Of the Gardel ballets the most popular were _Paul et Virginie_, _La Dansomanie_, _Psyche_, _L’Oracle_, _Telemaque_, and _Le Déserteur_. The writer witnessed a performance of _Psyche_ given by the Russian Imperial Ballet with all the true atmosphere of its age, and it made a peculiar impression, similar to that which we get in visiting ethnographic museums of Europe. It was performed in Paris first time on December 14, 1790, at the Théâtre des Arts and pleased the people so immensely that it has been repeated not fewer than a thousand times since. The _Dansomanie_, which was given during the Revolution, was less effective and the author was apparently depressed, though he had chosen a subject of timely character--peasants, villagers and Savoyard farmers acting as the heroes. His ballet, _Guillaume Tell_, promised to be more successful, as the Committee of Public Safety had ordered its performance, but the money granted for its staging was stolen by politicians and Gardel took back his manuscript. It was given after his death. But his spectacular ballet _Marseillaise_ created a furore when it was given at the Opéra. The ballet opened with a blast of trumpets, and was executed by dancers dressed as warriors and participants in a hungry mob. Mlle. Maillard, personifying Liberty, took her rôle so well that the actors on the stage and the audience fell on their knees before her, as though in prayer. The solemn hymn passage of this part of the opera, and the slow, majestic dance of the artist were so impressive that the audience burst into sobs. II