Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-04-20
For the Tribune
Dancing, Again.


| from my communication, shat neither cheating,
stealing, lying, nor in fact the violation OF any
one of the ten commandui ents is SO universally
deprecated and condemned oy professedly religious
| people, as dancing = and in:ers that have been
peculiarly unfortunate IN my associations and
that think Churches composed OF thieves
| cheats liars and violators of all the ten COM
rnandments." Can any unprejadiced man who
understands the English language draw such %.
| inference from that expression? To bring the
matter to the understanding OF j, let US illus
trate Suppose L say 10 him, your neighbor
! Butts don't condemn drinking liquor as much as
| he does chewing tobacco OF course ] under
| stands me TO sayt that Butts is drunkaidi
I Again, he says, the writer seems to feel that
whatever affords rs mos. pleasure is really the
best for US to pursne" He .,!itsers from this
I and believes that 'our first and principal aim
should be 10 be useful !, distinction wi,hou,
difference. Is rot that the n,ost iesefui which pro
luces the greatest amount OF happiness, and is
not happiness pleasures Can B. J. give a better
definition of usefulness Don't understand NE TO
mean has tine by greatest amount Of happiness,
happiness 10 the oc:or only but understand it just
as It reads, o
Another specimen: 'the writer thinks that tyy %
dollars paid for ball bill is the best kind of an
! Investment. or would afford the greatest amount
Of pleasure" B ] , are you a Christian Are
you endeavorin to treat this SUBJECT fairly, can
d;dly, truthlally, and Christianlike1 You appear
/ to be too candid 70 designedly misrepresent any
thing Ask yourself, if your judgement is not
warped by your Frcjld:cies, else how could YOU
/ SO reEvert and mistake nay meaning. Here are
+ the words: 1T may well be questioned whether
a young person OF lively, active temperament
/ and cheerful, social disposition. can invest two
dollars in any manner that viii produce more real
enjoyment. than By paying il for a bail bill Those
/ whose tastes different. who have outlived or
never possessed relish for such pleasures, can
use il il. a manner that viii give them more pleas
use, and they ought do So or they do not make
the best use of it Don't you see adiectives
enough to describe the circumstances under which
ball bill may be good investment. or don't you
understand adjectives! That money is often fool
ishy spent in that way, IS true; but is this rea
sen thai il should never be SO used
Hundreds Of young men spend the larger part
of their earnings AID seriously inipre their health
by allowing their passion for dancing to become
a ruling motive, whereas its only proper use, is
as an occasional recreation. So too, every en-
p!oyment, amusement, or moral duty may become
lasting mary by allowing Il 10 control US TO
/ the exclusion OF other affairs. Witness the thou
sands Of raging nanlacs, made so by continual
/ religious excitement.
/ There IS time for every thing which is right
ana no time for any thing which is wrong. You
! think dancing Is wrong and would advise yonr
neghbor who is inclined TO dance, 70 20 to the
abodes OF misery and relieve the wants of suffer
( ing humanity. Il is noble object and no doubt
would afford happiness 10 both the sufferer and
The glHer Sat snnnoTe he danced besides would
/ Il ho' maze h'ui sun more AapPy "ouio II
! inquire any one else II NOT where Is the harm
" hat Is there wrong about Ii
4 You say YOU once took v-oient cold on ieav-
ing bail room, ard that cured you OF dancing
/ 80 once took cold on leaving heated school
room but unfortunately 1t dad not cure me of gong
to school. Ii learned me lesson with regard to
! The laws OF health; trust yours did the same.
/ You think that was las familiar with the
scriptures as am with dancing would not at
( tempt to justify IT from that source Mistaken
again Unlike you, | never was "passonateIy
I fond OF dancing, neEer attended but few balls,
generally find more enjoyment elsewhere. But
Why should condemn those WHO are fond OF that
amusement using Il properly, and harmiug no
one
but why not attempt to Justify dancing from
the scriptures? Should they be squared TO your
notions OF right, or should You net rather square
your notions 10 them If they are Divine Truth,
why not LOOK there Tor its Justification or con
termination Ao" 90 Took there Tor ITS condemna-
'ioii' and mention Inc daneing OF The daughter OF
heTodus as causing the death OF John the Baptist
Was the dancing that caused his death2 Let
us Try another homeiy illustration for the benefit
OF 3 J. John, roguish boy, brings home to
ms nio'A'F basket OF apples at which she IS so
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