Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1875-01-28
Helena, Montana, Thursday, January %, 1875.

to offer him my assistance, but thinking it
might look little awkward for two men to
be engaged in that manner, refrained.
''Having finished my refreshment left my
vis-a-vis making an exasperated attempt to
capture his last oyster, and passed out into
the dancing hall, wondering if an unvarnish-
ed expression of that mans state of mind
would shock me-
''In the hall a number of attached parties
were dancing the 'Varsovien,' and among
them was surprised to observe my friend of
the previous night. His movements were
even more erratic than had yet witnessed.
In fact, he displayed more gratuitous extrav
agance in motion than l had supposed him
capable of doing Like an incorporate ami
mated hiccough he jolted along, with some
thing Of the motion of disjointed cog wheel,
Jerking his partner around at deranged inter-
walls and perspiring as freely as a pump. He
nearly lost one of his steps in attempting to
fling nod to me as he went hitching by my
position, and what the consequences would
have been had he done SO, is hard to conjec-
ture.
''Did you ever notice man stammer with
his feet?"
My son Kan
did not seem to expect an answer from ME,
but continued:
''There was a man there who certainly
suffered at the wrong end-I suppose through
diffidence or distrust in his own powers of
doing what seemed to be expected of him. 1t
was painful to watch his pedal impediment,
when his feet were nervously lifted to differ
cnt heights Hanging limp from his ankles,
they vibrated in and out, up and down and
were then placed on the floor. in a manner
that seemed to indicate that they could be
moved in a moment if more appropriate
place for them was odly designated.
s'Many in the same set gave way to their
risibles, which seemed to increase the poor
fellows neither embarrassment; but could
not laugh, for dread had come upon me,
and in suspense waited the moment when
solo gent was the call from the stand. The
moment came at last, and all the members of
the set stood quiet and attentive to watch the
poor victim evolve his Terpsichorean problem.
He made an effort to balance across and back
but at the first move became so inextricablY
in any direction, bat with vacillating toes and
uncertain heels foundered helplessly until the
set closed around and came to his relief.
He was evidently unaccustomed to act so con-
spicuous part in public and in such man.
ner; and the smile of almost heavenly salts
faction that shone upon his relieved counten-
ance when the music ceased, had bland,
gentle and soothing effect upon me as l
watched him quietly seat himself in corner
to enjoy his emancipation, and fully repaid
pended.
Dancing illustrates character, and especi-
ally if one is but a tyro in the art. Some
there are, overcoming their bashfulness in a
crowd, who, attempting the feat when on the
floor, seem but the embodiment OF anxiety,
and by their ardent desire to appear easy and
graceful Overreach the mark and succeed only
in prim awkwardness which becomes ridi-
culous. Such men are generally half-hedged
youths, or bachelors verging on the ancient
and if their object is to make an impression
they are generally successful. These are the
characters who. when standing around in
places where men of their calibre most do
congregate, maintain that they cannot be ex-
celled in the grace of the light-footed art
II heard one of our respected citizens
who, having stringhalt dance, generally at
fords permanent amusement during social
hop-wax wroth at contradiction, and declare
emphatically that he was the best waltzer in
the Territory. He is man of good parts,
but in this case his Judgment was prejudiced.
There are other individuals who seemingly
enter ballroom under the impression that
breaking cayuse and learning to dance re-
quire about the same exertion of their ener-
gies, and when by little observation they
lind their opinion weakened, they begin to
paw and buck-mounted on their own backs
in imagination-to reconvince themselves,
and feel more at home like. These men are
not naturally bashful, and do not require any
encouragement to make their movements
lively.
'Their ear for music-probably cultivated
in some Indian camp-is wonderful. They
dance three or four bars ahead, and then
execute number of wild steps to some
air running in their heads until the
violin catches up, when they 60 on and re-
peat the performance. They are wholly
and entirely in earnest in their most extrava-
CANT maneuvers, and having come for the
purpose Of dancing, they dance to the best of
their ability. Such men are very seldom
balked in any undertaking; they like to tussle
with obstacles, and generally the obstacles
come out second best. In business life they
are active, wide awake men"
My son Xam 5F13 -, a
shouted this last sentence in my ear, and al
though in reality had fallen into doze, l
did not wish him to perceive It, 50 I said hur-
riedly-
II agree with you, Kan; agree with you
Dancing should be carried on a. business