Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-01-03
WALKING.

INDELIcAcY Is defined by DIR. johnson,
as a want Of ELEGANT deceney,", And
is it in genteet society we are to look for its
most frequent examples? Are we to see,
it nourished and perpetuated in scenes Of
graceful life, and not seek to restrain ande-
radieate it, when we have the power and
the means Of efecting so desirable a purpose I
The French or Italian waltz; was introduced
here some years ago, and it was some timo
before the natural and then prevailing mod.
esty of our young ladies could be sufficiently
overcome to insure its success but as Il
had a foreign lineage it soon became the =
dol Of fashionable parties indeed, it is now
one Of the first accomplishments in our po-
lite amusemehts, and. every one who is not
skilled in this modern violation of a decent
propriety, is considered as not having reached
the elegant extreme Of refinement. A
very large proportion of females we believe
are seusibly ayerse to the practice of waltz
ing, and those in the very highest sphere Of
Life are never seen mingling in it, while
many parents will not allow their daughters
to be engaged in it, unless with those Of
their own sex ; and we would. observe 70
those females who have not the same mis-
givings which some of their associates have.
that q little more regard for an attributs
which most especially adorns the character
of woman, would tend much to elevate them
in the estimation Of discreet and sensible
persons. The position occupied in the
waltz is anything but that Of proprietT.
which every lady would shrink from with
Indignation in any other place and we new
er witness the indelicate proximity of those
moving in it without an inward feeling Of
rebuke. Many, we, suppose, may DO
thoughtlcssly diverted from a modest and
becoming dignity in the hour of excitement,
but there Is too great a number of a less
scrupulous character, and for whom our re-
marks are particularly intended,
No woman of true modesty will consent,
to be a partner in the waltz, especially. of
almost any one who may chance to ask her
to accompany him., which is sometimes the
case. We certainly have less respect for,
those in the waltz and polka, than we have
for those in the quadrilie and eotillion, haT-
ing no objection to the latter amusements
and we will feel sure we are not mistaken in
b~elieving-not being the advocates of the
largest liberty-that the great freedom
which is exercised in the former leaves a
very unfavorable impression upon every pure
and rejecting mind in regard to those who
appear in them.
when pleasure takes the path which reason
rshuns,
And gayety supplies the place OF sense,
! Thau foramo-+ ~ tba ho,o,oA -
Death leads the dance, or stamps the deadly die"
STAGE DANCING.
Female stage dancing has likewise aided
much to demoralize, and to create a liceb
tious taste in our youth as well as in those
of a mature age and we have seen nothing
in any public spectacle which we have ever.
witnessed, more corrupt and objectionable
than its lascivious and indecent exhibitions.
We well remember its first representations
upon eGr stage. The females of our COM.
munity at that day were almost universally,
arrayed against it, as it was exhibited in
other cities, and generallyexpressed a deter
mination not to attend the theatre ON
such occasions, unless a more modest garb'
was substituted by the performers, and
which was in consequence aeeeded to. But
| a week had scarcely elapsed ere the addition
al habiliments of decency had vanished |
Still, myriads ofthe 'fairest part of creation"
= continued to attend and increase, and to
! look on with a delighted complacency, though
the blush oftentimes indicated an exception
to its lewd and unseemly performances
we have seen the deep and deepening GER
million usurp the place Of the usual and nat
ural rouge on many a fair cheek though not
d without a feeling of pity as we'll as Of humil-
iaticn. Alasghow weak, how fraiFand et.