Let the waltz begin

[Eva Elisabeth]

Vienna is the place that sticks to (19th century) tradition and lives it more than any other I can think of. Winter is ball season, and right now the most prestigious ball is taking place, the Vienna Opera Ball, top high society event of the year. Catch a glimpse, here's the live stream - it's not a show, it's real...
https://tvthek.orf.at/live/Opernball-202...g/14053202
Here's info on the event, it's history and - check out the dress code..
https://www.wiener-staatsoper.at/en/vienna-opera-ball/

[RJNorton]

Thanks for these links, Eva. The ball is so different from anything I've ever seen in Florida!

[Eva Elisabeth]

There are about 450 balls in Vienna during January and February. You can even go there by carriage. Makes me always think of the Lincolns...

[LincolnMan]

(02-20-2020 07:49 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  There are about 450 balls in Vienna during January and February. You can even go there by carriage. Makes me always think of the Lincolns...

Yes, I was going to say: Do you think the Lincolns waltzed? I'm sure Mary must have known how to but am not sure about Mr. Lincoln.

[Gene C]

I am sure they waltzed. However, as you may recall, Lincoln was not not known for being light on his feet, or on anyone else's feet either.

I have it from an unreliable source that Mary ordered these special stylish dancing shoes to protect her feet
https://www.amazon.com/SafetyGirl-Nubuck...ljaz10cnVl

[Eva Elisabeth]

Gene, those shoes are cool! We need safety shoes for dealing with equine patients, but those shoes you get here are ugly.
Bill, Mary definitely knew - as Herndon reported:
"The first time I met her was at a dance at the residence of Col. Robert Allen, a gentleman mentioned in the preceding chapter. I engaged her for a waltz, and as we glided through it I fancied I never before had danced with a young lady who moved with such grace and ease. A few moments later, as we were promenading through the hall, I thought to compliment her graceful dancing by telling her that while I was conscious of my own awkward movements, she seemed to glide through the waltz with the ease of a serpent. The strange comparison was as unfortunate as it was hideous. I saw it in an instant, but too late to recall it. She halted for a moment, drew back, and her eyes flashed as she retorted: 'Mr. Herndon, comparison to a serpent is rather severe irony, especially to a newcomer.'"

[RJNorton]

Katherine Helm in her book Mary - Wife of Lincoln described the first meeting and dance between Mary and Abraham as follows:

"His gray eyes lighted with interest as he watched Mary's animated, piquant face and caught little snatching glimpses of satin slipper straps and gleaming silk-clad ankles under billowing masses of lace and organdy, as her hoops swayed in rhythm to the waltz music. Although he cared little for dancing, preferring to look on or talk to some of the more agreeable older members of an assemblage, he could not resist this bewitching creature and on being presented to her, he said:

"Miss Todd, I want to dance with you the worst way."

And Mary, with a roguish smile and a twinkle in her eyes, said after the party in recounting the incident to her cousin Elizabeth Todd, "And he certainly did."

Though Mary did not dance again that evening with Mr. Lincoln she felt his eyes were following her and when during an intermission she saw him making a bee line in her direction, she promptly, too promptly, held her program out that he might see for himself that it was filled to overflowing. She did not wish again to put in jeopardy her little pink satin slippers. But the dimple in her cheek seemed to say, "I am sorry."

[LincolnMan]

I had forgotten about that wonderful account of the dance. It was great to read it again.

[Eva Elisabeth]

You might also like to re-read my post 125 here about the waltz mania spreading in Lexington in the days Mary attended parties there.
https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussi...age-9.html