The Arkansas banner., 1848-02-15
For kks Bdhaer. Is DANCING SINFCL.

'Taea shau ike rirgtH reiotce n the daRcs botA yossg meH and oid together. ."-Jsr. 3I, I3
 ] From the tune when King David danced before the ark of the Lord in it's passage from the house of the 1itlte To the tabernacle prepared for it, down to this wonderful os Hew inventions, new theo- res and new lights in Physics and not less in metaphysics, music and dancing, in all times and among all natioas. have been universally employ ef, both in th'ir recreations from ordinary la bOr, and in the expression of great national re- Joicings- Until the I2th century the Bishops of the church were called pr@sHies from their lead of the dance upon public festive occasions and in later times, the dignifei and romantic Spaniards have had their IaygHtaia, Boiero and Rd-onrka; the spfightly French their fuddJiEe5 and eotiioss the phls gmafic Germans their rat-ss and gaEepades the Scottish cansmen their much admired reels; and the hot headed. hut warm-hcarted I;ish, their ami maed ygs. The sayages of inc western 'worfd. and The not less unnstrueted natives ot Africa and Asia even he prineval children of the Sun have a their appropriate dances peculiar to some religious or festive rites. h the vallics and on the hsides {; among the Wild picturesque scenery of mountain grsDdeur. and along the pOpulous and highly cul- tivaed plain o the surf beaten seahoard; from the polar bear 10 the anacic circle; and from the rose gardens of Circassia to our western wilds; ali naions of all countries have bad their pecu iar dances. Tn which they wont 10 testify their joy and exultaiiol, to sOlemnize their mysterious re- iigicus exerci'es, or to seek recreation from the tolls and fatigues of every day life.
 Physiolcg'sts tell that dancing (without refer enee to either is mode or regularity) is the natural method of manifesing any lively emotion of the . mind This apothegm is sustained by its invaria- Ule and universal The polished circles of European courts have recourse to dancing as sub situts for The cab-rOom and gaming table, to ban ish eaBgi from the idle loiterers of S James or the Iulieries and to revive the exhausted energies of care-worn statesmen. The reckless contrabnndistas oi the Pyrehnees, when the fainty heard vesper bell hnz- tt~ sL-.- .t.--- A
 occupation 10 their simple and beautiful evening de- voions, lose for while the characteristic ferceness and reeklessness of their natures under the sofen ing influence of their dark-eyed couhtrywomen, Tn the gddy mazes of tke dance. The light hearted Peasahtry of Switzerland,
 "'Mid the ehalets joys when the chase is OCT, ! And the Ranz des vaches they eali,'
 forget the troubles of the day and are sosced for the tolls and dangers of their rude moun,aa fife, when they lightly tread measure 'with the maidens m the kires green, 10 the merry tinkIing Of the light guitar. The dark sons of Africa with their rude dances and ruder music, solemniy invoke the Fetish or worship the fearful and nexofsbe Obesh; and in our 'iand of the free,'' from he simple rustic, whose sturdy arm has elied the giant forest and built the rude cabin of the pioneer, to the prince-aping broker, rolling in wealth, all seek amusement and recreation from their daily toil whether of body or Oi mind, in the light and airy dance where the rug yed nature of rude seftened and his gutiness abashed by the mildness and innocence of the gem | tier sex.
 i History presents no instance where dancing has overturned empires. and plunged whole nations in- to long and bloody wars, does any chronicle of crime trace o ibis source a single record Of s toai estalogue of misdemeanors The Prophets of The oden time, the Fathers of the church in the middle ages, and the pures, and most deyout of nur con- temporsries have indnIged and even pastaken oi the pleasures of the dance but 1t has been reserved tor some cf the oyerzealous, and hyper -ehrtstan moralsts of the present age, and of our own ceIa- Try 10 discover that this IS amusement bota im moral and sinful
 Whence they make these deductions, or why they deAoonce t or prescribe II 10 their followers have been unable 10 discover. We may search the Bible from Genesis to Malachi. from Mathew to Revtla- tons without finding one single instance, where dancing IS spoken of contrary either 10 the laws Of Cod os man, or prohibited either the people of Israel or 10 the followers of .the meek sbd gentle Jesus" In compiance ith the sFitit of progress, thai has seized this people and this age do they seek to bsnish gaeiy and amnsstnent from the youag. to convert gieesome childhood into he stein and thoughtfui man, and 10 give 10 light hearted youth the seda'e gravity Of hoary age: Bend hoi reverend FsfheTs. the bow too tght Lest. Ia beadiag ye may break II. As well might they attempt to convert day into night. or the gadsorne spring me into cold and chilling winter to smother the fresh exaber- snee o yoaihfai splits by their hot bed process to foree the young mind io assume the chilling gravity and long faced seriousness of riper yesrs
 Is gasety inconsistent wit. reiigions Did that meek and lowiy teacher of go,d, in his wanderings among the chosen people of the East 20 sboat for bdag their festivities rcwning a, their smasements, and sHsHs ssh with and crying cs~n theiI iaaseent reerea;ions. What amusement is more innocent than 1aneings Is there in it anything iniria.eaiiy simui or demoraiizing. Is it not indeed far more dgnhed, lar more refned than those rude and mean insiss' romps. which, be it known, these antidaae