The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1860-10-27
ABOUT DANcIsG.

AS the great Prince of Wales Ball takes
place at the Academy of Music tomorrow
night. We have been reading up all the ties
tises on the sublime an of dancing. and
hereby give our readers the result OF these
laborious studies. Dancing, they are pre-
sumed to know, is 9 very ancient and Ike
wise universal institution II is prac-
ticed by barbarous and civilized nations
by religious societies and in society TO which
religion is a stranger. 1t is the recreation
and amusement of the Feejee Islander and
Guinea negro. az well as OF the most cult
waited and refined nations. David, we are
told. danced before the Tabernacle, and Soc
rates delighted in the dance.
France. however. was The birthplace of
modern dances and balls, and Catherine Of
Medicis was distinguished above all the
Queens of France FOR the gorgeousness and
originality of her festivals and court balls.
Once, while on a visit to BayonnA, her court
was composed of her daughter. the Queen
of Spain, the Dukes of Alba, of Savoy and
Lorraine. and other princes. Balls, fesu
walls and plays followed each ether III rapid
succession but the most brilliant Of these
entertainments was given upon beautifully
wooded island in the Bayonne river. Here
was erected large circular saloon, hand
somely decorated and surrounded by twelve
aibors. Festooned chandeliers derSaded
from the trees, and within each aIbor was a
table that would seat twelve persons. In
the centre of the saloon was placed the table
for the King, the two Queens and the high
er dignitaries of the court. The musicians
were hid among the trees, so as to be heard
and not seen. The royal table was seyyed
by the Queens maids of honor, dressed as
wood nymphs, and naisds, while the edibles
and liquors were brought in by servants III
the guise of eatyrs. Whilst supper was in
progress numerous groups OF dancers ap
peared in the saloon, attired in their nation
al costumes, accompanied by musicians per
forming characteristic airs, and executed
national dances. AS the royal party anC
the guests rose from the tables, the saloon
arbors, tables and dancers disappeared as i
by magic, and the astonished guests founC
themselves within a seemingly natural am
| phitheatre. A series of the stately dances
of that period concluded the affair.
At court balls in the sixteenth century j
was the practice for the ladies to sill il rows
with their cavaliers behind them. Whe,
the signal for dancing was given, the KinG
! OF IlljS IOSC IIOAi Bib CSaI "LCicupOt
the entire aesem blsgo also arose the KIM
then opened the dance with the Queen or
Princess royal. The rest followed the roy
al couple in the order OF their rank, tie Ia
dies on the right aud their partners on tht
left. While the royal party wss on the foo
! it was considered breach of good manner
! for any one to be seated. Persons OF tn
highest rank usually danced only the min
| yet.
At .hese balls tie ladies usually appearet
| in full gala costume-stiff wbalebone skirts
and richly embroidered heavy robes will
long trails; uncomfortably tight corsets
| the dresses low in the neck aud exposing
the shoulders a co:6ure ofimmense height
the head and neck overloaded with jewelry
and exceedingly tight shoes. with high poin
ted heels all this would have made an,
of tie fascinating dances of the present ds,
impossible. and rendered even the slow ant
dignifed steps of that age wearisome tasl
instead of a pleasure. A dancer who excel
| led in The nlinuet secured European repu
tation; and Don John Of Austria, Vicero1
of the Netherlands, once journeyed isacognif
| from Brussels to Paris, in order TO see, him
self unrecognised, the best dancer of tn
Continent-M Margaret of Vaiois-go through
the minuet at court ball.-N. I. E0eNin.
/ Post.