The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1851-11-20
DAM c1.sG.

AUDI ALTERAM PARTEM. "A lady frleno
whose opinion has weight in our Judgment
taks exception 10 the views of Mrs. Swiss
holm on dancing, which we published last
week, asks us TO give publicity 10 some very
sensible conclusions in which 'we heartily
concur with her.
1t is all wrong that young ladies, in the
coolest of winter weather, shoull array
themselves in their ihnnest cause and thin
nest slippers, and in close heated room
dance from 'searly eve" 10 "broad day light"
in the midst of dust and some company per-
1aps no, the most sober or moral.
II is wrong that young ladies' should by
raltatory exercises work their blood TO The
highest fever heat, and then run out into the
chilling air where the thermometer would
stand at zero.
Bot there are pros and cons 10 this thing /;
sand as good old Sir Roger De Coverly was
want ,o-say--sonething can be said upon
bolh sides Of this subject. We have seen
young ladies' dress very unbecominely thin
and fine at other places besides balls-aye,
even 10 church, to show the Lord. We
have seen young ladies meet with question.
able company al other places besides the
ballroom, and 10 the pure minded all things
are pure-Honi so,t qui male penss.l
These objections of our friend then are
rather 10 the management of dancing parties,
and the inprudence of people than 10 dan
-cing in the abstract. The young blood is
warm, aud will flow fast and free. Where
grace, youth wit and beauty meet, and,
tripping lightly through the merry dance, ell.
Joy with happy zest the pleasures OF the fes.
Tive night locker on might remember that
certain Tract society IN our land OF locomo-
tires once offered a prize of fifty dollars for
the best tract against dancing, but he would
remain intrGctable 10 lis doctrine rnless 10
the fact, that even that sum had been una
bic TO purchase one arti-saltatory text and
we have it from very good authority that
even certain cloven-footed parsonage OF
very doubtful character can quote scripture
at pinch Good old king David understood
human nature, and we like even his sons
bOHgo IluCu OGllct llldll itlt acftfcuu MI
Carey's tract. We like grace in young peo-
ple's habits and social intercourse, as well as
at the deacon's table, and we believe that
taste is fine thing in manners as well as in
mince-pies. We do moi see tfe connection
between dancing and devitry. But if this
natural and universal amusement is really
very sinful, why not turn lconoclast and
write down pictures and statues for these
things some,ines repre-entpropte rurh-r too
indelicately natural. Oppose songs certain
ly, for loose fellows sing; and there are
songs that lack both religious sentiment and
purity of dcion. The Classics too are not
all expurgated, ergo Christians should not
read.
But we never yet saw good come from
squeamish prudery. A bill was once intro
diced into the English Parliament "for the
better observance of Easter Monday" but
we have since Leard OF English perjuries,
murders, and wars. In the days of the En-
iglish Commonwealth, not only the yisages
sof .mea but their names were elongated 10
an astonishing and ineapressible extent, Gas
Hew.Agag-to-pieces. s.beiore-lhe-Lord, nam
est eremplo) but the generation which these
sane,imonous orthodox gentlemen begat,
proved the most prohigate, licentious and
wicked that ever disgraced the land, and
made the court of Charles | proverbial for
Its shameful outrages upon decency and NOR
ality ty.-Unnatural strictness, will ever be fol-
lowed by excessive laxity Of morals, just as
rebellious anarchy is The natural consequence
of too calling despotsm There is quiet
stream Of innocent mirh in the spirit of man.
kind, that, if damed up, will ccfrode the bet.
Ter part of our nature, eat out our enjoyment
of life, ard then perhaps burst forth in uu-
restrained wildness and vice,
May the fair and gay of our friends whirl
Sthrough the throng in joyous merrimen,-
may lheir wAchng sniles and the glances of
xeen piercing eyes do execution for many
year, and serus in eoelum redeant