Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-01-18
IS WALTZING WICKED?
WE ALL KNOW OF ITS WITCHERY. BUT WHAT OF ITS INFLUENCES?


 "Yes," says the gentleman at the other end Of the bar, as he lifts the crescent of lemon peel out of his cocktail, land that is why love whisky. It gets there"
 There is bound to be cynicism of this sort applied to the elegant exercise of waltzing so long as the girls go round. While they con- tlnue to cling with unconcealed rapture to the pure, uncrumpled breasts of their stall wart partners some one is going to sit off against the wall and assert that the whole business is either nonsensical, undignifed or immoral
 We'll, is its
 You must understand that dancing has probably been indulged in ever since the world began Among ancient nations it formed an essential Of religious worship It can be made stately, sorrowful, weird, dreamy, devilish
 Therefore refrain from setting the seal of condemnation upon the far extending art of dancing
 Let us keep down to the waltzI
 THE WALTZ ANALYZED.
 When man and 0 girl stand up before .ach other for waltz the sensations of each cannot naturally be fairly defined by the calm, critical spectator To fully appreciate she entire anticipations of the girl or the complete conjectures of the man it might be necessary to go back year or so in the lives
 - ~-~~ of both partners.
 Suppose this pretty young woman had be- come engaged to the hated rival of this hand some young man while the latter was away in Colorado! Suppose tho young man knew 1t to be case of parental tyranny and that the girl was futtering like frightened dove at this moment
 They waltz
 There is no need of going round the room mics stake your life they are out in the conserva- tory.
 Now, you will readily admit, I am sure, that the waltz exerts an emotional and senti- mental influence upon it's participants And in an instance such as the above good and proper influence, perhaps.
 We will inmagine ow two fine and healthy young people of differing sexes about to waltz together, immediately after their first meeting. She is about 19 years of age, tall, slender, delicately curved, tinted with the dainty hues of virginal purity, golden haired and altogether exquisite to look upon. He is a good formed, strong and clean built young fellow, with big, knowing eyes and jolly mustache.
 She rises from her place beside her mother and yields herself up to her strange but re- assuring partner. The young man dexter ously wreathes bis right arm around her small, soft waist.
 At this juncture the cynic puts in his decla- ration that under the decent rule of things the young fellow in question couldn't get his arm about the girls waist inside of six months. And he could only do it then by proving to her that he had a good mind as we'll as good arm. The waltz has purified an insult into conventionality.
 THE w1TcHERY OF IT ALL.
 But to return to the young people, who are now floating away over pink clouds like ser aphs. In the young mans left hand rests the right hand of the girl There is really no part of the latter's satiny softness touched by fingers of the man, for at this epoch of social regulations they arc both wearing gloves But there is the little thing, just as pretty as a flower petal, and crushed, if you like, as easily.
 The girl slips slightly and utters a faint little cry. Her partner takes tighter hold of her hand, laughs with her, and the waltz reels on, the firmer grasp of hands not being relaxed
 "Ah, hal" growls the cynic. 'He couldn't press her hand like that in less than ten weeks if 1t were not for this vulgarizing waltz"
 To the maiden in her dance againi Her fair, young head reaches up to such point on the young man as to bring the last fluffy skeins of her golden hair just opposite his lips There is Q perfume in those gleaming coils-not an artificial perfume, but the rich, honest fragrance of cleanness and beauty.
 The young man inhales gratefully this re- fined odor of hair.
 "Why," puts in the cynic "he wouldn't get near enough to find that smell in three months if society didn't give him the priv llege to steal it in the cheap way he is doing"
 If you have waltzed you will know Let us suppose you are girl; that your right cheek comes about four inches from the shirt collar of your partner. Your neck, all lovely with a luminous sheen like moonlight, Is ex- actly under his gaze. If you are not as agile as fawn your knees are bound to bump against his at irregular intervals. Should the room be crowded, as 1t usually is, you and he are constantly coming into collision with your gracious but massive companion | dancers. The effect is lustering, even if not wholly disastrous. Let us return to the golden headed example | we took to commence with. There she sails l like glad, mad fairy, supported by the will | ing arms of her silent partner. A sensuous melody sighs from the arbor of ferns and palms, the air grows heavier with light and | fragrance, there is a rushing torrent of happy | people flying by like revolving rainbows, the floor heaves like rose strewn ocean and all is glory, melody and joy.
 HERE IS THE CLIMAX. Bangl The two excited people we have l been watching have danced into sort of | vortex of waltzers. They have suddenly | been crushed hard against each other. The young mans lips have been driven square into the girls hah. He has clutched her | madly for support just she has clutched him, and as the crowd whirls away and | leaves them standing there free from danger, the are dazed palDitatinc unframed
 "Wel, that settles itl" cries the cynic | sThis is where I leave. If they intend to | carry this thing any further than they have already, want to be wbere I can buy a | paper to read about the scandal. l Let's go out and blush"
 But the dancers are away again, and all | seems sweet and just What an intertwining | of flying peoplel What an array of arm en- circled waists What noiseless, solid con-