FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107  
108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   >>   >|  
r it to a Hungarian nobleman, we are far from placing confidence in their assertions. In our opinion Paris is its birthplace, and its true author, undoubtedly, the now far-famed Monsieur Cellarius, for whom this offspring of his genius has gained a European celebrity." Whatever we may be inclined to believe with regard to this disputed question, there can be no doubt of the wide-spread popularity which for many years was enjoyed by the Polka. When first introduced, in 1843, it was received with enthusiasm by every capital in Europe; and it effected a complete revolution in the style of dancing which had prevailed up to that period. A brisk, lively character was imparted even to the steady-going quadrille; the old _Valse a Trois Temps_ was pronounced insufferably "slow;" and its brilliant rival, the _Valse a Deux Temps_, which had been recently introduced, at once established the supremacy which it has ever since maintained. The _galop_, which had been until this period only an occasional dance, now assumed a prominent post in every ball-room, dividing the honours with the _valse_. But all these dances, though modified in character by the introduction of the Polka, were for a time thrown into the shade by this new claimant upon public favour. Its popularity was unrivalled in the annals of dancing. Rich and poor, young and old, grave and gay, all were alike smitten by the universal Polka mania. All flocked to take lessons in this new and fascinating dance; and the professors of its mysteries fairly divided public attention with the members of the Anti-Corn-Law League, then holding their meetings at Drury Lane Theatre. We will even go so far as to say that Messrs. Bright and Cobden were scarcely more anxious to destroy the vexatious Corn Laws than were these worthy Polka-maniacs to create _corn_ laws of their own, which, if more innocent, were equally undesirable. For many years the Polka maintained its position as the universal favourite; but, during the last five or six seasons, its popularity has slowly but surely declined. It is never danced now in the ball-rooms of the aristocracy, but the middle classes have not yet quite discarded their old friend, though even amongst their programmes its name rarely occurs. Perhaps no dance affords greater facilities for the display of ignorance or skill, elegance or vulgarity, than the Polka. The step is simple and easily acquired, but the method of dancing it varies _ad
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107  
108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

popularity

 

dancing

 

maintained

 

period

 

introduced

 
character
 

universal

 

public

 

Messrs

 
Bright

flocked

 
Cobden
 

scarcely

 

vexatious

 

smitten

 

anxious

 

destroy

 

Theatre

 

League

 

meetings


members

 

attention

 

holding

 

professors

 

fascinating

 

mysteries

 

divided

 

fairly

 

lessons

 

position


programmes

 
rarely
 

occurs

 

affords

 

Perhaps

 
friend
 

discarded

 

greater

 

facilities

 

acquired


easily

 

method

 

varies

 

simple

 

ignorance

 

display

 
elegance
 

vulgarity

 

classes

 

middle