Note 71 — JOURNAL. (continued 4)

The established succession of figures which form the one French quadrille, in executing which the ball-rooms of Paris and London have spent so many satisfactory hours ever since it was invented, by no means satisfies the Americans. At the close of almost every quadrille, a fancy figure is danced, which, depending entirely upon the directions of the leader of the band, is a very curious medley of all the rest. The company not being gifted with second sight, and of course not knowing at every step what next they may be called upon to do, go fearfully sliding along, looking at each other, asking, "how does it go on?" some en avant deux-ing, while others are starting off en promenade, the whole being a complete confusion of purpose and execution. The common French figure, the Trénis, is very seldom danced at all,—they do not appear to know it.