RULES FOR DANCING
From Boston Weekly Magazine, October 29, 1803
Rules for Dancing
1. The music to consist of a fiddle, a pipe and tabor, a hurdy gurdy (N.B. No chorus to be sung until dancing is over).
2. Those ladies who have not white cotton stockings and black Morocco shoes will not be admitted under any pretence whatever. Two old ladies will be provided to examine all who enter.
3. Long beards are forbidden, as it would be very disagreeable if gentlemen should happen to put his cheek beside a lady’s.
4. Every lady to come with a clean handkerchief, linen, with her name marked.
5. No gentleman to appear with a cravat that has been worn for more than a week or a fortnight.
6. No scissors or gimlets are to be brought either by ladies or gentlemen unless their pockets are whole.
7. No gentleman must squeeze his partner’s hand, nor look earnestly upon her; and furthermore he must not even pick up her handkerchief: provided it were to fall. The first denotes he loves her- the second, he wishes to kiss her, and the last, that she makes a sign for both.
8. No whispering shall be allowed- if anyone shall be found to make insidious remarks about anyone’s dancing, he or she shall be put out of the room.