"The Dancing partner" by Jerome K. Jerome

"This story," commenced MacShaugnassy, "comes from Furtwangen, a small townin the Black Forest. There lived there a very wonderful old fellow namedNicholaus Geibel. His business was the making of mechanical toys, at whichwork he had acquired an almost European reputation. He made rabbits thatwould emerge from the heart of a cabbage, flop their ears, smooth theirwhiskers, and disappear again; cats that would wash their faces, and mew sonaturally that dogs would mistake them for real cats and fly at them; dollswith phonographs concealed within them, that would raise their hats and say,'Good morning; how do you do?' and some that would even sing a song."But, he was something more than a mere mechanic; he was an artist. His workwas with him a hobby, almost a passion. His shop was filled with all mannerof strange things that never would, or could, be sold -- things he had madefor the pure love of making them. He had contrived a mechanical donkey thatwould trot for two hours by means of stored electricity, and trot, too, muchfaster than the live article, and with less need for exertion on the part ofthe driver, a bird that would shoot up into the air, fly round and round ina circle, and drop to earth at the exact spot from where it started; askeleton that, supported by an upright iron bar, would dance a hornpipe, alife-size lady doll that could play the fiddle, and a gentleman with ahollow inside who could smoke a pipe and drink more lager beer than anythree average German students put together, which is saying much."Indeed, it was the belief of the town that old Geibel could make a mancapable of doing everything that a respectable man need want to do. One dayhe made a man who did too much, and it came about in this way:"Young Doctor Follen had a baby, and the baby had a birthday. Its firstbirthday put Doctor Follen's household into somewhat of a flurry, but on theoccasion of its second birthday, Mrs. Doctor Follen gave a ball in honour ofthe event. Old Geibel and his daughter Olga were among the guests."During the afternoon of the next day some three or four of Olga's bosomfriends, who had also been present at the ball, dropped in to have a chatabout it. They naturally fell to discussing the men, and to criticizingtheir dancing. Old Geibel was in the room, but he appeared to be absorbed inhis newspaper, and the girls took no notice of him."'There seem to be fewer men who can dance at every ball you go to,' saidone of the girls."'Yes, and don't the ones who can give themselves airs,' said another; 'theymake quite a favor of asking you.'"'And how stupidly they talk,' added a third. 'They always say exactly thesame things: "How charming you are looking to-night." "Do you often go toVienna? Oh, you should, it's delightful." "What a charming dress you haveon." "What a warm day it has been." "Do you like Wagner?" I do wish they'dthink of something new.'"'Oh, I never mind how they talk,' said a forth. 'If a man dances well hemay be a fool for all I care.'"'He generally is,' slipped in a thin girl, rather spitefully."'I go to a ball to dance,' continued the previous speaker, not noticing theinterruption. 'All I ask is that he shall hold me firmly, take me roundsteadily, and not get tired before I do.'"'A clockwork figure would be the thing for you,' said the girl who hadinterrupted."'Bravo!' cried one of the others, clapping her hands, 'what a capitalidea!'"'What's a capital idea?' they asked."'Why, a clockwork dancer, or, better still, one that would go byelectricity and never run down.'"The girls took up the idea with enthusiasm. "'Oh, what a lovely partner he would make,' said one; 'he would never kickyou, or tread on your toes.'"'Or tear your dress,' said another."'Or get out of step.'"'Or get giddy and lean on you.'"'And he would never want to mop his face with his handkerchief. I do hateto see a man do that after every dance.'"'And wouldn't want to spend the whole evening in the supper-room.'"'Why, with a phonograph inside him to grind out all the stock remarks, youwould not be able to tell him from a real man,' said the girl who had firstsuggested the idea."Oh yes, you would,' said the thin girl, 'he would be so much nicer.'"Old Geibel had laid down his paper, and was listening with both his ears.On one of the girls glancing in his direction, however, he hurriedly hidhimself again behind it."After the girls were gone, he went into his workshop, where Olga heard himwalking up and down, and every now and then chuckling to himself; and thatnight he talked to her a good deal about dancing and dancing men -- askedwhat dances were most popular -- what steps were gone through, with manyother questions bearing on the subject."Then for a couple of weeks he kept much to his factory, and was verythoughtful and busy, though prone at unexpected moments to break into aquiet low laugh, as if enjoying a joke that nobody else knew of."A month later another ball took place in Furtwangen. On this occasion itwas given by old Wenzel, the wealthy timber merchant, to celebrate hisniece's betrothal, and Geibel and his daughter were again among the invited."When the hour arrived to set out, Olga sought her father. Not finding himin the house, she tapped at the door of his workshop. He appeared in hisshirt-sleeves, looking