Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-01-25
BALL ROOM ETIQUETTE.
Taken from Peck's SUM-

siduous as possible in your attentions
to the ladies, as this will cause them
to think moro of you, and give the
gentlemen an idea Of your Importance.
In the grand march, by endeavoring
to make eyes out of the back of your
head. and trying to see everybody on
the floor, you give them the idea that
YOU are too familiar with such over
lures to pay attention to the music,
and after you have walked all over the
heels of the gentleman ahead Of you,
and broken the step of all near you,
and gone left when you should have
gone right, the assembled company
will not fail to pattern by your move
ments in this part of the programme.
After you receive the order of dan
ces for the evening, reserve for your
self FIVE or six of the best dances on
your partners card, as this will give
the other gentlemen who seek dance
with her that you are the most gen
erous and unselfsh mortal on the floor .
After forming for the first dance,
rush around and secure as many dane
es as possible, before the music strikes
up, attention to this point, and little
perseverance, you will generally sue
coed so we'll that you will have the
satisfaction of knowing you won't get
left on any dance. In accomplishing
this, you may inadvertently engage
the same dance of two or three ladies
but the sighted ones will only bless
YOU for your good will toward them.
At any popularity, and they cannot fail
to admire your tact in looking out for
No. |
In the meantime your partner is
thrown upon her own resources and OF
course she recognizes the fact that 1t
is harder to look out for two than one,
and she will bless you for your unself-
ish motives.
In dancing, if you are not familiar
with the figure, or make mls-step,
don't allow this to discomfort you.
Blame the floor, and if the floor won't
stand it, blame your opposites; if they
won't stand it, blame the music, and il
the leader raises any objection, invite
him out and pound him. The mair
point is to blame something, but never
for moment think yourself lacking
perfection.
Conversation carried on in the
dance should always be to the detri
ment of those near you. This will
give your partner a good idea of your
high order Of dancing, and should
those whom you critieise, chance tt
overhear you, they will always think
kindly of you in future, as little
criticism will not fail to bear good fruit
Assure the director of the dance
that you know more about such things
than he does and offer to supply his
place should he wish to retire. Should
he suggest that you should roll a
wheel barrow over yourself for half al
hour, don't get mad, but take it kind
~, snub him, and dance the next with
his girl.
Should the floor not be waxed &C
eording to your taste hot lard has beer
found very effective increasing its elias
ITCHY, and supply should b
carried in the vest pocket for the pur
pose. On the other hand should tn,
floor prove to slippery, chalk or rosir
applied to the soles of your pump:
has been found very serviceable, but a
this would necessitate frequent appli
cation, wet sand sprinkled profusly on
the floor will answer the purpose jus
as we'll
In all dances where it can be intro
duced, try to get in as many side is
sues of jig Or clog dance order as pos
sibie, as this will not fail to be apprecl
ated by everyone present besides it vii
bring you into popular notice for tn
time being, and cause all to think the
it is only your modesty that restraint
him from leading a public life.
In waltzing hold the lady to sui
yourself, and though this may no
always be the lady's taste, yet posi-
siveness in mans nature is Away
agreeable to a woman. Don't adap