Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1849-12-29
r. lie Ca=st.e


DANCING.
some discussion has lately taken place
n several papers respecting dancing, and
is advocates are presenting paragraphs
from various high sources b. whom il is
approved. The following from John San
drr>on, a scholar of some note, embraces
perhaps III that can be said in its favor.
IN letter from Paris, he says
On Sunday only these elegant +, tundas are
seen 70 advantage am very lar from approx
ing of dancing on this day if one can help il
Init have no doubt that in city like Paris the
dancers more taken from the taverns than
the churches do not approve, either. of the
ABSOLUTE denuncIation this elegant amusement
iacurs from many of our religious classes in
America. Il human virtues are put up at too
Ugh price, no one will bid for them Not
w0rl SAID against dancing In the Old and New
Testament, aud great deal in favor. Miriam
danced, you know how prettily; and David
Lsacei before the Lord VI ith ali his might IL
Htu VIII accept classical learning | viii give
yuu pedantry. The Greeks ascrihed to dancing
celestial origin; and they admitted il even
-nougst the accomplishments and the amuse-
ments oil their divinities. The Graces are rep
resented almost always in Tie attitude of dan
cinsi and Apollo, the most famous of the gods,
and the god Of wisdom too, is called by Pandar
he dancer Don't say that dancing is not
natural inclination, or | win set all the savares
ca you OF the Rocky Mountains and don't
know how many OF the dumb animals-espe-
cial!y the bears, who even on the South Sea
Islands, where they could not have any relations
with the Academic Royale de Musique, always
express their extreme Joy, Captain Cook says,
By this agreeable agitation Of limbs.
For my part, apprehcnd that the issue
,hus formed Is not pu; forward in the form
,lat II ought to be. The question is moi
alone confined to mere dancing as recrea-
tiou-against that few have objections
hut the consequences TO which il leads.-
These however. the advocates Of dancing
do not touch upon. 4 private party Of
ladies and gentlemen. who are In the habit
of associating with each other, may meet
and dance to their hearts content. and I'M
less. as Is frequently the case, they become
more boisterous than they ought to be in
their JOY, noE more than one i'll ten will
ind fault with them. Another party of
persons NAV hold dancing party las for
instance those lately held III the Town
Hail. and If proper care Is exercised III
inviting those to be present, and due deco
rum observed, but little cause for condem-
nation exists. Here, however, the " favor
able ends, and ''be We temperate in all
things quite as good authority as Miriam,
David, &c.-comes IN with its decree. So
soon as balls, with their train OF dissipation,
come into view. dancing Is an evil. because
II Is well known that but few such gather
ings nowadays take place without some one
beng about who keeps his spirits up by
pouring ST irIts down, d as matter OF course
ut,ers profane and vulgar language, such as
10 father or mother desirous Of training
children III the path Of duty would wish
their daughters To be listeners OF. Again,
when 1t comes to public balls. has a strong
tendency TO create feeling for dress in
many girls who can III afford To follow
their more fortunate associates. Many
young lady thus situated i satisfied with
her ordinary dress when visiting private
party, or even a cotlilion III the Hall, be-
cause she knows that the persons who viii
be there are limited in number and those
whom she meets frequently Iii society,"
But at a public bali this IS not the case.
When invited, she feels strong desire to
be dressed as well a. the best. and to crafty
that desire often deprives herself of other
iHGtA|IS more t>sGltl1i ~ 4Itl tSiAllOiA tiiiN
happiness than dancing can ever be. On
such subject it is hardly necessary to d.
late, as a desire for dress Is to the Young
lady what the intoxicating cup IS to the
Young man who does not possess moral
courage enough to resist the opportunities
Of his boon companions, who gradually,
but surely, sinks in degradation until that
cup becomes the bane Of his existence, the
shame Of his relatives, and he falls to rise
no more So too with many young and
glddy girl. 4 desire for dress, first engen-
dered in the ball room, has grown upon her
until her means are exhausted she stnts
herself in other respects, and still fails TO
equal, rival or outshine those with more
sbundant means; and then to crafty her
passion for this q innocent amusement
this accomplishment to give grace and ease
to her manners, she too falls, TO rise no
more Let il not be said that this Is an
oyerdrawn picture; it il unfortunately
drawn from life, and more than once have
! seen the spot where rest the remains of
one who often shone in the bali room IN
all the pride Of health and beauty, but who
~ an evil hour laid hands upon that which
vas not her own. in order 70 crafty her
passion Tor dress-and from thenceiorward
there Was bat one step TO rum, disgrace,
and death s. w