Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-26

with but single gem, to the beautifully
pierced and enameied circle of gold.
The SKIRT DANcE.-I hope 1 shall not
be considered egotIstical, writes Amelia
Glover, the popular danseuse, in the New
York Morning Journal, ii I say that skirt
dancing is now the popular fad. We have
outgrnwn that period in which the ballet
used to engross the whole attention of the
play-gOing public. Nowadays, if I gauge
the taste o! the patrons of the play cor
rectly, a modest dance is preferred to that
which leaves nothing to the Imagination.
Grace-modest grace, 1 mean-is now pre-
ferred to short skirts, tinsel and wealth of
lace.
The success OF the skirt dance is largely
due 10 the sInuous, Intoxicating,
rhythmical movement employed. But it is
also necessary that the dancer should be in
per ect sympathy with her art 10 attain
success in skirt dancing the dancer must not
have the slightest suspicion of embonpoint
She must above things possess not only the
quality being able to dance artistically,
but must also use smile, bit of gesticula-
ton, an undefuabIe something such as
French danseuses use in their art.
No artist OF to-day can expect success
'ully to compete with Taglioni and Fanny
Elssler, who 40 wears ago were the rage. l
have seen pictures of the skirts worn by
them. and find thev are no longer than those
used hy the skirt dancers of to-day. Ofthe
two 1 pre- er the long skirt dance to the
short one, not because L consider the latter
in the slightest degree immodest, but for the
reason that it folds and un olds itself in
s&L %i, ho1, MI RI
plies the grace of every movement.
The DRESS COAT MUST Go-The young
men of the Equestrian and Kenwood Clubs,
says the Chicago Times. are a-weary of be-
ing arrayed in sad-hued garo like unto
walters. The clawhammer coat and doeskin
trousers have become unspeakably common,
and at their private balls this season they
will appear in silkensstockings and knee
breeches, fancy coats aad waistco ats of rich
brocade, and low shoes. with massive steel,
silver or ieweled buckles. They have wisely
decided not to adopt the Partisan waistcoat
of bright scarlet They rrefer being gen.
teel and English to being French and loud.
Their waistcoats will, therefore, be gor-
geous, but they will not scream and inter
rupt the flow of polite conversation with
their diabolic noise, For the converse ion
will be polite. There will be studied
effort to reproduce in the intercourse of the
club members the same old-fashioned cour-
tesy and department that made the ancient
days famous in history. In short, Beau
Brummell is to be many times duplicated,
and there is to be something new under
the sum-" even though it is but revival of
the things that were.
The Kenwood and Equestrian Clubs have
many supporters in the East. AT Tuxedo
and at several private receptions of the
400" elsewhere the men sported knee
breeches, splendid waistcoats and colored
coats. In England the regulation court
costume is much the same, the Windsor or
royal uniform being blue coat wore over
white satin waistcoat and knee-breeches,
white silk stockings and diamond buckled
shoes.
So far no special costume for ladies has
been pronounced upon. Doubtless, the fair
ones win not be outdone, but will honor the
clubs on ladies evening" by appearing in
the powdered hair that heightens the charms
of the complexion and the tiny 'beauty-
patches" of the period. Oi course, they
will look lovely.
0TERo WRITES OF SPAIN.-All Span
iards. it might be said, writes Otero, the
popular dancer, in the New York Herald,
are born dancing, and there would seem to
be no need to apologize for them on that ac-
count, for dancing has been popular in ali
ages and among all nations. Even the saw
ages use their feet rather than their heads
to express their ideas. Bushmen Jump
about to initiate calves. Hottentots 60 on
all iours to initiate the baboon, and execute
one movement in which they initiate the
buzZing of a swarm of bees. Other savage
nations initiate by means of dancing hunts
after wild animals, aud In Tasmani..
dance by the women describes ther hunt
after the opossum, diving after shell6sh,
digging Tor roots, nursing children, while
one very exciting movement describes a
quarrel with husband. Another dance is
where by gesture they taunt a chieftain
with cowardice and urge him to come 1or-
ward to recount his courageous deeds.
sAs say, the Spanish people seem to be
born with their dancing shoes on, and as a
rule they ale good dancers, because, as the
French say, what We love to do we gpner-
llly do well. The proverbs tell us that "a
pair of light shoes is not all that is wanted
or dancing" and ''if bear will learn to
The fandango is the oldest national dance
If Spain, especially in the district of
Andalusia. Some say it was introduced by
he Moors, while others claim it was there
De ore they came to the country. This
lance interprets what may be called a pas
'ionate love song. The opening, or invita-
ion, is wild bit of music, accompanied bv
Doisterous song, which ends in a loud
chorus OF ahl ah'si 1t is danced by COUPLES.
male and female, in what is called three
our time. The musical accompaniment is
guitar, a tambourine, sometimes castanets
ire used to keep time, or the spectators
make up for the omission of the latter by
,lapping their hands.
SELECTING NEW DANCEs.-The meth
DDS of that grave and important body-the
American Association OF Professors of
Dancing = in determining the merits of
newly invented steps. are very simple. This
s the way they did it at their last meeting:
Five of the 20 wise men were selected to act
is judges, and their duty was to pass upon
Jut one new dance. After this dance was
presented, new Judges were selected for the
next one, and 50 on to the end. After the
selection OF a committee, the dIscoverer.
author and originator of the new dance
the stage, a pianist ratified off an
appropriate air, and the other masters of
iancing proceeded to tangle themselves nm
n the intricacies of the dance under the
direction of the inventor.
After the per ormance the dance was dis
;ected. If it resembled an old-timer it was
killed, and the author was led out in a state |
, collapse or remained in state of jpdio-
nation. Reflections were many. The ma.
ional society OF saltatorial matters evidently
mad the knee-breeches dignity In mind and
refused to adopt any dances but those be- |
1ond peradventure-those which might be |
ianced with perfect propriety in parlor or |
ballroom and which were neither violent |