could scarcely be
ranked with the legitimate branches of art at all. At its best, it was
only a pastime; something to amuse. This, of course, was the light in
which she viewed one of the greatest arts which few ever succeed in
mastering. Possibly because the world has really seen no dancing to
speak of since the days of the great Taglioni, until the Pavlowa
appeared. Even parts of the latter's art were questionable, but then,
she was the Pavlowa!

Chiquita's dancing differed from anything Captain Forest had ever seen.
As a matter of fact, much of it would not have been called dancing at
all by many people, so different has the modern conception of the art
become since the days of the ancients. But where had she received her
instruction? The ability to dance, like any other talent, is born in
one, not acquired. True, it must be developed through constant practice
just like any other talent, if ever it is to amount to anything; but
even then, great dancers are born just as great painters, poets and
musicians are born.

The Indian's greatest pastime and amusement is dancing, and Chiquita had
danced almost daily from earliest childhood to her sixteenth year when
fate had led her to Padre Antonio's door. Then she went to the City of
Mexico and also had visited Europe. In both places she had had the
opportunity of seeing some of the greatest dancers of the day and was
able to draw comparisons between their conceptions of the art and hers.
But when she began the study of ancient history her attention was called
to the Greeks' conception of the art, and she soon discovered that
modern dancing was a direct violation of that which was most plastic in
art, and consisted chiefly of contortions, high kicking and pirouetting
on the toes. She also discovered that the conceptions of her own people
regarding the art stood nearer that of the ancients than did modern
man's. To her it was an interesting discovery. It was as natural for her
to dance as to breathe, and from that hour she began to study and
practice the art with renewed interest.

Shortly after her admittance to the convent, it was also discovered that
she possessed a voice of unusual quality and range; and, as Padre
Antonio had instructed the Sisters to do their utmost to develop any
natural talent she might possess to a marked degree, the best teacher in
voice culture which the city afforded was procured for her. These were
Padre Antonio's wishes and they had been obeyed