Judge, 1887-12-24 · page 5 of 19
Judge — December 24, 1887 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical page from *Judge* contrasts dance styles across different historical periods. The three illustrations show: **1780** (top): Formal, restrained minuet with elegantly dressed nobility—representing aristocratic decorum. **1887** (middle): A crowded, energetic ballroom scene—contemporary to the magazine's publication, showing modern social dancing. **1840** (bottom): Lively contra-dancing with exuberant movements like "pigeon-wings." The accompanying verse humorously argues that while the minuet had grace and the German dance has merit, the 1840s contra-dance superior because it offers physical excitement and uninhibited "poetry of motion." The satire gently mocks Victorian sensibilities by suggesting that restraint and formality, though valued, pale compared to vigorous, unrefined enjoyment—a commentary on changing social attitudes toward physical expression and leisure.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE THE ERAS OF THE DANCE. You have told me of the grandeur of the stately minuet, And I bow a low obeisance to its name; It was better than the German, though I freely will admit ‘That the latter has its praises (somewhat time), But for tingle of the senses, and a jingle of the pegs, With accompaniment of “ pigeon-wings” to limber up the legs, And a chance to drain the poetry of motion to the dregs, The contra-dance of ‘40 has the claim. anese comicbooks.com