Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-03-21

We nave U}uSIC WttiiOut lt''lSuiSS'' 1hS'o ho'N'
WIS dancing without music. This conneS.
lon is OF TN Illustrated, by the circumstance
oE persons fnIinG themselves almost ire.
sis IBIS inclincd to accompany with dancing
certain strains OF music. Ii poetry and
music are 'sisier arts it mus, not DO for
o. Ten that the muse oF dancing was sister
% both. The beautiful conception OF tho
music of the spheres was formed bIy one
WHO f;:lt this comexion. The science OF
motion has been reduced to as complete
system rs that Of sound.
II, has been objcc;cd 10 dancing. that
j, is u dissertation Of that which was form"
erlv religious exercise. 1t was just us
much a religious exercise rs mnslc-Iust as
much rs music nor is--anl no more.
There were dances expressive of all the
different sentiments which arc capable Of
being Expressed by music, even those OF
lo.;v alteration. as that Of David before the
ark. Tncr; is no doubt that there was
once dance 20 the tune Of Old Hundred.
which We may csnccivn to have been as
solemn aud majcsc rs that noble tune, and
equally worthy of bring employed in the
worship of Almighty Col. And we have
many an hens, and Inscriptions Of praise
from King David's Psalms, which we may
imagine Inc Jewish women TO have cmbod-
ic; in their dances with sublime ciEct.
s'Rut because dancing has been used, and
may be used again, in religious worship, is
aI,ar q reason why we may not express by
i: any innocent OF anablc emotion? Then,
IS m;sc his been. ana viii be, used in the
same manner. it is equally dissertation 20
express our love of our country in pa
.,rioiic song, our rejoicing at happy mar
riaec. in d nup,ial song-or our grief at the
burial Of our friends in dirgc.
"In all countries their have been patrI-
o,ic dances, and war dances, and dances
commemorative Of great events,-as VIC
tories, in numerous cases mcnloncd IN the
OH Trs amcn.-and in the dance which
Thcscus taught to the Young men Of A'h-
ems, and which We are toll, represented in
its maze, tho labyrinth of Crete.
There ar almost no emotions which
we have not Icarcd expressed in the most
iorcibc AMI often affecting manner, by
music, and which may not be expressed
with additional force and effect by dapcinS
added 10 music. 1t beautiful and grace.
ful art. calculated 10 adom the body-and
IL rightly used, TO ennoblo and rcfna the
mind.
The more domestic emo:ionsarc equal
~ capable Of being thus embodied. How
haautiful would be Il dance at the iircsnle,
which might express the sentiment Of
''flomc-swcct Home" Such "musc
and dancing" was or might have been that
which welcomed home the Prodigal Son,
m'asled with such as gave the praise to
God.
.imorol,s dances. as We'll as amorous
songs arr offensive 10 good taste, but are no
pcccssary par, OF The Sr', and such should
b.: excluded; as well as those used in cor.
rupt or idolatrouS worship.
iii It be asked, TO what purpose is all
iris! what good will it do7 VIC may humbly
;nsucr; beside the benefit, in various ways,
which the rising generation will derive form
I ,n essential part oil this art,--lf it be the
truth. however impairment it may appear
10 some, the world will be the better for
knowing it.
HIf every thing be cast aside, which the
han,ls of sin and folly have stained, even
TIC holicst things, tho very ark Of God,
with reverence be it spokcn.) would not
escape" 1. Il.
We presume from the strain of tao
foregoing remarks, that the writer may be
ciass"l with those protesting Christians,
who endcavor TO justify their early pre-
possessions in favor OF an amuscmcn',
which was once source of enjoyment 10
them, bu in which they feel they canno:
now participate without creating suspicious
of their rcGgiuos sincerity. in the minds Of
more grave and sober Christians. The
q rrstion, therefore, is scriousi argued,
whether dancing may not be made consis.
tent with the gravity Of Christian proits-
sion. Our correspondent has probably in.
dica'ed the train of thought which has led
lndny, who arc externally connected with
the household of faith, to con:cnancc in
thcir fun ilics this worldly amusement. To
the religious aspect Of the subject therefore,
we are invited 10 direct our remarks.
Tile action Of the human system in dane
mg simply considered, is as innocent as any
other voluntary motion. TO bring tho
muscles into hcalthful exercise, running,
.lsaping, or dancing, arc alike harmless in
a raor;d point of view. In admitting this
we arc aware, some will say We have given
up the argument; for if dancing is not in
itself lfcrimnal, its abuse should not be plead.
I'D for its entire disusc among Christians.
This however, is mistake. We speak
merely of dancing as bodily motion, and
n