Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-25
THE BIG INAUGURAL BALL.
Dancing Masters will Introduce all Their
New Fads.

New Fads.
PEOPLE WHO ARE AT ALL RUSTY BETTER BEGIN
PRACTISING THE NEW STEPS WITHOUT DELAY
NO TALKING TO PARTNERSHIP CORRECT BOW
FONTS WORTH STUDYING CAREFULLY.
From the New York Sun.
These are glorious, golden days for the pro-
fessors of dancing and etiquette. First-class
teachers wont make an engagement for Less than
IS. spot cash. which is forfeited for absence and
special instruction is worth about dollar min
ute. The fact is. all the world is going to dance
at Mr.. Harrisons Inauguration, and professors
and pupils are busy night and day giving and
getting steps. For the edification Of the people
who have not been on the carpet since 1880, the
following points ought to be highly interesting:
In the first place, it may not be a bad idea to
break in your inaugural pumps, for the ball
room floor will be waxy as a French salon.
Get Oxford ties. five holes, patent leather, low
broad heels and sufficient unto your soles, for
ON them will depend not only your own under
standing. but the safety and grace of your part
ner or partners. 1t is said on authority that
more accidents resulting from tight shoes oc-
Cured at the last inaugural than ever before In
q the history of national balls. In private docu-
ment sent to the aids of the floor and prom
enade committee. a clause is devoted to incom-
petent dancers. the substance Of which is an in
yitation to withdraw.
SUBTLE CURVES.
1t goes without saying that gloves will be re-
quired all evening. A knowledge of the Del
sarte system will not be amiss, for this is an
age of curves. The military. with its square
shoulders and angular movements has been
frowned down. and society insists that her es-
cOrt shall affect the ''wave movement" or what
art people call the subtle curves. Formerly a
man bowed square and low. his torso tending
to be at right angles with his extremitles; now
the salute is made by loosening the joints. Civ
ing the body free play, and allowing the arms
to hang slightly forward.
George Washington Wallace, of Harlem. who
has been invited to represent the New York
profession as an aid to the ballroom committee,
says on this topic:
There are not two men in a society Of ten
who can make a correct salutation, nor two
women cut of ten who know how to take man 8
arm. With the feet in third position-that is
the right heel near the hollow of the left foot
the salute should come from the body. Shout
ders, head and arms. There must be loose ten
SION The figure must be responsive and full of
curves sort of curling approachableness
which little practice before a cheval glass will
give fellow. Even among the sacred 400 one
sees a great deal of stiff bowling and tendency
to fatty lodge the right hand against the base
of the waistcOat a check to handshaking.
While laudable as a restraint, since the lady
takes the initiative, the fashion
Is NOT THE FASHION.
''You may, by way of balancing grace, allow
your left hand to gradually approach fob
charm OF vest button, but the right must be re-
served for possible engagement with lady's.
BY all Odds the best poised man is the one who
can look graceful and restful with free arms and
quiet hands
And to take the arm of gentleman?
Well the average woman does not take it.
She takes the coat-sleeve and worries the
rlsaa IL
there. man wants to feel the hand on his
arm, although its weight NAV be as delicate as
the caress of baby fingers. The correct hold is
in the crutch or bend of the arm where the lady
folds her fingers. In the street. or in a crowded
staircase or hallway, a gentleman may be par
dOned If he pulls the timid little hand above his
elbow and through his strong arm for the
security needed.
HOW TO HOLD YOUR PARTNER.
And now as to how to hold your partner.
Encircle her waist. not her ribs nor her shout
der-blades, and let the fingers support her in
the center of the belt line. Properly placed,
the hand will be arched as gracefully as a mu-
slcian - welding violin bow. and the palm
Is raised the air crculates freely and the posi-
biIty of sOiling a delicate bodice removed
The man who takes out his handkerchief to
protect lady's dress from his touch pays him
self poor compliment. and his brother who
claws girl between her shoulders, deserves
bJf 'Ottiits iOI u II ipOSslDle IOr woman 10
be graceful under such pressure unless she is
built on the plan of parallelOgram.
IN TAKING HER HAND
You don't take it. You take her fingers in your
fngers-a nice point. by the way, which must
be seen to be understood. Here it is taking
the reporters fingers in his own. his thumb
forming rest and his fingers closing over the
prOffered tips). The law of the ballroom allows
a man just two points of his partners fingers
a II. -. u
might as well tell you right here that Fashion
says palms down. and when her fair daughter
extends her hand i'll the quadrille or cOtillon
her partner Is supposed TO know how 10 take
her fingers, neither three nor five, but four.
1t Is not elegant to stand on the floor and
wait for the music. Get your partner in hand
and glide of at once with the first measure L
forgot to tell you that it is necessary for both to
bend little forward from the rigid vertical
only trifie. however. so that the bodies do not
touch. and each faces over the right shoulder
OF the other. 1t is the bad position which
partners take that brings harmless and really
beautiful and healthful exercise into disrepute"
As floor manager Mr.. Wallace was asked if
he would reprove dancer at the coming ball
for an inaccurate position, but he declined to
answer the question.
How about the Pump-handle extension of
the arms in dancing?"
1T is not only incorrect. but inconvenient
and inelegant. The ladies object to il because
their dresses do not admit of an elevation of
the arms. Who ever saw a fashionably dressed
lady get her hands above her shoulders? More
than that, the position is unsightly. for it
reaches into the comfort of other people. An
angie Of forty degrees is the correct position
for the arms. and may be lower if the lady
desires, the idea being to have the arms away
from the body.
THE PROGRAM.
How about the program"
about the dances i am unable to speak def
niteiy. We have meeting in Washington
March l, when We will receive final instruction
and SPECIFIC information regarding the pro-
gram. entire march, list of dances &C. The
waltz continues the dance of dances which.
with the Saratoga lancers. will very likely COM
prise third Of the twenty-four numbers
Then the military schottiche, the Berlin polka
and, of course. the inaugural glide will be on
the card, together with the conventional square
dances Of the past ten years. The galop while
popular with young people, is not considered
the best form, and rapid dancing is counted
among the Objectionable features of the ball
room"
Dancing cards are very bad form, but the
politicians thought its best to have them, as a
souvenir as well a convenience
As knight of the ballroom is known by his
easy individuality. il will be every mans priyi-
lege to invent his own invitation TO the dance
May have the pleasure" &C. is not to be
thought Of Anything but that At Newport
they say, Wont you take a turn?'' with a de-
clded infection of the yoice wb;la % .ho NJ