This book examines the role of temperance drama in American theatre and compares the American genre to its British counterpart.

New York dancing master Hillgrove acknowledges that he has "availed himself of all the books from which he might elicit any valuable information." Indeed, very little of the manual is original. Divided into six parts, Hillgrove's manual discusses the benefits of dance, dress, deportment and etiquette in the ballroom and the supper room. The second part focuses on positions of the feet and bows and courtesies, and provides exercises for the feet and legs. The third and fourth parts discuss the quadrille and provide many figures; the fifth part is devoted to round dances such as the waltz, polka, schottisch, galop, and polka mazurka. The last section focuses on more quadrille figures and other group dances such as the "Virginia Reel," "Money Musk," and "College Hornpipe."