The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-20
They Couldn't Dance.


A dozen or fifteen young society men from
Murray Hill confess that they Strayed far down
town in their cabs the other night and halted
at the notorious dance house which is known
as Billy McGlOryS After waiting an hour, and
being excessively bored by a commonplace
variety entertainment the stage broken
every now and then by a waltz on the waxed
floor by the men and women who make the
place rendezvous, the uptown swells decided
to enjoy waltz themselves. One of them tells
me that the girls needed no introductions or
persuading, and the young male partners in
around the tables, under the shadow of the gal
lery. The band struck up and the dancing be-
gan. Thena very queer series of incidents oc-
Cured First one OF the young women dropped
her partner in the middle of the floor and
walked to a chair; then another fair walter
stopped and demonstrated with her escort, so
did another and another. Two or three of the
women reappeRred on the floor with partners
| chosen among the loungers at the tables.
What's the natter" inquired the spokes
man for the uptown youths. We've got plenty
of money and will buy all the wine in the house
If necessary. Why won't you ladies dance
with us2'
Because you can't dance..' was the reply.
But that's nonsense, " said one of the swells
1--WE all dance at the best parties and balls up
town. Come, what is the real reason for you
all behaving this way"
You don't any of you know how to dance"
"You are as clumsy as goats" II amt a going
to fall over mans feet all round the room,
were the replies of three of the young women.
IL
than these. Almost before they could get off
the floor the women were in the arms of the
men they were accustomed to dancing with
and the throng slid and turned in unison as
graceful and easy as the heaving of the ocean
on a calm day. Phe uptown swells took their
defeat as graciously as possible, but they looked
unhappy and confused The truth was that,
though they could waltz well enough for the
averages society belle and as gracefully as the
ordinary man who tunes his steps to music
twenty or two dozen times year, they were
not fitted to take the places of the regular
dancers at a dance house like this These fell
lows dance for living, and are at work at this
singular calllp8l between five and ten hours a
night every day ia the year. In this city and
Brooklyn something more than 400 men follow
that vocation in the dance houses music halls
and low resorts. They get from 81 to So n
night, according 10 the skill and reputation
they possess. and they scarcely ever dance any
thing but watzes. They literally do no other
work than dance. For the rest OF their living
they depend on the women and on betting
Constant partnership with them educates the
women OF these resorts TO a proficiency rs high
as their own, so that In these places the last
complishment-there is greater charm OF
rhythm 10 the waltz movement than Is seen Ina
an assembly ~ the Junior PAtri, Fchs or the r.
| G. u. C's IN DelmOnico's These same men aud
women are employed al most Of the great mas.
uuerade balls Of the winter la the academy and
the opera house sometimes 20 dance in costume
aud sometimes In evening dress They attract
all eyes, aud never fan o. win admiration n not
applause, for their finished performance Now
and ihon a country beau, who pridss himself On
he dancing, asks FOR an Introduction 10 a girl
WHOSE charming movements be- las admired
and ten 70 one b. "a staggered BY bearing her
I respond - be compliment with "saa-y,
shorty Rlpapc hide less iany. ~ ger wants
- aanaf, climb IN ana show ns what yer can
e. y 20 pFe'es swk~afa Be Is SUMMARY