Newark post., 1914-02-11

But bit of observation may not
be amiss. 1t is, you know, the pain
full duty of the country newspaper
to settle all these disputes,--a diff
fcult tosk. we admit. but the re-
sponsibility Of maintaining an as
pect of civilization must be should
cred. But away with the pain of
duty.-to the observations.
The writer's experience has at
least the virtue Of breadth. if va
riety constitutes breadth. He has
been to quiltin' parties, corn hus-
kin S, spellin bees, fish frys, tract
ed meetin s, hog KILN s, and barn
raisin s. He has been to soirees,
benefits, stag dinners. Revolution
banquets, Diplomatic receptions,
chamber concerts, Shakesperian
drama. and melodrama. recitals
and vaudeville. He has assisted in
a dance in the fO cas- lie and attend
ed the Captain s dance in the first
cabin. He has seen the Grand
March at America S greatest uni
versity, the pigeon wing, the High
land fling, the Swiss folk, the
French ballet, the dance of the
German in L0wenbriin Beer Gar
den,-all on their native heath.
The Venetian water festival and Sc
duction Of the Neapolitan castenet
has been his privilege; he has stolen
a waltz down the Hall of Battles
at Versailles and winked at Mona
Lisa at the Louvre before she ran
away with her Italian lover. He has
never been to Argentine but he has
S en- the Tango. |
The point just now is this,-that !
though he has never assisted Harry
Lehr in getting up dance Che has
sCen him cut a wing. however in a
dawnce), he has had a bit of eX-
perience from which, a little light
on the subject may be found
Down home at the barn dance
and similar social gatherin 5, man
is always placed in charge who can
handle the job. No man accepts this
position unless he can "rassel" any ,
Rube on the floor. or lick the tid-
dler. He takes his Saturday night ;
best, dressed in charmeuse calico,
and leads the dance. If he says, +
It's a reel"-you may best make ,
it reel. Woe unto you if YOU try
a square. a fling or clog. t
L said reel, didn't huh ?" ,
Any proclivity to argue is met /
with, "Mary, you 'scuse me. set !
over thar. have to look at my
mare a minnit. " He invites the =
subject of insult to assist him. As =
they 90 out the door, he glances at u
the fiddler and says, Reel twell A
come back. " =
You see the dance goes on just as "
outlined. The argument is down q,
back of the barn. Sometimes one ;.
returns, sometimes both,-the point "
is, every body gets the worth of
their money. No farmer can stop =;
the dance. u
The same ruling holds good on :,
what's proper. If red is the pre- T. -
vailing color of ladies hose (bet- III II
ter known as stockin 's), why a girl a,
simply loses caste if she wears the u u
stripe. She is asked by u
preachers wife to cut that lead
line what she holds it up with off III
her skirt and to put her dress down. III
The preachers wife is one whose RI
opinion is respected. She knows. NJ
When she was young she went to 10
one of them finishin schools. She p'
knows what's proper-and proper b'
it must be. I'll
But the dance doesn' stop. Who al
ever thought of lettin one pair of W
stockin s stop dance, DIS
Now, at sweller functions, of the 81 81
upper crust, its done according to III
ur observation about the same way.
It is delicate and with those graces !,
becoming the society for which it is w
given. pc
AT a Diplomatic reception, a "a "a
College Commencement If there 8 "
l Military officer about, he is the %;
me man detailed to direct the af- d.
,air. Quietly, dignified, he pleas IN, IL.
ngly tells what to do-how and oo
when to bow, etc. All this is nee
,ssary, for none of us know really WI
low to walk across the floor in a ge
lress-suit unless we are used to it. De
{ Lot s of us never had one until
asst years bargain sale). &c
The Military officer can do it. He I"
force, but does not use it. IN
But glance from him keeps us IN
straight. You can't slap the Prince co
If Wales on the shoulder the first
time you meet him and say, Hello, te
snort how'S Shootip'p Raa1 ubara | "a,