Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-09-21
nv ANNE RITTENHousE.

N one ought to write a book,
when Paris Dances" She
dances FROM Z o'clock In the afternoon
until after midnight. She wears her
best clothes while she does It. And
In that dancing. the phases of Il, the
philosophy and psychology OF 1t. there
are features that are historical and
sentimental
One might say II was q safety de.
vice. this dancing. 1t 10 not merely a
fashionable within. 1t IL not an ex-
travagance that In linked up with
clothes and supper parties. 1t has
nothing to do with ths drinking Of
champagne. Il 10 not o device of
pleasure arranged BY professionals
who want to make money. All, no. 1t
goes far deeper than that into the very
soul and spirit OF France.
1t 10 the opinion Of eminent medical
mon that It is q substitute for hys-
terra; Paris might cry and wiring her
hands. might argue and quarrel and
rebel, II the nation had been kept en-
tirely quiet. without any vivid form
Of active amusement. after peace was
signed. Four years Of a strain that
has rarely been put upon human peo-
pie left its mark on the nervous sys-
tenn. All Europe. the women as we'll
as the men. bore the strain without
fiinching. without letting 60. but It
took every vital power that was in
them to keep them from going into
some form of national hysteria or
melancholia.
The strain was suddenly released
when the armistice was signed 1t
found its vent In dancing. As an in
dividual who hears a piece of good
fortune. who knows that a great trib-
ulation has ended. wants to jump up
and shout. SO nation acts when an
intolerable burden has been lifted from
the shoulders.
There were many forms OF amuse-
ment in which Paris might have I'm
dulged when the guns ceased to roar
and the wounded ceased to arrive.
But they were expensive forms OF
pleasure. And many OF them required
passfvity; they did not call for activ-
lty. Paris had to Jump up and shout,
80 what did she do? BY common ac-
cord, without any preArranged plan,
she took up the American dance called
tho ''3aEx.'' and through this leaping.
twisting. turning, savage dancing she
found relief to her overstrained
nerves. The tango did not suit her.
It was too stately, too sinuous. too
quiet. The American Army had been
entertained by jazz dancers for over
a year. and the French considered 1t
the American national dance, and they
took to 1t like . balloon to the air.
They exaggerated 1t. They saw In 1t
a form Of activity almost as violent
As running, swimming and playing
tennis.
The common people started this tidal
wave Of dancing the night the armi-
stice was announced. For months
after the streets were the free and
easy place in which to dance. From
the Place de la RepubliQue to the
Furthermore stretches OF the Latin
quarter and upward to the terraces Of
Montmartre couples swirled to the
music Of accordions. OF little trumpets.
of hddles. Girls danced with girls,
old couples Joined Ia the gayety, while
the young ones applauded. All
through the colorful groups. like
streak Of rust. we're the brown khaki
clad American doughboys.
The smart women Of Paris do not
dance in the streets. but they would
like to do 1t. It 10 whispered that sew
eral Of the gay set. that leads what is
known as smart society over here,
copy Marie .Antoinette In putting on
the disguise Of quiet. shabby clothes.
and going to the Boulevard st. Ger
main and the Boulevard Montparnasse
to dance with their intimate friends.
They like the glitter and color Of the
streets. the long line Of little cafes
with the green tables, blue syphones,
and Notwithstanding drinks. The
American boys do not care to dance
AZ much with the American girls, as
they thread their way into the groups
at each corner. ~ with the little
French girls. who have the spirit OF
mischief and vivacity.
The tango and the jazs have no pop
ularity in the street dancing. The
polka and the schottische rule. The
man with the accordion stands on a
bench and plays that wild. mad music
thatsne hears In the mountains OF
Kentucky, whore John Fox's people