IV
THE HESITATION WALTZ—THE WALTZ WALK—THE LAME DUCK
As to the origin of the Waltz there are varied opinions. Professor Desrat claims that it came from Russia; another writer states that it is derived from an old dance, the Allemande. Notwithstanding this controversy, it has been proven beyond a doubt that the Waltz in its first form came from Italy to Provence, and thence to the Court of Valois, under the name of "La Volta." Henry the Third and Marguerite of Valois were both fervent devotees of this dance, which they called, "Valse à trois temps." Other dances overshadowed and crowded it out later on, and little was heard of it until, in its present form, it was brought from Germany to Paris in 1795. Castil-Blaze, an accepted authority, called it "that imp from France brought up in Germany." The first German Waltz tune was the well-known "Ach du lieber Augustin," and dates as far back as 1770.
It immediately became a favorite with the
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