The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-08-16
SUNSHINE AT PLEASURE HAUNTS.
Literary Correspondence Of the Era.
CONGRESS HALL. SARATocA

CONGRESS- HALL, SARATOGA,
July 80, 1855.
And so 1 am engaged to furnish sermon on
dancing. The Yankee race are the genuine
offspring of Merry Old England in one thing:
they always love fun, and so design to please
them by having mine funny sermon.
My text is already provided in my former ar
ticle by the good DR.. B., when he loosely told
his young friend, that ministers, elders, dea-
cons, and their wives were the proper people
to Dance" All will allow that this is funny
text
The heads of my discourse will be rather
rambling, so that it will be difficult to tell the
heads from the tails. 81
Look into this immense parlor at Congress
hall. It's lighted by two blaziag chandsliers.
Triple rows of spectators line the -four sides of
the room. Triple rows of gazers, in the front
and back porticoes, cork up every window near
ly alright
A fine band strikes up the merry strains, and
the centre of the room is filled with gay per-
formers. While sitting down, it would have
been the height of indecorum for any of these
gentlemen to take a lady's hand, and hold it in
his But now each gentleman has one arm around
the waist and the other clasps the left hand of
his partner, whose other hand rests conidingly
on his shoulder. And thus they whirl and
glide around. Meantime, each pair of lungs in
this vast crowd, as Psychologists aver, vitiates
the air around, at the rate Of a hogshead an
hour!
The exhalations from the skin perform this
work on a still larger scale. The room, nearly
alright: is soon like seething cauldron, and
the young dancers, at every quickened nspira-
ton, are sending poison and decay to every
delicate tissue of those delicate frames
Meantime, the discussions about dancing
and its propriety are going on; and all who
have pretty daughters, that love to dance, are
sounding the praises of this healthy amuse-
ment
This is my first head, and think it is fun
ny one.
will commence my next head with some
statistics. There is disgusting weed, that is
rank poison. After taking it while, craving
appetite for it is created, and men and boys
chew it, smoke it, and snuff it, till thousands
and tens of thousands perish from its poisonous
influence. This weed is cultivated all over the
land. What is used costs this nation THIRTY
millions of dollars. This is more than all that
is spent for education and religion. And yet
the effect of this drug is to exhaust the nervous
system, to destroy the tone of the stomach. to
create thirstfor Intoxicating drinks, to irritate
the temper, stupefy the Sensibilities defle the
house, and offend the meek and pure, while
it does no good to any living being. 1t is prob
able that tobacco destroys more than alcohol
because so many more use it, and so many are
led to opium and alcohol by its influence
Let us look once more into the dancing sa-
loon. Among the spectators is kindly, intel
hgent gentleman, an elder in the church, and
the first man in his place for wealth and infu-
ence. He looks on the young dancers, and, as
he signs over what he esteems such folly and
sin, he rolls from one cheek to the other "a
sweet and bitter pa never-ceasing res
ident there. Beside him is a good clergyman,
just replenishing his mouth with the same ar
ticle.
They both have drenched their system with
this narcotic, have unstrung their nerves, i'm
paired Digestion and induced disease while
their example has led their sons and other
young men to the same sinful practice. They
look at the fashionable dresses and the dane
ing-they talk in low and serious tones of the
increase of worldliness and sin, and wonder
what can be done to stay its crushing tide.
And at each pause they discharge volley at
the spittoonl Whether this head of nv dis
course i, funny or sad, shall leave my readers
to decide.
And now, for the next head, will tell a
dream. Methought | was in one of the large
country towns of New England. AS l came
toward the centre, saw very large square,
1t was planted with all manner of beautiful
trees and shrubs, and amid the shade were in
some places pleasant seats, and in others vari-
Gus apparatus for amusement and athletic ex-
ercises. In the centre was spacious building,
a perfect model of architectural beauty. With
in l heard the sound of the richest harmonies.
| entered, and saw through its long halls, above
and below, the young and old, all animated
and glowing with exercise and pleasure The
fresh air of heaven poured through the we'll
arranged halls, in safe and gentle currents.
Every amusement was conducted under the di.
rection of managers of science and skill. Every
thing was done, by their direction, for the 1,ur-
pose Of preserving health, and promoting beau
ty, strength, and grdcef1lness.
The regulations of the establishment show
ed, that in these premises "the laps of health
are the 1dcs Of God, and to be all Of them faith
fully obeycd."
passed on to one of the largest halls, and
there what did l behold but the elder and min
lister, who, with mouths full of tobacco, had
bewailed the sin and folly of the dance, both
of them taking part in a cotillon And as
passed by and smiled, one of them answered
my look, saying, eyes, We have learned to
praise the Lord in the dancel"
Then heard, from one at hand how that
good minister became convinced of his own sin,
and forsook it. Then he began to instruct his
people in regard to all the physical laws, of
which they, as well as himself, had been so ig-
norant. Finally, it was agreed throughout the
town, that the annual sum that had been spent |
for all kinds of stimulating drinks, and for to-
bacco, should be employed in promoting health,
amusement, and social enjoyment.
"And now," said the speaker, every man,
woman, and child, once, every day, comes to
this beautiful place, each at the appointed hour
to meet their chosen companions, and spend |
an hour or two in exhialrating sports, which
secure both amusement and healthful exer-
else.
Then awoke, and behold it was a dream
SUNSHINE.
Hail. II should be stated, that they will have
ready large and well-vennlaied dancing hall AT the
time, their house has admirable arrangements
ventiating every sitting and sleeping Unluck-
iIy this gives great facilities the of the bitter
weed TO fumigate all their neighbors.