Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-07-06
COM s.
FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
IS THIS A TIME TO DANCE BY ERATo.

Sad tones that drown the echo's swell,
Fair pleasure smiles with beaming glance;
On Cool Is THIS 4 TINE TO DANCE ~
The Confederacy, from centre to circumference, is
shaken by avail of grief wrung from hearts on Po-
tomacs shore and echoed at the Rio Grande. Desc
latlon as a blighting simeon, sweeps from side to side
OF our once sunny South a hood-tide of woe, with
its dark waves, is surgiag over US; poverty's grim face
is seen at the hearth.stone of thousands. Gaunt
want aSks its dark wings over scores of houses and
the whole South presents a confused mass of misery
and woe! Then, is this a time to dance-to join in
midnight orgies? Is this a time for DonGn to be in
the halls Of mirth
A soldier writing from camp, says: "There was a
"fandango" at this place last night the officers of
our Regiment attended. The Colonel and his satel-
Gtes made themselves conspicuous in the Dance
Wine was freely imbibed, consequently, they were
not stirring until a late hour this morning. There
were a number Of ladies present and seemed to APP
preciate the attentions shown them by the officers.
/ cannot see how ladies can mingle in a crowd of I'M
principled officers, and expect to come out uncontam-
mated. 1t is not enough that our young men go in
the army and lose their moral standing; but our
women who should make home counteract the poi
sonous influence of the war malaria, are inclined to
lower the standard of female morality-to say moth
ing of religion. There are noble exceptions to the
above, ladies who maintain their purity with unbend-
ing 6rmness-yet the majority'are disposed to waive
their usual modesty. This is a.lamentable fact-but
nevertheless true" And is the death-knell of female
modesty and purity, soundingl 1t is sad to know
the concentrating influence of war is felt. in camp
but II it has reached the sanctity of home-if our
women are becomingg dissipGted, then, have we cause
for sorrow; well may we weep in the bitterness of
anguish
AL of our women have not lost their 'dignity and
purity" nor are all our officers unprincipled. Yet
what good can be said of women who in the midst of
all the sorrows surrounding them, can plunge into
dissipation, for what else can we call those " wine
drinking" parties. Ladies C) who join in a drunken
dance, arecertainly d~issipated.
Is this "a time to dance-a time for gaiety and
mirth when from scores Of battle fields is heard the
shrieks and groans of the dying warrior. Heartless
must be the creature who can mingle in scenes of
mirth while the land is red with human gore, and
the hills are strewn with the bleaching bones of low
cd ones-while cur armies are contending with a
hend like foe; and the frighted ghosts Of Chancel-
louisville, of yicksburg and Culpeper are rising from
their CORY bed-disturbed by the sounds of hiiarlty,
they cry in unearthly tones--"ls this a time to
dance"
Look forth upon the battle-felds, think of the
dead, Begin with the heroic Wyatt, e%numerate those
who have fallen count them one by one-let imag-
inatIon have her sway, let them allie a mutilated mass
before YOU; call to each spirit, ask them if this is a
fitting time for ninth !? Go to Lexington-call up
that sleeping hero-call to those who have more re-
Gently died-ask them "Is this a time to dance ?'
In sad strains their reply would float forth:
go face the fearful form of death,
And then for once with truthful breath,
Answer . Is this a time to dance p
Dancing in a charnel.house! Dancing with the
wall of dying loved ones sounding in the ear! Dane
ing while spectre:forms float around. Stop! do you
not hear that departed friend calling from the grave
and asking you to chase for awhile this mad mirth.
Obi God and have we so far forgotten Thee and
Thy precepts, that we can dance while the gore of the
dear departed is flowing under our feet ; join in all
the pleasures of earth, and dance 00er the grG9es 81
the dead!
Turn from the scenes of mirth and bow before Goo
in humble prayer. Remember "God is not Knocked
whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap !
oh Sisters who have brothers dear,
Exposed to every battles chance;
Brings dark remorse no forrss of fear,
To fright you from the heartless dance I"
Fair Bluff, N. q.