Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-02-22
FROM CHURCH TO DANCE.
How Mexican Women Mingie Devo-
ton with Worldly Pleasures.

/
ed beams of the little adobe church,
when the congregation, principally
women. true TO babitual failing, be-
gan an animated cop versation, writes a
correspondent of the Philadelphia Press
from Grants, n. NJ Whether their
comments related Ia any particularly
impressive point of the past service, or
We're devoted to coming over interest
ing bits of domestic Affairs is not known.
but il surprises the stranger, while
waiting few moments at the entrance
of the church watching the people, TO
receive pressing invitations TO attend a
"baile" or Mexican dance.
A bale is, of course, a most harmless
recreation, but TO fly 10 the opposite
extreme, with the lights in the church
yet burning and the priests still shroud-
ed in sacramental robes, impressed one
as being just a trifle sacrilegious.
Women so lately sitting with uncov-
cred heads in silent devotion now trip
ped lightly through the gloomy streets,
moving in and out between the darken-
ed structures, chatting and laughing
each with the other, apparently in the
NtTN lIuuSpOIbS III
Reaching long low-roofed building,
where small, dingy window emitted a
pickering, uncertain light and shrill
strains of music floated out into the
night through an open door, the casual
visitor allowed himself TO be hustled
rather unceremoniously into the very
midst of Mexican dance.
The dancing apartment consisted OF
one long, narrow hall, along either
side of which, for the accommodation
of ladies, several rough, wooden
benches were strung out, each set
closely against the wall Upon these
sat women of all ages, in all magma
BILE toilettes, with hands crossed de-
murely in front of them, but intent
upon watching the movements of those
upon the floor.
A number of tallow candles stuck
into wide wooden crosses and suspend
ed at various places from the ceiling
impaired a dim and almost religious
light, that cast weird, peculiar glow
upon the dusky occupants Of the room
Upon the wall, which had received "A
fresh adornment OF whitewash for the
occasion, arranged in an odd. fantastic
fashion, were groups of vari-hued mus
Inns and calicoes made up with compli-
Gated loops, bows and circles and neat
~ pinned together by means of green
cedar b0ughs.
These simple green leaves and bright
colored muslins combined in making a
noticeably pleasing effect, and greatly
relieved the dull, dead white of the
walls.
To assist the passage OF sound two
soulful musicians were accorded a seat
high above the crowd upon mammoth
dry-goods box, where they played on a
violin and guitar. However, the dancers
were favored with additional sounds.
very hollow, however, that issued
from the depths of the resonant dry
goods box, and occasionally by four
well-soled boots keeping up "a continual
tattoo.
!" omen of all ages and girls not yet
in there teens eagerly await Il request
TO be led out upon the floor yet upon
the face of those neglected and who
wait, unasked, for hours upon the hard
wooden benches, | have never noticed
an expression that would denote envy.
The old crone OF fifty accepts an in
vitation as promptly as the blushing
young damsel OF sixteen She perhaps
does not feel the same thrill Of pleasure
of her younger sister, but she certain
~ brightens up on dance nights" and
goes through the regulation moves TO
the best OF her ability, which, consider
ing her advanced years, is very con-
siderable. The principal charm, il
any there be in Mexican dances, is
their simplicity. Each dancer, from
reason OF being taught from early
childhood, has all the required steps
down TO science, which obviates the
necessity of any calling OFF, or
prompting"
Such simplicity, however, does not
prevail throughout the entire perform
ance, as other very undesirable and
highly congruous features strike one as
being extremely vulgar if not wholly
barbarous. For instance, a male gal
liant during intervals between sets
amused himself, if no one else, by
stalking up and down the floor, leer-
ing his body to and fro with an air of
bravado and by pounding his feet
vigorously upon the boards made a
harsh, discordant noise with the clash
ing OF two monster spurs, one OF which
he wore buckled TO either boot.
Another young man, tall and exccp-
tionally fierce-looking, swung IA pretty
young girl through the delights OF
waltz, while the polished end OF n huge
siX-shooter at each turn CLEANED
bright and formidable from beneath his
coat.
At the completion OF each set, the
gentleman conducts the lady 10 an adj
joining room where refreshments are
served. The refreshment stand, over
which an elderly woman in white
apron presided, is worthy Of note. The
upper surface of the stand upon which
the delicacies were served measured
about four feet square; directly in the
center stood n dozen or more large
black bottles. some full, others parti-
ally filled with liquor. Around the
bottles, arranged in circle, were II
number OF saucers.
The men for the most part took
liquor, but the women RECALLED them
selves each time with the contents Of u
single saucer, and the price for the
combination OF liquors, fruit and con-
fections amounted 10 the modest sum
of W. nfxr-f five ha