreshments were available but Herta and Fanny had decided to take their own. Not due to thrift but more caution, and not wanting to commence their vacation with sickness.

Cholera was rife in London

Arrival in Paris was a joy; both women hungrily viewed the sights, tussle and noise of the metropolis. Paris was a sight of flowers and blossoms in bloom. Horses, carriages, carts and bustling bodies going about their business. In addition, the street urchins were in evidence as in London.

Their carriage took them to ‘The Rue Nazarene’, within walking distance of ‘The Champs Elise - the famous continental boulevard.

Although it was late, Fanny and Herta decided that they had to explore.
Herta knew Paris from living there, and wanted to show Fanny the sights of the romantic capital...

Fanny and Herta dismissed their carriage on entering Montmartre territory. Herta had been apprehensive, but Fanny wanted to see the Parisian artists displaying paintings by kerosene lamps. There were food stalls, and handicraft displays.They even got to see a monkey in a
top hat!

Suddenly there was a commotion.

Herta Fliechman was thrown to the ground, as a low life pickpocket rushed past evading capture. Startled and not harmed, she clung to her
protector Fanny. The gendarme  duly arrived, and took a statement from both women.

A distinguished middle aged gentleman came through the subsequent crowd, and introduced himself to the gendarme sergeant. He appeared to talk for some while, and relieved the tense situation.
Fanny was tending Herta. Daubing her features with lavender water,
In addition, rubbing hands to renew circulation.

The gentleman approached them shyly, although assured. He knew both women were not Parisians.
He spoke quietly, and Fanny and Herta were aware of an enormous beard and kindly eyes. This was a friend.
‘‘I am Odilon Redon, and can I invite two gracious women to dinner?’’

*

Madam Fanny’s Dilemma. 4                    

An artist by inclination and from an early age, Mousier Redon had persued architecture on the recommendation of his father. But his failure to pass his
exams at Paris’ Ecole des Beaux-Arts, ended hopes in this direction.

Back home in native Bordeaux he took up Sculpture. In addition, experimented
with Etching and Lithography…He was developing his technique with Pastels
when he alighted on Fanny and Herta in Montmartre, that fateful evening.
He had been working on a particularly difficult subject…

He invited the two ladies to dinner at a restaurant where he was to meet
his cousin Emil Redon, an architect. Hailing a carriage they took a pleasant
drive under a starlit sky…

Fanny and Herta had realized they were in the company of a mannered gentleman, and were in no danger of white slavery.

Arriving at the restaurant, they were greeted by the maitre d’ and it was evident}
that Monsieur Redon was well respected.

Emil Redon was very dissimilar to his cousin, a large man with no beard and charming to the ladies.

It was agreed that they should have champagne and oysters, and talk out the remainder of the evening. Fanny and Herta had not eaten oysters before,
but soon overcame their reservations with pleasure and delight.

The conversation soon became vibrant. The women were asked as to their impressions of Paris. This led to the Redon cousins discussing the late Emperor
and his meddling wife Eugenie…Stories and experiences as to the Paris Commune shocked and dismayed Fanny. She realized that were it not for the English Channel then there would have been riots in London...

Like all intimate gatherings where there is alcohol, they spoke of ‘the meaning of life’…

Redon the artist spoke of the mysticism of painting, the inherent symbolism that pervaded his work. He spoke of his angels and mythical bulls, and his ethereal flowers. He freely admitted that he did not know where the inspiration came from.
He had never used stimulants

Fanny parried the conversation as to the experiences life, and regaled her friends  with the memory of the spirit of ‘Maud Heath’ walking through Bremhill one dark night… She spoke of Theosophism and Madam Blavatsky who had returned from India. Immersing herself in the Hindu traditions and her observances of reincarnation.

This continued the conversation and all of the company were well at ease. Herta recalled how there had been a psychic aunt in her family,
who gave very accurate presentiments as to the future…

Emile Redon spoke of the American writer, Monsieur Edgar Alan Poe.
He gave mention to an interest as to the supernatural. He presented his case
by detailing ‘The Fall of The House of Usher’, an engrossing read and popular
novel of the time. They touched on other writers; Maupassant and Zola plus
other worthies. In addition, the women were having a splendid evening.

Fanny requested more information as to ‘symbolism’ in Redilon’s work, and he duly obliged…
The table was cleared and Odilon Redilon came to life
Just by chance he had his artcase with him, and told the two women that it had
been a delightful evening that had caused him to dismiss an artistic block.
They were both angels and he would draw them as such. He sketched on the
table linen his vision. They all watched in delight as he drew with his oil pastels, and captured an ethereal scene.

He portrayed them as two angels walking together, walking through Eden at dawn…
It was a wonderful scene and a moment captured on a simple table cloth. On completion, Monsieur Redilon presented the prize to an impressed
Fanny and Herta…

 

Madam Fanny’s Dilemma 5     

It had been more than four years since the holiday in Paris…

Fanny would often wonder as to the hand of fate in her life.
In brief, Herta was her lover and they lived an idyllic companionship together.
Fanny had never known such contentment, and she was at ease with this life…

In was during their final stay in ‘The Rue Nazarene’, that events took a turn…

Fanny had awakened during the night to hear Herta weeping. So being the
friend she was she climbed into bed to give comfort. She put her arms
around Herta, who duly responded. There was no artifice…

Inevitably during the comforting words, the two women kissed and a relationship was formed out of a mutual admiration. Fanny did not have to use her charms because Herta disarmed her with her innocence and enthusiasm. And it made a wonderful end to a glorious holiday sharing mutual realization. And bearing in mind that both women had been aware of the other for a number of years. The world felt fresh and bright…

Herta learned to become Fanny’s Manager. An able woman, she dealt with the Theatrical Agents and arranged the tours.

