舞踏会開催のための決まりごと
この舞踏会への招待状は、私がしばしば使うダンスに関する米国連邦図書館の文献データベースの中から見つけたものです。
American dancing master, and ball-room prompter という、1862年にボストンで出版された書籍の Rules for the arrangement of balls という章のなかにあったものですが、その章本文とこの招待状を細かく見ていくと、どんなダンスが踊られていたのか、入場料の相場はどのくらいだったのか、曲を演奏した楽団の編成はどうだったのか、などなど、米国で当時行われていた舞踏会の様子がよくわかって、非常に興味の持てるものです。後でこの章の対訳をつけていきます。
対訳
Rules for the arrangement of balls
There are various ways of originating Balls. The most common one is for several persons, interested in dancing, to meet together and choose a Committee of Arrangements, or Managers as they are sometimes called, whose duty it is to procure a hall, engage a quadrille band, make arrangements for the supper, and issue cards of invitations to such persons as they may wish to have attend. It should be the especial duty of some one or more of the committee to attend to each of the above duties. The number of the committee varies from five to twenty, according to the amount of services to be performed. If the invitations are to be sent to adjoining towns, at least one of the committee should be chosen from each, or in case there are several villages in the town, one from each village.
On the evening of the ball, two or more of the committee should be chosen as floor managers, to see that the sets are full, and that all persons wishing for partners are supplied, aud also to direct the music when to commence, as well as to decide any questions that may arise in the ball-room.
Military and fire engine companies, clubs and associations, often give a single ball, or perhaps a series of parties--the same committee officiating during the different evenings.
It is the custom for teachers of dancing, in connection with their schools, to open their rooms to the public after nine o'clock in the evening, and any proper person may for a small sum, (usually fifty cents,) join in the amusements. These parties usually close about twelve o'clock, while balls are generally continued some hours later.
Sometimes balls are got up by some speculator, who generally manages the whole matter himself. Balls of this class are not always select, as the invitations are given to the public in general, and improper persons too frequently gain admission.
In getting up bails and parties, it adds to their reputation to have the "Cards of Invitation" and the "Order of Dances and Engagements" printed neatly, as well as correctly. At common printing offices the facilities are not always such as to get up these matters in the best manner; but, in all large cities, offices may be found, where particular attention is given to this description of work. In Boston, for instance, at No. 3 Cornhill, Geo. C. Rand & Avery, gives special care to such styles of printing, and their office is supplied with an immense amount of material especially adapted to the world, specimens of which they are pleased to exhibit to all who may wish to examine.
The Band named on the opposite page is one of the oldest and best Quadrille Bands in the United States. Mr. B. A. Burditt is the agent, 69 Court Street, over Clapp's Music Store.
出所
- 最終更新:2012-09-21 06:24:37