HER LADYSHIP

Southland Times, Issue 19294, 12 July 1924, Page 15

HER LADYSHIP

IN THE BALLROOM, Most people imagine that they “don’t dance too badly,” even those who prefer one’s toes to the ballroom floor. Men as a rule are fairly satisfied with their dancing—if they are not, they do not go to dances. Women, however, look upon dancing as an art—which it is. A girl lately appealed to a well-known teacher for help. She had spent a good deal on lessons and knew the latest dances, yet, she said, she could not dance “well”— the only thing which makes dancing enjoyable. She was not heavy nor did she “jump,” also she had an ear for music, yet there was something lacking. The thing that was lacking, said the authority to whom she spoke, was that “she was suffering from what the majority of ballroom dancers do suffer from — she wasn’t supple enough, “Plenty of people,” he said, “come to me to learn. Then they go away and dance. But presently some of them come back to see me again,. ‘Something’s wrong,’ they say, •What is it?’ I tell them. ‘But,’ they cry, Tm not stiff. I always ‘let myself go!’ ” “I daresay,” I reply. “But that’s what the trouble is. Your joints are too stiff. Why”—his voice grew tinged with contempt—“some of them can’t even touch their toes!” “Before people go to a teacher to learn the new dances,” he said, “they ought to undergo a course of exercises. They should get supple, loosen their joints — no£ come here like a lot of pokers. I don’t refuse to teach pokers to dance, but I can’t make them dance as they should. “Too many people fondly imagine that to know a lot of steps is what makes a good dancer. A dancer must knew steps, but that is the least important thing. You do not speak of a wonderful pianist because he can play two or three hundred compositions. It is how he plays that matters, is it not?” WOMAN ARMY LEADER.

A terrible tale of suffering is told by Mr Elly Widler, a foreigner, of Chungking, following his release after six months’ captivity in the hands of General Yang Sen’s Second Szechuan Army. Mr Widler, was not recognised by any foreign Consulate, and, therefore, was unable to secure redress through the usual channels. He was arrested at the Cosmos Club at Chungking, of which he was the proprietor, on September 10, 1923. Early in October he was taken before a courtmartial and sentenced to be shot. It was hinted, however, that in Chinese military circles there was always a way of avoiding the death sentence, and that he would be released if he paid a considerable sum of money, or undertook to supply large quantities of arms to the Second Army. Then came the collapse of General Yang Sen’s resistance, and the retreat began. Foot-sore and weary Widler was prodded forward by the butts of the soldiers’ rifles until he even begged them to shoot him to put him out of his misery. It was on this march that he saw the famous woman soldier, Lan Da Jo Ba (Big-Natural-Feet) who was in command of about 6000 men. According to his description, she is a robust, attractive woman, age 30, and of very strong character. She travels in a two-men chair, and is always accompanied by her daughter, age 15, who runs alongside and is armed with a Mauser pistol. The girl is very beautiful, of strong and healthy appearance, due to her outdoor life and vigorous exercise. MOST FASCINATING MAN IN THE WORLD. WOMEN VOTE FOR THE PRINCE. “Who are the three most fascinating men in the world, ? And why ?” A New York paper, the Sunday News, put these question to a jury of twelve representative women, and their verdict was as follows: 1. The Prince of Wales. 2. John Barrymore. 3. Seven “dead-heate”The King of Spain, Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, Rodolph Valentino, Richard Barthelmess, Conway Tearle, and H. L. Mencken (the writer). Nearly every one of the twelve women on the panel placed the Prince of Wales first, and Mr John Barrymore second. Miss Mary Pickford was the only woman to place her own husband, Mr Douglas Fairbanks at the head of the poll. “Your question should really read: ‘Who are the second and third most fascinating men?’” said Mrs Fairbanks. Miss Madge Kennedy, the comedienne, put the Prince of Wales first because “he has shown that he is very much of a person as well as a prince. Personally,” she added, “I should put the King of Spain second. I think he appeals to most sophisticated women. For third place I chose Charlie Chaplin because he is a great artist.” A Brooklyn typiste, Miss Margie Frenger, gave the following reason for her vote: “The Prince of Wales is my first choice. He is very democratic and a good dancer. I would love to have a dance with him, just as some other girls have. He has lots of nerve to fall off his horse as often as he does.” One woman chose the Prince for “the glamour of his good looks”; another because of his “wonderful personality.”