The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-09-10
GRACEFUL MOTIONS.
A WoMAN'S ACCOUNT OF HER
FIRST LESSONS IN DELSARTE.


$50 you, too belong to the Delsarte dis
tiple classYn heard a man say to pretty
woman at dinner.
"Pray, how do you know" with slight
lifting of the eyebrows and a suspicion of
u blush
From the manner in which you sat
down at table, then took that olive and
now nibble it, You are unconsciously con
scious Of new mannerism in which You
are not perfect, but which you practice
whenever you remember to do so. | have
detected n dozen women within the last
two weeks making the same effort Come,
own up. Aren't you a Dclsartean?"
The pretty woman laNghed so heartily
as to attract general attttitiFn. A conven-
lent lull in the service gave opportunity
for broadside Of questions. The pretty
woman, now thoroughls reused to a spirit
of repartee, confessed tsat she did belong
to II female class who had been making
study of the Delsartean methods; that all
her set were in it,"
Oh, yes, our spirited little informant was
quite willing to give the whole snap
away" with illustrations too.
"You all laughed at the manner in which
took an olive. Now III show you the
difference between the old way and the
new. Mary" turning toour hostess, Gust
help yourself out of that dish" ~.
Mrs. b put her hand straight out to
the dish, captured the olive and drew it
straight back TO her mouth, evidently be-
lievlng that the shortest distance between
two points is the straight line that joins
them.
"Ohl but that is too awful" shrieked the
Delsartcan. "Now watch me-"
The little hand was poised, the wrist
moved slowly downward in u gentle curve,
the finger tips dropped on the olive like a
butterfly on a rose the hand returned to
the mouth in an upward curve, hewbole
motion describing parabola, and with
the slightest turn of the wrist olive met its
fate.
The movement was so pretty and grace
full that we applauded vigorously and
asked for more
CONTRASTS IN COLORS.
So she went on:
at was very funny the first day our class
assembled. We Advent instreet costumes,
and were drawn up in line feeling rather
ashamed and inclined to giggle as our very
stern and aesthetic looking teacher stalked
in and eyed us keenly. She wore no stays
"The first thing she did after looking us
over was to march up to Mrs. b, who,
you know, has bright color, and touch
ing turquois brooch which pinned her
bonnet strings said, severely: Don't you
know that blue and red, being opposite
colors, should never be worn in juxtapOsi-
ton? Your blue pin simply emphasizes
the redness Of your cheeks, which, | pre-
sumo, you wish to subdue.' Mrs. B
blushed from red to scarlet, but meekly
took her turquois off and put it in her
pocket.
Turning Immediately to Mrs. C,
who is stout and was trying to suppress a
snicker, our teacher remarked coldly: May
ask, madame, why you stand with your
arms hanging against your hips? You sim
ply increase your breadth by the width of
your arms. Clasp you hands thus Just be-
low the point of your stays, and you will
materially reduce your appearance of
BEAM
"Just then, as happy diversion, Miss
G., who, you know, is about rs graceful
woman as there is in town, came surging
into the room with 'Hellol girls and her
regular little wriggle of her hand in the
air.
SITTING DOWN.
"Our apostle eyed her keenly for mo-
ment and then spoke: Madam, your en-
trance into the room was rs graceful a
movement as have seen since left Eng
land; but the charming effect of your free
and easy carriage was completely marred
by that abominable little flourish of the
hand. Never raise your hand above your
head if you can avoid it. But let us revert
to other matters more physical than es-
thetic. Will you ladies please sit down
and then rise againY
"As we sank into chairs, fauteuils and
divans and then struggled to our feet
again the spasm of pain which shot across
our instructress' severe features told the
tale that we had done something awful
to her at least. Her voice sounded almost
Bepulchral as she uttered her dictum:
"'Not one-no, not one--of you ladies
knows how to sit down or rise again
Watch mer
'Sheapproached close toa chair, brought
her heels close together and sat down gent
ly in perfectly perpendicular line, with
out any lurch or swaying backward against
the cushions. As she arose the heels went
slightly under the chair and she resumed
the perpendicular without any other mo
tion than Strengthening of the knees
eve were all conscious now of having
made n terrible botch of the simple daily
process of sitting down. Some of us hat
thumped down, others sprawled, and il
rising all Of us had leaned forward with
jerk, while majority had used tie hand,
on the knees or hips as sort of levers to pr!
us up"
GOING UP STAIRS.
awe were now asked to 90 up stairs onC
by one Jolly little Miss N, who is
full of mischief, grabbed up her skirts
doubled over forward, and went up with
rush. We all followed more slowly, sup
posing we were on precisely the righ
track
again the incisive, steely voice blightec
our hopes:
You all bend forward humpbacked
with your shoulders rounded and you
lungs contracted. You need air in you
lungs in climbing Keep the body perfectl,
erect, as in rising from n chair. The strail
will fall on the calves of your legs ant
hips, and that is where it belongs So w
all marched up again, straight as broom
sticks, and really You know it is ever 81
much easier, and | can now go up thre
flights to the nursery without ever gasl
for breath.
Now, ladies, I want to see how you cal
fall down. At the words "Al fall" wan
to see you all lying on the floor.
"'All fallp
'There was a most absurd giggling an
wabbling and squatting and wallowing fo
a moment until our teacher said: AS
supposed. Now rise, if you please g. Onl
three of us could get up without help"
Please watch me, and without an 81
fort she sank gracefully on one knee, the
inclined over on her hip, and turning side
ways lay fat on her bnck. Then reversing
the movement she was on her feet again i
second, We all tried this over aud owe
again, and In subsequent lessons u lot Q