Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1896-11-05
OUT WITH THE DANCE.
Passing Away of Custom That Is as Oid
ftf as the Ark.

The latest agitation in English So
ciety throughout her majesty's empire
has been caused by the sad truth that
dancing is going out of fashion. 1t
may be said that the eterpsichorean art is
dying a natural death, and in its last
throes now calls upon the world to
know the reason Of its decay. What
means this passing away of custom
as old as the ark2 What has struck
mankind, that this symptom Of joyous
lightheartedness and exubernnce OF
spirits succumbs to the influence of
some unseen enemy? Isitpossble that
we are passing through vale, not of
tears, perhaps, but one OF moral paraly-
sis, where even the playful skipping Of
young lambs is distasteful to the senses?
At all events the youthful Britisher who
has been dcyotee of the ballroom,
andwlio has Slancedwisnall the abandon
of Salome or Miriam, suddenly finds
herself partnerless, and the Tommy
Atkins Of society turning up his nose at
her antics. fa..
The passing of the dance is pro-
nounced by an observing press to be
one of the most singular changes in
the present age, and to seek the cause
Of it Is the object of the guardians of
modern thought and morals. For, of
course, there is a reason for every varia
tion in the social system. While de-
ploring the new order Of things, and
seeking to discover the influences which
have been working against the once
universal pastime, it is well to remem-
ber that the encouragement that has
been given TO out-of-door sports and the
excessive use of the bicycle may have
much TO answer for in an age that can
not claim to be eclectic in its tastes.
1t matters very little If the mere act OF
dancing falls into desuetude, but it mat
ters n great deal if the graceful exer-
cises which precede and accompany
that art are no longer practiced. A
gawky. shambling gait and the shy,
self-consciousness Of many young peo-
pie have been corrected and amended by
dancing, when violent calisthenics and
school drilling have failed to bring
about the easy bearing always associat-
ed with good manners. Formerly ''de-
pertinent" was q branch of education,
but this era of haste and rudeness no
longer recognizes its helpful adjunct,
but is content to square its shoulders, to
poke out or in its elbows, and to nod its
head in the brusque, angular style that
suits the hustling times. No special
benefit is derived from this loss of the
gentle art. The beautiful world goes
on precisely the same, and only man is
viler in contrast. He says in his own
defense that the time once given to the
cultivation of fine manners is now con-
sumed by sending round the wheels OF
his bike and acquiring the twentieth
century hump. His dancing days lit
orally are over. If he condescends to
walk through square dance or to jump
about in waltz, it is simply because
his partner is too rich or too lovely TO
be neglected. He would not be guilty
of exhibiting any courtliness on either
occasion, for courtly manner is ''beast.
ly FORM" but, as he is naturally civil,
he will discourse knowingly on the
fascinations Of golf, the strategy Of
polo, the danger Of great scorch on
his wheel, the company he met at some
house party or very rapid cruise on
friends yacht. But "dancing?" No.
If English society is alarmed by the alb,
sence of department" what can be said
about our state of mind on the subject
in country as free as'this? Language
fails to paint the situation, and even Mr..
Van Aliens imported ballroom at New.
port affords no solace for the future,
Verify, it is other times, other manners
| -BOstOn Herald ul..... 4.