The Irish standard., 1891-01-10
DANCING MIJTES.
A. Ball Without Pronptor or Or
chestrn.
rhs singular Sight Presented by . ThronR
of People Tripping the Light Tan-
tastlo Too Without the Aid
Of Music.

q
of Music.
A ball without music was one Of tho
events in this city recently, says the In
dianapolis journal, It occurred ut the
Institute for Tho Deaf and Dumb.
Every thing had been attended to-tlc
floral decorations, tho dainty refresh
,nents, the illumination Of the buildings
and grounds, and tho waxing OF the
dance hull. The guests were nttired In
full evening dress, and early In the
evening many entered to tho ball room
proper, where already several couples
wore whirling around IN the waltz.
And yet the uninvited, standing just out
side tho door, would hardly have been
cognizant OF what was going on, for
there were no strains Of measured music,
no prompting from the caller" no
sounds except the occasional shuttle on
the smooth floor Ms tho dAnccrs glided
by. On first thought it might seem ns
fitting to invite IL party of blind to wit
ness I'm eclipse through telescope us
to get up IL dance for u bnnd OF deaf
mutea. But while tho former is impos-
siblc, the latter is not.
Probably Some Of tho most graceful
dancers Of which indianapolis can boast
nre totally devoid Of the sense Of hear
ing. At tho institution mentioned dances
nre not infreqnent occurrences, and II
glance ut the dancers as they go whir|-
ing across the floor IL sufficient to CON
vince one TINT music is not absolutely
necessary for tho pleasures Of the ball
room. "And how do these people learn
the Htep?" asked II reporter Of one OF the
teachers Mt the institution.
ASK thcm,' was tho reply
And aals them he did. Hy means Of
all interpreter several personal expert
encna were related. ~ first learned to
dance" said ono, ''when ! was twelve
years Of Agc, after I had been mnte
for three years. My two sisters could
both henr, and learned to dance early.
Although my parents were opposed
tn public bm!IH, they encouraged parlor
dancing, and many times have |
sat and watched my sisters glide over
the floors ut home. They danced
then to piano music, all OF which could
not hear. conld only content myself
by seeing, but that grew lnonotonous.
! asked myself why |, too, should not
dance, and | could sec no reason for
answering the question in tho negative.
Finally | spoke OF my desire to my sis
terra, and they took 1t mp ut once. 1t
was "a novelty To them, and n puzzling
ono, too, but they worked and worked,
ana finally came out victorious"
"Ent how did you catch the step with
out tho assistance Of music?" tho re-
porter asked, ng;Lin calling upon his In
tcrprcter for aid
"Oh, easily enough" came tho reply.
IL used my eyes instead Of my cars. |
SAW that there was u certain regular
movement in tho waltz stnp that wns
similar to tho bcuts In IL fllenslre Of
music, for when | was nine years old,
before lost my hearing, | was quite IA
musicia, for my ngo. My sisters showed
me tho step by beating time with II
stick and wnltzing ut the same time !
tried IL long time before could get over
the ,oor with any degree OF satisfaction,
but finally succeeded. 1t came to me
in ,ln instant, just rs one learns the
swimming stroke, bat it came to stay.
shah never forget 1t. And do miss
the music? Not ~ bit. IN fact, | think
if could hear to-day should prefer to
waltz without music There is n strange
fascination In keeping time with one'n
feet by thought alone"
young lady was next questioned,
and her case was even more pcrpIexinE.
Il. r.
10 Ounce ut tho age of sixteen. "My
first lcsson," she said, twas given to INC
Ivy the aid of two chairs. My only sis
tor was a graceful dancer, and, against
my own desires, insisted That should
learn. I'urning two chairs back to
back, would rest u hand on each and
throw I'LL OF my weight on my arms In
that way got that little hop that in tho
secret OF tho waltz step, but which u
hard to describe. learned readily,nnd
was soon able to go ON the floor with
gentlemen"
"And do you enjoy dancing now?' the
reporter asked.
"Do enjoy it now3 We'll, should
say do. have more fun out Of dane
ing now than ever did. There's moth
ing nicer, to my notion, than II quadrille
or Il waltz. 1t lightens the pathway OF
nay life aud makes mo happy"
Canals Nv fish Traps.
A petition is being circulated and
largely signed by the people in this pa,
OF tho valley, says the LIT, Jarn (Col.)
Echo, and will bo presented to the
n. I.1 f>v,
the enactment of Il law to provide for