Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-04-12
Rgt0ceIlameo,tS Matter'
THE scuarrLER DANCE,


In ;he year 1917, fearful plague desola-
ted Munich. So great was the CONSERVATION
which it occasioned, that people dreaded to
leave their houses. All doors and windows
were closed and every man avoided his
neirhbor. In the midst of this universal ter
ror and silence, all at once troop OF men,
coopers by trade, came in from the country,
with music and fresh green gailands, and
went from house 10 house, calling TO the peo-
pie with sounds of merriment 10 open their
doors and windows. The effect of this unex-
pected summons was wonderful. The peo-
pie came forth, and, as if in frantic Joy, dam
ced through the streets. The plague spell
was broken by the derium of gaety 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
banished by an excess Of merriment scarcely
less fearful, the reaction of lacerated human
souls
A ring Of spectators, in the centre of which
moved in Il variety of figures in character mol
unlike cur county dance, our Sir Roger de
Coverley, or the various tours of the German
men dressed in close fitting jackets of scarlet
Trimmed with silver lace, (but the jackets
had sadly modern air,) black velvet
breeches, white stocking, shoes, little short
yellow leaihern aprons adorned with broad
crimson satin ribbon, 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 10 be compared
., in antique cut and association with the
quaint, parli-eolored costume in which once
saw a band of "English Plough BultQcks'
atlred.
The dance itself, however, was very pref
ty; especially from the different effect pro-
duced by garands 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 pquancy of the dance, were alloge-
ther something very pleasing 10 witness
The musicians were clad in the same cos
tune and on the ground before them stood
graceful little pyramid of some light color
ed wood, on which were painted stripes Of
bright blue On this stood an elegant little
barrel and "A basket containing glasses, out
of which wine and beer, ths contents Of the
pyramid and the barrel, were drunk ii
honor Of the noble Minister of War
who, of course, was witnessing the perfor
mances
On the ground also lay hoops twisted with
white and blue ribbons, which were evel
and anon snatched up and used in the fig
ures OF the dance. Also-that | should SC
long have omitted TO mention them two
lively harleQuins, whose business seemed
rather to interrupt than 10 assist III the
dance. Narious were the antics which they
played on the crowd of perhap:
in traditional memory of the feats of the
Scatter OF old. One seized on rosy faced
girl who was qnieily looking on, and twirled
her away into the centre of the dauce-much
to the merriment of the crowd, and her own
real, or apparent, annoyance, for she tried il
vain 10 hide her face in her shawl. The
dance lasted perhaps three-quarters of al
hour. and then, TO the sounds of music, the
dancers marched in procession gallantly the
the street.