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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (March 7, 1915)
THE SUNDAY OREGOXTAX PORTLAXD, MARCH 7, 1915. ,,rr: Has Popular D&sco (s&J i . r j ' . , : -.4v;; - ''.. - 7 "py 4 - 'v: i : " fs. yfi rrt -j ' - ; . . 4 ffv . v 1 f -V -Tv - v I - v - V CO " I - - v ...f5r "fS&s f & rf "s s bv - li -x i 1 . IIM MA 1 - s&j'j urn a- Or- atz'n ary f&Aart Two dOZJM I? BT VERNON CASTLE. AS TO the origin of te waltz tbere re'Taried opinions. Frofessor Desrat claims that it came from Russia; another writer states that It is derived from an old dange. the alle mande. Notwithstanding this contro versy, it has been proved beyond a doubt that the waltz in its first form came from Italy to Provence, and thence to the Court of Valois, under the name of "La olta." Henry III and Marguerite of Valois were both ferv ent devotees of this dance, j hlch they called "valse a trois temps." Other dances overshadowed and crowded It out later on, and little was heard of It until. In its present form, it was brought from Germany to Paris in 1795. Castil-Blaze. an accepted authority, called It "that imp from France brought up in Germany." The first Ger man waltz tune was- the well-known "Ach du Lleber Augustin," and dates as far back as 1770. It immediately became a favorite with the pleasure-loving Parisians, and when the Austrian Embassy in Paris Introduced its famous "dejeuner dan sant" In the beginning of the 19th cen . tury, the waltz was the prime favorite at these gatherings. Its reception by the English public was less cordial when the French dancing master, Cel larius, introduced the waltz into Lon don society in 1812. Caricatures ap peared in the papers picturing the sentiments of the ultra-purist section of the community, who had persuaded themselves that the introduction of the waltz Into England was a conclusive step on the national downward path. There still Is in existence a letter from a shocked parent, who hurried his daughter away from a ballroom where lie saw his precious offspring held by a young man In a position that he could not describe better than the "very reverse of back to back." This first real round dance did not become popular until the Russian Em peror Alexander, with Countess Lieven as partner, had danced it in 1813 at. Almachs, then the meeting-place of the fashionable world of London. - For a long time, however, the waltz was a perpetual thorn in the side of the anemic moralist, and even as late as 1870 a pamphlet by John Haven Dexter was issued against It, in which he objected to the lawless arm of the sterner sex encircling the graceful form of a young and beautiful female, hc.'ltste. it! being steps and finish with the waltz. This is a matter of preference. This measure could be continued in- rlAftnitATv Rv niinilncr 1 2 3 4 B. fi. iJ jO t7 -iCi2 C S WI7ZJ? Ofy 2S1G? and holding or hesitating the 5, 6. you can t very well go wrong, ana you are doing the Hesitation waltz. Of . course, were this all. It would be a very tiresome dance. So you vary it slightly by doing either two or three ordinary waltz measures, or some of the figures I am about to explain, or r weight, as before, on the two last some of your own. After you have a counts. I might add here that a great rough idea of this first step I advise many people start with the hesitating you to cease counting and try to do it i a very quiet and prftty dsnce. which obliges you to waltz, ftc, no matter what tirno Played or who is In your way. Thst kind of danrinj? bcionvs to the people who count to thcmst'lvev, looking up at the celling. 1. 2, Z 1. 1. 2, a. There Is little or no difficulty ahout the Half-and-lialf (lance, ecpt the time, and that is a little difiU-uIt. be cause it is entirely new to dancing. It Is 5-4 time, which means there are five heatg to the bar. In waltz time there are six. and you usually count 1. 2, 3. 1. 2, 3, but In the half-and-half you count 1. 2, 3. 1, 2. And now for the dance: The ordinary position is assumed, the gentleman holding his partner a little farther away from him than in the wultz, and on the first three counts you tike one long, slow step, and on the next two counts you take two teps. I'or In stance, supposing the man starts off forward with his left foot; lie in a way hesitates on this foot for three counts. Then he takes two short t.ps for the other two counts rlgrht, left. Now the right foot comes forward for three counts, and so on. The lady doe the same step on the opposite foot. Thin is the Half-and-IIalf. and when done properly looks like somothlng between the Tango. Lame Puck and Hesitation. in the dance which has given it its and back left, right finally holding goes back on her left foot for the next name, her weight on the right foot through part of the step left, right and then The lady starts forward left, right the fifth and sixth counts. Then she forward. left, right finally holding the hesitation when the music seems to "ask it" if you know what I mean. Nearly every good waltz has certain drains which, if you have & good ear for music, you will not fail to recognize as calling for some sort of hesitation or pause. In my opinion it Is much better to hesitate when the music hesitates, and when It does not simply do the ordinary waltz movement or steps to that tempo. Avoid always the terrible schedule u he1 steps you can do In this dance are unlimited. For Instance, the gen tleman can turn the lady so that she Is going in the same direction as he la. and they can do the Eight-Step of course always keeping the 1, 2, !, 1. 