SHUFFLE WHILE YOU'RE WAITING.

Shannon News, 10 May 1927, Page 3

SHUFFLE WHILE YOU'RE WAITING.

CHARLESTON MANIA GRIPS EVERYBODY. Something has come over the feet of Christchurch, (says the Star). Twitching, flipping, shuffling, the pedal extremities of the younger generation seem to be actuated by a spell which knows -no breaking.' In the street, in the home, in restaurants, the same impatient tattoo goes on, with little rhythm, no rhyme, and an entire absence of reason. Initiates describe this visitation as the Charleston. One is informed on creditable authority that it is a dance, and that at eventide, when the lights, blaze and the saxophone gurgles and howls, young men take unto themselve* partners and perform the Charleston as a sacred right. That is as it may be, and is doubtless all in order, but it is the "spare time" Charlestoners that tend to shed an air of unreality ovar an otherwise, sedate city.

Those whoso • occupations keep them standing are naturally the greatest spare time Charlestoners. The fever is rife among waitresses", errand boys, porters, shop girls arid clerks. There come times to each class when business is .getting slack. Then their eyes glaz-?, tremors affect their knees, feet lift and .paw-and-brush inanely at the ground; and far, far away from the "fairy land forlorn*'^of a last night's danc; hall, a goblin saxophone calls them to the subconscious "ball with that faint '.'oompah,' oonipah, "ha-ha ha" which, to a rationally minded person, brands the saxophone-as sin instrument, which should never be provoked outside a padded cell. . , The craze will stop in time, but, for the moment;-"it has become a means of subconscious- diversion as popular as the absent-minded humming or whistling of a tune. There is this to be said for the automatic "dancers." None of them are depressed. It .would, in fact, be impossible for anyone to perform the exercise while! depressed. "Charlestonitis" is best observed in the mass when, theatre crowds aro homeward bound or when cinemas and dance halls empty their audiences into the street. ■ Then the shuffle of feet, rises to the listener's ear as-haun.ti.ngly as the coo of doves in the most immemorial of elms.

.The one class so far exempt from this epidemic is the police force. A •finer-tribute-to: their discipline cannot be recorded. • ....--..-•