The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-12-25
The Dance Of the Period.
Sport that wrinkled care derides,
And lau Inter holding both his sides.
Come and trip 1t as you go,
On the light fantastic toe.


Come and trip 1t as you 90,
On the light fantastic toe.
In olden time our ancestors were contented To
walk through the stately minuet OF slide grace
fully through the "Sir Roger de Coverly;' not
so, however, society of the present day, which,
TO keep up with the rush and impetuosrty Of
the time prefers the more vivacious and sprght-
ly waltz, and that most time-devouring, spirit
stirring, limb-weakening. perspiring dance en-
titled the German Cotillion."
1t is needless to explain that the performers
of this dance are seated about the room in
pairs, and how, while two or more couples are
dancing the figure" the brave gallants ON
either side make strenuous efforts to entertain
their partners with refreshing conversation.
Some talk of the dance, some gossip, while
Others rack their brains for small particles Of
wit that may lie concealed therein,
You beat your pate and fancy wit will come
Knock as you please there's nobody at home
There are many modes of dancing the "Red-
owa Waltz-the:component part of the Ger
man." Some men dance on their heels soms
on their toes, some slide, others shuttle Some
men dance the 'Kangaroovian'' waltz; this, how
ever, necessitstes much room and is executed
in the following manner-The victim hops ON
one foot, then swinging the other round so a,
to describe as large semi-circle as possibles
he rests on it for a moment and drawing his
partner to him, with quick and dexterous mo-
tion he turns her round and the step is repeat
ed. 1t is, however, quite dangerous sep as
the patient is likely to ''oerreach HIMSELF in
endeavoring to span the room in one motion
The Mexican Mustang waltz is also very
graceful when well executed. In this, it il
necessary that the subject wear a surprised
look, after assuming which, he grasps his part
ner tightly about the waist, and then gallop
mally about the room-regardless alike of the
admiring glances of the specta .ors and the
shrieks of the slain and crippled who have re-
ceived his left elbow-which forms an angle of
about forty-five degrees, and elevated parallel
to the horizon-either in the flank or full In the
face.
The latter version of the waltz is however,
very injurious to chignons to say nothing of
eyes and other features aud many a lady has
saved herself and perhaps her partner also by
turning suddenly and receiving the blow on
h sr coifure. 1t would not do for many to in
dllSe in this step at once, especially if they be
heavy as the figure would then assume the
semblance of a cavalry charge aud the carnage
IndJ WOuiu enSue would De terrible.
Ladies, naturally, dance more gracefully
than men, but they too have their peculiarities.
S ,me dance too heavy, some too light, some
dance on their partners feet instead of the
d ,or. Some glide about the room slowly and
sJlemnly, while others take doube-skips and
have an aerial motion and it sometimes re-
quires the utmost exertion of their partners to
cITb their impetuosity and keep them on the
q DOR. Lastly is the graceful and sylph-like
fl ,ure:-
Whose feet beneath her fiounces
Like little mice steal IN and out
As ifthey feared the light;
But o, she dances such a way!
No sun upon an Easter-day
Is half SO fine sight.
Dancing is geo substitute for converza-
tion; both, however, require wind and the
longest winded is generally the most success
fu'. He, therefore, who, seated beside
his partner, owing to the excite
ment of the moment has forgotten what
h, was about to say, or on whose mind the few
choice sentences that have been cleaned and
treasured up in thu secret recesses of his brain
during the day for generous distribution to those
with whom he might converse at night-baye
gone where the woodbine twneth, and finding
for the lack of which his partner in the dances
-on whom part of these these treasured Sc
| crets should have descended, Like dew from
the winds of summer" was becoming exces-
/ sivey bored, has but to ask for a turn in the
dance and is excused at once for having said so
little; and in fact the wind that he otherwise
would have used had he said more he finds can
be used to greater advantage to the time of the
music that is being dscoursed
Hence If IL were MT for dapc:r,
| Society might become one polished horde
| Formed of two mighty tribe
| The bores and bored.
| FALMOUTH