The Washington times., 1914-01-12
DAILY HOME AND MAGAZINE PAGES

which is declared by the police to
belong in much the lame category
as the Apache" dances of Paris.
From Paris comes the announce
ment that votaries of the tango are
not taken aback by the condemna-
ton of the archbishop OF Paris,
NJ. and Nine. Paul Richepin do not
think that the interdict will affect
the vogue of this charming dance"
NJ. Richepin says that he prefers to
follow st. John Chrysostom, who
approved the far more suggestive
dances imported in his day from
Asia Minor and Greece. Andre de
Fouquieres does not think the tango
more immoral or indecent than the
waltz. and Prof. Bottalo, who says
he is obliged to refuse many pupils,
declares that the dance is at the
height of its popularity and the
archbishop is preaching to the
desert.
The pure and unadulterated
tango" is defined at great length
and with much vigor in the bulletin
of st. Johns Episcopal Church. of Jer-
sey City. The Rev. George Daniel
Hadley is rector of the church. The
indecency of modern dancing is de-
scribed as one of many symptoms OF
a ''deep-sested disease called god
lessness, a kind of heart trouble
brought on largely by the general at
mosphere of unrestraint."
I'VE do not like to take issue with
the long train of disgusted reformers
nh Aox hnAr1 1nd 70
on the tango, for few sympathize
with their disgust" says the bulletin,
but 1t does seem as II they are
attacking a symptom instead OF the
disease, and that even that symptom
is not to be generalized by the name
tango, which might well displace a
few tough trots and vulgar creeps.
I'VE have no special liking for the
tango and no desire to defend II. We
have never tried to dance 1t. We do
not care how soon II dies or Is killed.
but since we allow it to be taught In
our institute dancing classes. which
for many years. have proved very
valuable community agencies for
good in this neighborhood, and
where we have always tried to guide
human nature instead of squelch-
ing II, 1t may not be unfittinng for US
to remark that we think the chief
trouble in all this discussion Of the
tango Is in the fact that most people
discussing IL have entirely different
ideas as to what the tango is. Some
are discussing its degenerations and
its distorted forms. and some are
discussing vulgar dances wAich are
nothing like it.
A Rector's Satire.
Until II Is standardized it will be
impossible to discuss it intelli-
gently.
THE pure, unadulterated tango
need not friGhten a single person, In
our estimation, and we are inclined
to think it would be wiser to put
a ban on church gambling and raf-
files and other things against the law
OF the State and to make people
realize that any dance Is as clean
and wholesome as the people who
dance it-no more and no less
Doubtless much of the popularity
of the new steps lies in the fact
that some are such simple, silly little
jOg-trots that grandpa can perform
them in the ball room with the same
gentle exercise and motion that char
acterized his playing horse with
Willie mot a fearfully wicked occu-
pation), while others are just conf
plicated enough TO appeal TO the
Young folk who take pride in being
by substituting fancy dancing for
social dancing.
Some young people who learn the
attitudes correctly and decently lapse
into careless ways which do not
reflect the character OF their teach
ing, but the cure for all these evils
lies not In anathematiZing a dance,
but In developing a higher sense OF
individual decency and reserve and
modesty.
I'VE advise churches and societies
who cannot keep the individuals
within the bounds Of decency or who
cannot supervise and chaperon their
dances to eliminate them entirely.
not because of the tango or one
step or hesitation. but because OF
the goddess lack Of restraint which
would do lust as much violence to a
minuet or a Virginia reel. The same
vulCarity debauched many a waltz.
Meanwhile, while praying for So
ciety to gain a little moro poise and
a great deal more religion, We urge
our young people and their grand
mothers and Erandfatherr and the
their debut at the age of nine to
thirty to adhere to the teaching of
the beet instructors:
keep the open position. the ex-
tended arm. without pump handle or
shoulder motions, and avoid extreme
dips
People may take any one of the
three stanGs.
"One saws. Close the ballroom ana
keep the young people knitting Gf
you CAM
Another says. To the Puritans all
things are impure On with the
dance let iov be unrefined'
Another SAYS. Dance II you want
to. and. II you can, dance like a
Christian iady or gentleman. Many
people can. but each must decide II
for himself. and how he decides it
means more today than it ever did
before. "