Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1860-11-15

knowledge of this little secret. "Natural
magic"-such I call it-should be sedu-
lousy studied. 1t gives us irresistible power
over both man and animals, and thus ena-
bles US to live in two charming worlds at
once. Having had in my possession, at
one and the same time, no fewer than $50
} feathered songsters, and many other ami.
mails, Gin all, some 4OO,) l speak from act.
: ual experience They were all tanned, as
) tame my fellow-creatures, by the power Of
"natural magic."- William Kids 7rea'
tiise on SongJirds.
ABOUT DANc1NG.-Dancing is a very
ancient and likewise a very universal Gin
stitution." 1t is practised by barharous
and civilized nations-by religious socie.
ties and in society to which religion is a
f stranger. 1t is the recreation and amuse-
meut of the Fejee Islander and Guinea me-
gro, as we'll as of the most cultivated and
refined nation. David, We are told, danced
before the Tabernacle, and Socrates de
lighted in the dance. France, however,
: was the birthplace of modern dances and
balls, and Catharine of Medicis was dis
tinguished above all the Queens of France
for the gorgeous1iess and originality of her
festivals and court balls. Once, while on
a visit to Bayonue, her court was composed
of her daughter, the Queen of Spain, the
Dukes of Alba, of Saxouy, and Lorraine,
and other princes. Balls, festivals, and
plays followed each other in rapid success.
sion !; but the most brilliant of these en-.
%tertainments was given upon a beautifully
wooded island in the Bayonne river. Here
was erected a large circular saloon, hand
somely decorated and surrounded by twelve
arbors. Festooned chandeliers depended
from the trees, and within each arbor was
a table that would seat twelve persons In
the centre of the saloon was placed the ia
BILE for the King, the two Queens, and the
higher diguitaries of the court. The mu-
s%icians were hid among the trees, so as to
be heard and not seen. The royal table
was served by the Queens maids of honor,
dressed as wood nymphs and naiads, while
the edibles and liquors were brought in by
servants in the guise of satyrs. Whilst
supper was in progress numerous groups of
dancers appeared in the saloon, attired 10
their national costumes, accompanied by
musicians performing characteristic airs
and executing national dances. As the
royal party and guests arose from the table,
the saloon, arbors, table, and dancers, dis
appeared as if by magic, and the astonish.
ed guests found themselves within a seem.
ingly natural anphitheatre. A series of
the stately dances of that period concluded
the affair.
At court balls in the sixteenth century
it was the practice for the ladies to sit in
rows, with their cavaliers behind them
When the signal for dancing was given the
King or Prince rose from his seat, where
upon the entire assemblage also rose. The
King then opened the dance with the
Queen or a princess royal. The rest fol-
lowed the royal couple in the order of their
rank, the ladies on the right and their
partners on the left. While the royal par.
ty was on the floor it was considered a
breach of good manners for any one to be
seated. Persons of the highest rank usu-
ally danced only the minuet. At these
balls the ladies usually appeared in full
gala costume, stiff whalebone skirts, and
richly embroidered heavy robes, with long
trails; uucommonly tight %corsets; the
dresses low in the neck, and exposing the
shoulders ; a couture of immense height;
the head and neck overloaded with jewel
ry aud exceedingly tight shoes, with high
pointed heels. All this would have made
any of the fascinating dances of the pres.
ent day impossible, and rendered even the
slow and dignifed steps of that age a wear
isome task instead of a pleasure. A dan.
Ger who cxcelled in the minuet secured a
European reputation, and Don John, Of
Austria, Viceroy of the Netherlands, once
journeyed i;ncognito from Brussels to Paris
in order to see himself, u~urecognized, the
best dancer of the Continent-Margaret of
Valois-go through a minuet ut a Court
Ball ~ Y. E0ening Post.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS Aao.-One hun
dred years ago there was not a single white
man in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana or Illinois
Territories. Then, what is now the most
Aourishing part Of America, was as little
known as the country around the Noun
taius of the Moon. 1t was not until 1859
that the Hunter of Kentucky, the gallant
and adventurous Boone, left his home 10
North Carolina to become the first settler
of Kentucky. The first pioneer of Ohio
did not settle till twenty years after this
time. A hundred years ago Canada be-
longed to France, and the whole popula.
ton of the Uuited States did not exceed a
million and a half of people. A hundred
years ago the great Frederick of Prussia
was performing those great exploits which
have made him immortal in military annals,
and, with his little monarchy, was sustain
ing a single. handed contest with Russia,
Austria and France, the three great Powers
of Europe combined. A hundred years
ago the United States was the most loyal
part of the British Empire, and on the po-
l@itical horizon no speck indicated the strug-
gle which within a score of years thereafter
established the greatest republic of the
f world. A hundred years ago there was but