Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1886-09-16
Helena, Montana. Thursday, September 16, 1886.
cratic NJ. Floquet dared not venture ON a

cratic NJ. Floquet dared not venture ON a
fourth.
The French are improving in their manner
of dancing. They have always been fond of
this graceful amusement; but the waltz, the
most elegant of steps, has been until lately
very badly executed in all French ball rooms
The Boston, that slow, beautiful movement
which characterizes the American walters,
Is beginning to gain ground III France AT
Pau last winter the Boston was taught in the
dancing schools, and at the last Elysee ball
noticed more than one French couple indulg-
ing in the transatlantic step. The French
round dancers never used to "reverse," but
would go round and round like a top until
weary and bewildered, when they would rest
and then begin again their wild whirl. Now
they reverse some, am glad to say, for their
swn sake
There is one class Of French society that
never appears at these official gatherings of
the republic. refer to the so-called nobility.
Outside OF the members of the diplomatic
corps, who are OF course required to be pres
ent, you rarely hear announced a duke or
duchess, count or a countess, even a baron
or baroness; and yet the upper classes Of
this country have a plethora of titled peo-
their noble name than the late Count johann
nes. Some Of these gentlefolk are the genuine
descendants of famous old families, have edu-
cation, culture and wealth, and would be
brilliant acquisitions to the often rather hum
drum republicans Of both sexes, who crowd
the official drawing rooms But they will
have nothing to do with the present order Of
things, which, say what you will, is "a great
TO hn
waiting for the return of king or emperor,
and if they do not work actively against "the
powers that be" they at least exert a powerful
influence passively against the consolidation
Of republican institutions III this country.
These social gatherings, therefore, teach a
lesson in current politics, as well as give
amusement to the governing classes of democ-
racy.
In the contest between low-neck and high
neck dresses it may be said that the repub-
lcan ladies of France rather lean toward the
high necks By this do not mean to say
that you do not find bare shoulders at the re-
ceptions and balls which have just been dwelt
upon. On the contrary, the large ma iority Of
the ladies present would almost put to the blush
Adam and Eve after the memorable apple
scene. But when you compare the ladies Of
one of these republican gatherings to the
ladies found in the drawing room of the noble
aristocrats, you then see what progress has
been made by the former toward banshing
the nude from society. From this point Of
view it may be good thing that the fashion
able aristOcrats stay away from republican
entertainments. If they continue to do SO for
few more years, and if the republic does not
fall in the meanwhile, who knows but that
the high-necked dress may finally get the
upper hand and relegate its rival to the bal
let and the bodies OF the dem monde If this
occurs in Paris the low neck cause will be
lost throughout the whole world, for the
French capitai is still the pope of fashion.
THEODORE STANTON