THE BRETON DANCE IN THE WOODS AT MELLAC.

Otago Witness, Issue 2289, 13 January 1898, Page 49

THE BRETON DANCE IN THE WOODS AT MELLAC.

Prom the woods at the top of the hill, where the road, so white and hard, disappears beneath the heavy trees, came the &hrill squeal cf the shepherd'^ pipe amid the deep, querulous drone of the " binious," and as we entered tha fields from the lans the confused murmur of many voices, shrill laughter, and shouts were heard. The fields of stubble were gleaned clean of almost every straw. Ia the bushes on the tops of the earthen wall 3 which divide the different holdings of land patchwork-like across the country, birds whistled and called, and against the dark green of the belt of oak trees millions of yellow butterflies shone. Before us on the narrow lane was a band of peasants hurrying on to the delights of the dance in the woods ; the coiffes of the women seemed a lambent

violet against the sky, and their black clothes took on a purple or dark-blue colour, co deli-

cate and humid was the atmosphere. A3 they went, occasionally one of the young men

would catch at the hands of a girl, and together they would dance along in time to the faint notes of the pipes. They were bound for the dance in the woods, which is the end of every pardon here in Brittany.

At the top of the road shone the white walls o£ the mayor's bouse, the front of which was hung with the tricolour and bunches of green oak leaves. Along the wall beneath the hedge, and sittiug in long rows on its top, wore young girls, their backs to the road. Above their heads rose a cloud of dust, and the shuffling of feet, beating time on the ground rhythmically to the scream and skirl of the pipes, sounded loudly. Suddenly tho pipes coased, and instantly a chatter of many voices began. From a gap in the wall the scene which we saw was like that of some opera bouffe upon the stage. Here were nearly a thousand fantastically clad peasants, standing, sitting, and walking about beneath ths branches of the magnificent oaks. Perched high upon the heads of two upturned casks sat the pipers, gaily decorated in broad-brimmed hats festooned with coloured ribbons. Between their feet

held her hand. Now the line of peasants stood motionless, awaiting the signal before the binioas, who softly droned for a biief interval, then all at once began the tune. In a moment the whole line had broken and formed in four?, moving in a stately manner in the gavotte. The faces of the daacers showed little or no emotion, save that here and there a mischievous gleam or challenge shot from eye to eye. On they moved before

the biniouF, down the lane an 3 out into the road before the •' Mairie," theu back again, turning, twJsMng, stamping, shnttllng couples, about whom the heavy dust arose in clouds; and through the clouds appeared dimly the gleam of the white coiffes or the colour of a bright stocking as they swung their bkirfcs. The rays o£ the sun penetrated

dimly to this space among the trees, but here and there a chance beam lit the dust until it seemed a shaft of gold in the green twilight. The dust fell upon the gathered multitude and the panting peasants in a fine yellow powder, and softened the contrast of the brilliaat orange embroidery upon the black coats of the men. It filled the cidercups with grit, and smarted iv the eyes of the strange-looking babies who lay uncaredfor on their backs on piles of sweet-smelling hay beneath the waggons.

On moved the twisting line of dancers up and down the clear space before the pipers in the wood, and down the lane outside the wall, the young men stamping their feet to mark the time, or executing some pigeonwing figure to attract the eyes of the brightcheeked girls. The soft purples and blues of the dresses became soon of one dusty tone, and here and there couples dropped out exhaußted, their faces streaming with perspiration. It became evident to us that the dance is one of endurance rather than grace, for now the remaining couples were surrounded by the peasants, who encouraged them with strange Breton exclamations. Soon but two couples remained on the field, and these the peasants watched breathlessly. The struggle was intense, and the pipers were well-nigh breathless, when finally, after the danca bad lasted nearly three- quarters of an hour, one couple stopped. Immediately there was si surging movement towards the other couple, who canted and shuffled,

them to face almost overpowering odds with confidence born of their enthusiasm tha carries ail before it, and almost wins the fight before it is began.

Suca words are heard but once or twice in a generation, the latest instance being the noble speech of Colonel Mathias at Djirgai : "Men of the Gordon Highlanders, the general says that position must be taken at all costs. The Gordon Highlanders will take it!"

How nobly the "gay and gallant Gordons " responded to the call and justified ths confidence of their leader is now known to fill the world, and no grander charge is recorded in history than that short, sharp rush up the rugged steeps of Dargai. That one magnificent sentecca, "The Gordon Highlanders will take it I " will live long after the greatest speeches of the most popular orators have fadsd from the public mind.

