Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1903-02-05

ralrly good Tor an old Fellow or 70,
don't you think?"
1t was David H. Bowen, veteran
member Of the American Association
OF Dancing Masters, now meeting at the
Hotel Majestic, who spoke as he paus-
ed at the completion Of an intricate pas
seul he was performing for the purpose
OF illustrating certain method of in
structing the youth of today in the
light fantastic, says the New York
Evening Telegram.
Mr.. Bowens fellow members call him
Chauncey Depew, for his face, especial
ly when seen In profile, bears a strong
resemblance to the features Of Ameri-
cas- most popular senator He has fol-
lowed the profession for 55 years. and
can consequently talk about dancing
and department from out a wealth Of
accumulated experience.
While Mr.. Bowen is essentially gen.
tleman OF the old school in the popu-
lar acceptation Of the term, he is by no
means an advocate Of the waltz and
polka as they were taught and danced
80 years ago. He will tell you why, too.
For instance, just watch me mo-
ment," said Mr.. Bowen, as his arm
gracefully encircled the waist of an i'm
aginary partner. This is the waltz we
used to dance. Isn't it extraordinary"
1t certainly was, as developed by Mr..
Bowen, who suddenly began to careen
dizily about the NAKED hoor with gy-
rations like top, which were relieved
by sudden hop, skip and Jump move
ment every third step or So While Mr.
Bowen could not be awkward II he
tried, he produced all the effect OF a
comedian in vaudeville.
THAT makes you laugh, see," said
Mr. Bowen, pausing and taking breath,
well, suppose you should see whole
roomful Of persons hopping and leap
Ing In that way. Absurd, you say? Yes,
but that's what we used to do so years
ago. And we thought we were graceful
as gazelles. You can't imagine a waltz
without reverse movement, can you?
Yet this Is what we used to have. Per-
sons spun like so many teetotums
round the room. assure you waltz
was test Of endurance in those days.
OFTEN have seen young woman faint
away after being whlrled round the
circle In the way 1t used to be done"
Not alone the waltz, but the polka
and schottische as we'll, according to
Mr.. Bowen, had the same hobbing
movement.
Nothing but hop, skip and Jump,
you see" declared Mr.. Bowen, testifying
to the truth Of the statement by sec
ond laughable illustration.
After that came the so-called Bos-
ton Dip" continued Mr.. Bowen, so
called because Of the movement its step
gave the body. II was not graceful, but
a good bit better than the hop. II was
little quleter, you see. Gradually 1t
paved the way for the present glide
waltz, the most graceful, as well as the
most difficult thing to teach.
did you know that It was the hard
est thing in the world to get pupil to
make the glide movement" asked Mr..
Bowen. 1T Is fact This is because
he does not know how TO preserve the
proper balance-that is, unless he has
taken physical culture. For dancing
nowadays is nothing but physical cul-
ture. For instance, II can teach a per-
son to walk well, II is the easiest thing
in the world to teach him to dance
well. You show me how you walk and
III shoy you how you dance"
AS for such dances as the racket"
and caprice" Mr.. Bowen will have
none Of them.
"They are not dances, properly
speaking" he says. "They are simply
vulgar, noisy inventions gotten up to
attract attention. No real master OF the
art will ever allow his pupils to dance
them"
Square dances. In ~, Powen's opln-
ion, will never 70 entirely ont Of ia
vor. There Is too much statellness and