THE DANCE OF THE DAY".

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1940, 24 December 1913, Page 9

THE DANCE OF THE DAY".

Under t.ho ioftv, classioaS Jonie of tho Institute of France, tit tho annual combined meeting of tho fivo I'ranch Actionites—Academies of Science, Inscription and Belles-lettres, of t'outical an.ti Moral Sciences, of Fine Arts., of tjio Forty Immortals—tho tango has actually been discussed and extolled by no less a poet and a personage tliftß Jeatt Kichfipiii, SOj an amazing, au na'yweedented occasion. Behold the gr;!vt-i sev«ro Institute thronged with dimoyed old sages, keen-faced doctors, famous painters and litterateurs, /distinguished philosophers and politicians, t-legant worldlings with their itisfcparaMo glasses, chocolate boxes,- chatelaines, and fans—and hear ma/isive and handsome Jean Richepin, in the illustrious green uniform of tho Academician, his sword strapped to his side, at once disconcerting and delighting' his uudiotico with ail eloquent de'foiic.e of tlie Dance of the Bay. "It has been attacked because sometimes it becomes indecorous. That is tho fault <ii' tho dancers, not of tho dance. .1 have seen it performed by princc'scs— A spectac-lo of •elegance and distinction; but elsewhere 1 have seen tho insipid polka,_ tho honest, mechanical lancers danced in a fashion which, in the words of tlio yonger Uumas, would niaiko the monke.vs blush."

After this, a torrent of beautifullyexpl'CEsed praise of dancing in general. ''It. is because the tango is a dance that I have had the. audacity tf> defend and esSol it lis the presence of the distinguished members of Iho five Acadc-, nties." And thru—after one of thos® superbly eloquent perorations for whicli .loan Hiche-pm is famous —applause from <!ven the dim-eyed old sages, delighted "murmurs" and "rsxciiimatkms" from trio worldlings, and a say, enthusiastic ' voice from a distent corner, "Let's all lof us dance the timgo this very, ' minute." A Sccond Hugo, However, no tango-dancing in the -sff» vcre, classical- Institute of France —it wa.s spared that lively exhibition; but tho fact none the kss remains that tto - great poet R-icbcpin's endorsement of the tango has definitely established it itt France as a dance that may to indulged in by the strictest-minded people. An Academician has extolled it—awl that's enough., Jean Richepin himself has admired it —and such is his gktf.v, his genius, his authority, that he.^ holds a pSftCO ill the. heart of the • French peoplo second only to that of Victor Hugo. For, all his life, in poetry and prose, Richepin, like Hugo, line passionately revealed antl tenderly commiserated with the woes of tlio poor, tho im.tc,cp-iit, tho oppressed. . Such indeed is tlio .incontestability of Ms genius tha.t the French,. Academy, tin? stronghold of conservatism find conventions, of militarism and Clericalism, almost unanimously fl,ecepted_ Richepin. tho independent, the large-minded CTeat-hcafti>d, as a follow Immortal. I iiko to recall, as an instance of French chivalry, tho late Francois t'oppeo, _ it charming poet and a fervent Catholic, leaving his sick-bed t« vote for Riclio nin. "Ho is ail anti-Clerical, but- ho is a glorious poet,'' frail and foeblo old Coupee reiterated to the protests of his doctor. So away in his carriage—on, a. hitter -day—wrap-pad-up in rugs—to tho Institute of France. Mo it, the frail figure. supported on either side. Bach, feebler than ever, to bed; a murmur of "Cest Wen, jo'suis bkmeo-i-vtent" when informed of • Richepm's oles'twit—ant* death. The Tartgo Everywhere, It was lUclmpin's youngest son who informed his father through tho telephone that he had heeft created, a'.?, fn'iniortal. "Papa, pajro," shouted young Richepin hysterically, <l; tM es elu, tu os eiu." Tlio poet heard, hut could not answer; he Mas speechless from _ emotion. And be was agitated again on tho day that he put on ills illustrious Green Uniform for the first time, aisct" had to make his • initial speech under tiro dome, of the august Institute. So agitated that lie was discovered walking lip and'down it dim, ston.v passage —nervously gesticulating, frantically reciting tho opening passages 'of his address. "It is wretched, it will be uir four noir—a black failure," he cried: despairingly. It was, as a matter of fact* one of the nobfest, and most enthusiastically applaiidod, speeches tho venerable .Institute lias ever hoard.

Sliiea then, as I havo recorded, IHcho-* nin ha-s tieeome to ho regarded iii France almost as a -second Hiiro—n. wonderful renown, a ieriiiie popularity, "Eh bieti, molt awie," says 31. lei Bourgeois to his stoat, worthy, conventional wife; "<?h bion. since .Bichepin savs so, thoro's .«« objection, to yot-ir dancing tho tango. 1 ®

"Bt nioi. papa?" demands to Bonrfcois's oififeteen-Toar-old daughter; and; h<s replies, "Mais oiii, nva. petits, maw rnii; liiais bicn coiivenahlement, n'est-t co i>as?"

So behold tha strictest French IIOWI Ereoisio involved in the tango, and tl-ioi tanso "admitted" into the severest corn,ors of the Faiihonrc St. Germain, an'! tanco suppers and teas on tho incrcasa in theatres and restaurants —n-nd tlict boulevard journals fiUiieestiiig with char-: acteristie -rib-aWry that the tangp should; ho tlaiiced at an appointed iloitr day in tho Chjvmher of Deputies, Sen* ai«, and Law Courts. Also, in overr school, prison, Mil workhouse. Also iii; tho presidential palaces of tho Rlyspcv Also hv M. -CamiHo th« eminent -astronomer, high u-n in his oft-* scrvatory. Also by Jean Hiehomii him-, self: to whom, .according to the. samoi merry journalists, tho music-hall man-; aire'rs of America 3iSVo already cabled:; offers of £1000 a week omtagen'onts fat* 3G weeks.—John F. Jfacdonald in "Daily News."