2 time. If you wish to spin you must do so on the slow step, continuing forward on the last two counts. All of the mod ern waltz or hesitation steps fit In de lightfully after one has caught the rhythm. (Copyright. 1 SI 4. Oils F. Wood ) PENROD BY BOOTH TARKINGTON Continued From Page 3. tuitlvely, spontaneously. Thev perceive been a boy oneself. Ah, it la not all field hastily interposed the suggestion the obligations of noblesse oblige. They playtime! I hope our little gentleman of dinner, and the small procession went in to the dining-room. "It has been a delicious day,".- said Mr. Kinosllng, presently, "warm but balmy." With a benevolent smile he addressed Penrod, who sat opposite begin to comprehend the necessity of here does not overwork himself at his caste and its requirements. They learn Latin, at his classics, as I did, so that courtesy in their games; they learn at the age of 8 years I was compelled politeness, consideration for one an other in their pastimes, amusements, lighter occupations. I make it my to wear glasses. We must be careful not to strain the little eyes at his scholar's tasks, not to let the little shoulders grow round over his scholar's desk. Touth Is golden, we should keep it golden, bright, glistening. Touth should frolic", should be sprightly; It him. "I suppose, little gentleman, you pleasure to Join them often, for I eym have been indulging in the "usual out- pathize with them in all their little At the present day a new form of the uuor aborts oi vacation.' ",""rau"'8 Ja WB" " -"lr j . j-j ..... -.j - -, Tnm i.u vi i j i z. tie bothers and nerDlexities. I tinder- ioned waltz. It is the hesitation waltz, open-mouthed, at Mr. Kinosllnir. ", you see; and let me tell you f u" ?lay 'ts. cr,.c.ket. lls tennis, its Before I go any further I want to ad- "You'll have another slice of breast u fs no easy nattSr to understand the mlt being no great authority on this of the chicken?" Mr. Schofield inquired, llttle .lads and. lsles" He sent to loudly and quickly. eacn listener nis Beaming glance, ana. "A lovely day!" exclaimed Margaret, Permitting it to come to rest upon Pen- with equal promptitude and emphasis. roi inquired: "Lovely, oh, lovely! Lovely!" "And what do you say to that, little "Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!" said gentleman?" of poems, perhaps. Verses, rimes, lines, metrical and cadenced those are my dissipation. Tennyson by preference: Maud,' or 'Idylls of the King' poetry of the sound Victorian days; there id none later. Or Longfellow will rest me in. a tired hour. Yes; for me, a book, a volume In the hand, held light ly between the fingers." Mr. Kinosllng looked pleasantly at his fingers as he spoke, waving his hand in a curving gesture which brought it into the light from a win dow faintly illumined from the interior of the house. Then he passed his hand over his thin hair and turned toward Penrod, who was perched upon the railing in a dark corner. teners time for a little reflection upon his rendition, he passed his hand again over his head and called. In the direc tion of the doorway: "I believe I will take my hat now, little gentleman." "Here It Is," said Penrod, unexpect edly climbing over the porch railing in the other direction. His mother and father and Margaret had supposed him to be standing in the hallway out of deference, and because he thought it tactful not to Interrupt the recitations. All of them remembered later that this supposed thoughtfulness on his part struck them as unnatural. "Very good, little geittleman," said Mr. Kinosllng, and being somewhat dance:. I only try to explain the way it is done by the best dancers. Every one seems to do it differently, and 1 know at least four persons, whose word I would swear by, who assure me that they are the originators of the hesitation, In fact, my wife and 1 seem to be the only dancers who have had not a hand (or a foot) In this sometimes beautiful and much-abused dance. The dancers assume the ordinary plain waltz position. Then the 'man handball. It should run and leap: it should laugh, should sing madrigals and glees, carol with the lark, ring out in chanties, folk songs, ballads, rounde lays ' He talked on. At that instant Mr. Mrs. Schofield. "Yes, beautiful, beauti ful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!" Penrod closed his moutth and sank back in his chair and his relatives roHtaneously. t i. v .v 7 Mor Do! 1 Mr. Kinosllng looked pleased. This responsive family, with its ready en- Mr. Schofield uttered a stentorian cough. "More? You'd better have some more chicken! More! Do!" "More chicken!" urged Margaret si- 'Do, please! Please! More! Do! More!" 