The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-17
ON SECOND THOUGHT
BY JAY Z. HOUSE.
(From Philadelphia Public LedSerl

As one who delights in terpsichorean
activities. we have scanned the new
rules with some interest and deem
them of sufficient importance to earn
a place in the column. That and the
fact that we wish TO comment upon
certain OF their somewhat rigorous
provisions prompts us to reprint them.
They follow:
The man shall place his right hand
in the middle of his partners back,
approximately six inches above her
waist.
Her left arm shall be on his shoul-
der, not around his neck.
The mans left arm shall be held
straight out at the side.
A daylight zone" must be main.
tained between the dancers.
Upon the requirement that a gent
shall place his hand in the middle OF
his partners back. we offer no add
verse comment. 1t should, in ordi-
nary cases. subject him TO no embar-
lrassment. But II his partner CHANGED
to be. We'll say. Kitty Gordon. q mod
est man would just naturally shock
himself into a atntc of humiiiating en-
barrassment. We ere long past the
man homage. The probability that
any lady will encircle our neck with
her arm is so negligible that we need
not comment upon the provision pre-
scflDlnB that particular token OF the
| "cuddler's" union.
We regard the dictum with refer
ence to the extended left arm as ILL
advised. There is nothing more mar.
tistic than the spectacle OF a gent reel
ing thru one of the modern dances
with his left arm extended at right
| angles to his body. Not only IL 1t an
inariistic and awkward posture. but it
practically does away with the surrep.
titious handclasp. which Is the savory
of the modern dance. In the old-time
dances the extended left arm per-
formed the functions of rudder. and
was well-advised gesture. But mod
ern dances are rudderless. and there is
no reason why a gasping and perspir-
ing middie-aged dancing man should
be called upon to carry the added
physical strain OF an extended left
arm. There is no artistic objection 10
the required daylight zone" We
merely offer the observation that IN
the case of dancing partners of gener-
Gus proportions IL is very difficult to
maintain 1t, and for that reason the
provision is likely to become and re-
main a dead letter.
The pathway of a cyclone is a toler
ably orderly assemblage OF debris as
compared to o. hotel room which has
been occupied by a couple OF women.
a
Inc sympathy for the oppressed Of all
lands. We do not intend to become in
dtgnant over the condition of slavery
in which the Irish find themselves
until the American citizen gets his
. freedom.
!. Apother member of the royal family
has surrendered his crown. We refer,
OF course, to the banjo king who
died the other day. 1t Is fitting to OBJ
| n he r.
the last OF his line. His successor in
the hearts of the people. we assume,
will be the ukuieie prince.
Our search for the unimportant
continues to yield its daily harvest
Probably the best example Of the tri-
vial and unnecessary in yesterdays
newspapers was the letter of the citi-
zen who wrote to his fayorite medium
OF publicity at some length condemn
ing the plan to increase the number of
worlds series games from seven to
nine.
II IL isn't any of his business the
average citizen is likely TO take a keen
interest in it.
Il We hesitate to trouble Mr.. Wilson
with impertinent inquiry at a tense
moment in his affairs. but when is
Mexico going to salute that flag?
me reason we ask Is tlat MIR. VIII
son once intimated 1t had to be done.
We shall await Ludendorfrs further
communications with interest. His
remarks on Belgium's invasion of Ger
many and her brutal treatment of in
offensive German citizens should be
Illuminating.
Emerson Hough says the old west is
dead, 1t is worse than that; Il prac-
tcally is forgotten. Four years ago
this faH-we were a hidden guest at a
dinner in Rawlins, Wyo. Rawlins is
far beyond Cheyenne and Laramie in
the general direction of the sunset
Medicine Bow Is two camps" to the
eastward. But we felt called upon to
explain that we were travelling eight
and had left our evening clothes at
home. Save the fact that one brake
man was wearing a white tie in con-
nection with a dinner Jacket. ours was
the only flatted sartorlai note in the
symposium.
A good many try IT, but the only
person who can get by in a Ford car
IL the one who uses II in rough going
to defect wear and tear from his
Limousine.
I6gEs5 :;