The Kanzas news., 1858-05-15
From the st. Cloud (Sfinnesota) Visitor.
Mrs. Swisshslm on Dancing.

In an article of our last issue we recon-
mended dancing as substitute for promis-
euous kissing, In social parties. For this,
the Rev. Mr. Inmau, in q public sermon,
has administered avery severe reproof. He
takes the ground that, dancing is insepara-
bic from drunkenness and quarrelling, and
that although the mere act of dancing is no
more sinful than the raising and letting fall
of his arm. IN public speaking. yet the prac-
tice should be abolished on account of its
indispensable accomplishments of drinking
and fighting; that when lady was led out
on floor she was disgraced, dishonored,
de-, DC.
With all due Difference, we must say that
such assertions are simply absurd. David
called upon the people ''to praise God In the
dance" Did he mean for them to get
drunk, have knock down and dishonor
their neighbor's wives and daughters, by
way of praising God? Did David and Mi
riam and the virgins of Israel have a fight
and knock down when they danced? and
when Soloman tells us s.there is time to
Dance" did he mean that that was the time
for general broil? All this is simply ri
diculous, and the religious prejudice against
dancing is without shadow of Foundation
in the Bible. The good book mentions dam
cling in twenty different places. and never
once with disapprobatiou.
We think it is the best social amusement
we know anything about, and that so far
from being o sin, it is duty, as it, moro
than any other exercise, is calculated to pro-
mote health of body and mind The fact
that it is liable to be abused is no more ar
gument against it than tie fact that eating
&c ia1 to -,0k vluf-
tony, is an argument against taking regular
meals.
Dancing wants to be regulated, not abol-
from the well regulated family circle to en-
| Joy a relaxation that nature so imperatively
demands. This act, as innocent in itself as
the raising of an arm, should not be banish-
ed to haunts of vice to add the witchery of
its attractions to the abode of the tempting
bowl. No family is well managed where
the young folks cannot dance without going
to tavern where they viii be liable to wit
ness scene of drunkenness and quarrel
ling. Amusement of any kind, at midnight
is sinful, because it violates the command,
Thou shalt not kill" in that it shortens
the life by depriving the system of its natu-
raj rest. Saturday evening amusements are
seldom right, because they cannot always be
so conducted as not to hinder proper prep
aration for and keeping of the Sabbath
But dancing is not necessarily connected
with midnight or Saturday night, or with
any conceivable wrong. We have been in
the habit, for full twenty years, of attend
ing dancing parties, now and then, and we
never saw any other social gatherings go off
more innocently, and with less of evil and
more of good. We never saw fight con-
nected with dancing party; but we have
seen a little child after dancing her hour,
and then saying her prayers, preparatory to
goin to bed. look up and say, ''Mother, is
not God good to make US all so happy to-
night?'
Reform the mode of dancing. Do as the
sensible Queen of England has done. Ban
ish all dances which permit personal liber-
ties, and bring to perfection the art of grace
full and joyous motion, in harmony with in
spring music. We say graceful motion,
and no movement that savors of indelicacy
or coarseness can be graceful. There are
few more pleasant sights in this world than
a troop of dancers,
GAS they go
Like beautiful spirits to and fro"