American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1858-05-27
I IPrOn The 81. CLOUD, MlpOssOla. yIsIlor.l
Mrs. swissheIm, on Dancing.

In an article Of our last issue we. rec
commended dancing asa substitute for !
rpromiscuou, kissing. in social parties. For
this, the Rev. Mr.. Inmsn.' in public SER
mon. has administered very severe re-
proof. He takes ihe ground that dancing
Is inseperablefrom drunkenness and quar-
reling, and although the mere act Of dane
ing is no more sinful than the raising and
letting fall bis arm, 10 public speaking. set
the practice should be abolished on ac
count Of its indispensable accomplishments
Of drinking and fighting; that when a lady
was led out on q floor she was disgraced,
disbonored, &C., Is -t.te.,.l 800
With all due Difference, we must LAY
that such assertions are simply absurd ~
David called upon the people 30 praise
God in the dance Did he mean for them
to get drunk, have a knock down and dis.
honor their neighbours wives and daught-
ers by way Of praising God? Did David
and Miriam and the virgins Of Israel have
a fight and knock down when they danced?
and when Solomon tells us there is time
to Dance did be mean that that was the
time for a general broil? And this is
simply ridiculous. and the religious preju-.
dice against dancing is without a shadow
Of foundation in the Bible. The good book
mentions dancing in twenty different
places, and never once with disapproba-
! tiou. ,y., A,..jt, ..,,;f .i.s,.
i We think it IS the bsst social alamusement
4 we know anything about, and that so far
from being sin, il is, a duty, as It, more
than any other exercise, is calculated TO
promote health Of body and mind The
fact that it is liable TO be abused is no more
argument against it than the fact that eat,
ing is carried to excess. ifpot gluttony
is an argumen. against taking regular
meals. =, -,,,. .y,,,. ,,-r, III, ..,
4 Dancing vents, to be, regulated; not a.
bolished. Young people should not be
driven from the well regulated family cir
Gle to enjoy a relaxation that nature so i'm,
peratively demands. This act, as limo,
cent in itself as the raising Of an arm,
: should not be banished to haunts of vice,
= 10 add the witcbery of its attractions ,tc
, the abode of,hetemptirg bowl. No.family i
: well managed where the young folks can
not dance without going to a tavern where
they viii beliable TO witness scene o
4 drunkenness and qusrrelng. Amusement
:, Of any kind. at midnight, is sinful becsus,
! it violates the command Thou shall no
kill in that it shortens tho life by depriv
: ing the system Of its natural rest, Satur
=, day evening amusements are seldom right
r because they cannot always be SO conduct
: ed as not TO hinder a proper preparation
! for and keeping Of the Sabbath, But dane
ing is not necessarily connected with mid
night or, Saturday night. or with any con
: ceivable wrong. We have been in Il,
! habit. for full twenty years, Of attendini
% dancing parties. now and then, and W
never saw any other social gatherings g
,, off more innocen1y, and with less Of evi
:; and moro Of g BOD. We never saw fgh
81 connected with dancing party; but W
bave seen little child after dancing he
hour, and then saying her prayers prepal
rs atory 10 going to bed. look up and sa,
Mother, is not God good to make US all 1
% happy to.night? .a+j ,s.,
d Reform themode OF dancing. Do as IL
sensible Queen Of England has done.-
l. Danish all dances which permit person
p liberties, and bring to perfection the art
graceful and joyous motion. in harmon
ir with inspiring music. We say gracef
motion, and no movement that sayors
IN indelicacy or coarseness can be graceful
/, There are few more pleasant sights in tn
world than troop Of dancers, lt
,e 'As they 60 Il,
he Like beautiful spirits too and fro.'