Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-11-29
Virginia Dances
J s2zkYllIno and .N,NNaf2t ,SfoEX

4 NAlEAAAA1 D0ASNo
II am frightened to death
Billy" l said as my newly found
friend led me to the dance floor.
"Oh," / added in dismay as
thought how conspicuous l should
| be in my awkward attempt tc
learn dancing in the midst of these
graceful couples, "I thought you
/ told me that you were going into
some secluded corner"
Look about the four corners
my dear, and see If any Of them
are secluded. No one will notice
you on the dance floor. They are
all thinking of themselves. By
the way, Virginia, have never
been able to get to the point OF
view of you girls. You seem tc
think that everyone is watching
you even in theatre"
But / have never been to a
theatre in my life, Billy"
"What?" he exclaimed in aston
ishment.
DO you mean it? Well, you
will do it when you 60"
"Do what?"
Gust what the other girls do
You'll take your vanity box
some even take their makeup
boxes-and when the lights go uI
between acts you will serutinize
yourself in its mirror and put an
extra bit of calcimine on youl
nose which had altogether toe
much before"
Have l too much on my nose
Billy?"
mo, but you have just com
menced the practice. Wait until
you have been in the movies 6
month or two. But do you real
ize you are two-stepping, my
dear?"
| hadn't realized it until thai
moment had been SO interested
in Billy's ideas of makeup. The
moment he called my attention tt
it l lost the knack of the dance
and stepped all, over his feet.
Billy grinned Understandings
and stopped to reassure me. W.
had reached the outer fringe o.
dancers where we had consider
| n I1o rooro EGFron bad hroIyo tHt
spell, Virginia. You were doing
wonderfully well. Now let's try
again. Just put your left hant
lightly on my shoulder. Don't try
to watch my feet. Just feel thu
music. 1t is two steps to one sidt
and two steps to the other. Dom
try to swing your body. Danet
from your hips down. Now yol
have tensed your body. Relax, re
lax, my dear Virginia.
ooh, Billy, can't do it," T
Eyes, you can. You've done
wonderfully we'll for the frs
time on the floor. Try closing
your eyes. Maybee that will hell
and just listen Tor the one, two
one, two of the music.
"No, don't count. If you dance
by count you Will never get into
the poetry of motion.
"There, that is fine" commend,
ed Billy.
Just as the music stopped l step
ped all over his feet and | breath
ed little prayer of thankfulness
to think the ordeal was over
When the music started up agair
Billy placed his hand lightly un.
der my arm.
"Oh, Billy, do we have to g(
all through it again?"
"Oh, you'll like it this time"
BILLY, you are dear to hell
me-" and I resolved to take some
private lessons as soon as possible
you're doing very much better
this time, Virginia." he assured
me as l managed in some way tt
keep my rebellious feet in motion
| found that closing my eyes die
help some and at last I got over
my panic at the thought of Billy
humping me into someone.
The music stopped and Billy
taking pity on me piloted me bach
to the table instead of dancing the
second encore.
"How did you like it?" smiled
Tony Melville who happened to be
sitting alone.
Before l could reply Billy ask
ed, why, where is Dorothy?"
John Alden took pity on hel
and asked her to uance. 1t is nc
place for an old man like me al
one of these gatherings, But Vir-
ginia hasn't answered my question
yet. Was it such an ordeal? You
look as though you enjoyed it."
1T was duck soup for her.
volunteered Herb Richardson who
was just seating Ria. Then ht