The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-03-31

Jesus SnSbt WouIo nave danced - social les
uvsl; land farther onl had 10 done so he
would not have been looked upon with the
'sms reverence.
Bot, We speak it with reverence, did JE,
SIS CHRIST play at leap frog! Did He
ever tarn double somerset 90 . hay NOW :
Did lie run after the blsck.eyed Jewesses
Of Nazareth in Blindmans Buff and exact
the penal kias for catching them, Did He
ever writs love song! Did He in His cal.
low days carve the pane Of some RsBsccA
on The gyesmores Of Gslilee. or sigh His
earthly passion to the stars. unconscious Of
some mocking mercutio, 10 the cedar groves
Of Lebanon, Did lie ever ride fractions
donkey through the streets of Jerusslem,
and fail to keep His balance!
We do not say he did not do these things.
but il lie did not. il His Divine nature
maintained it, sublime equipoise, above the
accidents or impulses Of human. kind, and
He abstained from leap frog at ten years old
to preserve the dignity Of his celestial ante.
cedents, never laughed as the tradition says,
never cracked joke or made horrid pun,
the example proves no more against dane
ing than against the whole round Of recres-
tive customs common to mere human nature
which, when not taught by French masters,
Mr.. NELL approves.
And We do not say either that CHRIST
did peril the dignity Of bis Divine nature
by playing leap frog, but ifhe did, il bis hu.
mauity was perfect in the poor human neces-
sity tor air asd exercise, and laughter, a. we
humbly believe it was, then Why should not
the son Of David dance, a. David danced be-
fore, TO harp and psal,ery and cymbsl.
,. Another reAson Ia that dancing Is now
practiced does not strengthen the mind.
IL IA improper that any recreation should be
sought for that does not strengthen the mental
powers.
This is 30 extremely absurd that it scarcely
needs comment. The chief object Of recrea.
ton on the contrary, in ordinary cases is to
invigorate the body, to quicken the clrcula-
ton, and to enliven and relax the mind ex.
haustei by sedentary toll.
Mr.. MILL has q curious prescription for
the exhausted student. lie recommends him
" TO wander forth alone with pencil and draw.
ing paper, and sit beneath the shade Of come
Ovsrhanging rock and sketch waterfall. He
will not only be amused but refreshed In mind
lie returns TO his wOnted duties . new msn--
and In oil probability with acute rheums.
tism or the seeds Of pulmonary consumption
"A very fitting penalty for any such Iacka-
daisical dawdling. II the ichurch has
nothing better than this to offer for the jsded
prisoners Of indoor toll, wise man will
generally prefer the .xhiiratiug aud health
iul exercises Of the dance, il he can get his
wife or sister to dance with him, or what is
much better, somebody else's sister. The
best recreation, begging Mr.. MILLS par
don, for expanding the mind, is to expand
the lungs and muscles. Dancing is the best
recreation in the world, because it combines
oil the elements of physical IMMIGRATION with
mental exhiliration, except, usually, air
which il o fault that does not lie within
the province Of the synod To correct.
4. Christians do not approve Of dancing be.
cause II leads TO excess.
But 50 does eating. Would Mr.. NELL
have US starve because HRLIoGABULus
was glutton! Must the religious world
go naked, because it cost BEAU BRUMnKr.,
in his prime. ten thousand dollars year to
keep him 10 shirts!
5. Another reason Is that dancing does not
promote the moral purity Of community.
No better reason is given for this how.
ever. than that young ladies sometimes
dance with strar gers. We have seen the
case put more strongly. Mr.. MILL is him.
self too pure minded to cred, or repeat the
prurient suggestions Of those foul imsgina-
tons, inside the church and inside the pul.
pit, too, who think they see, in the move.
ments OF the dance, the mere impulses Of
sexual animalism q SUSPECT IN which, We care
not under what pretended sanctity il may
b. veied. could never find Judgment ex
cept in a grossly impure and licenticus
mind.
one can comprehend, however, and gym
pathize with the scrupuIous delicacy with
which Mr.. NsIIL would separate the loved
daughter or sister from the promiscuous
contact of vile men. But this, too. is a
matter which prudent dowager, ooe would
think, might regulate without the in,erven.
ton OF the General Assembly.
Mr., NsuLs sixth and last important rea-
son-ii any OF them can be called import
ants that dancing units one for rel.
gious duties = which. after what has been
said, remains. We take il, to be proved.
The unreasonable length to which this ar,i.