The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-03-21
DANCING.
DR.. Harriet X. Hunt gives us the following
chapter on aDancinr:n

DIR. Harriet X. Hunt, gives US the following
chapter on "Dancing:"
That beautiful, graceful accomplishment of
dancing so perverted by late hours and the
indecency of fashionable attire, has outraged
many sensible people, and led them to deprive
the young of one of the most simple and
healihful enjoyneLts, because it has been
abused. For myself, ! can testify not only
to its healthful, but TO its recuperative power.
The fortieth, nay, the fitieth year of my age,
found me enjoying this lfe-cheering exercise.
1t should be one of the earliest amusemerts
of children, and care should be taken by pa.
rents that it is understood as an amusement.
The frivolity and ruin of many young man
and woman are owing TO the severe restric-
tions which imprisoned them in youth, releas.
ed from which they rush wildly into, excite
ment the moment they are in freedom, and
sell their souls to vanity and dissipation.
While am on this topic, will mention a
ease that occurred in my practice. A thought.
ful, anxious mother, who had lost three chill
dren, brought to me her only remaining child
"a daughter. Her temperament nervous.
bilious-the nervous fearfully predominant;
with great irritabilily of the system; peevish,
passionate, dyspeptic, sleepless; of course,
exacting, arbitrary, and uncomfortable; the
poor child looked sad, old, morbid, and mis-.
erable. She had been to school, because her
parents thought il an amusement tor her to
be with other children. After critically ex.
aiming her physiognomy, said to her moth.
er, "What is the temperament of your hus-
band" "The same as my own," she replied
"Then the child is douby stamped" | con.
tinued, sand very vigorous measures must be
used, If you expect to restore her health
Divorce her Immediately from any thing men,
tai so far rs memorizing is concerned-let her
refiectives yield to her rceptves-then send
her to dancing schools, that she may combine
exercise with order and melody, and thus
some of her rough edges may be rounded"
The child-her large eyes wide open with
wonder and deight-interrupted me with
"Dancing-school! o, how Eve longed to 90!
but mother says IT'S wrong, and leads to
wickedness." What dilemma for physi.
clan! what dilemma for a child! "My little
dear" said to her, "what color are my eyes?"
"Why-they amt exactly blue, and they amt
black" "Very well, my child, they are gray
eyes. Now your mother sees with black eyes,
and see with gray eyes! Did you ever in
tend your daughter to play the piano, guitar,
or other musical instrument" said | to the
mother. 20. yes" was the answer "Why,"
| continued, "why show such partiaIity to the
upper extremities! The hands are rendered
happy as medium of meledy; the feet are
rendered equally happy in the same way
Only beas careful in the selection of your
dancing -teacher us of your music teacher, and
all will BE- we'll. nice afternoon school re.
ceived this little girl who grew in health and
harmony every month as she followed the
hygienic rules prescribed for her. Dancing is
a healthfui, beautiful, graceful recreation, and
it is not responsible for the abuses luxury has
thrown around it. The vulgarisms and ex-
elements of the ballroom have no more to
do with the simple enjoyment of the dance
than the rich wines and sumptuous banquets
of the gourmand, in whsm they induce dis
easc, have to do with the temperate repasts
that satisfy the natural wants of the body.