Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-09-19

struggle for the Union, to whatever extent
negroes should cease helping the enemy, to
that extent it would weaken the enemy in his
resistance to you. DO you think different
ly: l thought that whatever negroes can be
got to serve as soldiers, leaves so much less
for white soldiers to do in saving the Union.
Does it appear otherwise to you: But ne
groes like other people act upon motives.
Why should they do anything for us if we
do nothing for them? 1t they stake their
lives for us they must be prompted by the
strongest motive-evcn the promise of free
dom, and the promise made must be kept.
For the Washington Standard
A Plea against the Dance.
I'VE give place below to an article written by
lady contributor, who adopts the somewhat ancient
patronymic of "BETsy JANE" which, think does
grace the article would fair correspondents
real name. Well-we must conccde that the ladies
generally the best judges in such matters and there is
sometimes "policy in war;" We hope to hear from
"Betsy often, if her views rather peculiar when
contrased with the prevalent opinions o. the day.]
/ am aware, Mr. Editor, that have chosen
a subject which may call down upon me the
wrath of many good people, but l must be
excused if tread upon anybody's corns-for
maintain the corns ought not be there and
in retaliation, surely will not be so unchari-
table as to deny all crusty old bachelors in
cepient beaux, and needless misses to apply
to me the term OF "old maid," or any other
which will serve to express their outraged
sense OF propriety. The more sensible por.
ton of the community, l know will agree
with me, whether they are bold in acknowl-
edging tor not. and with their approval l
am content. ! will not 60 as far as some. and
assert that the evil tendency of the dance is
always the same, or that no really modest
woman will submit to the close embrace Of
the waltz or misourka, for that is another ex-
treme, which 1 am equally anxious Of avoid
ing, and which believe to be overdrawn.
wish to treat what arc properly denomina-
ted the fancy dances" unshown Of the maze
which custom has thrown around them. I
maintain that an act which would cause the
blush of shame to mantle the face of unsophisti-
Gated innocence is most likely to be wrong; and
Idefy thoss who may dissent, to select more
fallable test. The plain quadrillc would DO
we'll enough if there was ought of sense in
capering around to the measured scraping Of
fiddle, but it is nevertheless more worthy
Of the barberous and ignorant classes who
dance around their victims doomed to con-
stitute the materials Of feast, than Of rational
and thinking beings. whose only object is
harmless amusement. But these are very
rarely the exclusive form Of dancing at .tash-
ionadle parties, and modern country dances.
Terpsichore has made too rapid strides to BE-
content with the old fashioned and staid CO.
tillion. The thoughtless youth Of both sexes
find them insipid when compared with the
"Imperal waltz! imported from the Rhine"
and they readily fall into what custom has
declared to be no sin. So the demure maiden,
whose waist for the first time is encircled by
the arm Of gallant-who it is not necessary
should be nearer related than stranger-may
not repress feeling Of shame, but ere she is
whisked around the room dozen times, diz.
~ excitement has usurped the place Of shame,
and she does not again hear the inonatory
voice Of maidenly modesty protesting against
the liberty. or if she does it is subdued by
what CUSTOM makes right and proper.
At all public balls, there are few excluded
who claim admission. The price Of a ticket
makes the professional gambler and tho
libertine the equal Of the man of honor and
principle. and he is PRIVILEGED to address the
pure and innocent as freely as those whose
society is not pollution. Now answer me.
fond parents and brothers, can you allow your
innocent daughters and sisters. to submit to
the public embrace of those classes Of men,
without fear that the blasting stain of sin my
not have left it's imprint ON the future life Of
her whose fame is precious as your own ex-
istancel Can custom entirely obviate all fear
of contamination =
It is very rare that MAIDEN enters the ball
room with the wisdom of the adult, and il
generally happens her future life is shaped by
the good or i'll impressions received at pre-.
cisely the period she makes her first appear.
ance in society" If she is educated in the
ball room. blame her not if she prefers the
thoughtless, the gay. the dissolsse. to the in.
tellectual, the moral and the worthy. You
parents, are responsible for the education o.
your children, and the blame is not theirs il
they fall. In the place Of such frivolous
triding. and nonsensical amusements a. dan.
cling, provide proper recreation, mental and
physical, and your children will call you