The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-12-25
THANKsGUNG.--It has been customary since

AhANhSGlNlNG.--lt mas Deen customary since
the organization of the Territory, among all
the Protestant churches of St. Paul, save the
Episcopal, to unite in religious duties upon
Thanksgiving day, and to have service in but
one church. This is not only highly becoming
an infant and isolated community such as
ours, but also tends to illustrate the good and
true Christian feeling existing among the DIFF
fercnt denominations in our midst. May it
ever continue! In accordance with this Gus
tom-whice We hope our children will be ena-
bled fifty years hence to write down as 80 time
hOnored"-the service for this year was held at
the First Presbyterian Church (Mr. Neill's) on
Wednesday of this week. The discourse was
delivered by Rev. Mr.. Crcsscy, Of the Baptist
Church lie was assisted in the services by
Rev. Mcssrs Fullerton of the Methodist, and
Ncill and Riheldaiicr of the First and Second
Presbyterian Churches. AS we have been
promised a copy of Mr.. Cressey's excellent
sermon for publication, we refrain at this time
from remarking upon its many appropriate and
practical points and suggestions. The choir
deserves commentator for the excellcncy OF
the music on the occasion.
Dancing is probably less in vogue in the
United States of America than in any European
country. Our Puritan fathers, when they set
tied upon these shores, deeming it one of the
'yanities of life, dscountenanced it by every
means in their power
The above is going the rounds of the papers,
as part of an article on dancing. 1t is an en-
tire mistake in fact, and a misrepresentation of
the manners and habits of our primive ances-
tors. Dancing was one of the favOritc amuse-
ments of the Puritans, with exceptions, of course,
among the sternest and most ascetic. One fact
is sufficient proof of our statement. Hundreds OF
private houses, erected by communicates and
deacOns, in the strictcst congregational church
cs in New England, one hundred and one hun
uicd and fifty years ago, were originally built
with. and have still, hail. constructed on pur-
pose for dancing, with box at one end &c" the
musicians and it was customary for neighbOrs
to meet every week and enjoy social evening,
in which one of the chief and essential amuse-
ments was dancing. The practice of dancing
was not only common, but universal. The pre-
judice Of late years against dancing has arisen
from the objection which all decent and pure
minded people have to lascivious waltZng, cX-
pcnsive balls. late hours, and dissipated habits.
But dancing at an evening party is an innocent,
healthful, delightful recreation, and no people
practised it more generally, or enjoyed it more
intensely, than the New England Puritans-
Troy Post.
AS this is the season of dancing, we copy the
above for the purpose of setting matters right,
in regard to the social habits of our Puritan
fathers and mothers We could never see the
point to be gained in morality and correct
state of religious feeling. in denouncing dane
ing, when practised after the good old fashion
pie for any other purpose, where the object
seems solely to work upon the feelings and
produce an unduly excited state of the mind.
in our opinion. 60 nearly orquitc as far to pro-
ducc, in the end, impure or immoral results as
dancing parties. In all cases, correct training
and principle must be the safeguard of the
young. If the one has been neglected. the 9TH
er will, most generally, be found wanting and
it matters little whether the baser passions are
aroused in the ballroom, the political festival,
or beneath the fanatcal harangues of the rcli
gious bigot or jealous .reformer;" they will
develope themselves.
\ GREAT PITY.-.is the Democrat man has
appropriated to himself our Shakespeare and
devoured it-papcr, ink leather, boards and
picturcs-we must quote from memory; and it
is, perhaps lucky for us in our efforts to get
even with him in the way of flaming quotations.
that we happen to rccollcct certain fellow of
the Sweetzer stripe is mentioned in Henry w..
as regarding it a
-.s(,rC1t Ditv. so
That villanouS sat-petre should be digg,d
Out of the bowels of the harmless earth,
Which many good tall fellow had destroyed
SO cowardly; and, but for these vile guns,
He would himself have been sodier!''
So indeed is 1t now pity that so many honest
and determined officers, here and at Washing
ton, were resolved that the Indians should paw
their just debts. And but for this, Swcetzer's
powcr-ofattorney might have operated, and he
himself, together with the Democrat and clique
have had the money. Is it not a great pity,
that vile gold should be digged in California
then converted into "bank rags" at New York
and after all fall into the hands of the very
men who were justly entitled to it?
"TuE OLD YELLOW HoRsE"-Who does not
remember the old yellow horse, that drew
fail to remember his shaggy. Scotch-snuff col
ored coat-so long and so rough that it re-
minded one of that ''woolly horse which Col
Fremont did not capture, and the owner of
which ':Old Bullion" did prosecute as an i'm
postor! Who fails to call to mind his slow, 60
easy, carc-for-nothing gait even at the time
when water was in such great dcmand-whcn
the edict of popular opinion allowed nothing
but watcr-whcn the Maine Law was all the
co. in and out of the Legislature. and, like the
Ancient Mariner in the midst of his phantom
comrades upon the deck of his calm-bound. rot
ting vessel, the cry was
E'Water, water, everywhere,
Nor any drop to drink -
No man, "nor bird, nor beast" can be so ca
silly recalled to the memory of the dwcllers in
st. Paul last winter as the "old yellow HORSE
save, perhaps, the dog Teton, of Pembina, and
Y