There
was no selfishness either, in the dancing, because there was plenty of
it, and when one of the older persons essayed the graces of youth,
instead of its being looked on as an intrusion, it was applauded. I
have seen five men whose education was for the ministry enjoying
themselves on that small floor at one time.
It was the old courtliness over again. It was the spirit of chivalry
revived under a new form, and it was chivalry with interior pride
instead of exterior pride--pride of character instead of pride of
birth. Did any of these accomplished men and women deem that they
lowered themselves by dancing with those who did manual labor? If they
had, they would not have been there to do it. And did the "producers of
wealth" think that there were those who danced in their company as a
favor to them? If they had, it would have been a favor they would not
have accepted. The atmosphere was that of mutual respect and mutual
good-will.
There was no dancing of clothes-pins from the pockets of the dancers,
as Emerson has said, or if it once happened it was probably the
intentional freak of a happy schoolboy--a bit of farcical fun, too
unworthy even to be mentioned by the "Sage of Concord" in his "Historic
Notes.
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