Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-10-03
=. - . sss-s so = 49, :
BETSY Jane" Again.

in our columns in reply to Liberal" This
controversy promises TO be no exception to
the old rule that woman is bound to have
the last word" unless Liberal" himself
proves to be an exception to the generality of
men. We must caution our correspondents
to be brief; on no account will either be al.
lowed to cxceede half column hereafter.
Ma. EDITOR Have you ever reflected
what wonderful world this is, and what
singular people are sometimes found in iti It
was only a few days since !, Betsy
Jane, scrubbed few lines for your paper,
on what considered one of the fashionable
follies ofthe day, wien 10, and behold! your
next paper contains over column devoted to
my especial benefit Will wonders. nerer
ceasel Am l, BETSY" to be the famous
heroine ola newspaper battle z? Such all idea
never entered my head when wrote my for
mer letter. and it is difficult for me now to
realize the fact though, have the evidence in
black and white before me. Well, friend
Liberal, come on with your arguments and
French, and l, BETSY jane" without intro.
ducing any new propositions or arguments
will proceed to batter yours down by turning
your own weapons against you. So nib your
per-, chivalric knight oftlle much.abused
"Muse ofthc many-twinkng feet"
aud we will see who will see who will first
dot an or end paragraph.
My adversary occupies full two-tl'irds of
his letter in reiterating the assertion, that
there is no harm in participating in fancy
dances. because. forsootll. the "rrfined, intel
lpctual and moral" are sometimes to be found
in its train Of votarirs we'll done. Don Quix
ote de In Mancha. if every windmill is TO be
vanquishpd in this novel manner, you may
we'll claim the battle as half won. But I'M
fortunately for the tcnabilty of your position.
you afterwards admit, that disreputable char
actcrs do gain admission to the ballroom !;
that the price Of ticket does admit the gam
bier to all the privileges enjoyed by the
members of good society; that you "regret "
to observe that this class of men do seem to
be preferrrd-yes actually prgcycd-by
many of your lady dancing Acquaintance. and
then proceed TO lay down as an infallable
rule that Birds Of feather foch togefhe' :"
Now. my chivalric friend, how do you recon-
cile that with your assertion, that the "refined.
intellectual and mora" are your supporters:
Such birds surely are Of different feather"
and by all rules of logic We claim that the
deduction is to be logically drawn that they
do not consort with such birds of ill-omcn as
those whom some of your lady friends seem
to prefer. Sol, Betsy Jane, now claim, that
your main battery is cffrctually silencrd.
You say that you do not deny that there is
evil in dancing when carried to excess. Well
done heroic f,iend-a bold admission truly!
Accept my thanks In this, at least we
will agree. !, you will rcmembe, admit
ted that there was but little If any harm RI.
sulting from the pri native modes Of dancing.
and it is only when the gay waltz. mazourkn.
and polka arc introduced in the festive scene
that we may assert that things are really
carried to erccs,, and probably not even then,
il they ARE confined strictly to different MEN,
bcrs of the SANE. family. So We claim that
ba.tle.Aag. without firing gun.
You say likewise that dancing is consid.
cred by many an accomplishment "and that
the young lady who understands " it.oppears
with "equal ease in the street, in the parlor,
or in whatever circle she mOv"s-an object
of admiration, provided she combines other
intellectual accomplishments with this one"
Thanks again, chvalric knight for this ndmis.
sion. If intellect is requisite essential, pray
prove that intellect alone is not the allpow-
erfal ingredient, for moving with ease and
appearing F" graceful in the circles Of society"
OF course you will acknowledge you are down
again most valiant knight.
will be merciful, and not follow you nv
valiant friend, through your other air castles
which can be equally easily overturned by
removing prop, and NEARLY ask you few
plain questions. Admitting ms you do TINT
some Of your lady acquaintance prefer the
society Of gamblers in the ballroom, now let
me ask what ia tho reason of thisl Ia it not
the result, in this community at least, OF long
continued custom? Grant this, and ia any
question more plausible than. do no, evil COM
municntions corrupt good manners! You
say alady has the privilege Of rejecting the
advances Of such men. if they are admitted
to the ballroom. Has Liberal" ever lis
tened to the malicious slurs and inunendos
sometimes cnst at females by the men who
had only been rejected rs partners for the
dancel II he has, that of itself is sufficient
to ever curse the custom which admits the
proAigate where he is provoked to traduced
innocent virtue. ',.- =
Now friend q. Liberal. have very brief.
ly disposed of your main Arguments. am
neither proficient in French nor dancing, and
cannot see things quite as you do. But then
we can afford to be friends, five have met in
newspaper wafare, as long as we remain
isccgaito. From your tastes and language
Judge You to DO French dancing. master,