hot but radiant."Don't wait for me,' he said, 'you go on, I'll follow you. I've gotsomething to finish.'"As she turned to obey he called after her, 'Tell them I'm going to bring ayoung man with me -- such a nice young man, and an excellent dancer. All thegirls will like him.' Then he laughed and closed the door.Her father generally kept his doings secret from everybody, but she had apretty shrewd suspicion of what he had been planning, and so, to a certainextent, was able to prepare the guests for what was coming. Anticipation ranhigh, and the arrival of the famous mechanist was eagerly awaited."At length the sound of wheels was heard outside, followed by a greatcommotion in the passage, and old Wenzel himself, his jolly face red withexcitement and suppressed laughter, burst into the room and announced instentorian tones:"'Herr Geibel -- and a friend.'"Herr Geibel and his 'friend' entered, greeted with shouts of laughter andapplause, and advanced to the centre of the room."'Allow me, ladies and gentlemen,' said Herr Geibel, 'to introduce you to myfriend, Lieutenant Fritz. Fritz, my dear fellow, bow to the ladies andgentlemen.'"Geibel placed his hand encouragingly on Fritz's shoulder, and theLieutenant bowed low, accompanying the action with a harsh clicking noise inhis throat, unpleasantly suggestive of a death-rattle. But that was only adetail."'He walks a little stiffly' (old Geibel took his arm and walked him forwarda few steps. He certainly did walk stiffly), 'but then, walking is not hisforte. He is essentially a dancing man. I have only been able to teach himthe waltz as yet, but at that he is faultless. Come, which of you ladies mayI introduce him to as a partner? He keeps perfect time; he never gets tired;he won't kick you or trad on your dress; he will hold you as firmly as youlike, and go as quickly or a slowly as you please; he never gets giddy; andhe is full of conversation. Come, speak up for yourself, my boy.'"The old gentleman twisted one of the buttons at the back of his coat, andimmediately Fritz opened his mouth, and in thin tones that appeared toproceed from the back of his head, remarked suddenly, 'May I have thepleasure?' and then shut his mouth again with a snap."That Lieutenant Fritz had made a strong impression on the company wasundoubted, yet none of the girls seemed inclined to dance with him. Theylooked askance at his waxen face, with its staring eyes and fixed smile, andshuddered. At last old Geibel came to the girl who had conceived the idea."'It is your own suggestion, carried out to the letter,' said Geibel, 'anelectric dancer. You owe it to the gentleman to give him a trial.'"She was a bright, saucy little girl, fond of a frolic. Her host added hisentreaties, and she consented."Her Geibel fixed the figure to her. Its right arm was screwed round herwaist, and held her firmly; its delicately jointed left hand was made tofasten upon her right. The old toymaker showed her how to regulate itsspeed, and how to stop it, and release herself."'It will take you round in a complete circle,' he explained; 'be carefulthat no one knocks against you, and alters its course.'"The music struck up. Old Geibel put the current in motion, and Annette andher strange partner began to dance."For a while everyone stood watching them. The figure performed its purposeadmirably. Keeping perfect time and step, and holding its little partnertight clasped in an unyielding embrace, it revolved steadily, pouring forthat the same time a constant flow of squeaky conversation, broken by briefintervals of grinding silence."'How charming you are looking tonight,' it remarked in its thin, far-awayvoice. 'What a lovely day it has been. Do you like dancing? How well oursteps agree. You will give me another, won't you? Oh, don't be so cruel.What a charming gown you have on. Isn't waltzing delightful? I could go ondancing for ever -- with you. Have you had supper?'"As she grew more familiar with the uncanny creature, the girl's nervousnesswore off, and she entered into the fun of the thing."'Oh, he's just lovely,' she cried, laughing; 'I could go on dancing withhim all my life.'"Couple after couple now joined them, and soon all the dancers in the roomwere whirling round behind them. Nicholaus Geibel stood looking on, beamingwith childish delight at his success."Old Wenzel approached him, and whispered something in his ear. Geibellaughed and nodded, and the two worked their way quietly towards the door."'This is the young people's house to-night,' said Wenzel, as soon as theywere outside; 'you and I will have a quiet pipe and glass of hock, over inthe counting-house.'"Meanwhile the dancing grew more fast and furious. Little Annette loosenedthe screw regulating her partner's rate of progress, and the figure flewround with her swifter and swifter. Couple after couple dropped outexhausted, but they only went the faster, till at length they remaineddancing alone."Madder and madder became the waltz. The music lagged behind: the musicians,unable to keep pace, ceased, and sat staring. The younger guests applauded,but the older faces began to grow anxious."'Hadn't you better stop, dear,' said one of the women, 'you'll makeyourself so tired.'"But Annette did not answer. "'I believe she's fainted,' cried out a girl who had caught