The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-10-06
DANCE OF THE GODS
Mrs. De .KrekO Tells of the
Idol WoFshipperS.
WAS EGYPTIAN PRINCESS
5 American Enterprise Brought
Her Here.
WAS EGYPTIAN PRINCESS

Mrs. Charles C. Cohn entertained Mrs.
Jean De Kreko at her home. l224 North
Lawrence yesterday morning. A large
number Of persons were present. The
morning was pleasantly spent with music
and conversation. Misses Daisy Lynch
and Miss Genevra Jocelyn gave selections
on the piano. Mrs. AEcAdams sang a
very beautiful solo and Miss Katherine
Junkerman recited one Of her original
compositions entitled ''Solame's Dance
Before Harold" Mrs. DeKreRo enter
tanned those present with some of her
beautiful dances and then made a short
talk about the fambus muscle dance,
which has become so popular since the
worlds fair at Chicago
THE Temple OF Isis dance is a pure
Egyptian dance which has existed in
al the ages of Egyptian civilization. At
present the dance is dying out as the
country once under the rule OF ancient
Egyptian priestcraft Is under the rule
OF Mohamedanism under which ancient
rites and ceremonies Of ancient Egyp-
ttans cannot thrive. There is only one
Shrine in Cairo, Egypt, wherein the fol-
lower OF ancient Egyptians keep Up the
idol worshipper's dance. Located in the
Arab quarter, a dusky ancient stone
building. shrouded with Egyptian idols
ard q very gloomy alter conDoses the
Shrine, wherein about 500 people could
attend the service This building is
called the Temple Of Isis, where Saba
was reared and Tutored under the ten
ants of the ancient church. on the death
his mother she became the child priestess
and danced therein until American en-
terprise brought her out OF her seclusion
10 Chicago She said iu part:
.sThe muscle dance is the dance given
by the priestesses in their worship in all
the eastern MISUNDERSTANDING countries.
it is not really dance but the simple
moving of each and every muscle of the
body. In the temples of the east there
S the idol and near it is the platform
containing the images Of the godesses
and dieties The priests and priestesses
OF the east do not speak when worship
ping their gods as you do for the people
claim that if we speak it is their privil-
eye to do the same The only words
said during the worship is the word
God" chanted by the persons on the
altar.
THE high priestess carries large tray
on her head that has row Of candles
around it and one long one in the middle.
This is covered and the gasses escaping
are supposed to turn to water and the
persons who drink this water are sup
nosad TO be saved. The muscle dance is
given in place of prayer 1t is an exor-
tati0n to the god TO save the people and
the movement is used instead of the kiss
ing of the hem of a garment of the priest
in some of the modern and western
churches. Every movement Of the
muscle denotes some word and as the
woman moves the god is expected to OBJ
serve these movements and the entire
dance constitutes a prayer.
The muscle dance is as pure as any
religious devotion, but from amusement
standpoint is so interesting. artistic ana
scientific that for the intelligent is a
treat. bringing.us in contact with ancient
rites The devotee presents what is
called dance of grace. the object OF
which IS TO please the goddess by grace
ful movements Of the body. The dance
of the muscles demonstrate the wiling
ness of the devotee TO undergo all kinds
o. controtions of body and muscle. exer-
cising violent viii and mental power as
motive power TO move every muscle in
her body. The exercise is very exhaust
ing and cannot be accomplished by any
bat those who have been educated i'm it
from childhood. The voluntary and I'M
voluntary muscles are subjugated to
mental power and VIII vibrate at the viii
o. the dancer. Vulgar minds and fakrs
have immitated so-called Orient dances
and imposing upon the American public.
But the public must know once for all
that so-called impositi0ns have never
been countenanced by DeKreko's"
Mrs. DeKrel1o is the original "Saidia"
When the eldest son of the khedive Of
Egypt was married about ten years
ago there was present crowned
heads of Europe and to entertain
the guests the khedive ordered Saidia TO
appear and give some of her dances for
the guests The work Of the woman so
pleased tho guests that they begged that
she might Dee taken to London and give
her dances there. Finally She was al
lowed to so and for two months save her
dances AT the Crystal Palace. London.
she then returned home and remained
there until the year of the Chicago
worlds fair when the American commits
sioners brought her to this country. She
gave her dances at Chicago and then
went 20 san Francisco TO the mid-winter
fair. Sac toured the country and then
went TO Atlanta to the fair at that place.
The officers Of the Nashville exposition
tried 10 get her for that exposition. but
could not make the terms to svit her and
her managers. soon after the Chicago
worlds fair She hac-na \ ma-rhar 81