Among battle speeches Nelson's utterances must take the fir&t place, not only because of their undoubted authenticity, but because each of his greab victories was preceded by its own particular motto.

" Victory or Westminster Abbey " were his words before the opening of the Battle of the Nile. " I have only one eye, and have a right to be blind sometimes," he eaid at Copenhagen as he placed his telescope to his blind eye when the signal for recall was hoisted on the admiral's flagship. " I really do not see the signal," he added, and sailed on to victory. The immortal " England expects every man to do his duty " flew at Trafalgar, where the hero fell, the original sentence beicg " England confides," but the latter word not being found in the signal code, it was changed to " expects," to avoid spelling oat the word. Almost equally famous was Wellington's " Up, Guards, and at 'em," but unfortunately' the Iron Duke denied having used such words at all. In all probability he said something like " Stand up, Gaards," but the more famous phrase, endeared to the heart of every true Briton, was probably coined by some imaginative journalist after the fight was over and the victory won.

Waterloo, however, was productive of several other famous phrases. Strange to say, Wellington's « Night or Bl&oher" found

an echo in the words of his great rival whog the issue of ths fight was in doubt, " Ob, that Grouchy or night were hare." Still more celebrated are Napoleon's words on his arrival at the Elyseo three days after the battle. When Cualaincourfc exclaimed, " All i 3 lost " " Except honour," added the Little Corporal proudly. At the close of ths day the Old Guard sullenly determined to stand their ground, formed themselves into a square, and awaited the approach of the enemy, wbil9 their comrades flad in all directions from the fatal field. In reply to the summons tOvSurrender, their leader, General Cambrcnne, proudly answered in the memorable words: "The Guard dies, but never surrenders." Prophetic words I for the grand old veterans were cat to piecss almost to the last man, and although the general himself surrendered in the end, the gsllant words will never be forgotten while Franca remains.

OE a very practical nature was Cromwell's advice to his men whan aboub to cross a river in face of the enemy. According to his usual cuatom he harangued his troops in a epeech which ended thus : " Put your trust in God, but above all keep your powder dry."

" To die in the laßt ditch," has passed into one of the commonplaces of our proverbial philosophy. Tho worda were originally used by William of Orange during the Datch war of independence, when he wa3 aeked if he did not see that the Commonwealth was ruined. •• I shall never see the ruin of my country," replied the Prince stoutly ; " I shall die in the last ditch." Animated by such a spirit," and led by such a leader, it is not to ba wondered that the tide soon turned, and the necessity for such heroic measures never arofe.

Frederick the Great was the author o£ many characteristic sayings, but none more so than that which he uttered at the battle of Kolin, when his troops were wavering under a fierce fire. " Dags," he jeered, " would ye live for ever 1 " — a taunt whose harshness was only justified by its success.

" Ob, for an hour of Dandee," ha 3 with a change of name been heard on many a battlefield since first it was used by Gordon of Gleabucket when the Jacobites were hard pressed at Sheriff .nuir. Very memorable is the instance of Scott's description of the battle of Flcdden in "Marmion." " Oh, for one hour of Wallace wight, or well-skill'd Brace to rule the fight 1 *'

So, too, many a sorrowing leader has lamented in the words of Pyrrhas after the dearly won victory ot Heraclea. " Another guch(itr4ctory and we are undone," a phrase almost as famon3 as the " Varus, Varua, give me back my legions," of Augustus Csesar after the massacre by the Germans of three Roman legions under Varus at Lippa.

Of all historical phrases none is more familiar that General Boeqaet's exclamation when he witnessed the charge of the Light; Brigade at Balaclava : "It is magaificent, bat it is not war," a phrase which shall ever bs associated with what was probably the most brilliant charge in history. A very amusing instance of exaggerated politeness on the part of .the English and French soldiers took place at IPontenoy. When the engagement was about to begin, the English commander saluted hia enemy and shouted, "Gentlemen of the French Guards, fire." The Frenchman, not to be oufcdon3 in politeness, returned the saiufce and answered gallantly but urtwissly, " After yon, geutlemen ; the French Guards never fire lire*"." The Eaglish thereupon took him at bis word, with such effect as to materially influence the issue of the fight.