The Washington times., 1905-08-09
A National Danger.

| pie have ostraCiZed the tripping
schottische, the gay polka, the pre-
else varsovienne. and the elaborate
quadrille They seem to prefer a
pounding two-step, which is cheap
modernization of the brilliant deux
temps. aIternated with an angular
waltz They call 1t dancing, to be
sure, and they think that's what it is.
1t will take years to educate these
young people. Anyone who is salts
/ fed with a Graeco-ROman hold and
breathless trot must be taught the
| poetry of motion from the very be-
ginning. But the outlook is not utterly
dark Americans learn easily, and
the art Of dancing, as America IN
derstands it. is not so very elusive,
But over in England they have a
real problem on their hands. The
Imperial Society Of Dance Teachers
has been meeting and adopting a
course of action which bids fair to
overthrow the empire It's conse-
quences do not stop with terpsicho-
Tean revolution. They threaten the
foundations of the nation, political
and religious.
For, according to the Imperial S.
| >. T., ballroom dancing in England
has degenerated into a pastime, and
in many cases into a vulgar romp. -
| 1t is the mission Of the I. S. D. T.
| ITO restore the art of dancing TO the
exalted position and prestige it occu-
pied when dancing masters of repute
/ held very high and honorable place
in the community" and to bring bacl,
those happy. spacious days of Queen
Elizabeth's time, when a lord chan
cellor was appointed mainly on ac-
count of his proficiency as a dancer. +"
! We are glad the l. S. D. T. does
/ not do business in America. We
should hate to think what would hap
! pen to our two great parties if it had
/ its way over here. Imagine Grover
Cleveland and Joe Cannon passing
an examination in the formal minuet
and abandoned racket! Think of the
Vice President and Senator Tillman
| as leads in a Saratoga lancers!
Why, it should mean the abandon
meRt of our entire political structure
, to the Perry Belmonts, the Bertfe
Adamses, and the Representative
Sulzers-and they are ali from the
East.
In course of time this danger will
| be upon US. too. ThelI. s. D. T. viii
be reaching across the sea soon
enough. Our only security lies in
being increasingly vigilant. For once
We make dancing the chief require
ment Of our public service, once we
see the floor wave up and down as
Judge Taft leads the march dowr
the center, We shall be lost irretriev-
/ abiy-we shall be as effete as the
most noble-ridden country of Europe
The Chicago teamsters certainly are
an easy lot. They are satisfied with
the conduct Of their recent strike.
Folks fearful the next Congressional
session viii be dun may cheer up: Sen,
ator La Toilette is positively coming
New Hampshire and the peace dove
are working hard together. which oughr
! 10 help some.
The Shaw retirement rumor con
tinues with wonderful fortitude to tax,
the count TO nine and then wabbIe [,
its feet for another dose.
The Montgomery county politician,
can't decide whether Damascus viii
hurt them least If ii is counted or re
jectcd. Sort of double-edged Damascu.
blade, so TO speak
Portsmouth doubtless feels as big a.
London just now, but then 1t isn't hare
10 recall when Three Oaks felt tn,
same way.
No, Inquiring Reader the Poe Amend
ment was not written by Edgar Allen
bur 1t Is fun enough or horrors fol
some Of the politicians to have been
Ohio's Legislature, attempting a saIa
~ grab. bungled IL so the next assem-
bly, viii get no pay at all The Stat,
doesn't care for the money, but tn,
assurance Of a short session gives muct
satisfaction,
OLioans are Investing S50,OO0 70 deter
mine whether there Il anything in al
alleged gold nud there. Foolish Il
risk money that way when officehoIdinl
j. u sure thing.