The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-01-21
NO MONEY, NO DANCE
Rector Stoddard's Dancing
Class Starts Under Most
Auspicious Circum-
stances.
MANY APPLICANTS REFUSED
One Had Not the Price Of a Ticket
and Tick Was Refused Him
How the Movement Started.

The dancing class organized by the Rev.
E. l.. Stoddard, rector of st. Johns Epis-
copal Church, met for the first time last
night for instruction. The lesson was
given by Fred Anderson, a professional
dancing master, in the gymnasium, which
| adioins the church. The dance music
was played by Mrs. Dixon, sister of the
i dancing master. The class is limited to
sixty members. and is equally divided as
to sex. That number enrolled and paid
their dues before the dancing lesson be-
gan last night. A number OF young men
and women arrived after the class was
full and were turned away disappointed.
each member was obliged to pay 81 to
Gustav Lemkau. a member of the r~ector's
Bible class, before passing into the gym
nasium. In return for the dollar Mr..
Lemkau handed the member a ticket en-
titling him to eight lessons and admis-
sion to a reception to be given at the
end of the course. No one unless pos
sessing n OF these tickets was admitted
to the gymnasium. One young man did
not have any honey with him and asked
to be trusted until the next meeting. AL
though he is a member of the Bible class
he was refused and another was accept
ed in his place. The list of those who are
waiting for a han to enter the class is
large. The Rev. DR.. S~toddard, organizer
of the class, was not present last night,
but Mrs. Stoddard was there to represent
him. She managed the whole affair. She
refused to permit any but members of
the class to enter the gymnasium.
This is a private affair" she said.
land no outsiders will be admitted. II
the parents of all the young people in
side should ask to get in not one of them
would be admitted. The class is a sue
cess; the limit of membership has been
reached, and there is already a large
waiting list"
All the windows of the gymnasium were
heavily ~curtained, 50 that curious persons
could not view the dancers from the out
side. Instructor Anderson taught his pu-
pills the first steps in dancing. The idea
of a dancing school. in connection with
his church originated with DR.. Stoddard
at a reception given by his Bible class
men and women from all grades of So
ciety in the class. AT the reception about
forty of the members danced in the gym
nasium. Canes were provided in the
Sunday school room for the other forty.
Time seemed to drag heavily with those
who did not dance, n there seemed little
for them to do but idle around and gos-
sip. Their department, too, was not as
proper as was that of the dancers, with
whom the evening passed quickly and
pleasantly.
DR.. Stoddard decided that it would be
q good thing if all the member of his
Bible class knew how to dance. He
knew hat many of them could not afford
to pay the tuition at a regular dancing
academy. After talking it over with some
of those who did dance, he finally de-
cided to organize a dancing class in con-
nection with the church. and charge a
nominal sum for tuition. He preached
the subject to his Bible class the follow
ing Sunday and the members were delight
ed with the idea. DR.. Stoddard thought
at first that he could afford to give les
sons at six cents each, but he found that
so small a sum would not enable him to
meet the expenses of instructor and mu-
s~icians, SO he was obliged to double the
price and make the charge 81 for eight
lessons and a ticket to a reception.
AT the Bible class reception, where the
idea of the dancing class originated, DR..
Stoddard lance the Virginia reel. He
denies that he Intends to join the dancing
class