The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-08-22

London. has created great sensation
in that capital-and of course in New
York, which always promptly follows
suit, by declaring that dancing has de-
generated into a graceless romp." Just
why go simple statement as this should
have caused so much discussion is lead
to understand, as we Americans have
long since recognized and frankly admit
ted the fact that the modern dance, to
put it very mildly, leaves much to be
desired. The prints which the newspa-
pers present of the Countess, while not
showing her to be exactly a beauty, are
nevertheless exceedingly pleasing. Her
dark hair is drawn back in soft waves
from broad intelligent looking brow,
her eyes are calm and earnest in their ex-
preston. and her mouth firm and sweet.
In other words, she locks like a woman
who would not approve of "graeelsss
romp.' and who would certainly have
the courage of her convictions.
That she should criticise the modern
dance as it Frequently exists is not sur
land must differ very widely from those
in the southern part of the United States
where we would have much greater reas-
on to complain of the lack of animation
and spirit Of healing enjoyment thrown
into this amusement. than of any tenden-
cy towards romping. There is no great
harm in a romp. 1t is not dgnified it
is true, but surely anything is better
than to see young man and young wo-
man waltzing with sentimental counten-
ances about a ball room at so slow a
pace that they might as we'll not be NOV
ing at all. This is however, a fashion
which has been affected by many of late,
and which chaperones have counten-
anced with an astonishing tolerance 1t
is a fashion, or fad, or whatever it might
be called that is neither becoming in the
participants nor pleasing to the observ-
ers. Dancing when INDUCED in with
modesty. in moderation, and with the en-
joyment that good music a good part
ner, and the high spirits of youth must
always inspire is one of the most de-
lightful amusements. Only when it de-
generates into either "graceless romp"
or the other extreme, is It to be condemn
ed.
The press accounts of the recnt meet
of the League of American Wheelmen In
Philadelphia, contain no more interest
ing item than the brief paragraph that
tells us that of the innumerable wheel
women present, only one wore the
bloomer costume. This young woman
hailed from Mexico, where. as we all
know they are ever so many years be-
hind the times. The prophesies so con-
fidently made a year or two ago by the
advocates of this style of dress. to the
effect that he time would soon come
when every wheelwoman would wear it
on account of it's utility, comfort, ETC.,
have probably just reached the sleepy
old country south of us, and this Mexican
maiden has accepted them on faith and
acted accordingly. 1t is sad that she
should have made herself absurd for
nothing. The truth is the popularity of
boomers was of very brief duration and
confined to a limited number of wheel
women. That this costume is not mod
est one and that 1t awakened a storm
of criticism from conservative people,
might not have deferred many from
wearing it, but that women are rare who
will deliberately make laughing stock
of themselves, and as ninety-nne out of
a hundred looked simply ridiculous in
4Io;,
waned. However. comfortable and we'll
adapted to the riding of a wheel this
costume may have been, it was neither
graceful nor becoming. What is more,
everybody laughed at 1T and that settled
It.
An Englishman tTveling in Africa has
had an interview with Maori princess
which is very unusual in It's character.
the daughter of King Paul a great chief
tain, and will some day be ruler her.
self. Besides her title she has 100000
of her own and as she frankly states she
is anxious to make use of these to OBJ
tain for herself white husband She
has received COUNTLESS offers from chiefs
of her people but is too well educated
to appreciate them. She says: Take
away my future and my title and 1 am
an ugly Maori girl, black as night.
rcaliz, that the man may select will
not marry me for love, but for money"
which shows her to be a young woman
of some Judgment. She does not seem
to be very particular about her chance
as long as he is white. He must not
be a criminal, she says, and he must be
brave enough to fight any Maori chief
who tries to make talk about the match"
She will let him spend $4,000 a year, but