The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-04-07

| inlng the sefbeS OF preposterous ipconS+
qusnca on which Mr.. MILL bases the
Charchs prohibition Of dancing, that bis
lecture was intended a. . broad satire
against prejudices. whose sbsurdity he
places in such conspicuous relief in
the ridiculous fallscics which sustain
them. The irony is deep-but it is
a. telling a. that which CEKvAsrEs puts
into the mouth Of the metaphysical
knight, 10 defending the obsolete forms OF
q chivalry whose spirit was long extinct.
OF this nature IL the Scripsural argument
against dancing, that the ritual OF the quar-
tetn il not described 10 Deuteronomy; or
that CHKIsr did not send forth his Disciples
into oil the world to teach polka to every
creature. IN the name vein Of sarcastic car
feature is the odd conceit that for man in
. state Of intellectual exhaustion, more in
telIectssl exhaustion Ia the only proper re-
creation consistent with his dignity or the
further idea that this dignity is something
which man carries in his psntait oas, and
which Is liable TO be shaken out by an uo-
due agitation Of the pedal extremities; or the
graphic picture In illustration Of these IDEAS
Of the jaded gentleman in want Of exercise,
who was sent To wander forth alone TO find
a picturesque place TO sit down in and cult.
vate dignity and catarrh, and imbibc
strength Of mind from babbIng brooks, -
etc.
The absur'lity IL 80 consistent snd metho-
deal throughout that il is qoite relief to
believe the whole argument an sr.iulIy con.
structed satire.
But assuming that Mr.. Nsu.L Ia serious.
II is plain that all his minor objections
against Dancing are incidental to the main
proposition expressed on the title page, that
Dancing Ia an undigni6ed Amusement for
q Christian" and from the use be makes oil
his text. il is quite clear that he despses
Dawn for Dancing quite a. heartily ~ MI
onAL herself. entirely regardless Of the Di
vine rebuke which that fastidious lady in
CURED tor her Caad'e lecture on The 0cca-
sion, Of which rebuke by the bye, although
our worthy pastor prudently ignores II, We
commend him to his share
The question Of Dancing. then. ia .
question OF Dignity. Now what is this
precious dignity which requires such careful
handling Of tho pedal bonesf From III,
idylIic example already quoted, aud otheI
indications, We should inter the dignity IL
question: tho pantaloon hypothesis b.
nadmisslblo-- to be something Of liquid
nature, carried IN u porcelain vase, on thu
'opo Of the he"d' "a inc o''en'a' women cur
~ water and that the slightest possible
dec ilnatlon OF the spinal column from =
plumb lIne wonld spill the dignity and
smash the porcelain IN The vulgar mud
beyond repair
NOW 'sa''y "''Sss "a ~ SORT o
d's"''y "n'c" requires 'ucn " ds''eA'e AL
)ns'm'h' o' tue Pafe"' oohes 10 'he H''
OF MOTION ana " NO '"oe 10 oe upset D!
unforeseen aec'u'h", " S'"'"y worm th'
soo' U"''S''""s '"'''-''p'''1"y VI u"
mug" WINS % '"'' ,"'''"-""',' o' '"'
""" W. """' e"''"y s"" "NS MN
Nv OIL" carry MS o'go''y' ho' III MS nat
without e'e" " of'eN 10 oa''as' H. out II
his ~n'rai s'ai' where "w'ii not in'cr'er'
WIN INV "h f"y " Ms MINUS OF w
healthy vegetation OF his bumps IL tn
huo Is SOUND Inc sPoSts VIII take care q
themselves.
Dignity means worth. l, does not eoo
sic, in Turvcydroppian stateliuos Of dc
pertinent moving about on stills and ca,
tors On dead level of vclve'.grcen- but il
n Y,bnS, eopsrionsn,ss ~ moral rcc,itul,