The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-05
French Stage Morals.

The following extract from the Gazette des
7ribunduG, of date some five and thirty years
back, is 10 be found in the fourth volume OF
Southey's Commonplace Book:"-
Valentin, French dancing-master was
brought up on a charge of allO wing pro-
hibited dance at a bali in tue Place a1et.
Be ng questioned by the president OF the trioa-
nal, he replied that his profession was that OF
dancing master and a teacher of good manners.
'You are accused OF an ofense against morals
In having exhibited an indecent dance on sun
day, December Is, at ball in the Rue Cadet"
II am sorry to dispute the word of the sergens-
de-Ville, but what they have asserted Is not
common seLseD "1cu were taken IN the fact"
"Tbie is not to understand what dancing
Is How do you suppose that ], n professional
man, could permit myself to lapse into such ao-
surdites! You might as well accuse professor
of rhetoric of tanning hides.n "Your dance
was of so indecent nature that you were
arrested on the complaint OF several persons
who were present at the ball." II beg TO be
remanded for aweek TO bring forward number
of pupils as witnesses." what can your pupils
say W "They will tell you that am utterly
incapable of that which is ascribed to me, and
that it is impossible TO be more scrupuous than
/ am in everything relative to dancing. There
are three things that most particularly enjoin
honor to the jair sex, the fear of the gems
d'armes and malediction to the Cancan."
This proves that you have not followed your
own rules" The accused then drew from his
pocket dirty piece OF paper, and replied:-
II beg to lay before you the rules of my esta-
blishmeDt, and hope to have the pleasure Of
communicating them to you." at is useless.n
1T is my defense. You will see II l am capable
of being wanting in the observauces due to
sOcIety.n "Hold your tongue. The case is de-
cide6." The dancing Dasler persisted, however,
in producing his regulations:- TART. l. Every
pupil on entering the ballroom, shall pay a
sum of twenty-five centimes for polishing the
floor. 2. Politeness being the lin of humanity,
every one is expected TO take off his hat on
penetrating into the hall. 3. If the wearer
has only a casquette, be will take that
off all the same. 4. The ballroom will be lit
with candles. Those who desire lamp must
make a purse of tour persons and pay fifteen
centimes each. g. Each pupil shall pay pre-.
MUM OF thirty centimes on being promoted to
the galop. and fifty centimes on reaching the
gavotte. 6. The produce OF these premiums
shall be expended on a dinner to be given every
six months, at which The Professor will pre-
side, who will fix the day and hour. 7. The
: fair sex being especially the ornaments of
society," and OF the ballroom in particular, it is
especially forbidden to occasion the ladies the
slightest inconvenience, or to call them camels.
Lastly, the CancaD, the Maca're, and other char
acteristic dances are forbidden under the most
severe penalties, and the person guilty of iutro-
ducing them will be punished by eXpulsion.r
M. Valentn reckoned, no doubt on the moral
effect which this official document would pro.
duce; but he was undeceived when the tribunal
condemned him TO five days imprisonment and
fine OF thirty fraIcs.