New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-14
DRAMATIC DANCES. CHILDREN'S CANES.
LECTURE BY MR.. KREHBIEL BEFORE THE
CHIIDREN's CHARITABLE UNION.

A LECTURE BY MR.. KREHBIEL BEFORE THE
cHILDRENs CHARITABLE UNION.
II. F. Krehbiel lecured TO n large and Interested
audience yesterday afternoon at Sherrys on the oc-
cason OF the annual reception and tea OF the man
ayers Of the Children's Charitable Union The SUBJ
ject was Dramatic Dances and Children's Games
and the object to show that the lyric drama
grew out OF the dance, and that the influences that
produced II are still at work.
I'm ancient Greece" Mr. Krchbiel said. zone
might exactly what see In the streets OF
NewYork to-day. only that the actors then were
adults. and to-day they are children.
Dancing was associated as far back know
ANYTHING about IT. he continued with religious
worship and the Greek plays the final evoiu-
ton OF the dances with which the people celebrated
their religious festivals The beginning OF Il all
was the dithyramb baIad-dancc. In honor OF
Bacchus, which Is preserved In the childrens ring
games OF to-day, and !s seen In its perfection In
the Khoronods OF the Russian peasantry.
THE first form OF the Glthyramb was a simple
song In honor Of the god. sung as the worshppers
danced in a circle round his shrine. Then II oc-
CURED TO some one 10 step inside the circle and tell
the story OF Bacchus. This Ted 20 dialogue within
the circle. and the thing became more and more
complex TIL Il grew into the drama the circle be-
coming the chorus. and finally in our modern music
drama, the orchestra.
"The Greek dramas were musical throughout and
tho opera Is the oldest fern Of the drama"
Among the chdren's games mentioned as preserv-
Ing those ancient dances, together with the beliefs
and customs Of the times through which they have
passed. were Ring Around n Rosy" London
Bridge Is Failing Down." Here We Go Round the
Big Black Stump" Here Come Three Lords out of
SPAIN. Oats. Peas. Beans and Barley Grow"
and Frog In de Middle"
The play known by the apparently senseless words
Of the first line OF the song that accompanies 3,
Ring Around Rosy" has been a great puzzle TO
investigators OF this subject. and Mr. Krehbel gave
a very reasonable explanation OF IL yesterday II
Is survival. he says. OF the worship OF a lovely
anc amiable old goddess" who was changed into
demon under the Christian dispensa,ion She is
Other tn, pn names, r; one OF Which was Rosa
by the children OF all European countries as we'll
as in the United States. The name of the bridge
ea w Was o he doSfa bs but The play tie
to many religions that this world was connected
with the next by bridge oyer which all souls must
pass ana the tug OF war with which the game ended
was The struggle OF the good and ev spirits for the
VINO made the bridge were Peter and T Paul. nns
the choice offered 70 the one upon whom the l,rldge
fell was o 9s'T peas f bss%. ana I.fsns
the whole process Of eour;ship and marriage wa.
es Worship While MI hs nsTe m M
represented marriage by purehase. and the big
BLACK stuRp the story Of Brannhde and the
Regarding the Msypole, Mr. Krehbiel.aid tina. so
the country. where the May dance with the May
queen and the Maypole had been preserved and he
G nd sSnt than OF h ss
Of the localities where II had been allowed TO die
The lecture was illustrated By songs by Mrs.
Krehblel. Mrs Emil Boas. one OF the patronesses.
Tea was served at the close OF the lecture The
tables were presided eyer BY the Misses Tiedeman,
Ms ydS Ts.s M MI: M s snd Mr.. M
hF meyer. The tables were assOis!sa WIN
were set about the room