Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1838-01-20
MISCELLANEOUS.
SEMI-MORAL ESSAYS.
BY A RETIRED LADIES MAN.
NO, III.

| wv Iis
Gamalel Bullock, Esq. was-is my
most particular frienl. We both be-
grimmed the same spelling-book, witt
our dirty fingers, in our abecedrian at
tempts to penetrate the uppercrust o
human knowledge; we both agreed in
playing the same pranks, 4" in Domine,'
in that most anomalous of all anomalies
grammar school, and we both practiced
the graces under the same little pocket
edition of a monkey Monster Fripperie,
French ex- barber, who had emlgrated
from Paris-whicll, with a Frenchman,
means all France-during the revolutt n,
on account--as he said-of a particu-
larc attachment to his friends, the Bour-
bons. GamaIicl Bullock, Esq. has been
beau, and perhaps may better plead
guilty to the same offence, though in a
more mitigated degree. We have now
both some gray hairs, and being sobered
into discretion by years and matrlmony,
we are excellent companions, and bosom
friends-by the bye, we married sisters.
Readers of the Maumee Express, let
me make you acquainted with my friend
Gamalel Bullock, Esq. :; Esquire Bull
lock-the readers of the Maumee Ex-
press. Now we are acquainted.
"How many different operations there
are in this world which are called dan
cing," said my friend Gamalicl, as we sat
in his room, in lhe--- House, look
ing at the salatory movements of com
pany Of the rising generation, of both
sexes. who were practising Quadrilles,
in the ballroom adjoining.
] smiled assent, and he went on
"See," said he, that little fellow in
tights; he uses his legs as il they were
made of the two ends of a lady's boa,
stuck through his inexpressibles he puts
me lin mind of the lines by Coleridge-
And over the hill, and over the dale
He went, and over the PLAIN,
And backwards and forwards he switch'd
his long tail,
As a getlenan switches his cane.
Observe the dignifed movements Of
the tall fellow, in the first set. He bows
and struts and ducks, and bobs, like a
turkey in shower, or Titan on Mount
Atlas, in momentary expectation Of a
storm OF thunderbolts. There is man
with one hand hold Of the breast of his
coat, and the other behind him +; he means
to be both before and behindhand."
Friend Gamaliel's remarks were true;
there were many droll matters taking
place in that ballroom, and he was on
the point ofgoing in to give them a help
ing hand, when stopped him, and beg
ged he would give his thoughts on dan
cling, that might write them for the ben
eft of the parties concerned. \
sDancing.' said Gamaliel Bullock ESQ.,
has been defined as the poetry of motion.
1t is valuable only in proportion of the
beauty Of the images which il creates
upon The mind. The ballroom is, or
ought TO be. a human kaleidoscope, pre-
senting to the eye constant succession
Of graceful figures, continually chang
ing like the drapery of the heavens, Or
the imagery Of pleasing cam. In q
ballroom, the music and the graceful
evo!utions Of the dancers, should be con-
sidered only as accessories to the same
general effect. and every individuality
should be sunk to promote the good Of
the economy of the collective whole
He who would endeavor to attract at
tention by the agility Of his movements
or the erraiic nature Of his performan-
ces, is fit only for a rigadoon. or a d 'uble
shuttle alone, to the tune Of Zip Coon, or
Fly-market, on the boards OF a tavern
bar-room. sss IA 81, G5agg
Ina ballroom, every person should
be dressed with the utmost regard 10