Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-04-09
For the Southern Standard.
AmUSementS of the Progressive Age.
90, what times there is
Sugar am rum and rose am ris."-Old Song.

Sugar am rum and rose am ris.''-Oa Song.
Mr.. EDITOR While some of your correspon-
dents are entertaining the numerous readers Of
the Standard with dissertations, pro and con
upon the subject of dancing allow me to call their
attention to subject or two, of kindred nature
Our little city of Columbus, situated on an eleva-
ted bank Of the Bigbee river, in the State of Mis-
sissippi, inhabited by intelligent of bpeds,
of Caucasian descent, where tall steepes of chur
ches, and various public buildings, kiss the float
ing clouds, is at present sorely afflicted with the
various amusements of the progressive age. We
have read of the dark ages, golden age, heroic
age, &C. but this is emphatically, the progressive
age. While the many wonderful developments of
nature are unfolding themselves, by the mysterious
workings of divine Providence, giving man more
means of happiness and Improvement, and at the
same time, more, responsibilities, there is also,
more opportunities fer the progression of evil
Labor saving machines brings with its blessings the
miseres of idleness. While the discovery of gun
powder; the application of steam to a thousand
and one purposes of good the discovery of Chic.
reform for the relief of man, and so on, only af-
his ends of evil. These rapid developments of the
present age are crowdng upon our heels an age
more detestable-the age of humsbugery.
The universal prosperity of this progressive age
has multiplied to alarming extent the wants and
desires of man. His appetite has become morbid
his passions have become intoxicated, and the
whole state of society presents feature of ebulli-
ton. To while away the fleeing moments of life,
there is a general mixing up of church and state
a breaking down of pristine habits a universal
humbuging, and an everlasting round of amuse-
ments. Our attention has been peculiarly attrac-
ted to the classification of these amusements in
this, that they have progressed from trihing things,
into matters of considerable public patronage
And farther, that the instructions in these new
tangled notions should assume exalted titles of Dig
nifty. For instance the ''dancing master"-''the
Professor" travelling pedlar on clocks, spec
t0ctes, or cooking stoves, is now styled-'mon
sieur, the Professor A travelling writing mas
ter-the professor. And worse than all, lazy,
lean, lank card player, calls himself professor
The Wizard Of the East with his tricks of slight
of hand, comes among US, and styles himself Pro
fesSor''-circuates his hand bills headed, ''Soiree
Magicale p and. to our shame, as an intelligent
refined people, large crowds flock to witness his
"great and wonderful entertainments''-"
magnificent" he calls them. Some stood amazed
and perplexed out of their wits to know if some
of these silly tricks were not actual realities Tc
man of common sense, with a little smattering O.
education, who witnessed these performances, the
old and ever truthful Proyerb must have come
like arrow, ''the fool and his money are soor
parted" Indeed, / never felt more like fool If
all my life, than when / was taking lessons under
the wizard of the East. Professor 7" We
had not been here long and hope never to BIZ
caught in another such show. They tell us too
that keap of people went there-some church
members too, and some of them spent several ff
ty cents there, who never pays the printer or an,
other debt that they can help.
A part of one evening was taken up By tht
philadelphia singers" or ''niggars," we dom
remember which; it is all the same any way. fo
they not only taught us the esoiree, /" but gave u
lessons on negro habts-more disgusting than .
ven our negroes ever get to be; and SO unlk,
them, that we verify believe they represented th,
offscourings Of abolition countries. According t.
the lights before us, we may look out for some i'm
pudent rascal to come among us calling himsel
Professor, Of the great and wonderful art, anc