Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-09-19
DANCING WITH LADY ASSIST
ANTS
Who Insist That There Is no
Need for the Vulgar Clinging
Style.
Nov York Mornlnr Journnl.

yourself. Don't depend on me so much.
In Waiting one should not hang to
ones partner like grim death. There
is no need Of this vulgar clinging SO
much seen"
This motherly advice was given a
Journal reporter by one Of the patient
and kindly young lady assistants"
who was assigned by the Professor to
be the reporters partner during an
hours lesson, for which the Professor
charges 50. These "lady assistants"
have come TO be quite an institution,
and yeritable new calling has been
created for the fair sex.
The strains Of Thousand and One
Nights" were pouring over the i'm
mense hall from Weber piano and a
sweet-toned violin. Tripping along
the hoer youths in tight trousers and
stiff white bands about their craned
neoks, who we're clinging con6dingly
to lady assistants" middle-aged men
we're ambling through the depths Of the
waltz, their faces o'erspread with
deathly smiles, while white haired
grandfathers appeared here and there,
looking as though they were very glad
Of the opportunity to show their part.
ners how the dance was danced 10 the
good old days. All appeared deter.
mined upon mastering the art or dying.
With some 1t did look like a death
struggle.
What is there new in dancing?'
replied Prof. Carter, indeed nothing.
Dancing is the latest tickle Of all fash
ions. In stage dancing there are OF
course pew movements constantly
coming up, but ball dancing remains
unchangeable."
"How long is it since anything new
was introduced in social dancing2"
ut is about four years ago. This
was the Society waltz. 1t was soon
tabooed, however, for the reason that
those who had not learned it properly
danced il indelicatelk Teachers gen.
orally get up new things in dancing,
but not one in ten takes. There
eminated from the Society waltz
what is known as the 'Knicker-
booker, the ''Raquette' and the
latest. the 'Redowa Glissade.' These
never appear on the programme, but
they are all danced to waltz music.
The Knickerbocker is simply another
movement in connection with the
Society the 'Raquette' is a two sided
movement, ending with the Society
movement, while the Glissade' is the
'Redowa, with the graceful slide Of
the Society Aside from these there
has been nothing changed in dancing
in years, except the manner of dane
ing"
What do you mean by that2"
well, the style OF dancing to day is
in opposition to all movements ten
years ago. Then dancing was done on
the toes; now there is none. Dancing
is now more finished and elegant,
and it is by no means so fatiguing
The consequence is that dancing is
now resorted to as a source Of exer.
else. As such it is considered
better than horseback riding. BY
the present mode Of dancing every one
OF the muscles ARE exercised. OF
course most come here to learn for
pleasure entirely, and the greatest
trouble is with those who have learned
improperly. They must not only be
unlearHed, but they must be taught
from the very beginning. Parents
come with their children to learn in
order to give the children graceful car
riage."
Are there many of the young
ladies employed as lady assistants I"
Quite a number. Some do not fol
low any other calling. II is of course
laborious, but it is healthiul, and by
far better than being cooped up in q
store. They are paid very we'll. Some
are enabled to devote several hours in
the evening to the work. am very
careful TO get most accomplished dane
ers, and these are entered in a book for
the purpose. They are notified at their
homes q day in advance of their en-
gsgements. | find it the best mode Of
teaching and it is certainly productive
of the best results, for at once the
dancer finds himself with all The sur.
rouudings,so far as a lady for a partner
is concerned, that he will experience
in the parlor or the ball room. l do
not allow dancing after midnight. |
consider it unwholesome and entirely
uncalled for. Balls begin now at 10
and IL o'clock, when they should be-
gin two hours earlier. There is no
sense in prolonging the opening of a
ball to such a late hour. Ifit were
begun at the reasonably late hour of
(but it should be earlier) dancers
could go home at midnight and not be
incapacitated for the next Gays duties,
This thing Of prolonging balls into the
morning hours is reprehensible. II il
should be condemned and made to be
understood as very bad taste by only a
few sensible leaders of society, this
would soon remedy the evil.