The Life of Sir Robert Christison, Bart. Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1885 Excerpt: ...a Berwicker. Our teacher was a Parisian, and therefore said he, "Messieurs, on ne parle jamais bien Francais a moins que Ton parle gras " In the end he became content with the rattling Scotch r of Cullen and myself, but he could not overcome the liquid English form of it in the mouth of Edward Turner. Cullen also persuaded us to study what was then an essential part of French DANCING LESSONS. 213 education--dancing. A retired second danseur de I'opera was accordingly engaged as a teacher, and severe were the lessons he gave us. At the house of a French banker, M. Robin, I had several opportunities of seeing what a quadrille was when gone through by eight accomplished dancers. It was really beautiful, but evidently a work of high art, every step being an elaborate pas de danse. Such caprioling was not to be attained with ordinary pains and training; and, indeed, Turner was told by a graceful dancing Dutchman that it took three years of teaching to make him what he was. Accordingly we began to tire ere long of our second danseur. I was the first to give in, satisfied with having acquired such a knowledge of principles as enabled me afterwards to criticise severely what was called at home "dancing a quadrille," and convinced that to acquire skill would demand too much application at the time, and be of little use afterwards in my own uncongenial country. Cullen persevered longer, but invitd Terpsichore, and therefore making no great progress. Turner alone benefited, as he possessed lither limbs, and had got better rudiments in boyhood at a ladyschool. During the remainder of the forenoon I read a deal of French--not much medical literature, but Corneille, Racine, Moliere, Regnard, Crebillon; also Voltaire and Rousseau, in order to learn wha...