St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-02-09

suitable allowances of hugging and general
rough and tumb bic. While without those
refining and elevating additions it is cvilS
only evil, and that continually. There is
no escaping this conclusion, for the anti
dancing churches and christians are too
openly committed in favor Of these vulgar
plays for any Intelligent man to deny that,
either they have acted blindly Or that the
kissing and hugging sanctifes the dancing.
Now since all the experience of the past
proves that people wiU dance, even grave
and reverend deacons, We are in favor of
the dancing without tho etceteras. But
apart from all comparisons, we regard dan
cling as positive good, as something which
requires no apology, but is inherently
right in itself; an efficient means of pcr-
fecting, refining and cultivating the crown
ing work Of Gods creation; a means ap-
pointed, and directly approved by the Gre
ator Himself! It is liable to abuse; and
the object ofreformers should be toregu]ate
not abolish.
1t is very strange how this amusement
came to be singled out for the anath-
mas Of pious people; for if there is any
other place in this world better calculated
to awaken a keen sense of the inefablc
goodness Of God than
''The lighted hall, when the dancers 90
Like beautiful spirits to and fro,''
we have never seen it. IF we wanted to
write sermon on the text "God is Love"
we would like to go to cotillion party and
sit down in corner, while it was compos-
ed.
1t is very common for good people to go
out and Commune with nature" to hear
the praises of the All Father in the songs
of birds; and adore Him for the perfec-
ton Of His works as exhibited in the
bright plumage and joyous Auttcr of the
forest choirists, or in the natural move
ments Of any creature Of the lower creation
and in the nodding of the forest flowers !;
but what is any other sight compared to a
company Of "fair women, brave men" and
bright children, all looking their best; and
moving in graceful, measured tread to the
harmony of happy hearts; and the music
of a we'll trained band It is conlbina-
ton of all that is most beautiful in art and
nature, and a sight worthy the study of
poet, painter, patriot, christian and phi
losopher; and one of which We never wea-
ry.
People talk of the possibility of dying
in a ball room; but SO far as we can judge
Of 50 solemn a mystery as death; we are
not conscious of any state Of the mind Pc
culiar to dancing hall, which would make
any one more than ordinarily unfit to say
"1.ord unto thy hands I commit my spir-
it," We understand Him to be every
where present, and just: as able to hear an
aspiration breathcd amid innocent amuse-
ments, as those uttered in crowded hos
pital after battle, Or the center aisle of
dim cathedral.
"Let every one be fully persuaded in his
own mind" aud we are just as fully per-
suaded that "there is time to dance as
that there is time to die We should be
careful to select our dancing times, to keep
our hearts in love to God and man at every
time, and leave the Great Disposer to APP
point the dying time. Dancing is just as
innocent and no moro liable to abuse than
eating; therefore, there is nothing more
terrible in death in a dancing hall, than
death in dining room
Normal Schools.