I talked recently over the long-distance telephone with Mme, Nijinska at the mental home at Kreuzalingen, near Zurich, where she is in attendance upon her famous husband, Vaslav Nijinski, states the "Daily Telegraph" correspondent.
Most famous of all men dancers, Nijinski became mentally unbalanced during the war and has spent the last 21 years in the home, attended by his wife. Within the last two days hope has at last been entertained of his ultimate recovery, Mme, Nijinska at once sounded note of warning. "After 21 years it is not well to have too high hopes," she said, "While we have great expectations as a result of the recent turn for the better we müst be extremely cautious in our predictions. dt is, for instance, far too soon to talk about any return to the stage.
"I myself danced for him Katsavina's part in 'Lo Spectre de la Rose,' the greatest of all my husband's dances. It was not very easy for me as I am not a dancer.
He seemed interested—for the first time—and at last he joined in. I would not say that he dances as he used to, but he knew the steps.
I tried him with the music of *Petrouchka He seemed greatly interested and pleased to hear it."
I asked Whether Nijinski had spoken much as yet.
"Hardly at all," she replied, "but Professor Sackel, the famous Vienna insulin specialist, has great hopes that the insulin treatment which he is going to give him will be effective in this direction,"
Mme. Nijinska concluded as she began. "Undue optimism must be avoided." But I could not help feeling that it was a happy woman with whom I spoke.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.