National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-09

pets sounded, and a procession. which undoub.-
eddy was the great hit Of the evening, entered the
apartments It was arranged BY Count Friis
Friisenborg, who represented King Christian ~,
middle Of seventeenth century, with his Queen
and q suite Of about nifty young uoblemen, who,
came to visit the court Of that King. This process
sion was shortly afterwards followed by number
OF Venetian mobiles in costumes from the sixteenth
century, who arranged very pretty qusdrflie,
which, at very short interval, was followed oy
the quadrilIe Of the Crown Princess, representing
Polish peasants and peasant girls dancing MS
tional dance. A procession Of comic masks fol-
lowed in dresses such as were worn by our grand.
parents, and was very suoosssful but the last, or
the Princess Thyras Qusdrille, was undoubtedly
the greatest amongst the qusdrilles, and repre-
scented Nsapolitsns in their picturesque costumes.
Her Royal Highness danced tarantelle so elev-
erly that ut the general desire, conveyed 10 her
by the King, she was obliged to repeat IL His
Majesty wore ct one time . rich costume 10
Henri Trois, and ss the King, without doubt, ID
one Of the handsomest men in Europe, Il Is need
less to add that the costume suited him perfectly
The Queen changed her dress at least dozen
times, aud looked barely thirty, though Her
Majesty Is past ffty, The Princess Thyra wore
at one time the costume Of . foHer girl, but she
was at once recognized by her figure and grace.
THE "DEvIL DANCE" -
Dancing under any circumstances 10 an smuse-
ment which requires youth and high spirits to
render Il otherwise than uncomfortable, but even
these advantages can hardly, 1t would be thought
lend much charm to . festivity such 90, accord
ing to the Madras Times, 10 popular In some dis
tricts in India, known as the "deyil dance" In
the TlnneveIly district q soiree dGRsGnte Of this
description led to serious results. It seems that
It lie the practice to pass o string under the hesn
on both sides Of the body by means Of large
packing needle, in order to qualify the dancers
s'to dance before the devil" Three boys were
thus with the consent Of their fathers, prepared
for the occasion, and one of them died few days
after the performance. His body was immediately
burned, but the circumstances having Deem
brought under the notice Of the authorities legal
proceedings were instituted against barber who
had passed the thread through the boys flesh,
and against the boys father for having aoetted
the commission of murder, and for causing hurt
with dangerous weapon. The barber absconded,
but the father was Appreciated and put on his
trial. It was pleaded that the custom was q
usual one in the district, and was done in fulfil
ment of q VOW; and the sessions judge ha ring
found the father guilty OF only causing hurt, he
was sentenced to three years imprisonment,
which, however, has been reduced on appeal to
| one year. The excessive languor with which
young gentlemen Of the present day perform their
dancing duties in society might perhaps be RENE
died If they were required to undergo similar
preparation to that practIced in the Tinnevelly
district for the 'devil dance" If large packing
needle did not make them jump nothing would.