HOME TOPICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14110, 12 July 1909, Page 3

HOME TOPICS.

ENGLISH DANCING.

The State ball which was given during the recent visit of the King to Berlin has given rise to some comparisons -which may result in an improvement of the English system of dances. For some time now we have laboured under the disadvantage of having so few dances on our ball programmes. Not only has this been the cause of much monotony and dulness in fashionable ballrooms, it has given teachers of dancing no scope for their talents as originators and no opportunity of teeing the artistic side of their profession cultivated. The programme which the Kaiser had drawn up for the State ball was interesting and original, including a.<? it did two waltzes, two minuets, a polka, two sets of lancers, two quadrilles, two galops, a gavotte, and an old French dance. It naturally made an appeal to the dancing masters of London, and, after gome discussion, the Imperial Society of Dance Teachers of England sent a petition to the King asking him to introduce at a State ball during the coming season some of the old dances which .nave been allowed to fall into disuse. The German Emperor has preserved the custom which Frederick the Great encouraged of helping forward any artistic movement and of trying to keep alive ancient traditions and habits. To see this one has only to glance at the many revivals he institutes. Old music, old theatrical pieces are from time to time sought out and reproduced, interesting not only the Court circles, but the great mass of people who, though having no claim to the highest ranks, yet have sufficient culture to understand and enjoy artistic and intellectual pursuits. The Emperor lets it be known that he expects his young officers to dance well and to Lake their places in society. Thus, if the officers dance, there is no lack of partners, and young girls would not dream of being behind and of being ignorant of the new dances. The constitution of ball-room etiquette is quite different in the two Countries. Young men in society hear far too much of their delinquencies in the matter of ball- room etiquette. They are accused of not caring to dance, of merely looking in for supper, perhaps at more than one dance, 'during the course of an evening, or of spending their time in the smoking-' room instead of dancing. It is said that the young men of to-day cannot dance. There may be some truth in this, but their lack of dancing capacity is not the only reason I why they linger in the smoking-room or merely go in for supper. twenty partners for a waltz. " What can your young men do?" queried «' young German when his opinion on the subject was asked for. "Suppose a man happens to arrive 'ate at a dance, or if he is a. stranger and knows very few people, he finds all the ladies he would like to dance with have their programmes filled up. It has happened to myself more than once," lie went on plaintively. "As I am a stranger I often get invited to dances where Ido not know people. I find, all the programmes filled, and I can only get the chance of dancing with the young ladies well—"— politeness made him hesitate — with those who do not dance very well, at least whose programmes are not filled up,'and these are the very ones I would rather not dance with. So I go on to the next dance or to supper. What will you!" "In Germany," lie said, "it is altogether different. We do not dance through a whole waltz with one person. The lad : es who dance well, the beauties, promise as many a," twenty men to dance the same waltz with them. A beauty floats lightly round the room with one fellow, and then smiles and bows to him. and one of the other twenty, who are all watching, comes on and lias perhaps one more turn round the room or two. hen she is not obliged to sit rut between dances vith the man with whom she lias danced. She can send him about his business, very politely, of course, and sit out a few minutes with one and a few minutes With another. £ , k .WALTZES ;..ND BOREDOM.. , J Why .should not the German custom of only dancing part of a dance with the same partner ho instituted ? Two people must often be mutually bored if they were only frank enough to fallow it, and would very likely be quite glad to change partners icng before the customary twenty minutes cr so absorbed in the waltz and its attendant seat in a retired nook has gone past. Ballroom conversation is proverbially vapid. May this not be 'he result of uncongenial, people being forced to spend too long in each other's society? Nothing is more exhausting than forced conversation, and fashionable young Jadies and gentlemen would no doubt have interesting interchange of ideas to carry on with each other if their tastes were mutual. The German • beauty who has twenty young men waiting for the light of her smile to fall on them must be the envy of the lovely Londoner who finds herself condemned to da nog through a whole evening with the same half-dozen of young fellows who have been lucky enough to arrive early and to scribble their names on her programme. Complications often arise out of these scribblings on programmes, for young men arrive at dances, get introduced all round, find themselves compelled to' ask every girl to dance, and then only too often forget what those girls look like. There are occasions when it is convenient to forget. With an improvement in dances and dancing, the whole system of dance-giving as it,exists in society might very well come in for a thorough overhauling. CASSEROLE COOKERY. Casserole cookery has grown with the increasing popularity of the French fireproof earthenware utensils in our kitchens, and signifies dishes cooked and served in the same earthenware pan. The use of these earthenware pots and pans should, says the Queen, be heartily encouraged in every household, for they can be adapted in various kinds for practically every form of cookery, whilst for vegetables, fruit, or anything cooked with wine they cannot be surpassed. Meat or vegetables too, if left in a pan of this kind, can come to no harm, whilst in unpunctual households, whether through habit or necessity, this form of cookery is a veritable godsend, for the food can be kept hot at the side of the fire till required. PETTICOAT PHILOSOPHY. Habits, good or bud, may be formed in an incredibly short time if they are congenial ; the saints by nature will pray and the sinners sin as soon as the example is set them.

Genius is sympathetic insight made 'perfect, and it must have diversity if it is ever to be effectualmust touch 011 every human experience, must suffer, and must alf>o enjoy; great, therefore, are its compensations.

No one can gather grapes of thorns or glean corn from a harvest of tares. And 110 parent who has first unwisely indulged his eon and then ruled him with a rod of iron can well claim the glad obedience of a free son.—Rosa N. Carey. <"**'

Most persons love once in their lives— for hat matter most persons love twice. To live entirely without love was never yet the fate of those who are loved by the gods.

No man should ever pay any attention to a woman when she says she won't marry him unless he knows her motives are mercenary, and that his money is not enough.

Friendship is a very equivocal term when it's between a man and a woman; it covers a multitude of fancy sins in these days.— "Handasyde."

As the Jew day by day thanks his Maker he is not born a woman, so the average Britonoverstepping in his proud assurance the fact that he is indigenous only to his soil—returns thanks he is not born a foreigner.—Ethel M. Forbes.