Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1854-01-26
Communication.


hr. kDTroE :---l have just Tesd the second
effort Of "HOnestus" TO support the pleasure
dance. There seems nothing 90 manifest in the
article IS the consciousness Of . bad cause
He admits that dancing does not benefit 'the
neral nsture oft deVotses: but the physical
part of man alsns is benefited. Then let the
exercise be confined 10 those inmates Of prisons
who have ''nOihing else TO do" and are de-
priVed the privilege Of exercise in the open air.
Eumenes. you know, when shut up in the
blockade at Nora made his men and horses
dance; the former in the largest place in the
blockade. the latter in their stalls. by hosting
their front feet BY means Of pullieS. while their
grOOms applied their whips Like all the
world" they danced until they "raised the
sweat. then they were rubbed down and fed
their barley. Mark he did this when be
could do no better. But when out Of the block
ade he gave Doth men and horses something
else to do" Twill wait until my sons and
daughters have nothing left but the physical" ;"
before 7 will let the plough, the press, or the
mill stand still to support the dance. The
dance is purely physical" therefore it pro-
notes the spiritual and eternal interests of those
who engage in it; and is prOmOtive of solid
mental improvement conclusive
Again he says "If the dance be advantageous
10 man physically and not injurious mentally or
morally. it is useful, beneficial, and profitable to
those who engage in its pleasures" Yes, and
If Lake Erie were to go dry, there might be a
fine speculation in the fish trade, provided the
fish would not spoil before they were gathered
and sOld.
As there is nothing moral or intellectual in
the dance, wonder that Honestus does not
plead the privilege for the four legged animals
as well as the two. The General Eumenes
treated them both alike when they needed it,
We shall now proceed to answer part of
the questions proposed by HOnestus in his ar
ticle, and leave the rest for our next. We
might say no, TO one half Of bis interogations,
and require proof for the rest. But as we wish
to answer all his inquiries on this subject, and
convince the votanes Of the pleasure dance Oft
evil, we will answer them somewhat at length.
And in so doing we shall not venture Latin
quotation, as We have no time To read the proof,
lest it appear as the one quoted by Honestus.
Il. Does not the dance introduce its votaries
into society, and thus furnish them opportuni-
ties for suitable matrimonial alliances 2
The ballroom may be place to Marry in
haste and repent at leisure : but the sensible
young man or woman would prefer seeking a |
companion for life in some other crowd. In.
triguing peltic mammas conscious that the
"physicdl' in their daughters, is more fully ed
veloped than their "mental" or moral" may
dress them in short gown, paint their faces
hang little brass in their ears; infuse more
into their countenance, give their curls an arti-
fetal twist and start them to the ballroom, to
ensnare the hssrt Of some doless, thoughtles,
pennyless, brainless, prayerless fellow, who
can drink whiskey, chew tobacco, and bow to
a "darky" while be is drawing the tail Of a
horse over the bowels Of a cat, TO the entire neg
lect of all other business, whether mental, NOR
AL or financial; one who can shed tears Of
grief over a love and murdered novel, and sit
unmoved under the most graphic description
Of the cruci6xion Of the Son of God. Unfor-
tunateIy the honey moon Of such marriages ia
short.
A young man of sense may admire the lady
OF the ballroom as he would the stuffed birds
in museum, but he would not choose to be
welded for life to either. The sob er, pious, in
telligent, industrious young man is not charmed
with the hirtations of the ballroom, or "gall'
thatis all physical"
Don't be deceived. Honestus, sober men,
without a quid or cigar in their mouth; men
without the ballroom etiquette, men Of indus
try, intelligence, frugaliry, and piety are al
ways more esteemed by the higher order ofthe
opposite sex. And young men of this class
are not likely to fall very deeply in love with
a "purely physical" being; the ability to twirl
around on one toe, is not all the accomplish
ment required BY young man Of this stamp.
They don't marry young lady who spOils her
face every time she opens her mouth; or one
Who would leave her mother at the bake oven,
kitchen stove, or wash tub, for the sake of the
dance.
Ihave known some girls who have danced
for husband until they have become old maids:
and have known others who have done worse
still, BY securing ballroom husband. Call me
puritanical il you please-I would rather have
wife who was devoted worshipper in the
house of God. I have three sister, they never
once visited the dance; they all married young
married sober, industrious, religious men,
and live lappily with their huRbands I had