The Paris Academy of Dancing Masters, according to a contemporary,
announce a real successor to the Tango in the "Ta-tao." This dance is at
any rate of respectable antiquity, as it has been popular in China since
the year 2450 B.C. We anticipate an influx of slit-eyed professors from
the Middle Kingdom, and are therefore brushing up our pidgin English in
order that _Mr. Punch's_ readers may be able to deal with the situation
in the ball-rooms and at Ta-tao teas. Thus:--
_Student._ Chin-chin, Mr. Dance-pidgin-man!
_Plofessor._ Chin-chin, sah!
_Student._ You jussee now come this-side?
_Plofessor._ My hab jussee come Luntun.
_Student._ You talkee Yin-ke-li?
_Plofessor._ Can do. My sabby Englishee allo same you. My talkee tlue
pidgin, no talkee lie pidgin.
_Student._ That b'long first chop! My wantchee catchee you teachee my,
allo same same you dancee ta-tao.
_Plofessor._ My teachee numbah one plopah!
_Student._ So-fashion eh? How muchee plice?
_Plofessor._ My no makee squeeze-pidgin. My teachee velly well. S'pose
you talkee plice....
_Student._ S'pose you catchee two dollah one-piecee time? Can do?
_Plofessor._ No can! My wantchee save face! My plice ten dollah, by'mby
twenty dollah one-piecee time, allo same tango fashion.
_Student._ That ting no b'long leason! You b'long clevah
inside--understand? My sabby heap foleign debble.... You catchee plenty
cumshah!
_Plofessor._. My no lose face....
etc., etc., _da capo_.
_Nut._ _You_-piecee here? Chin-chin!
_Noisette._. Allo same you. You sabby plenty girl-chilo here?
_Nut._ My _don't_ tink. Who-man b'long that boy-chilo you jussee talkee
down-side?
_Noisette._ That b'long _my_ pidgin!
_Nut._ Solly! S'pose you wantchee one-piecee dance? My b'long numbah one
good boy!
_Noisette._ Can do first chop.
_Nut._ You sabby-dancee ta-tao?
_Noisette._ Can do two-piecee step so-fashion, one-piecee step
_so_-fashion....
_Nut._ You b'long quite top-side.... I say, this lingo is about the
edge. Put me down for the chow-chow--I mean supper, what!
_Noisette._ Sorry. Full up. Ta-tao!
Zig-Zag.
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