The age-herald., 1897-09-10
~eOcOa.OOCOOOoOOOoooOOooa0A { By MRS. GEORGE c. BALL. 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ONOOO
 It Is decreed that waltzing must go; it is no longer to be the fashion in the smart set of any metropolis. Women who incline towards reformations, who will express their views on any and all subjects with candor and temerity, have been writing of this popular dance as a ''graceless romp' for some time. En- terprising newspapers have illustrated the effect of the "graceless romp'' upon the costumes of participants, but, until the last few days there was no certain ty that a change would be made this winter in the style of dancing. The fiat has now gone forth, and from such an authoritative source that the effect will be very noticeable at the swell CO., tillions of the approaching ssason. The American Society of Professors of Dancing have just met, at Boston, Mass, and the members have decreed the death of the waltz. They say that waltzing is undignified; entirely too
 
 thoroughly genteel. Therefore 1t must in future be relegated to the vapory, smoky limits of music halls and beer gardens, and some other dance found for fashionable people. The national convention of Dancing Professors, just held at Boston, was the twentieth an- nual session of the society and the first time the meetings have ever occurred outside of New York city, except once, during the Chicago exposition, when that city was selected for the conven- tion. The society takes very positive ground on the subject of needed reforms in the positions taken while waltzing by the majority of dancers. Many new dances were suggested and considered by the convention. It is stated by menl- bers that large number of the new ideas are the result of suggestions from bright, observant children. The stand assumed by the Dancing Professors on the subject of the waltz is explained by them thus: "The obnoxious waltz po- sition has become a fad during the past few seasons, and has done more to de- generate dancing than anything else connected with this charming and fas- cinating amusement. The waltz as danced now has become only romp, in which a lady is run the length of a drawing. room by her partner and run back again. This is a result of the two-step waltz, which has become so universal that there are many people now who dance nothing but two-step to everything. This will be done away with very largely, although just what will take its place it will not be possi- ble for us to say until later in the sea- son"
 There are many fashionable people who care nothing for dancing, either be- lcause of temperament or age Dancing is pastime of youth, generally speak ing, although many dignified, intellectual people enjoy tripping the ligh; fantas- tic'' until late in life. They renew their youth in the measures of the dance. But it is usually a matter that the years settle regardless of religious faith or training. Many of the most indefatiga- ble young dancers become in mature life violently opposed to the diversion, and inveigh against it as an offense against the moral law of the universe, forget ting in their vehemenc that they have mistaken the weight of accumula ting far tl,,tn oe l+-~so Some. of the best, most conscientious men and women have pronounced scru- pies against modern dancing, and their opinions are entitled to great weight, but .he larger amount of opposition comes from persons who have lost all pleasure in youthful diversions; who would not dance even were they not bound by any chuchly views. Tn the main, our prejud 'ce for or against danc- ing is decided by our temperament and age. and not by religious emotions.
 People on whose hands, so says an exchange, time hangs heavily are mak- ing their own handkerchiefs nowadays They are pretty, dainiy work for the long sumner days, and are much more satisfactory and attractive than any, thing that can be bought. Devotees of drawn work can find many beautiful patterns of that kind with which to ornament these delicate squares of sheer linen lawn. NThe first variety after the drawn work is the lace edge. There are many kinds of these. The hem stitching may be surrounded by mar row lace insertion on the, edge, ruified nm fne. Ot1f<SidN there m rufies of graduated widths. One of the