The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-25
An Authority Says the
New Dances Alone
Can Save Us From
PHYSICAL Deterioration
as They Are the Solu-
lion of the Exercise
Problem
n, q. mErBURN WILSON.
,.,,,,r IN, Modern Dance Magaslne'

European nations
II may sound like the violent exag-
cora,lon Of man blinded by a profess
.,onal bias Il say that the new dances
,,ora can save us from further physical
deterioration
why the new dances? one may ask.
Why cannot the old ones have played
tho part Of national nostrum which
tho new ones are expected to play?
ror one good reason: The old dances
constituted probably the most formal
,vne Of entertainment. Only the very
voung men found any pleasure in them
and hostesses we're always hard put
"a find partners for the young women
.,vi,cd to their balls. Men of 80 fled
eron the ballroom to the smoker after
,no perfunctory dance with their dinner
.,,r,ners. men Of 40 or so were not even
,ypectcd to show that much courtesy
IN the women they took in to dinner.
The result was that only the youth
If our cities ever INDUCED in the
oxercise connected with the dance.
Another result was that busy men COM
nelled hy the business struggle in which
they are engaged To partake Of noursh-
no meals never had at their disposal
the one thing that will make nourishing
meals profitable to the human body
exercise. There are gymnasiums, of
course. where one can get good deal
Of exercise: but what exercise? Rough
and tiresome and devoid of all the
soclahc features one Graves after the
hardships Of a business day. Then of
course there is the turkish bath-for
those who enjoy II.
Walking isn't always pleasant in
large city. In the warm months social
etiquette does not permit the man
above 30 to doff much Of the conven-
,onal clothing fashion represents. and
A week under such conditions is not
pleasant pastime. In winter the mud
Nunc through the air, the enforced waits
at tn, junction Of busy streets, the mud
under foot, the forthing crowds. will dis
courage the most stubborn pedestrian.
And besides there are few streets be-
sd,s Fifth avenue which are not made
'idcous with the roar Of trains and the
.4ug Of trolley bells. Horse riding Is
not only expensive but monotonous:
who is the foolhardy man who will ven-
,ure outside Of the parks riding path
whether his mount be a valuable horse
Or an unreliable nag?
The average American spends his days
and evenings resting. At the breakfast
table, in a car, at his desk, at the lunch
en- table, at his desk, at his dinner
able in his library or parlor, or at the
theatre.
Il is needless to recall the various ills
hat will unavoldably befall the average
normal man leading such an unnatural,
,buormal life. His appetite will become
NOR" and more capricious. his heart
..ption more irregular, his complexion
Will betray untoward Developments In
me hepatic tract. He may resort more
and more to braces" the effect Of which
not being counteracted by any physical
Exercise will soon be noticeable on his
.ldncys
The new dances offer to the busy man
"ne simple and pleasant solution for the
problem Of exercise.
Lo h te hnv
ar may stop at one tango tea or the
ddusant or whatever the individual
fancy of the host may call that sort OF
pleasant gathering, where, among
'th"rs he may meet members Of his
owr family, perhaps his sons and
iauantcrs, there will be at least one
form "' rntertainment in which parents
ana children will be able to indulge
without the unpleasant feeling that the
"r'nt- must speed up to keep up with
'He Younger generation and that the
.u!lhr'u must slow down not to leave
heir parents behind.
The modern dances, while seemingly
more Strenuous, exact much less Of 9
strain on the dancers body for two
'asoH~. They require a greater variety
~ motions and therefore distribute thu
Mort among more parts OF the body
secondly, they are danced with tn,
Whole foot, toes, ball and heel, fiat OF
No i''"r. The old dances were gen
rally reformed on the ball Of tn,
root with the heel raised. They re
IiIcd special shoes. for the constan
'a'S!ns Of the heel was likely to produce
.n'hing of the foot; furthermore, al
ne PHYSICAL disComforts, not to sa,
mhp"Is, caused by the wearing Of higl
'eriS "cr" duplicated in the position
u" foot resting on the ball with tn
'etI raised. 1t cannot be said that tn
"eIg.' Of the body Is always on tn
heel, even though the heel touches tn
moor The knee action and the shiftinI
u" upper body distributes the burdel
''ehly on the sole, arch and heel.
PREVIOUSLY the up and down acton
vas accomplished by raising the bod
VI Inc hall Of the foot and then comin
'o"n again, The same effect Is nov
produced by keeping the feet fiat Of
ne Moor and bending the knees.
MANY people suffer from fatty de
-'herai'on Of the heart. that IL. fror
ne accumulation on the heart OF adj
''Se TISSUE that hampers its action.
me only means Of Kidding the cardia
''s'"hs OF such an obstruction would b
'''h "i exercise that would set j
~, ""h al the muscles Of the ches
"a' acton, however. must he yer
v S'NIlp. for IN. 70 hoort notiont And