The Washington times., 1919-08-29
7winkIe, Twinkle, LiTLegS,
As Toes Trip As lion Eggs
the Freedom Dance

NEW YORK, Aug. 2o.-wnIiam
Pitt Rivers. A. S. p. D.-meaning mem
Der Of the American Society of Profes-
sors Of Dancing-adjusted his spec
tacles. waved a stubby hand grace
fully in the air. and, in the sharp tone
Of the drill sergeant. barked:
Freedom dance. A picture. Our
hero is wandering through the woods.
Attracted by the chirping of sweet
birds. Pretty birds. He seeks to en-
tice them. He whistles Just like a
bird. Enter the sprites. Animation.
The sweet birds are frightened. The
hero experiences anger and displeas-
ure. The sprites pose. Garlands.
Animation"
1t was at the convention Of the
American National Association of
Masters of Dancing and the American
Society Of Professors of Dancing.
Having stamped the undesirable
shimmy out OF existence, the fancies
Of $50 dancing masters turned to
higher things, and yesterday was Un-
officially known as "esthetic day"
And the Freedom Dance, to the mind
Of the unprejudiced observer, had an
unshakable monopoly OF all the
estheticism.
Nymphs, sPrites, Eft Al
A full page of photographs Of all
the dancing masters present, If that
were possible, would tell this story.
But lacking that, visualize. If you
can, the following scene:
Prof. Rivers, stumpy yet graceful,
as fine a type of the ordinary sue
nnaGfTa1 hRnIrnw - 4
He is demonstrating the various steps
to be taken by the characters-hero
heroine, sprltes, nymphs, cupids. His
pupils consist of sleek young men,
wrinkled old men, one with a long,
flowing beard in knee breeches and
silk stockings. bespectacled young
girls. All Of them carry notebooks.
AS he pirouettes about, waving his
hands daintily. they take notes
reams and reams Of notes.
And Then
And then
Stand up! No. just three"
Three girls rise, one in a MILDLY
blouse in which is deposited a bulky
stenographer's note book, the other
two arrayed in blue ballroom dresses.
Prof. Rivers takes the hand of the
girl in the MILDLY blouse. whirIs
about, whirls about once more, and
stops.
That is the dance of the sprites.
Animation! Grace"
The other two girls, somewhat en-
vious. hop about, first on one toe,
then another, seeming TO the unpreju-
diced observer as If they are particu-
larly angry about something. They
had hardly stopped, when Prof.
Rivers barks once more.
Legs and Beard AwhIrI.
Everybody stand up. Follow me.
Now"
The observer gets an impression of
multitudinous pairs of legs that are
everywhere but on the ground. The
man with the flowing beard capers
about quite dexterousIy. looking over
his spectacles every now and then at
his notes, and sometimes feverishIy
adding a memorandum.
They stop, breathless. Prof. Rivers.
smiling. displays his white, even
teeth and bows The breathless
ones applaud. Then Prof. Rivers sits
down. Then they sit down. The man
with the beard puffs vigorously,
clasps his notebook fondly. sits down
opposite a middle-aged woman, who,
too, seems quite worn out Tby the
exertion Of the adventure into the
wood, and both talk and compare
notes.
Presto! The gurgling stream, the
weeping willows, the rustling leaves
and all the magic of the wood are
gone. The pianist is doing out the
alcoholic Blues" a ring of sincerity
In every chord. Prof. Rivers rises.
Something "RaEgy- Now.
The unpTeiudiced reporter. was per-
mitted 10 witness the new dance,
something raggy but not jazzy." to
quote the professor. Some call Il
Failing on a Log" but the unpreju-