The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1894-02-04

attention ia directed to the lesson and very
little to the costumes.
They are told to wear their Nat hecled
shoes, TAKE off those hlgh-heoled slip
pers," insisted MIR. MacGregor dancing
mhgter at the Mendessohn club school
III you come here again with such silly
shoes I'll cut the heels OFF myself How
do you suppose he continued, you can
practice SO long in such tight shoes2 Tho
muscles won't gtand II, No wonder you
fall over your feet and your ankles turn
Don't you know II g hard work TO learn
to dance right? II strains all your mus
cles at first. and you can not learn prop
erly in high heels"
These remarks were addressed TO n
Young miss of u Whose shapcly limbs and
stockings and high hecled French slip
ncrs, much 10 her own satisfaction.
HOW CHILDREN REALLY LEARN
DANCING.
There were II dozen or two of the chill
dren OF all ages learning the first steps
hlpnderlug AMI slipping, out Of time and
line, but all trying very hard 10 follow the
light graceful movements Of the professor
who patiently drilled them over and over
Each one held u rod ncroas the hnck TO
keep them erect and they hoped and
Jumped over the slippery floor Hike lot of
awkward young chickens.
Each child made her llO.lc courtesy and
bow aa she entered the bail room, and the
manners Of the ladg and their bows were
az elegant as possible.
The punctilious etiquette of the ball
room Is preserved Mt these LESSONS. The
child Is taught from the first day that
dancing room manners are different from
any others, All the little formnlitles arc
observed The gravity OF the Occasion IL
insisted upon, There rs no swaylng about
or careless carriage The children are
taught to walk across the floor without
circumstances to slide, to hop 10 run,
all with ease, but with the slight restraint
apd blase bearing that Va considered the
height OF afEtoCratic breeding No IA
miliarity and no laughter or hilarity. II
III all business hero. the pleasure comes
afterwaid at the organized ''classes."
The plano h pounded IN perfect time
and the ono, two. three, rum tun, III OF
the waltz time commences, and the lit
tic feet get hopelesay tangled up and the
professor hurrles TO the rescue.
Simple little froeks are worn 70 these
Lessons, the brave finery previously de-
ecrlbed ls reserved for the days when the
| little wearerB can no through a 1nadrllle
| or a waltz with almost as much occur
acy as the younger set themselves.
The mothers and friends SIT around the
| wall Of the handsome ball room IN which
the lesson Is given and laugh a little slyly
at the comic efforts OF their Offspring 20
acquire grace and dignity Of bearing.
/ STYLE AND MANNER MORE IMPoR-
TANT THAN FANCY STEPS.
do you teach the children fancy
dances?" / inquired OF the professor
mo, that Is all sout OF fashion. They
used TO learn the Highland Fling and the
Cdchena and ysrsoyenne and ell the rest
OF then. but unless a child is going into
a special fete where she rs 20 perform
/ before people we never teach them.
ut Is enough now 10 learn the fashion
able steps and the way 10 act ana look.
! There As a certain style and manner which
We try 70 teach that Is more important
| than fancy dances. Fancy daneeu belong
to me ballet school. Social dancing is
another thing"
| tilllonT' / asked.
"Oh, the two-step. chiefly. They viii
] dance It 70 everything We cannot stop
l 1t. Then the modified glide waltz, az
call it, Ia much danced. II II different
| from The old glide waltz and Is danced
more on the bail OF the foot Then they
do the polka and the York"
In England. you know he continued,
they neyer reverse IN the waltz, but
they dance In a regular way around the
outer edge OF the room American
dancers go anywhere and every way IL
I pleases them-'crazy walters the Eng
| lish call us, and We have 70 reverse TO
make the way"
How are the cotillion hsures orig