Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-08-29
s, WEST VIRGINIA, SATURDAY.. AlJGUsT IS. 1874. I.
DANCING.

/
| Warm climates seem 10 be natur
urally productive of, and tn most
favorable to, the best singers and
dancers. There alone can be found
that glow and vIvacity, that Inn
petuousness and enthusiasm which
can hardly ever be equalied in
northern climates. In Russia. for
Instance, dancing is quite as COM
mon q Pastime as in Spain or Ita-
~. But how vast the difference,
The Russian peasants dance is
heavy, listless and oftentimes de-
void of gracefulness. He merely
sways to and fro to the monotO-
nous music of the ''balateica, a
long guitar, whose notes are FREE
quently drowned by the shouts
and songs OF the bystander. The
dance of the Cossack- is nothing
but 4 noisy tramp, or condensed
stamping Of the feet, dignified
| with the euphonious names OF
s'koppack, !" "trenack, and s.kast-
chock." But the court dance Is
the polonaise, of Polish origin, as
indicated by the name. 1t is
merely q measured promenade or
march, affording the very best
opportunity for conversation, is at
once graceful and unrestrained.
whilst the stricte5t etiquette may
be maintained. The redowa, ma
zurka and varsovienne are all
Polish dances Great Britain,
France and Germany have each
been the birth place Of quite
number OF specisl or fancy dances,
but ut the present day there Is
really no national dancing, and
the same style prevails in oil coun-
tries, at least In good society. The
Iiig and country dance Is purely
English, while, the reel IL unmis-
tAkably of Scotch origin. The min
uot--sO called because of the short
step (menus pas) taken In the diff
ferent figures Originated In the
old French province Of Poitou, and
was afterwards introduced by the
Marquis de Flaumsreus into Eng
land, where IL long remained In
great favor, and deservedly, tor
It was a dignified and graceful
| dance. The gavOtt0, which has
recently come into fashion here as
q fancy dance, was tripped centu-
t ts g ssS sy an els '1ui In
| famous country In the neighbor-
hood of Gapin the South of France.
The ever delightful waltz, con-
trary to general belief, is not of
German origin. 1t was extreme
ly popular In France toward the
thirteenth and fourteenth centur-
les, and became known In Germa-
nv only after that period. Its pop
uiarity was soon established in all
countries despite the prejudices
and objections raised against it.
The polka was brought from the
forests of Hungary In 1910, and
created quite a sensation. Every
thing was done in polka fashion.
There were polka hats and dress
goods, polka jewelry and trim
ming. Shortly after the polka be-
came popular here, or about the
same time, Mr.. Polk was elected
| to the Presidency Of the United
States, and owing to this some
what singular coincidence, many
persons supposed that the new
dance had been named after him,
| or in his honor. The sch0ttische
and mazurka came next In vogue
and from that time fancy dances
null, iplied rapidly, many OF them
going out of of fashion before the
end OF q m0nta. Not q few OF the
modern dances were first brought
| out on the stage.
The cotillio1sifi (Rpducef2 ileFe an
| der the nama0 f the qerm1an<-is .
|; yeSyet slafa "a ~ been
lltf 4 l. s3o6 wen kioWi4 more
than one hundred years ago IA sew
eral or the ancient Provinces. Of
France. The bouquet, mirror and
butterfly figures, for instance,
were quite popular, audit mainly
consisted, and does now, Of round
dances. Then, as now, 1t requir-
ed some talent to be a good leader
of cotillion. The Orientals are We
nv fond of witnessing ballets ana
intricate passuel, but they never
dance themselves. The dances of
the bayaderes and almees are true
pantomimes, though not always
very delicate or graceful ones.
Pulverized meerchaum is alleg-
ed to be one of the latest c0smet-
les.
| Terre Haute has the horns OF q