St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-02
JAVA DANCING GIRLS.
Graceful Creatures Who Dis
gusted One With Corsets.

The Java dancing girls at the exbibi-
ton, says a Paris correspondent, have
put the public out of conceit with cor
sets. even made as they are here. After
seeing their 1.-THE figures and easy
fitting clothing, the female form,
c0rSeted and hustled, with abrupt
swelling hips and bosom and sleeves
gathered high at the shoulders, is an
eyeSQre. ''How are these damsels
clOthed?" you may ask. Well, as the
Princess Mathilde was when she APP
peared en- SauYageSSe at court ball
with draperies legeremeht attaches.
But, as was not at that ball. you
may reply, IL need detailed descrip-
ton of the danSeuSeS' frOckS." They're
not frockS or gowns, the chief garment
being short-armed and short-legged
combination or the gingerbread or yell
low bronze tinge of the girls faces.
Solutions of continuity at the neck and
upper arm are concealed with bracelets
and necklaces, light with enamel and
precious stones. The garment is skin
fit. Above the hips it is the sole vest
ure. All the headdresSeS are elaborate.
Into one of them are brought green
gauZe lappetS falling to the ground.
They are embroidered with gold, and
part of an arrangement of hair and jew
eled hairpiuS that looks like pea
cocks tail set fanWise. Another wears
a jeYeled bandean round her fore
head. At the back OF her head the
long dark hair Is raised over
it in coil, and thed suffered to
float free. The wearer is loyely-a true
daughter of Buddha, with his soft, re-
poseful pbysiOgnomy. long, full eyelidS
hlrl lnaA laOl- do
eyes when she looks up, regular feat
ures and snowy teeth. They are all
gO0d-looking, admitting their Malay
style of beauty. The two / have not
yet described have gay, laughing faces.
The trio seem innocent souls. Nothing
canaille breaks ont in their motions,
gestures or laughter.
Now to the rest of the dress. Ii is
drapery OF some rich Eastern cloth.
many-colored. but still reposefuI to the
eye. That of each girl differs from the
other. The drapery of one was pinned
in front across the hips and fFinged all
around. When she dances the legs
from the calves down art seen. Nine
Yite warriors were SO draped. but were
not so StatuSque. Sandals are fastened
OH with glittering strings, above which
are ankletS. The draperv of each Of
lliC 10 ldoLCilCti QN1VoS at tllt ittt
hip with strong and finely jeWeled
brooch. You see in profile on the same
side the leg from the knee down. Su-
peradded to the AsSyrian-like piece of
drapery, but not rising higher on the
body, are long flaps of silk. These are
held up in the hands and gently tWirIed
about by the wearer, and follow her
gyrationS as she dances. The same use
is made of the green lappets already
spoken of.
Now to the dances. They are the
poetry of motion. and of hieratic char
actrr. There should be an idol borne
across the stage. and the girls should
dance round it. The music is mOnoto-
nous, but the gestures are varied, grace
full. seductive, decent. with don't know
what of religious sOlemnity that often
does not preclude vein of j0yOusness.
How different from the almeeS who
were brought from Egypt in July for
the dancing establishment behind the
Rue de Cairo? Never take your boys or
girls there. Anthony retired to grOttO
in upper Egypt to practice, saintliness.
The ladies who appeared to him there
| must have been almeeS who practieed
| their arts as do the damSelS at the Rue
de Cairo.