The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-11-24
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A CHAPTER FOR LADIES.


4
to attack favorite amusement OF the fair sex,
but having had my attention rather painfully di-
rected OF late to the subject, cannot refrain Tin
the trust of their utility from offering few
hints on this same art-pastime--or sober-mad-
ness--of dancing: name il as you either use it
or abuse it. But, before proceed, may | ask
why have not medical men rendered any other
interference unnecessary, by seriously setting
| their learned faces against such an unwise mis-
application of two great blessings-the hour of
rest and the animal spirits-which are both un-
| timely wasted in our modern dances? Some
| have, am aware, done so in books (and, what
is still more virtuous, in erpensire books, too, J
but all should do SO, rira D ce, in the families
they attend. 1t will be said, that the business of
the physician is to cure, and a cure supposes an
illness, and illnesses must have causes; alas they
manage these matters better in China. We have
discovered the utility of a preventive police
why not borrow from the Celestial Empire a
preventive faculty?
Not 10 incur the suspicion of Vandalism, Unjust
acknowledge great admiration for the dance,
as brought to perfection by the artist--for there
we are enjoying, as it were, visible music
an embodied harmony. | must also i" confess
the soft impeachment" and own love for dan
cling, when, like a laughing, rosy, yet ethereal
nympth, she surprises us with her presence in
the winters evening, as she is suddenly found
at high jinks among the Youngsters, leading
them on to her tuneful, graceful sports. And,
in fact, must proclaim respect for dancing in
every shape, when confined to seasonable hours
1 Ito young limbs, Cor young hearts land brows
not furrowed-but for Balls ali" take any
| shape but that"
/ The ballroom is very Iemptins-yery splcn-
did admit: the interchange of CALCULATIONS,
compliments, and civilites, all very agreeable
and, perhaps, if the enjoyment took place earlier
in the evening, one might not complain: but
,h,t - ~ no har
Certainly this is one mode Of killing time and
ones self, too, at the same moment. Talk OF
the march of intellect let me hear of the dance
of intellect. People say the 'schoolmaster IS
abroad"-but not after ten, We revellers--not at
ter ten! He knows not of your doings, or we
would have heard of it.
But before come to my subject, let me clear
away all the off-shots One more, then, We
lovers of dancing, and of me, its eloquent advo-
cate!
Commseration principally attaches itself to
the female (the habits of men and boys bear
them up against the i'll effects of temporary con-
fnement; but, with the poor girl, the heated
ballroom is only the climax OF the unnatural
course of her ordinary mode of ife) but is it not
a shame to bring the poor boysinto the ball room,
to stand there, miserably out of their element
wondering when the fun will begin2 am sure
this is full reribution for all boyish peccadil-
loes. never witness the piteous sight without
thinking Of the martyr Of the innocents, andlook
on the lord of the feast as refined and exquisite
modern Herod, while, in fact, he is laboring to
s'make everybody happy"
i 1t is all very well for those who are arrived al
wears of indiscreton, TO dance away the hours
Of repose. No do, BIT they could give good and
sufficient reasons why night spent in restraint
and in an heated atmosphere is a recompense Tor
the headache, the restessness, the asitude, the
fever, Of the ensuing day. With me, immagi-
nation is not so indulgent as to transform the
broad cloth of an elderly genteman's coat-tail
into the rainbow wings of some gay creature Of
the elements but if the gentleman can fancy
himself something sulphic, well and good But
beg pardon--the amusement OF another should
be held sacred from all carping, though one may
be allowed little license, considering that, while
these thi ,gs are persisted in, everybody con-
dennis them as wearisome in their own hearts
| would say every body who has outived the
Dreaming animal spirit of youth. Who has mol
noticed good folks calculating their limbs with
all the gravity Of an Indian pirouetiing his last
before the fire that is TO consume him, or OF
mathematician solving problem, and acting
the diagram at the same tme2 Who has mol
laughed at the desperate steps taken by the un
fortunate Cdrdiier ,Seui or, In English, Cava
ler Suriy? Ndis, rerenons a nous lnotfons
my business is with those without whose pre-
, sence The dance would be at an end-I near
voung ladies. Let the though seniors" enjoy
this peculiar qualification to their hearts content
but oh, let them not lead their children into The
same error The tender juvenaF' IS but toe
content to snatch with delight at the joys of The
passing hour-expcrience cannot have laugh
her TO dread the recoH the young girl vii
drink to the dregs the cup of pleasure presented
to her lips what shall we say TO that pdrenfd
/ hand which tempts those lips with poison
IL would be different case were there ne
dancing hours" but those Of midnight and thu
early morning Rather than that ladies should
! not mix in society, large assemblies might b
tolerated. But how many sensible people Their
are, who prove TO their own satisfaction, and Z
the delight OF those whom they gather together
that il is rery possible to assemble all their low
ing and lovely friends around them, and yet ex
7 coed not moderate number, proving, also, tina