merely to provide occupation for the disengaged arms, and the gentleman holds the tip of the lady's hand lightly in the bended fingers of his own. Guiding is accomplished by the gentleman through a slight lifting of his right elbow.

THE OPEN POSITION

The Open Position needs no explanation, and can be readily understood from the illustration facing page 8.

THE SIDE POSITION OF THE WALTZ

The side position of the Waltz differs from the Waltz Position only in the fact that the partners stand side by side and with the engaged arms more widely extended. The free arms are held as in the frontispiece. In the actual rotation this position naturally resolves itself into the regular Waltz Position.

THE STEP OF THE BOSTON

The preparatory step of the Boston differs materially from that of any other Social Dance. There is only one position of the feet in the Boston—the 4th. That is to say, the feet are separated one from the other as in walking.

On the first count of the measure the whole leg swings freely, and as a unit, from the hip, and the foot is put down practically flat upon the floor, where it immediately receives the entire weight of the body perpendicularly. The weight is held entirely upon this foot during the remainder of the measure, whether it be in 3/4 or 2/4 time.

The following preparatory exercises must be practiced forward and backward until the movements become natural, before proceeding.

In going backward, the foot must be carried to the rear as far as possible, and the weight must always be perpendicular to the supporting foot.

These movements are identical with walking, and except the particular care which must be bestowed upon the placing of the foot on the first count of the measure, they require no special degree of attention.

On the second count the free leg swings forward until the knee has become entirely straightened, and is held, suspended, during the third count of the measure. This should be practiced, first with the weight resting upon the entire sole of the supporting foot, and then, when this has been perfectly accomplished, the same exercise may be supplemented by raising the heel (of the supporting foot) on the second count and lowering it on the third count. Great care must be taken not to divide the weight.

For the purpose of instruction, it is well to practice these steps to Mazurka music, because of the clearness of the count.

When the foregoing exercises have been so fully mastered as to become, in a sense, muscular habits, we may, with safety, add the next feature. This consists in touching the floor with the point of the free foot, at a point as far forward or backward as can be done without dividing the weight, on the second count of the measure. Thus, we have accomplished, as it were, an interrupted, or, at least, an arrested step, and this is the true essence of the Boston.

Too great care cannot be expended upon this phase of the step, and it must be practiced over and over again, both forward and