Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-02-21
Old Fashioned Dances.

The minuet was the great dance of the
18th century. It had both grace and
gallantry. The initial and terminating
bows have been immortalized by Burke
in passage in which he speaks OF that
generous loyalty to rank and sex, that
proud submission, that dlgnihed obed1-
ence." The minuet was the real test OF
gracefulness. All balls began with 1t,
and 1t was such a universal study that
the very sentiment of 1t, it has been de-
clared, inspired the nation and gave
something of the tone which charac-
terized society in that age. Or take the
country dances-the cushion dance, for
instance; who ever hears of the cush
ion dance now? Yet there must be some
old people who remember the figures
and the steps-the exchange between
the top and bottom couples-the throw
ing down the cushion as an excuse for
kiss he fight and pursuit and the
Joyous action of the whole OF the
dancers? These dances dwell in the
memory of the 0ld-a fast vanishing
race-and make their youth happy
time to recall. Will our waltzes and
galops do as much for us? Should you
be spared into old age, what impressions
shall you preserve of the dances you
have danced in your youth? Where
will be the old heartiness. the merry,
spontaneous laugh, the admirable deco
rum, the calm grace, the keen enjoy
ment? Alack the cushion dance has
become the dance of death. When we
grow old we shall have to angle for
bright recollections of our youth in 9TH
er wells than where our ball room expe-
riences lie sunk.
Perhaps the only old-fashioned dance
that survives in the cotillion. This
dance is full of Spanish grace. In South
America they introduce some old tricks
into their dancing. Ladies fill empty
egg shells with eau de cologne and car
~ them to the ball; there they break
them uE on the heads of the gentlemen.
It is meant as challenge. The gentle
men who receives this moist tribute Is
bound in gallantry to find out the lady
and return the compliment. Another
trick is for young man to go behind a
girl, place his sombrero directly over
her head, letting 1t fall over her
eyes. and then to spring back among
the dancers. If the girl throws off the
hat it means that she can dispense with
any attention the gentleman would like
TO pay QeT, auU lie IL OUllkeu 10 PICK Vi
his hat amid a general laugh If that
hat is retained then at the end of the
dance the owner claims it from the lady
and with it her hand for the rest of the
evening The cotillion is clearly based
on fancies of this kind. The introduce
ton of the chair, the seating of lady,
the presentation of the gentlman, the
blindfolding of gentleman, with a lady
on either side of him, and his hazardous
choice of one of them as partner, are
distinctly Southern elements, giving
graceful life and laughter to the waltz
ing accompaniment. This survives,
but the other dances are ended Wheth
er they are worth reviving is question
for girls to decide. At all events, ont
may believe that girl could never look
more picturesque than when engaged
in one of these old-fashioned dances
lust as it is certain that girl Is never
seen to worse advantage than when shs
has released herself from the grip OF (
man, after long. painting, and perspir
ing waltz, as this dance is now per
, formed.-PaU Mall Gozettee.