New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-28
1LU1YS At JHE Old GUARDS BALL.
xrMBLE OLD FELLOW WHO DANCES EVERY
NUMBER.

4 NINpLE OLD FELLOW WHO DANCES EVERY
NUMBER.
Webster defines n BALI ~ "a social asscmbage
for the purpose Of dancing This proves either that
Mr. Webster lived too soon. tat he did not nave
even a dictionary knowl dcc Of the modern phase OF
the thing he WIS trying % define IL he had hVcu
In TIT, day and lad n cousin In the Board 81 Alder
men, or Other pull whereby Ia set Tree ticket 10
any one - number Of rrea ent'rtanncnts Of which
the 50 called French ball IS n typ. he would nave
defined a lali ~ assemblaee for TIE purpose OF
nllIng up with champagne M - quart no plnt
bottles sold Dancing either rs an art or as Il
decorons social amusement Is out OF tie question.
There IS n, room for H. There l. hardly space enough
on the door for certain perpendicular variety II ieat'
If suppl ness, and this I, obtained only b. tie Mnd
nos, Of tie nearest spectators. who fall back through
courtcsy and fear Of having their masks ldchci OF
with the other great public balls. the mammoth
assembnccs Of propncty and r'pcctlbil-
ity where charity or the sOia'lli'y grow
ing OFT OF large and long eshb'
nilei organizations are tic causes ana
objects Of the Affairs instead Of a competitive exhib
tl,n %, heayen-k,,inc sppcrs. there is also little of
dancing in IT. perfection rs an AT. Flbow-room IS
wanting The great mass Of r. pie who have come
TO sec and be s.cn to show their dresses and crnpr
p,i,cS and fitting. crowd upon The Docr. and the
couples livng and not lovnc-who would fun trip
the light fantastic In unity and rhythm. according to
tho "ouc. t~o. three. swing and sIde," p'e'cps OF
the dancing schools. are compelled merely to walk
thr ugh the hncicrs, bolt through the pokas AMI
lo,tle through an agony Of attempts at Waiting, until
the ycuar,i"r, 81 the day have dropped into Nstc'S
half hearted apology for dancing that has neither
grace nor tpnt
There are a few however. who. have come down 10
rs from the days when dancing wa, dancing, when
the Goor manager was something more than n name
on the back q o., programme, and the accurate
If ,.,f. Tod al ftrni he'd
patent Of popularity and Animation IN good society
With them dancing Is not al. nor IS the Old Tcrpsl
chocan sp.rt frozen In their heels. Such ono IS
the mascot .. The OH Guard halls.
Ills hair Is sparse and -ilvcef with the Frost "
more than SHY winters. Ills white mu>t.Ichc
brSt.c, With military fcIucity His neat fitting suit
dupIl- but the shiny Iatentoatc pumps set on
sh1prv pair II feet. which carry their owner each
extra, and all tn" last strain 81 " Iiorc. sweet
omc aSn, y d2%" rSa t Iery always is ,
and position one arm tSnetu!ly placed It the ,Nnci
latitude and Longitude a proprley about his partners
waist. the left hand holding her right rieidly alolt
Garmo blooms forth NJ his best. Hands and arms
h ad and feet. every part of his music loving person
IS alIv.. Intricate Sidcsiens are thrown into the
smpFrt figure, with g@wildcrng frequency and
agility win Linn forward ana back Is not Tin
football game but professional and occasional Of
thrown back and arms extended like spanish dancer
moving Ia the music Of her castnneis. Balance
your partner gives him the opportunity Tor right
AMI lett Nick. and undulating forward slide Hike
that ~ TOhcngrns swan, without the jcr'iness
thereof which must have made him the hero Of many
n volunteer hrcman's ball In the days when people
danced for pleasure md not from sense u social
duty.
I:nt the grand fight and LETT Is his masterpiece.
In ard ont among the pretty women lie threads HIS
devious way prancing merriiy a cult until he pulls
himself together before his laughing partner grccS her
win - bow whD>e depth aud statclneSS would give
him The post Of Grand yizer II cyil service reform
ever gets into Turkey wives her hearty swing ana
starts back on the hOmcwari trip with bis Son,brc
coaiias trailing with me celebrity of his progress
stra,At ont behind him Tx" gloomy comet.
Ard each year the hight hearted old gentleman
pircucttes among the differing uniforms Of the old
Guard from evening until morninelde. and meyer
vavers or wcaries Let hope that he will dance
onward through many years OF music and OF mirth
vet to cumc the Ideal OF whole Sculcd. nimb!c footed
AGE model for the rising generation, the mascot Of
the Old Guards balll