The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1898-05-05
HEROES or THE BALL ROOM.
Remarkable Instances of Bravery Dis
played There by Dancing Men.

| remarkable Instances OF bravery LIS
played There by Dancing Men.
The men who frequent dancing rooms
are not by any means so effeminate as
some scornful members of the stronger
sex would have us believe. Scented
| dandies are capable of courage in emer-
gencies, and brave deeds are occasion
ally performed even in the enervating-
atmosphere of the ball room.
While in the act of snatching a kiss
from an attractive girl under the mis-
tletoe a young masher felt breath OF
hot air on his face, and, in glancing
up, saw that the evergreens on the
large chandelier had caught fire and
were blazing away merrily. A quick
look around the room told him that the
other dancers were unaware of the
catastrophe, so he drew back a pace,
measured his distance, and with one
gigantic spring managed to catch hold
of the chandelier. Hanging on by one
hand, he rapidly pulled down the burn
ing evergreens and cast them to the
floor, scorching his arms terribly in the
process, but never once f1inching.
Not until he was satisfied that every
bit of inf1ammable material was safely
accounted for would he relinQuish his
hold. Beyond a doubt his ready re-
source prevented a confagration, but
he suffered so much that one Of his
hands had to be amputated. His beau
tiful mustache, of which he was inor-
dinately proud, was also friZzled up by
the fire.
A somewhat similar feat was per-
formed by conceited but daring
young coxcomb in crowded ball room
last winter Several ladies had tainted
for want of air, and as the ventflator
in the roof would not answer to it's pull
ley the young dandy volunteered to
scramble up the fragile rope and see
what was amisS. This was the only
practicable method of obtaining relief,
for some larking guest had locked the
door of the room on the outside, and it
was impossible to break it open.
The young fellow cut his hands al
most to ribbons before he reached the
ventilatOr, and even when he got up
found it impossible to open it. Unde-
tered by this, though, he unhesitating-
ly banged his head through the thick
glass, and then slid to the ground,
where he tainted from the loss Of
blood
During a dance in a Spanish bali
room q heavy plaster cast fell from
bracket, and would certainly have in
jured one of the hosts daughters had
not her partner warded it off with his
arm. The accident frightened the girl
a little, for she was extremely nervous,
but the gallant who was dancing with
her insisted on continuing the waltz,
and assured her that he was not in the
least hurt.
Accordingly the couple kept up to the
music for fifteen minutes or more. and
their consummate dancing drew adj
miration from every one in the room.
The girl was the first to plead fatigue,
SO her partner led her gracefully TO q
seat, and went off, ostensibly to get re-
freshments, but really to find a doctor,
for his arm was broken in two places,
and his shoulder was dislocated With
endurance he had refrain
ed from mentioning the injury which
the plaster cast had done him, and had
suffered acute agony for fifteen min
uteS rather than alarm the sensitive
daughter of his host.-Tit-Bits.