“DANCING, DANCERS—AND OTHER THINGS.”

Shannon News, 10 January 1922, Page 2

“DANCING, DANCERS—AND OTHER THINGS.”

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—-Being an omnivorous reader, I have been a subscriber to .vour valuable paper since its inception, and 1 have been very much -interested in ‘.lie remarks on cricket and dancing by “H.G.E7W.,” and in the reply to the latter by “Legs Eleven.” 1 have been awaiting a second letter from the pen of “Legs Eleven” in reply to the last word of “H.G.L.W.,” but so l'ar have been doomed to disappointment. As a disinterested spectator, I should like to add a few words to the debate. In regard to the epistle of “Legs Eleven, it has seldom been my experience to see in prinf sTmli a personal'attack on a harmless, inoffensive individual as was delivered by this letter. No doubt exists in my mind that the author had a. personal animus against, poor “H.G.L.W.” However, in the reply thereto, I think I can detect, the reason, or the principal reason, why such an attack was made. “H.G.L.W.” has evidently been somewhat of a sanguine or over-optimistic disposition during his brief stay in Shannon, and “Legs Eleven” has thought to do him a kindness by pricking the bubble of his self-esteem, but it was evidently'- aT thankless job, so “Legs Eleven” gave it up in despair. There is one point -on which I should like a little information: “H.G.L.W.” does not deny the charge of youth, and states that he was in the Army before the war. I should like to ask him how it comes about that he has been able to qualify as a motor engineer, although he has been an officer in the British’ Army ever since he was a youth. Of ediirse, it he had been in the Royal Engineers, it might .be possible. With regard to dancing, as another returned soldier, I quite agree with “Legs Eleven” as to the reasons why she so-called modern dances have not penetrated to the social diversions oi the average New Zealand town. Auckland and Wellington have their nightclubs or cabarets, . patronised by the ultra-smart people who ffike up all the latest crazes and hobbies, and ride them to death; but I think I am right in endorsing the remark of “Legs Eleven” t-haj in practically every town, the older dances still hold imdisputed sway. Of course, fashions change in dances as well as in everything else, and some of the old ones such as the Quadrilles have disap’ peared. I attended sundry dances in the Old Country and found a dance (of which I forget the name), closely resembling the Waltz Cotillion, which I used to dance as a boy. So, no doubt, in time we shall return to the Barn Dance, Polka, Quadrilles, etc., with an interval of new dances. However, that is for the future to show, and in the meanwhile, 1 think it is bitter to let our dance programmes remain as they are at present, until there is a popular demaud for a change, instead of changing them at the instigation of every would-be arbiter of fashion that happens to blow into the place. —I am, etc., OBSERVER. [Writers under a nom-de-plume cannot be allowed the same latitude that correspondents signing their own names enjoy. Wherefore several references in this letter have been censored.—Ed.. News.]