This is a favourite step, and considered the test
of good dancing among the farmers' sons and
daughters. It was undoubtedly introduced into
America by the natives of Africa, in their first
involuntary emigrations; and as one of the few
customs borrowed from that unlucky quarter of
the world, is entitled to particular notice. Dancing
appears to be an amusement equally common
to the savage and civilized state, and the
wild Indian of the north-west coast of America,
the ignorant negro of Whidah, the barbarous native
of Madagascar, as well as the refined Parisian,
are equally fond of this universal amusement.
Even the Cozack, and the bear, are capable
of imbibing a strong predilection for it.
The dancing step, called “double trouble,”
from its being twice as much trouble to dance it,
as to dance any other, bears not the least resemblance
to any of the ancient dances that have
been described by learned men, nor to any of
those of Europe; being altogether unique in itself,
and possessing a character entirely distinct
from all others. It consists in moving both feet
without lifting them from the floor, in such a
manner as to keep time to the music, and requires
not only great dexterity of foot, but a very
correct ear. It may be classed under the
general head of shuffling, and is in fact the perfection
of that difficult style of dancing, which is
undoubtedly of African origin. The great distinction
between the African and European
modes of dancing, seems to be this, that the one
strives to keep himself on the ground, and the
other off of it. Thus the Mandingo, or Congo
beau prides himself on his shuffling, and the
French dancing-master, and his pupils, upon
maintaining a sort of medium between heaven
and earth, like some of those wandering ghosts,
whose peculiar fate it was neither to belong to
the world above, or the world below; and which
were assuredly the shades of dancing-masters, if
any such existed in those simple days.
