The age-herald., 1897-10-12
BY MRS. GEORGE c. BALL.


Notwithstanding tl1a mandate of the National Society of Dancing Masters, there is every prospect that the waltz, that exquisite harmony of motion and sound will again be as fashionable and popular as it has been since Strauss first composed his beWitching numfers. There is something in youthful human nature that demands the grace and charm of the dance in some form, ard the waltz is the universal exponent of youth and vivacity. It f1ourislh-s under all skies; is the language of all grace, and as long as times and music, beauty and chivalry endure, So long will the waltz hold its own, no matter what may be the determination of professors or the frowns of the misanthropes. The waltz is here to stay, and the cotil.don clubs are arranging in every city for ssris,s of dances, which will be, as of yore, the same dreamy, dangerous waltz, or that "graceless romp," the two-step. The Philadelphia Times in championing the cause of the waltz, "as it is danced" says
 The popular two-step, with it's romp- ing, merry spirit anii go, appeals to Hhose who dance purely for the pastime of it, but the halo of sentiment and re- nance must forever endear the waltz to those couples who find it's undu la tions fully in accord with the kaleido- scopic environments of palms and p,C- fume, the frou frou of sflken skirts, the pressure of little pink fingers, and the shadowed eloquerce of downcast eyes.
 Grim chapercns in eagle-eyed surveil- lance can rest assured that their charg es are untrammeled by thought of ausht save the keen enjoyment of a merry trifling measure when the festive two- step calls the couple out upon the floor. but the duenna's serenity would be shaken if she were to know just what whispered words are prompted by the dreamy, throbbing notes of the true waltz Promises may be exactdi and soft answers given In return, opponents even may be planned the wlhile the two figures glide in perfect accord before the vigilanlt eyes of the careful chapeTon The waltz is the dance of love, of grace, of harmony. When age has set its seal on looks and limbs a man still tackles it valiantly, the spirit of a bygone youth breaking forth afresh through the magic of it's witchery. He cannot resist it's spell, yet can look on unmoyed by polka or schottische.
 An, no. grave ssigneurs, in your seri- ous sessions you cannot abolish the waltz with a light nor or a wordy ta- boo. It is the danoe heirloom of all gen. erationS, and as such will continue al- ways to appear on the programme, and despite the fact that it is dubbed out of ashion by the few it will always be in fashion with many who cling to it alone with other terder memories of vanished youth or who gloMfy it with hopes of a happiness to be.
 There are reforms of all sorts. with every possible purpose in view, appar- ently, yet the world ne: ds just one more. and that one a man or woman who will stand for the responsibility of weddings. This seems a somewhat startling propo- sition, but 1t is one which, when prop erly understood, will receive almost uni versal approval. It is mete and right that the marriage of a young woman should be made as bright, happy and handsome an occasion as the tastes of family suggest or its finances will per init. It should always be a beautiful memory, which shall be attached upon the walls of the heart never to be ob- ltsratsd by time, or sorrow. There may bs flowers. music lights and all the fascinating glamor of sight and sound but in name of refinement, and gentility, let some persistent and insiStent reform CT arise who will crystalze public opin- ion against the disgusting matrimonial exhibitions, such as occasionally occur in the larger cities of the country. Thus far Birmingham has never had such wedding; thus far, the brides and grooms of this comparatively new town have begun their married lif+ with weddings of taste and propriety. Not so In all the southern cities that one knows of. When 1t becomes necessary to use ths marriage of nice young girl as ve- hicle for vulgar shoddy display, it seems a pity that there is not a law compell- ing such parents to have their daughter married quietly in order that public opin- ion should not be offended by an effort to suppress all other shoddy affairs of like nature. A handsome, appropriate church or home wedding is to b. advis- ed and commended when suitable but such a marriage is one thing, and dis gusting, vulgar show, with an acques- cent bride and a rich young groom as in- cidents to the picturesque and lurid ex- hibition is quite another and different affair. Fortunately there are not many southern mothsrs who entirely manipu- late their daughters affections, and mar ny them to the highest bidder, and also very few women who can claim any degree of breeding who would be willing to render themselves the laughing stock of all genteel, well-bred persons, by th=ir desire to eclipse some other prstentious snob. Runaway marriages ar= always to be deplored, and rarely result in hap piness, yet one becomes even reconciled to this reprehensible form of matrlmony when one reads columns of stuff devoted to a recent marriage in a neighboring town Notoriety Is often mistaken for distinction by the underbred; and an underbred may sometimes have heir looms, without refinement or those high CT instincts which usually come with good blood.
 whether there will arise reforr,er who will preach from Dan to Beersheba