The southern press., 1851-04-05
Important to rsrps,ohors.n..

Important to TeTpstohoTeans.
The Schottischer, Polka, and Waltz having
been pretty well " used up" by this time, and
new apologies for hugging in public being re-
quired by the beau monde, we would respectfully
recommend to the Home Journal and its readers
and disciples. the dance described below 1t
can scarcely be voted "yugar," by those who
have 30 raptnrousy hailed the previous impor-
tations from the vineyards of the continent, or
the impure orgies of foreign caraivals.
From a.Munich Letter Of january 90.
THE ScHAFFLgR DANCE AT MuslcH-I have
Just returned from seeing the SclaGier 1mz-
which was mentioned in the Atleneum few
weeks ago. By-the-by it is not the shepherds ,
as some imagine, but the coopers' dance. Schaf-
fer being the dialectic name for cooper in this
part of Germany. Everybody has been saying
Of late So the Schqbler Tanz takes place this
year." The Munich papers have for several
weeks past, been announcing that about the
middle Of the month the Scha0aer would per-
form this interesting dance,--this being the
seventh year since its last exhibition; and that
having danced before the royal palace, they
would take in course the various palaces and
residences of the chief nobility, and so continue
their dancing until Carnival time"
According to printed authority, to which
have referred, the origin of this dance is as fol-
lows. In the year 1917, fearful plague DESC
lated Munich. So great was the CONSERVATION
which it occasioned, that the people dreaded to
leave their houses. All doors and windows
were closed, and every man avoided his neghbor.
In the midst Of this universal terror and silence,
all at once a troupe of men, coopers by trade,
e Al. Il
green garlands, and went from house to house,
calling upon the people, with sounds of merri-
ment, to open their doors and windows. The
effect of this unexpected summons was wonder
full. The people came forth, and as if in frantic
Joy, danced through the streets. The plague
spell was broken by the delirium of gaiety
which, as If in defiance of past misery, seized on
every heart. There is something strangely wild
in the idea Of this fearful scourge being banshed
by an excess of merrment scarcely less fearful,
the reaction of lascerated human souls.
Every seventh year, therefore, in commemora-
tion of this event, is the Schabler Idnz per-
formed-and this, fortunately for me, happened
to be this year.
On Monday, the coopers danced before the
paace-the royal family witnessing their per-
formance from the windows; and this morning
they have danced before the war ofiice--where
have seen them. An acquaintance of mine
having friend in the war office, we were pro-
missed seats at window, and, accordingly, Mt the
appointed hour, made our way thither, and soon
found ourselves seated comfortable, and gazing
down on the crowd below US. But where were
my antique costumes where were all the wild
poetry Of the dance, rs had imagined it?
had expected too much. This is what | saw.
ring of spectators, in the centre of which
moved, in variety of figures in character not
| unlike our country dance, our Sir Roger de
| Coverley, or the varions tours of German cotil-
| lon, score or so Of young men dressed in close
fitting jackets of scarlet trimmed with lace, (but
the jackets had sadly modern air,) black velvet
breechcs, white stockings, shoes, little short yell
low leathern aprons trimmed with broad crn-
son satin rbon fringed with gold, and on their
heads modern-shaped light green caps, in which
were stuck little nodding white and blue
feathers. The dress was very disappointing
not to be compared in antique cut and associa-
ton with the quaint, particolored costume in
which once saw band Of English plough.
bullock" attired.
| The dance itself, however, was very pretty, es
peciallv from the different effects produced by
garlands of fresh, green box which the dancers
bore in their hands. The lively music, the bright
contrast of the scarlet jackets with the fresh
green Of the wreaths, and the piquancy of the
dance were altogether something erypleasng to
witness The musicians were clad in the same
costume and on the ground before them stood
a graceful little pyramid of some lightcolored
wood, on which were painted stripes of bright
blue On this stood an elegant little barrel, and
basket containing glasses, out of which wine
and beer, the contents of the pyramid and barrel
were drunk in honor Of the noble minister OF
war, who of course, was Witnessing the perfor
nance.
On the ground also, lay hoops, twisted witt
white and blue ribbons, which were ever and
anon snalched up and used 10 the figures of the
dance Also-that should so long have omit
ted to mention them two lively harequins
whose business seemed rather to interrupt than
to assist in the dance Various were the antics
which they played on the crowd of spectators
perhaps in traditional memory of the ieats of The
Schaffler of old. One seized on a rosy-facec
GIRL who was quietly looking on, and twirled hei
away into the centre of the dance, much to the
merriment of the crowd, and her own real, oil
apparent annoyance, for she tried in vain to hide
her face in the shawl The dance lasted perhaps
three. quarters ofan hour; and then, to the sounds
of music, the dancers marched in procession gal
lantly up the street
This Schaficr T'dnz may he almost considered
rs the commencement Of the Carnival. We al
ready hear, on all sides, of balls and masquerades
and see people in milliners', printseers, anC
booksellers shops, consulting prints of costume
and fancy dresses. Masks, hideous, grotesquo
the mask Of animals, Of demons, and the black
romantic half mask-are exhibited in number
less windows in the town.
The editor of the Washington Southern Press