The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-07-25
Tho orinin OF nnnoinr.


Here Is the origin of dancing as found
by Mr.. Spencer, Muscular movements
in general are originated by feelings in
general" 1.-THE violent muscular mo-
tions of the limbs which cause bounds
and gestlculations, as well as those
strong contraotions Of the pectoral and
vocal muscles which produce shouting
and laughter, become the natural Ian
guage of great pleasure" Consequent
ly children shout and jump when they
are pleased. So when primitive kings
are honored by their subjects, they are
honored by irregular jumping and GEES
ticulations, with unrhythmical shouts
and cries, at first rising without con-
cert. but which gradually by repetition
become regularized into the measured
movements we know as dances, and the
organized utterances constituting
songs 1t is probable that the bored
gentlemen who so far overcome their
disinclination to violent exertion In pub
lie as occasionally to oblige their hos
tesses by dancing, will receive such a
shock from this horrid early affinity
with irregular jumping and gesticula-
tons" as to forego it incontinently.
Nevertheless there is much to be said
for Mr.. Spencer's view. 1t was certain
ly that of early England. A male dan
Ger was a hopper" and a lady dancer
a "hopster;" and as regards the emo
tional uses to which dancing was put,
we have still preserved the historic
lines depicting the rude joy of the too
prosperous and encroaching Flemings
in the eastern counties:
Hoppe Wilkin, hoppe Willikin
Engelonde is mine and thine"
Hebraism, to which Mr.. Spencer
makes frequent references, also looked
upon dancing as the "overplus Of ener-
gy which goes along with elated feel
ing" and not as an elegant accomplish
ment at ALL The women came out
dancing to meet Saul; and David
danced" when he brought the ark to
Zion. This was "leaping and dancing"
which in time became stereotyped as q
kind OF religious observance, though in
time religious dances were dropped, and
only the procession survived. Oddly
enough, 1t Is the solemn or religious
dance which first became the occupa-
ton OF the professional, and was then
separated from its religious function,
and retained as a mere spectacle. The
premiere danseuse and the corps de bal
let have therefore a very definite andre
spectacle historical origin. Though the
memory of this is quite lost, there is, as
every one may see, a curious earnest
ness and preoccupation or absorption
visible in all good bailet-dancing; the
gayety is affected--behind it lies an ex-
IRENE concentration of effort to achieve
the set figures correctly, which is al
most ritual in It's intensity.
Spontaneous dancing-not the 'irreg-
ular jumpings and gesticulations' of ill
regulated and primitive emotion, but
the outbreak of utter happiness, which
takes the form of dancing in steps
which have already been learned-is
surely the prettiest and most natural
expression of young joy. 1t is because
it is natural and spontaneous that mod.
ern emotion never shows itself in that
form, except among young children
who, when taught to dance, will Otter
show pleasure BY II pas seul, Of a deux
OF an impromptu charcter Otherwise
it would almost seem that spontaneous
dancing disappeared after the days Of
the Greek poets. Then nyriphs ant
| maidens would on the slightest encour.
I agement join hands and dance b5
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