Fanny thrived at a pace and was kept busy with scheduled traveling and performances.

And Herta did not ‘hover in the wings’, their relationship was founded on trust and shared confidences. They were simply in love with each other. And not like the majority who were either in love with money, power or ambition…

Herta had an inate sense of costume design, utilized to dramatic affect for the
Music Hall. An adept seamstress had been found to interpret the
drawings that had come from Herta’s vivid imagination.

 

Fanny would have cause to remember Herta’s industriousness. Many a time they would be together in the various changing rooms of a theatrical persuasion. Waiting for the call into the lime light…

Herta always carried a large carpet bag, contents known only to Herta and Fanny. It housed materials and fabrics for the manufacture of rag dollies. Herta made dolls for children at orphanages they would detour to visit. The silks and cottons came from Fanny’s vaudeville costumes.

Herta had been housed by a German orphanage and had known deprivation from her formative years, and yet she had never become bitter. ‘I am alive!’, she would exclaim clapping her hands. She simply made the toys by way of giving some thing back…

Fanny was contacted at her Calne home, by an old theatrical actor in Highgate in London, that he had a wish to see her. Their lives had touched…

Herta was gored to death by a Longhorn bullock in Calne.

The animal had escaped from the slaughter house in Church Street, close to the near bye parish church.

Herta died an agonizing death impaled on the beast surrounded by the sounds of iron wheeled carts and screams from observers.

It was only when Fanny returned to the Calne did the enormity register that her most trusted and dearest friend had gone. A door closed in her life, and the sun went out…

Clearing Herta’s effects, she found her lover had kept all of her letters,
neatly bundled and tied with pink ribbon…

Fanny burned all of the letters so that no one should ever see them…

She was at the cross roads again in her life, with the inevitable question:
‘What to do?’…

Madam Fanny’s Dilemma  6       

Fanny had taken time out to review her life, and why she had been so foolish returning back to Calne. It had never been her home…

She discovered that her mother had died in the local workhouse,
untended and unkept. Her overbearing older sister Alice, had a clutch of children from no apparent husband. She was known for her visits to the ‘jug and bottle.’ She would have been a liability had she been contacted,
a veritable leach…

Frances had returned to Calne with revenge in mind. And this she had achieved at personal cost..

The other women who shared her home in Calne, were alo variety performers and not prostitutes as had been intimated. They were ‘resting’, and took on various means of employment. Fanny had made a simple request ‘tell me what you hear’ and ‘I’ll pay good money for the letters…’

Fanny wanted to learn what was actually taking place beneath the thin veneer of Calne Society. Who was doing What to Whom , and How?…

For a period of near five years, Fanny came up trumps. And she collated the information, and the signed letters were purchased at a very good price from chamber maids and hirelings. The ‘Great and the Not So Good’, were threatened with damnation from a little Ratford girl…

Herta did not like the idea, she had always claimed that ‘Revenge is Mine Saith the Lord’…  She was now gone, and now revenge seemed so futile.

But what to do?

Fanny paced the floor and had soon taken to smoking cigarettes. What could she do? Where should she go? She agonized for hours.

She remembered when both her, Herta and the girls would glide down the ‘highpavement’ of London Road in their hats, and Sunday finery heading for the Parish Church for morning service.

Of a whole the female contingent in Calne were very drab, positively down trodden. Admittedly the young girls were pretty, until they got hit by frost. Understandably that a man should be tempted to philander.
Domestic staff often disappeared with more than ‘just the bundle’…
But the rewards made for an ample pension.

It was of a Tuesday, that Fanny received a letter from Montreal, Canada.
A letter from Emil Redon!, they had kept contact during the intervening years since the fateful holiday in Paris. His brother, Odilon Redon was now a notable painter in Paris. Duly recognized for his contribution to the world of art. Fanny and Herta had framed his Pastel sketch table cloth, and it hung in the parlour.

Emil imparted that he was coming to England to see some notable architects, and that he would appreciate a meeting with her.
His wife had died of tuberculosis, and he was left with a small son he intended to bring with him.

Suddenly the world held promise. Fanny realized what she would do,
she would return to Montreal with Emil. For possibly the greatest challenge she had ever undertook. A new life and a new way…

Clearing out old memories she decided not to burn the ‘infamy’,
letters. They seemed a pity to waste after so much attention.
One night Fanny climbed the attic stairs and wrapping them in oil cloth,
she hid them behind a beam. A bundle of 37 letters and three dated diaries. As she pulled down the trap door, she smiled to herself thinking
‘I hope some one finds them a good home…’

Fanny later sailed with Emil and little Charles for Montreal, where they lived long and happy lives. And there were times when Herta was oh, so very close…
The letters were discovered in the 1990’s, and were thought to be volatile, but it does not stop the author writing ‘An Alternative Calne’.

Calne Photos courtesy of Calne Heritage Centre,
Carnegie Building, New Road, Calne, SN11 0JJ. Tel: 01249 820066.