The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1905-07-12
BIRTH OF THE WALTZ
THE DANCE HAD ITS ORIGIN EITHER
IN FRANCE OR GERMANY.

Its Introduction Into England Caused
Great scandal In That Country
and For "a Time Had TashionnbIe
Society In an Jpronr.
No exact date can be ascrihcd to the
Introduction OF the waltz into England
from France. In 1900 Gilray published
IL caricature of Il couple waltzing,
with the note that this WIS intended
for quiz upon the then foreign dance.
waltzmg" Again In 1910 the same art
list published another Sketch entitled
La Walse, lie Bon Genre" with the
note. The walsc WAS ut this time new
In England and just coming into fash
lon"
The fame, or. rather, notoriety. of the
new dance had. however, reached
England some years previously. DR..
Burney had seen 1t danced in Paris in
1880 and was moved TO write, How
uneasy I'm English mother would feel
10 see her daughter SO unfamiliarly
treated and still more to note the
obliging manner IN which the free
dom is returned by the females"
Raikes in his journal declares that
no event ever produced 81 great
sensation in English society MS the In
PRODUCTION of the German waltz
Which he attributes To Baron Neu-
mann and others about the year 1911.
lie relates how the mornings, which
had hitherto been dedicated to loung-
ing in the park, were now absorbed at
home In practicing the figures of
French quadrille or whirlng chair
round the room TO learn the step and
measure of the German waltz.
1t was danced ut Almack's by Il few
very bold spirits. notably Ford Palmer
ston. Nine. de Lleven. Princess Ester
hazy and Baron Neumann aud thus
became II matter of exhibition. the
whole company standing ON benches II
view the performance
However, the antiwaltzing party took
the alarm and cried 1t down. Mothers
forbade II, ind every ballroom became
II scene of feud and contention How
profound was its unpopularity In Ger
tain quarters is proved by the pasdui
nudes leVeled against II. The famous
seven lines commencing
What The girl adore by another en-
braeed!.
ARE commonly attributed Ia Byron.
though they were published anonY-
mously In 1872. and some authorities
give Thomas Moore ms the author. An
impromptu purpofling to he addressed
by an indignant lover to his betrothed
and her partner echoes BFron's feel
ings:
You've brushed the bloom from the
peach
From the rose it's soft hue
What you've touched YOU may take.
Pretty Walter. adeu
Another poet delivered himself of the
following diatribe:
How arts improve In this inspiring age!
Peers mount the box. and horses tread the
stage.
Dlsdun to dance but in II mans em-
brace.
"rhe waltz. however" continues
Raikes, struggled successfully through
all its difficulties. Flaurhault, who was
Ia tleur du pois' In Paris, came over
and with host of others drove the
prudes into their intrenchments. And
when the Emperor Alexander was seen
waltzing around the roof Mt Almacks,
with his tight uniform and numerous
decorations. they surrendered ut discre
ton"
1t Is IA moot point whether the waltz
originated IN France or Germany,
whether IL came from the French La
Volta" or the German national dance,
the LANDER" According to French
authorities, La Volta was simply the
waltz II trOis temps. Provence was It's
birthplace, and it was first introduced
at the court of Henry II. at Fontaine.
bleau In 1903 by the CJmtc de Saulte,
who Is said to have invented IT, for
many called 1t La Volta de Saulte. and
the name Is suitable both because Of
the etymology Of the word and the
character of the dance.
1t enjoyed Il great run throughout
France and even penetrated to Scot
land, where it met with furious opposi-
ton, one writer averring that It's i'm
portation into France had been effect
Ell by the power of witches Mary stu
art once exhibited her agility In this
dance. but she was careful not to re
peat the experiment, aud this WIS
about the last heard Of It,
The case for Germany Is that the
first waltz tune appeared In 1870 in
popular song called 80 du lebcr Au-
gustn." From Germany the dance
made It's way to Vienna and was intro
duced into the opera, while by and by
1t found It's way to France. whence 1t
came to England-"thc lnsldious waltz,
this Imp Of Germany, brought up IN
France"
The waltz when first danced In Lon
don was slow movement n trois
temps, and the early English waltz
compositions were very poor. Strauss
came to London In 1897 to play ut Al
macks, and his waltz music created Il
perfect furore. 1t killed the old trois
temps waltz, and the dcux temps
usurped Its place. Now that the fascl-
nation of the waltz is all powerful, 1t Is
difficult to realize the commoton its In
PRODUCTION caused. London Globe.
SIdetracIed.
II was looking about In Bargen's