sight of herface as it was swept by."One of the men sprang forward and clutched at the figure, but its impetusthrew him down on to the floor, where its steel-cased feet laid bare hischeek. The thing evidently did not intend to part with its prize so easily."Had any one retained a cool head, the figure, one cannot help thinking,might easily have been stopped. Two or three men acting in concert mighthave lifted it bodily off the floor, or have jammed it into a corner. Butfew human heads are capable of remaining cool under excitement. Those whoare not present think how stupid must have been those wh were; those who arereflect afterwards how simple it would have been to do this, that, or theother, if only they had thought of it at the time."The women grew hysterical. The men shouted contradictory directions to oneanother. Tow of them made a bungling rush at the figure, which had the endresult of forcing it out of its orbit at the centre of the room, and sendingit crashing against the walls and furniture. A stream of blood showed itselfdown the girl's white frock, and followed her along the floor. The affairwas becoming horrible. The women rushed screaming from the room. The menfollowed them."One sensible suggestion was made: 'Find Geibel -- fetch Geibel.'"No one had noticed him leave the room, no one knew where he was. A partywent in search of him. The others, too unnerved to go back into theballroom, crowded outside the door and listened. They could hear the steadywhir of the wheels upon the polished floor as the thing spun round andround; the dull thud as every now and again it dashed itself and its burdenagainst some opposing object and ricocheted off in a new direction."And everlastingly it talked in that thin ghostly voice, repeating over andover the same formula: 'How charming you look to-night. What a lovely day ithas been. Oh, don't be so cruel. I could go on dancing for ever -- with you.Have you had supper?'"Of course they sought Geibel everywhere but where he was. They looked inevery room in the house, then they rushed off in a body to his own place,and spent precious minutes waking up his deaf old housekeeper. At last itoccurred to one of the party that Wenzel was missing also, and then the ideaof the counting-house across the yard presented itself to them, and therethey found him."He rose up, very pale, and followed them; and he and old Wenzel forcedtheir way through the crowd of guests gathered outside, and entered theroom, and locked the door behind them."From within there came the muffled sound of low voices and quick steps,followed by a confused scuffling noise, then silence, then the low voicesagain."After a time the door opened, and those near it pressed forward to enter,but old Wenzel's broad head and shoulders barred the way."I want you -- and you, Bekler,' he said, addressing a couple of the eldermen. His voice was calm, but his face was deadly white. 'The rest of you,please go -- get the women away as quickly as you can.'"From that day old Nicholaus Geibel confined himself to the making ofmechanical rabbits, and cats that mewed and washed their faces."

Plot: Meneer MacShaugnassy vertelt een verhaal over Nicholaus Geibel, een man die mechanische (beweegbare) speelgoedkonijnen en -poppen maakt. Op een dag komt zijn dochter Olga thuis met wat vriendinnen. Ze klagen over de mannen die altijd aanwezig zijn op het bal: Ze kunnen niet dansen, ze vragen altijd hetzelfde, ze knoeien op je jurk! Niets goeds dus. Dit brengt meneer Geibel op het idee om de perfecte danspartner te maken. Een pop die aan alles voldoet wat de meisjes vragen. Op het bal van de oude meneer Wenzel wordt deze 'pop' geintroduceerd: Luitenant Fritz. Het meisje dat het plan voorstelde van een perfecte danspartner, Annete, mag hem na enig aarzelen uitproberen. Alles lijkt goed te gaan en de mensen zijn heel enthousiast. Maar het paar houdt maar niet op met dansen, integendeel ze gaan steeds sneller. Dan valt het op dat Annete heel wit ziet en als men goed kijkt zien ze ook een straaltje bloed over haar gezicht. Er ontstaat een grote chaos en na veel gezoek vinden ze meneer Geibel en meneer Wenzel. De laatste vraagt iedereen om weg te gaan.
Sindsdien maakt meneer Geibel alleen nog maar mechanische konijnen.
Scene: Het huis van meneer Geibel en de balzaal van meneer Wenzel.
Theme: Het thema is ons niet helemaal duidelijk. Wij denken dat het is dat alles wat je wenst, je nog niet gelukkig maakt. Zo wil Annete heel graag een perfecte danspartner, maar uiteindelijk wordt ze er niet beter van.
Characters: Meneer Geibel, meneer Wenzel, Olga en Annete.
Point of view: Het wordt vertelt door ene MacShaugnassy dus het is een alwetende vertelsituatie.
Personal opinion:
(Isabel) Ik vond het in het begin een heel leuk, vrolijk en sprookjesachtig verhaaltje. Alleen het laatste deel van het verhaal vond ik helemaal niet zo leuk, ik had helemaal niet verwacht dat het verhaal zou aflopen.
(Edine) Het begin van het verhaal is allemaal heel vrolijk verteld en is het allemaal leuk en aardig met die 'perfecte' danspartner. Maar naarmate de avond van het bal vordert, blijkt dat het toch niet alles is, zo'n 'perfecte' danspartner. Ik had dit einde niet verwacht, maar het laat wel duidelijk zien dat hetgene dat zo perfect lijkt, je niet altijd gelukkig hoeft te maken..