24.—THE COLUMNS.
The conductor leads off with a tour de valse, and leaves his lady in the middle of the room. He takes a gentleman, whom he places back to back with his partner; he then brings another lady, whom he places facing the gentleman, and in the same manner with the others, until a column of five or six couples is formed, which must terminate with a lady, the leader himself standing back to back with the last lady. At a signal by leader, all turn about and waltz with his or her vis-à-vis. Two or three lines can be formed by starting two or three couples. The columns can also be used as a final figure.
25.—THE CARNIVAL.
All the couples are divided, the ladies being arranged in one circle, and the gentlemen in another, both circles facing outwards. A sufficient number of paper costumes, packed as “favors,” being in readiness, the leader takes one of the ladies’ “favors” and presents it to one of the ladies, whom he leads inside the ladies’ circle, where costumes are put on, and then leads her to her seat. The leader’s partner at the same time hands a gentleman’s “favor” to one of the gentlemen, and leads him into his ring to be robed or decorated, and then is in turn led by him to her seat. The second couple proceed in like manner, until all have been accommodated.
The conductor then can organize some short figures for dancing, forming also groups and tableaux appropriate to the decorations.
26.—THE HANDKERCHIEF CHASE.
The first three or four couples waltz; the gentlemen leave their ladies in the center of the room; each lady holds a handkerchief in her hand. The leader then selects one more gentleman, who, with the others, form a circle about the ladies, presenting their backs, and turn rapidly to the left. The ladies throw their handkerchiefs in the air, and waltz with those gentlemen who have been fortunate enough to catch them. The unfortunate gentleman who does not get a handkerchief selects a lady from the company. The figure is performed successively by all the other couples.
27.—THE CARDS.
First couple leads off. Leader presents four ladies the four queens of a deck of cards; the leader’s lady presents four gentlemen with four kings of the same deck. The gentlemen seek the ladies of their suit and dance with them.