Arkansas intelligencer., 1843-09-02

more modern dancing came of!l Thus we sec
Miriam, the venerable sister of Moses and Aaron
nearly one hundred years old. conducting the tri
umphant lsraelites at their deliverance from The
red sea. Strange they did not select the youth.
ful exclusively
Now would ask any man who has not signed
the death-wa -rant to all common sense and moral
honesty--to every candid man, who has enough
intelligence to compare two facts together and
draw an inference, is there an approach to an an.
alogy between the, eolemn arcient dancing of the
Jews to the Farantei'a of the Neapolitans--the
Fandango of Spain--the quadrile and cotlion of
France--the disgusting and indelica,e Waz= and
GaHipade of Germany-the giddy reel of Scot.
land? As well as the various g stripes that pre-.
vail in our own country, which aspires to a small
portion of oach. But aga in says the apologisl for
dancing, ''youth is the season for enjoyment, and
unless we cultivate this innocent amusement, and
drink deeply at this fountain of happiness, before
we step from the door of youth upon the thresh-
hold OF moro mature age, we viii most unfortu-
nately dis without having enjoyed our full uuan.
tum of happiness (For dancing, that is modern
dancing and and age are rather INCOMPATIBLE J
That It is inseparable from the nature of youth
to seek amusemen, of some kind, that there are
many worse places than the ball room where the
devolees of pleasure may plunge. And that none
ridden soul is warped and fstered by the creed Of
some selfconstituted church authority, whose de.
crees are no less at war with the requirements of
God, than the and best interests and happi.
ness of man, and that it is onlv such. and those
over whom their anathomas have inilucrce that
would not only dash this, but every other cup Of
rational pleasure, from the lips of the young, and
transform them into tho demure subjects of spiri-
tual tyranny, whose elongated visage but too tru-
ly indicate the absence of sunshine Within
This, Messrs. Editors, may be thought strong lam
guage. but it is the steorytype cant of the day.
You may hear it from the mouth of every upstart
branless willing in our land. 1t may appear USE
less to waste n argument upon such yel as some
of them aspire TO be quill drivers. having recent
ly had small Po.ation served up to US in the
shape of an extract from "Dollar Maga zinc, {"
which consisted Of a low, vulgar, profane attack
upon the resolutions and character of nssbody of
men, who for learning, picty, and talents, would
lose nothing by comparison with any other body
Of divines in this or any other country. AItho'
dao be RS9sg this ea8aa fl saAF e
does not come properly within the range Of our
argument, We, sir, it is but part-a parcel of the
same panoply, that may be adjusted 10 suit the
exigencies that may arise in this noble conflict
with poi u1ur prejudices,' flnatical" opinions
Of the - stric;cr religionis.s," &c. &c.
As few drops often detects the quality Of
cask, so such little overhowings of a depraved
heart, discovers the blackness within. Doubtless
Jude had such characters in his minds eye, when
iIe pencd the Slh, 10th, 18th and 18th verses Of
his epis,le. The caliber of such mems minds are
too dminu,ive 20 be convinced by reason, for
Though vanquished he will argue still"
The span of their moral perceptions, arc too
ma rrow and contracted, TO embrace within its linn
its, one just idea of the true dignity of mans mo-
raj nature, or those pursuits, the cultivation of
those habits. most calculated to promote the hap
ness of intelligent beings. And vet, while often
arroganty assuming for themselves the benovo-,
lence Of peace makers, they would
LAP from the cup of slander,
The blood of reputation.
But, Mr.. Editor, | fear ! shall pursue these
thoughts too far, and shall now return to the sub
ect more Immediately under discussion. -
Another objection would urge to dancing as an
essential accomplishment for the young, is. the
character Of the teachers. and | think the oblec-
lion will apply the world over.
Every che will consent to the old adagc, that
. like priest, like people," Who does not know
that parent or instructor Of youth should be in
in all those essential qualities of the
mind and heart, what they would desire their chill
dren or pupils to be. n French dancing master
i have known such knights of the bow may teach
a child plausbty bat not genuine po!iteness, (as
the acquisition of easy, polite manners is 10 where
so advantageousIy cultivated" say they, "as un.
der such lnstruc,ion.) True politonoss is a more
delicate plant requiring the culture of other hands.
1t grows be,or in another soil and different atnos-
pherc. Ono is tho pale, sickiy, hot-aouse plant,
whose forced vegetation is Indicated by It's droop-
ing foliage. The other is the noble flower of the
ga rden whose unrammcled roots shoot deep in
the earth, while lis opening petals. kiss the dues
of heaven. | would enquire, what is genuine po-
teness 2 Is it entering ball room With an as
sumed air Of oIf.posscssion aud makinga fashion
able bow : would answer in the language of an
excellent author; i, is " rem kindaesS, ktndiy &C.
presscd." 1t is the - natural expression of amia.
BILE feelings, entirely foreign to that hacknied os-
tenta,ious trained manner, which in common par
lance constitutes fashionable lady gentleman
which implies a knowledge Of the world. True
po,eness, hns It's scat in the affections not in our
attitudcs--or our feet. Nor in that assumed air OF
.sangfrod, which SO many regard as the personlh'
cation or beau-idca of gentleman. True Po'
leness is modest. rotiring-preferso others present
comfort to our own. 1t is that which prompts inc
hospitable man to help his guests TO tho best dISh
at his table, the most comfortable seat nt his hre
side. &c. 1t is in fine, something or that feeling
which St. Paul speaks of. which {" seeketh no' her