'Beautiful, beautiful," began Mrs, Schofield. "Beautiful, beautiful, beau-' every means within decency, to its con steps back with the right foot, taking thusiasm made'the kind of audience he two steps on two counts, alternating liked. the right and left foot; then he moves "Youth relaxes in Summer." he said, forward two steps right foot, left "Boyhood is the age of relaxation; one foot again allowing each step to fill is playful, light, free, unfettered. One in one count of the music Thus, to runs and leaps and enjoys oneself with be very explicit, four counts have been one s little companions! It Is good for occupied, but the steps should not be the little lads to play with their friends; directly forward and backward, leav- they Jostle, push and wrestle and aim ing you in the same position; you ulate little, happy struggles with one should turn and travel Just a little. For another In harmless conflict. The young the next two counts the gentleman al- muscles are toughening. It is good lows his weight to rest on his left foot. Boyish chivalry develops, enlarges, ex Thl create- the sense of hesitation pands. The young learn quickly in- tlful. beautiful- It is not known In what light Mr. Kinosllng viewed the expression of Pen rod's face. Perhaps he mistook it for awe; perhaps he received no impres sion at all of its extraordinary quality. Certainly Penrod's expression, which, to the perception of his family, was perfectly horrible, caused not the faint est perturbation in the breast of Mr. Kinosllng. Mr. Kinosllng waived the chicken, and continued to talk. "Yes, I think I may claim to understand boys." he said, smiling thoughtfully, "One has Schofield held himself ready to cough vehemently and shout, "More chicken!" to drown out Penrod in case the fatal words again fell from those eloquent lips; and' Mrs. Schofield and Margaret coolness In theJ air and my hat Is kept themselves prepared at all times the hallway. I was about to request " to assist him. So passed a threatening "I'll set it for you," said Penrod sud meal, which Mrs. Schofield .hurried, by denly. ir you win do so gooa, saia Mr. Kinosling. "It is a black bowler hat, little gentleman, and placed upon a ta ble in the hall." "I know where it Is." Penrod entered the door and a feel ing of relief, mutually experienced, car ried from one to another of his three relatives their interchangeed congratu lations that he had recovered his san ity. " 'The day is done, and the dark ness," began Mr. Kinslong and re cited that poem entire. He followed it with "The .Children's Hour," and after "ThA vnlnff in touched with jl allsrht coolness." said Mr. Kinosling. "Perhaps cW"ed P-aced the hat firmly upon his I mav reoueat the little gentleman" head- Piling it down as far as it would "B'gr-r-ruff !" coughed Mr. Schofield. "You'd better change your mind about a cigar." "No, I thank you. I was about to request the lit " "Do try one." Margaret urged. Tm sure papa's are nice ones. Do try"' "No, I'thank you. I remarked a slight In go. It had a pleasant warmth, which he noticed at once. The next instant he noticed something else, a peculiar sensation of the scalp a sensation ugh!" He dropped his hands from his hat and rose. His manner was sllghtlv agitated. "I fear' I may have taken a trifling ah cold. I should ah perhaps be ah better at home. I will ah say good night." At the steps he iiiwtlnctlvely lifted his hand to remove his hat, but did not do so. and, saying good night again. In a frigid voice, departed with visible stiffness from that houae. to return no mora. "Well, of all " cried Mrs. SchofleM. astounded. "What was the matter? He Just went like that!" She made a flurried geature. "In heaven's naine, Margaret, what did you Fay to him?" "I!" exclaimed Margaret indignantly. "Nothing! He Just went!" "Why. he didn't even take off his ht when he said good night!" aafa Mrs. Schofield. Margaret, who had crossed In the which he was quite unable to define, doorway, caught the ghost of a whl?per elusion. "She felt that Bomehow they would all be safer out in the dark of the front porch, and led the way thither as soon as possible. "No cigar, I thank you." Mr. Kinos ling, establishing himself in a wicker chair beside Margaret, waved away her father's proffer. "I do not smoke. I have never tasted tobacco in any form." Mrs. Schofield was confirmed in her opinion that this would be an ideal son-in-law. Mr. Schofield was not .sure. "No," said Mr. Kinosling. "No tobacco for me. No cigar, no pipe, no cigarette. no cheroot. For me, a bowk a volume pause at the close to allow his 11s- He lifted, his hand to take the hat off and entered upon a strange experience: his hat seemed to- have decided to re main where it was. It refused to come off he could not lift it from his head. "Do you like Tennyson as much as Longfellow, Mr. Kinosling?" inquired Margaret. "I ah I cannot say," he returned absently. "I ah each has his own ugh! flavor and savor, each has his ah ah " Struck by a strangeness in his tone, she peered at him curiously through the dusk. His outlines were indistinct, but she made out that his arms were uplifted In a singular posture. He seemed to be wrenching at his head. "Is Is anything the matter?" she asked anxiously. "Mr. Kinosling, are you ill?" "Not at ugh all," he replied, in the same odd tone. "I ah, I believe behind her, where stood Penrod. "You bet he didn't!" He knew not that he was oveYhrerd. A frightful suspicion flashed through Margaret's mind a suspicion that Mr. Klnosling's hat would have to be either boiled off or shaved off. With grow ing horror he recalled Tenrod's long absence when he went to bring fhe hat. "Penrod." said Margaret sharpjy, "let me see your hands!" She had tolled at those hands her self latte that afternoon, nearly scald ing her own, but at last achieving a lily purity. "Let mo see your hands!" She seized them. Again they were tarred. (Copyright, 1D14, by the Wheeler Syn dicate, Inc.) dt week's Penrod storr Is catttle4 The Fall ef Georgle Uasaett,"
