Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1893-09-28

now completely stupehed. But he
continues to dance as vigorously as
ever to the beating of the drums. The
manager brings out cactus leaf He
lets tine audience examine it. II is
covered with fine, sharp needles Then
he gives it to the chief The chief
advances to the center of the stage,
lSneels and holds out the leaf to the
dancer. This is the first object that
is able to attract the attention of the
stupefed man, He falls upon his
hands and knees like a beast and APP
proaches. One cannot easily conceive
anything more repulsive than this
The chief kneels with an immovable
face holding out the cactus leaf. The
dancer is on his hands and knees be-
fore him. il face is no longer eX-
pressionless but is now like that of u
hungry wild beast, He leaps around
like a least and utters cries like a
beast. He keeps his eyes fixed on the
cactus leaf, as lion would look at
piece of fresh beef The old negress
and the two women at the side OF the
stage regard him critically. The
o her men take no notice apparently,
but thump their drums. At intervals
the wailing shrek behind the scene is
heard.
At length the man springs forward
and bites piece out of the cactus
leaf. lie chews up needles and all
with all the ferocity OF an animal, and
growls like an animal to signify his
pleasure. lie takes another and an
other bite out of the leaf, until the
chief resumes his seat, taking the re-
muinder of the leaf with him. Then
the men beat the drums asfast as they
can The dancer springs erect, PUSHES
TO the dish and inhales the narcotic
again. His face becomes rigid once
more and he dances with redoubled
vigor This lasts two or three minutes.
Then the dancer runs up to the chief,
kisses his turban and throws himself
almost lifeless on the sofa, lie will
revive IN eight or ten minutes, but for
two or three hours he will look weak
and exhausted.
- II ia relief to 60 from the Algerian
to the Javanese theater. You can see
the performers at the latter in the
daytime if you wish to do So The
/ Javanese do not need the darkness
aud strange noises They have moth.
| ing repulsive to exhibit. Their theater
is cool and pleasant. 1t is built OF
bamboo, opci. partly at the side for
| the bree2es to come in, There is
| plenty of light, The Javanese them
selves are amiablo little people, They
modest nobody and seem to think that
! life was made to be enjoyed. They
! have famous priest with them. The
| Javanese girls dance with their hands
that is the use OF the hands is the
most striking feature of the perform
ance. Their hands are very small,
slender, tapering and pretty. The
Javanese girl advances slowly upon
the stage. There is nothing violent
in her dance at any time. Her should
ers are bare, and often her feet are,
too. Her garments are of many colors.
Brilliant sashes are wound around her
waist and the ends fall below her
knees. Her hands are extended in
front of her with the palms towards
She audience Her body SWAPS with
issrasic 1t is really very pleasant
No hear the Javanese orchestra. II
contains none OF the harsh and bar
barrie sounds that one hears in the
music at most of the other villages
1t is as gentle and soothing rs rip
ping water, and is fit accompani
ment for the slender little woman be
fore you.
The dancer takes a step forward and
Nnth sNdyS dBulu Nlll lnt music
She turns the back of her HAND
towards you She raises 1t higher
and then she lets it drop by her side
She advances two or three steps more
bringing her feet down in manner
that might be foreible in larger
woman. She seizes one of the ends OF
her bright sash, and with quick
little motion hips it over her arm
This is perhaps the most violent
gesture She makes during the COURSE
OF her dance. Through it all the hant
is kept prominent When it is mo-
dropped by her side to raise the enc
Of her sash it is held between her anC
the audience. 1t is a twinl1ling little
brown palm, which she moves rapidly
sometimes, then slowly, but Away
keeps in view
Thus size moves around the stage
gesturing with her hands, and play
ing with the end of her sash. Their,
is no dancing, in the western sense o
the term, merely posturing, but it il
gentle, easy and graceful.