Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-08-25
DANCING IN MEXICO.
SOteniuity Ot the Hall Room Ccrr.nD-
nies.-No Talking Allowed.

1t must be confessed. writes cores
pondent of the New York Times, that IL
rural dance" in New Mexico is most
dismal affair, but that the active partici-
pants in such entertainments derive some
sort of enjoyment thcrefrom is proved by
the frequency with which Guiies are ar
ranged. There is not much preliminary
formality about these rural gatherings
Whoever feels the spirit OF dancing
strong within him engages the services
Of the village musicians and sends forth
word to the neighborhood at large that on
stated night there will be a bale Mt u
given house. Everybody is free to come
without further ceremony. There are No
restrictions OF fashion rs to costume.
The sheep herder i'll his patched oyerglls
and cowhide moccasins will be as wei
come MS the Don in his best attire. Never
theless, most of the people who attend
the bailS have done something for the
betterment Of their customary appear
ance. The women are dressed in the
same style of magnifcence which We
have seen Mt the horse-race, and to their
white shirts the men have added paper
collars and bright colored neckties, the
knots OF which persist in working around
under the wcarers ears.
manding washed faces and hands under
any circumstances. but there are at least
some among the company who have gone
through the motions of ablution aud
whose compilations are consequently
shade lighter than usual The ball room
is not imposing either by its size or deco.
rations. Each townlet has some one
room, which, by reason OF its broad uoor
and superior dimensions, Is recognized as
the regular place for social festivities.
Benches and few chairs are ranged
round the sides, half dozen candles
stuck into bottles and other candelabra
improyised for the occasion are fastened
/ to the walls, and then all is ready for the
ball to go on. The music is that Of II
| fiddle and an ACCORDION, sometimes oi
both, when the village reiolces IN the
musicos. Although the Mexican musl-
clan Is self-taught, he often is able to pro-
duce quite tolerable sounds from his in
strunent, some allowance being made for
the cheap quality of the latter, At all
events he plays well enough to content
his audience. Except when actually
dancing the men and women do not mini
gle, The women seat themselves at one
end OF the room, and the men cluster at
tie other end.
/ NbT ID COINtThdtlOu between partners
in dance permissible. A Mexican who
should see his wife or daughter talking
with her partner while dancing would at
once suspect that some intrigue was
Matching between the pair under cover of
the noise Of the music aud the dancers
feet. Americans who are not familiar
with the ways OF Nexicans, and those
who are aware of the Introduction against
conversation but who choose to trespass
against the rules, are likely TO meet with
II blunt admonition to the effect that
dancing and not talking should he the
present business in hand. And the Mex
leans themselves dance as if, in fact, they
We're engaged in some very grave and
rather doleful ceremony. At note given
as signal by the musician, such men rs
propose engaging in the quadrille, or
whatever may be the dance announced,
walk solemnly across the room and hold
out each hand to his chosen partner.
Then in all silence, they take their places
on the floor and the music begins. There
is no "calling OFF, of figures sis the Gus
tom among rustic Americans. All the
dancers know what to do and they do it
with serious deliberation. Neither david
ling indifference nor frolicksome capering
is a habit of Mexican dancing. Sober
ponderosity, reminding one of the terpsi-
chorean performances of the trained ele-
, phant in a circus, is the prevailing charac-
teristic of the movements of the women
as well as of the men. The dancers are
oppressively observant of time and the
proper step, and all move together with
the precision of machinery. When the
music ceases the lads hand the lasses to
their seats with an air as if they We're
) confding dear friends to the grave, and
| then return to the mems part of the
room