Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-08
DO. and Don't. for Dancers.


An eastern authority on the subject OF
dancing offers the following advice:
When a young girl attends a ball with
her mother or some matron who has kindly
consented to chaperon her, she always al
lows her elderly companion to enter the
room first, and then walks beside her to
greet the hostess, who usually stands at the
head of the room or in a position not far
from the door The hostess should offer
her hand TO each guest either man or
woman, and express her pleasure at seeing
them. II the dance is given for a daughter
already in society or to introduce a debu-
tant, the young woman stands by her
mother and assists in receiving the guests.
She does not begin to dance until after the
first half hour coming back occasionally
between the dances to the side of her
parent to talk to some of the older guests
or to greet the late arrivals.
The pleasure of the guests and the sue
cess OF the entertainment depend in a great
measure on the tact and unselhshness OF
the hostess A good hostess always make
II her duty to see that her women guests
are provided with partners for the majority
| Of the dances, and that all the chsperons
have been taken out, to supper. She intro
duces strangers TO each other and makes
her husband and son, If she have one, keep
a sharp lookout that wallhowers are con-
spicuous by their absence at her party
1t is not at all necessary for the host 10
receive with his wife, but he should pay
considerable attention TO all the women. II
he is young man he tries to get dance,
or at least pleasant word OF two, with
every one present. II his dancing days are
over he devotes himself to the chaperons
and keeps an eye on the young men pres
oil 20, a.,
/ knots about the doorway or selfshly gather
| I'm the cloakroom while any young women
are sitting partnerless. II Is perfectly cor
rect for him to ask such selfish guests TO
| do him the favor OF dancing with Miss
Jones or Miss Gray. No man who is a
! gentleman ever refuses such a request II
he has no previous engagement for the
dance
II is no longer the fashion to have a for
NAL opening. grand march," or any
thing Of that sort for balls given in private
houses or even in halls or assembly rooms.
except in the case Of a few functions given
by clubs and military organizations. The
dancing begins as soon as half dozen or
so couples have arrived Naturally. the
bigger the ball the larger the orchestra en-
gagged to play for the festivities. At fash
ionable private balls in New York houses an
orchestra OF stringed instruments. or one
| OF the famous Hungarian bands. discourses
sweet music for the entire evening from be-
hind a screen Of palms and tropical plants
For a smaller dance an orchestra OF three
or four pieces is all that is necessary, while
for informal affairs and small country
dances the plano alone can be made to suf-
nee. The waltz and the two-step. varied by
an occasional set OF lancers and the cotil-
lion, sometimes called the german. are
about all the dances that society cares TO
indulge In at present, When the cotillion
is danced Il usually begins directly after
supper unless the entire evening is TO be
devoted 10 Il.
At large and ceremonious balls one may
with perfect prcpriety arrive at any hour
before II; but at small dances Il is con-
sidered In batter taste to enter the ball