MY PARTNERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 84, 28 March 1908, Page 3

MY PARTNERS.

Xow, it may be that I'm too particular. as some of my girl friends tell me, but i can't help it if 1 am. At any rate, there are several types of young men who dance with inc. that I never did like, and never shall, for that matter.

There's .lohn Jones, for instance. He always comes up to your chair with an air of complete proprietorship, sticks out his arm at almost right angles for you to take, and marches off to the set lie favours without a word to you lieyond, "Fine night, isn't it?" CiirW don't care for that silent and selfish dancing-mail —at any rate, girls of my stamp don't. Then, who doesn't recall the fellow at ey'ery dance wlio resembles our friend Mr. Algernon de Courcy Fitzaldwyn? This young spark, have been duly introduced to you by the M.C., looks you over with something of the air that a critical farmer might use in sizing up a prize bullock, lie puts up his eyeglass and takes stock of every girl as though he could only offer her a dance 011 condition that she was faultless ill his eyes. Should the girl not lie handsome, pretty, or at least of some note from her position, lie usually finds that his "card is already full," or that he is ''leaving early."

Of course, every girl meets the cheerful " Tommy Dudd." Tommy Dodd is on ft of those exuberant spirits w'lo swing a girl round in the Lancers, and waltz as though lie intended to swing her easily into the middle of next Week; who .sings aloud all the well-known airs that make up the quadrilles or th e barn dance, much to the enjoyment of other girte, who laugh, and nudge their own partners to note your partner's eccentricities. Tommy means well, however, amid it all; and when lie assures you at the, end of the (lance that he has positively "never enjoyed anything so much in my life," you forgive him, for his heart is ill the right place._ ■But, oh, how much you dislike tlw next type—that of Mr. Arthur Clifto:i, the vouii'g bank clerk! His hair is immaculately parted in the middle and brushed down, with a slight curl overhanging the forehead, to make him conspicuous as a genius, he imagines. He affects a lisping drawl! in his speech, and he strolls up to your chair with the air of one. about to confer an inestimable boon in leading you to the dance. You feel as if you would almost like to give him a good push as he comes up to you with his airs and impertinences. Awfully annoying, too, is that fellow who never catches your name properly at the introduction, and has not sense enough to ask it again. So lie against your dance on his card, Cull with yellow hair," or some such idiocy. Then, when you are waiting for him to come to yoir'at the proper time, you see him wandering about like a lost sheep, and finally lake oil' a , young lady whose hair is black, leaving you to sit out the

dance. •Hut dancing lias its compensations, too. If there are objectionable persons amongst the men, there are some ieally delightful fellows also. Why, for instance, does one specially look for Charlie? As you find yourself watching him stroll about the far end of the room you wonder why yourself. Then suddenly his eye lights on you, arid you see him hurry forward to greet you. You see his face brighten with that

well-known smile of welcome, you sc.' his outstretched hand, you hear his low, sweet voice asking for your programme. Then your fluttering heart--.tells you infallibly why you looked for Oharlw Bates as soon as you entered the room.