Maumee City express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1838-184?, 1840-01-25
For the Maumee City Express.
DANCING

""' ''y ''9IiIuIeu us one OF tne Varl0u
forms OF religion worships under the o
dispensation. In most, If not all, of the il
stances named in the Bible, holy men, tho.
who had the confidence, and shadowed fort
IN their lives the character of the KInp {
the universe, are represented as being ofte
engaged in this religious exercise. Go
represented himself as being pleased wit
devotional acts of This character, and as
the text, the people of Israel-Gods che
sen race are frequently urged to "praise hi
hisn name in the dance" In another plac,
the psalmist after suggesting various meth
DDS of pTaising our Creator, ag lin recon
mends dancing as though it was an exhibi
ton of the very climax of devotional feel
ing, and the most appropriate mannar o
representing to its greatest extent our ex
tremc thankfulness for his manifold mer
cies' 1t is represented of David that he
was despsed by the enemies of God for ex,
hibiting his joy, and happiness by dancing
when witnessing the success and glory o
the Lord. We will consider dancing,
LIST, As to its morality; and gdly, The pro.
per time for its enjoyment.
list. The morality of dancing. No one
we presume will assert that there is po-
stive sin in dancing. On the contrary the
examples we have cited prove thatT it is a
positive virtue. The sin, if there is any, is
not in the act itself, but in its connection,
at the time of the act, with other subjects.
We do not wish to defend, or excuse the
dancing that is exhibited on the stage, for
the reason, that it may create feelings, and
arouse passions which are not akin to pro-
per moral, or religious sentiments. Dan
cling is perhaps the best method of exercise
for invigorating the system, and adding or
giving grace to the person. It's duty to
improve in every respect. We ought to
make efforts to improve the person, as well
as the mind. The experience of all who
have learned to dance is, that dancing
gives ease and grace to the limbs, aud con-
sequently adds charms and attractions to
the person. If this be the case, and if it is
the most easy method of arriving at the re-
suit, certainly dancing must be virtue.
1t also creates happy state of mind. This
may be said of moderate exercise of any
kind, but peculiarly SO of dancing. Per-
h1ps no people in the world are more hap
than the French peasantry, and the state of
feeling arises i'll a great measure from the
frequent enjoyment of this exercise. If
the effect of dancing upon the mind is happy
most surely it cannot be an evil. In families
it is necessary to have some kind amuse-
ment; and can there any kind be selected
which combines greater advantages. All
who have witnessed The happy effect re-
suIting from the enjoyment of this exercise,
IN family when parents and children join
in the amusement, will bear testimony that
its tendency is highly beneficial. There is
no doubt but that dancing is subject to abu-
ses--so is preaching, singing, aL'l in fact
every virtue that we can name, but should
this melitate in any wise against it? III
we should abolish it because it is subject
to abuses, we should fer the same reason
abolish The institutions ofthe gospel.
Cd. The proper time for the enjoyment
of dancing. Solomon, the wisest man who
ever lired, says there is time for all things,
and among them ime to dance. Child
hood is period of life devoted TO the acqui-
sition of elementary knowledge. The
taste for the enjoyment of the refined and
beautiful is then just beginning to bud forth.
In youth the sentiments and passions pre-
dominate, and undoubtedly Solomon had
IN view this period of life when lie declared
there was time to dance. The young re-
qure amusements of some kind, and you
may as well attempt to clieck the mountain
torrents, as the natural outbrcaklngs of
youthful feelings. Nature has implanted
within us at this time of life a strong de-
sire to enjoy the happiness that the world
All things look beautiful and faci-
mating. When we look forward, hope
beckons US on, promising perpetual
spring. 1t seems as though at this period
The mind was incapable ofholding the over
flowing cup cfhappinesS, and to capacitate
it for a more full enjoyment it calls to its
aid every member of the body. Our limbs
we conceive we're not only given to us to
obtain support for the body, but also as a
source of enjoyment. God declares he
takes pleasure IN his people, and certainly
he cannot look with dlspleasure upon his
when enjoying harmless amuse-
ment. We are social beings.-The socie-
Ly of tho vrtuous and intelligent, is the
source of our greatest happiness. Youth
is the period of life when VIC can most ca