It must be observed, however, that this custom was in one
respect advantageous to the gentleman, inasmuch as it rendered his duties
more practicable. He was bound to call upon his partner the next
morning, and it must have been convenient to have only one lady for whom
he was obliged
To gallop all the country over,
The last night's partner to behold,
And humbly hope she caught no cold.
But the stately minuet still reigned supreme; and every regular ball
commenced with it. It was a slow and solemn movement, expressive of
grace and dignity, rather than of merriment. It abounded in formal bows
and courtesies, with measured paces, forwards, backwards and sideways,
and many complicated gyrations. It was executed by one lady and
gentleman, amidst the admiration, or the criticism, of surrounding
spectators. In its earlier and most palmy days, as when Sir Charles and
Lady Grandison delighted the company by dancing it at their own wedding,
the gentleman wore a dress sword, and the lady was armed with a fan of
nearly equal dimensions. Addison observes that 'women are armed with
fans, as men with swords, and sometimes do more execution with them.
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