Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-05-27
From the Nesc World
THE WALTZ.

GII4s VI LSNP'; NOS E'sSN ''c 'N~"i'S
licences for public wallzing. Our stat
u'es slernly prohibit Prlctices far less Sc
ductiye and demoralzing, such as "puppet
shows, wire or rope dancing, and other
idle shows, acts ands'feats," which none
may perform, for gain or profit, without a
license. When We consider that the al
tachmenl OF many 10 the aitz is 50 strong,
that both natural delicacy and LADY like
refinement are p9werless TO check it
that their se!E.respect and fair fame are
wnntonly sacrificed for its qualification, 1t
is unreasonable 10 suppose that they
would begrugc the price Of license, were
il forbidden by statute, however large
might be the sum. Surely they ought not
10 stay 10 count the dollars, when they le-
linqnsh so readily a treasure that gold
and SILVER cannot buy. Says Seneca,
"Redire cum pert nsscit Pudor"--modes-
ty once lost never can return.
"The whole economy Of this Dance"
writes Washington irping, "conSlsts in
turning round and round tie room IN a Ger
tain measured step, and it's 'ruly nstonishs
ing that this continued revolution de.
not set all their heads sw inning like q top;
but have been assu. ed that Il only oc.
casioDs a sensation which is marvellous y
agreeable. In The course OF the clrcum-
navigation, the dancers, in order to glTe
the charm Of yarIey, are continually
changing their Gel1li'e situations; n1w
the genllemen--- meaning no harm IN The
world, 7 assuie you, madam, caIeieasly
filings his ann about the lady's neck with
an air of celestial impudence-and anon
the lady, meaning as little harm as the gen
tIeman, takes hun round the waist with a
most Ingenious, modest languishment, to
the gren, delight of numerous spectators
who generally form ring, as the mob do
about pair of Amazons pulling caps, or u
couple of fighting maslff5. Alter ccntn-
uine this divine interchange of hanGs,
arms, ct cetcrO, for half an hour or so, the
lady begins to tire, and with eyes uPralS-
cd in most bewiichi7g lauguor petitions
her partnel for little more support.
This is always given without hes''s"on:-
Tho lady leans gently on bis 'Ho"IIeF'
their arms inlerlwine in thousand seu"c'
i've curves--don't be alarmed. Gatiam-
closer and cloeer they approach each oU''
or. and in conclusion, the parties being
overcome with ecssatie fatigue, the. lady
seems almost sinking into the gentlemln's
arms, and then--'Well, sir, what thenF
Lord madam, how should | knowT
American ladies' have made that fash,
ionable amusement, upon which Roman
matrons would have looked with disdain.-
Heace the remark of SaIIust, respecting
lady his day. which is equally applica-
BILE in ours. Satabat meltus guam neces-
Sc est probe. She danced far better than
became modest woman. We do not in.
tend 10 enlarge upon the mravorab.e in.
fiuence the waltz and other folliea of the
kind have exerted upon the tone Of our
society. Idle trifing vacant jcs.s and I
empty compliments supply the place Of
conversation. The megre small talk Is
so rare cnlHened by any reference to
history, literature, or science, that a
stranger might suppose war had been de-
clored between the Republic Of Letters,
and the World Of Fashion. There are, Of
course, individual exceptions; and the &C
caslonal presence of well educated, high
bred woman, ofloity principle, whose very
demeanor inspires respect, renders still
more striking the contrast presented by u
waIt2lnS belle, whom cassifer Of The
race might denoninate frmiaa simpler-a
pretty specimen ofthe genus woman.
A few words more, and our remarks
shall close--and here We may observe,
that if the clergy had done their duty in /
the matter, and sternly rebuked the lcen-
tioas dance. both from the pulpit and in
their pastoral visits, i, would have been
unnecessary for US 10 speak. As it is we
have spoken plainly, treating lightly SC.
rious evil 10 gain more readily the public
ear, and Whatever indeIIcacy may appear
IN our langu g., telongs solely - the sub
ject.
We do not beheve tina, the majority Of
the young ladies', who night alter night |
abandon themselves in the waltz t. the
embraces OF young men, are aware of,he
extent OF the indecorum OF the light in
VIII h |; Is regarded; although it is diff.
cult to imagine any young girl SO lot,l y
devoid Of that instructive dcIlc icy which
we are wont 10 associate with the female
character, thltno un5dden thought should
arise in her bosom to rebuke such sacri.
iege. lIthey are insen ibo, as doubess
many Of item are, TO The improper lee-
Ings which dance SO voluptuous 10 cal
culated 10 excite, it matters little. Some
are PHsslonless by naturc-others are
passlonIess from art aud education; cram.
ped by stays and corsels into svl ph.like
forms, with tcmpetaments frigiI as ice,
and compilations paled as snow. But this