Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1853-06-23
WHOLE NO 1888 .


leisure, in spite Of the troubles with
Mexico, the expected troubles with
Spain the appointments to Office, the
dressing oi diplomats and the affairs Of.
the nation generally, 10 turn its atten-
ton 10 the Fine Arts. The rumor goes
forth that the Navy Department de-
signs 10 erect Professorship Of DAN
cling in the Naval Academy, as prof.
cheney in the accomplishment is deem
ed essential to secure the respect OF
foreign nations, and to enable our naval
officers 10 cut u gentcel figure abroad :,
1t is surpris ng that the matter should
not have been thought Of before, for
subject Of such immense moment ought
not to have been overlooked by former
administrations, by The fathers Of the
Republic, or even by the trainers Of the
Constitution themselves. They never
conceived Oi the immense Importance in
international ofIai!s, ofa slight, ianus-
tic toe' ; but they were 'old iogies, and
il is reserved for the present new gen
Grafton to raise the art OF dancing to its
proper consequence as means oi mail
tanning the national dignity. m .F.
So, hereafter, we shall lave our mid
sh.pmen trained 10 a perfect knowledge
of all the mysteries Of the Terpsichore-
an ar. Skill in dancing Will be GLASS;
ed in proficiency in navigation and gun
merry, and the graduates will take rank
in the service as much from their agili-
~ in the Polka as from their knowledge
Of mathem a,i"s. Every student will
have TO learn how TO navigate through
a guadrile as well as through shoal,
and must study The maroeuvring OF a
feet. TO render the dancing branch
Of The service complete, corps of mid
shipuomen viii have TO be organized
go that the ga!lun, officers may not want
par tners at sea, and thus the advocates
of Wuman's Rights may make a step
further and finally women may obtain
supremacy on sea as well as OF land
Il position for which there is u precedent
in the fact that Britannia, who 'rules
the waves" is woman. Then mag
the progressive spirits oi the age begin
to look forward 10 Navy List OF female
officers - Commodorcs IN petticoats,.
Lieutcnants in hounces and miJshipwoa
men in ribbons and pantalels. For as
women make the | EST dancers, they will
speedily rise above men in The NaSy.
We imagine that this governmental
sanction Of the art OF dancing will speed
lily overcome all the prcjudIccs against
it that General Assemblies aud other
religious bodies may have created. No
man, however scrupulouS he may be,
can expect to rise in the Navy unless he
is expert in cutting the pigcon-wing or
good partner in the waltz. We
shall have 10 Judge TOO Of our heroes
characters as much by their gallantry
in ballroom engagement as by their
bravery in u cannon-ball engagement.
Our future naval heroes must be great
dancers as well as great lighters. Our
future conquerors Of Cuba, Japan, Chi
na and the rest Of tho world, must attest
tleir bravery by their ightness OF foot,
and on our future naval monuments we
must write something like tins:
"Sacrcd to the memory of Commo-
do~e Jonathan Lighttoot The c0nqueror
of Jdpan who fell while dancing GAL
iantiu IN his country's service, nj the
battle OF Nangasaki. PhT. Bulletin.