The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-18

TO their list of ballroom accomplishments
are wondering at the consistency of the
objections to ii and astonished that crit
icism is not stiled, now that the dance
las become fairly well under stood. Zoe
Beckley, the clever New York journalist,
VINO is a sister of Mrs. Leslie Fulenwider
CT this city, writes in the Evening Nail
of recent issue an illuminating defense
of the tango "Tangoism, she declares,
.has the world in a tangle. From every
quarter of the globe comes the discus
zion of it. From practically every type
OF the human family come expressions
of opinion as to- it's propriety, its in.-
propriety, its origin. its significance. its
abuse Society arrays itself into factions
ever the tango and other modern dances.
Even the church assails its legitimacy a s
an amusement for the younS or for all
those in whose hearts the spirit of youth
sbides.
"Quite evidently the world wants the
tango. The wealthy give up their gold
at the rate of $50 an hour to graceful
young men who can teach them its intr.-
cacies The middle classes put tango
record on their monographs and do the
hest they can to initiate the steps they
rec upon the stage. Those who have
neither gold nor phonograpns, snap their
fingers in rhythmic tempo, hum a dance
1une and execute something they fondly
believe has elements of tango in it,
Now what is this tango? What is the
secret of its appeal? Can ii be enjoyed
by young and old and middle aged
wealthy and poor alike. so that criticism
will cease and all unw-l olesome sugges
tion be eliminated?
Miss Beckley says that most persons
who inveigh against the tango have never
seen the tango danced That through n
series of misrepresentation the tango
has become widely confused with certain
Objectionable dances with which it has
not the remotest kinship She gives as
her authority for this statement masters
of the dancing art. They contend that
with the sudden thrush of the new dance
steps it was inevitable that some unde-
sirable ones should sift in. When mere
than year ago a dancer from the Argen-
tine introduced the dance Of her native
country at a New York muse hall it fo,
lowed closely upon the heels of tne
French apache" dance and others of a
more or less Objectionable type and be5
came confused in the public mind with
the wild acrobatics of Montmartre: it has
Teen difficult to dispell the distorted no.
tions which resulted as to the dance; why
nobody seems to know
As a matter of fact the tango. when
properly executed. is at o6ce the most
graceful and most difficult of dances. Mr..
Miles, who is counted a southern author
ity on the subject, says it has a Veritabi,,
multitude of figures, varying according 10
the country from which it halls, wheth4'
France, Spain or South America. TIC
average person masters. he says, only
six or eight. enough figures to insure an
Interesting and graceful presentation o.
the dance. Certainly when correctly
done. as it is by a growing number Of
dancers in local clubdom. there is moth
ing even remotely suggestive or unloVe-
1y in it. any more than in The old-fash-
toned minuet, which it strongly resem-
bles
Those who are adept in arts terpsiehc-
fean or are interested in the technique
OF the new dances are to be found at Ill
of the tango teas-those at the Country
club downtown at the Birmingham
Academy of Dancing. Friday afternoon
at the Century club were to be seen dt
the tea tables or among the dancers
Mrs. Frank Fowlkes. Mrs Fred Levert
Mrs. Felix Drennen, Mrs. Marie McBee
Mrs. William II. Graves, Mr.. and Mrs
Frederick Gunster Mr.. Frank Crock
ard, Mrs. Edward Magrudor Tutwiler,
Mrs. Edward Devereux Smith, Mrs. Riv-
crs Carter, Mr.. Key Miner Miss Annie
Laurie of Montgomery, Miss Florence
Harris of Montgomery. Mrs. J. b. Dan
forth Mrs. Edmund Winchester Rucker
Mrs Vincent Ferguson. Mrs. A. II. Ford,
Mrs. ]. f. Graham. Mr. and Mrs. Alex
snder Clitherill Birch, Mrs. Allie Birch
Mrs. Truman Aldrich. Mrs John NJ
Coldwell, Mrs. Redin, Mr.. William Muid
Martin, Mr.. Erskine Ramsey. Mrs
Charles G. Davis, Miss Helen Taylor o.
\ St. Paul, MINI. Mrs. w u. Taylor OF
\ NBessemer. Mrs. G. NJ. Cruisshank, Miss
ffary George CruiSshank, Mrs. James j
Emith.
- The visitors TO birmingham at the pres
ent time make up in charm and interes;
what they lack in number. Mrs Alvin
Howell. who has been frequent ysito
to the city, the inspiration of man.
lovely parties, more less small and il.
formal, given in the circle IN which she
is a pronounced favorite. Mrs. Dudle,
Lawrence of Lawrence Park n. Y is O
vivacous and charming young matror
whose presence will help 20 enliven a pc
riod of the winter that rs always NOR
or less dull Mrs. Lawrence arrived yes
terday to visit her mother Mrs. Ali.
Birch, at Terrace Court. She was ac
companied by her little boy, Clitheril
Birch Lawrence. to whom, as is general,
known here, Helen Smith Woodruff dedi
Gated her bright little book.
The dedication is peculiarly graceful
thing. Mrs. Woodruff has phased it 1T