The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-08-29
/" The Cadet Hop

/ Our much esteemed contemporary,
the Louisiana Baptist" qualities its
favorable notice Of the State Seminary
l'by a condemnation of the monthly
/ gathering got up for the social improve
ment of the students, and as a reward
for diligence in the pursuit of their
studies. The objection of our neighbor
rests on the proposition that many of
the taxpayers of the State "believe
dancing to be an eviln and that there
fore they ought not to be compelled to
support an Institution where it iscoun-
tenanced, or to send their sons where
they are thrown in the way Of such a
Temptations" Now, by parity of rea-
sening, instruction IN any given branch
of learning might be .stabooed" at the
Seminary, for it would be possible to
find a small class of individuals more
narrow minded and more bigoted than
our contemporary to condemn as an evil
almost any branch Of the liberal arts OF
sciences. There are probably more
men in Louisiana who think Greek
| (which the Baptist" quotes so fluently)
an evil than there are who think dane
ing an evil; ought, therefore, the pro-
fessorship Of Greek to be abolishedq If
Jones, who thinks Greek an evil can go
to the Seminary and omit Greek with
out requiring Smith to omit it also,
why can not Smith, who thinks dane
ing an evil, omit dancing without re-
quiring Jones, who entertains different
opinions, to do the same thinge The
''Hop" was ayowedly established for
| the polish and refinement of the cadets,
the effect of which upon those who
availed themselves of it has been
| proved to be of mcalculable benefit;
but we have never yet heard that the
Academic Board has required any one
who thinks it an evil to participate in
its festivities. We understand that a
subscription will be taken up to fur
nish the Chapel with an organ, to rem
der the religious exercises more at
Tactive to the minds of the young men.
Now, we have seen elergymen Of our
neighbours persuasion who think it q
mortal sin to use instrumental music in
Church, while we have another pious
clerical friend who wishes to 90 to
Heaven principally to hear David play,
expert as he must be after several thou
sand years practice on a Eharp Of a
thousand strings" On whose opinion
among these pious gentlemen shall the
fate of the Seminary organ depend p
We think that the editor of the "Bap-
tist,p who seems to be so well posted in
the Bible, might find, by searching it's
sacred pages, that even better men
than David occasionally indulged in a
'Hop," and that the harp before it was
chung on the willows walked many of
the best Of the sons and daughters of
Israel to give expression to their JOY by
tripping on the eight fantastic toe.'
As some thief stole the only Greek
testament we ever had and our did
dell and Scott" fell overheard while we
were cultivating the Greek muse in our
skiff during the overflow, we are una
BILE to investigate the scriptural idea Of
dancing as suggested by the Baptist"
With him we leave the task to the ac-
complished and conscientious Superin-
tendent, satisfied as we are that if he
Sean deduce any evil from "Kon,os," the
@eek Testament or tLiddell and
Scott" the Hop will be Instantly sup
pressed.
But, seriously, we fear that the opin-
ion of the Louisiana Baptist is onlya
Iolic of that Puritanism which seems to
have crept into SO much Of the religion
Of the new world, through the agency
Of the "Mayfower' and plymouth
Rock" which says to the Publican II
am holier than thou" and lays down
Procrustean bed to which the faith of
all others must be made to conform. A
part of that religion which places be-.
fore the rising generation fathomless
pit Of fire and birthstone, and forty
thousand devils behind them, to fright
en- them into a love of God and a hatred
of sin and this beautiful world of ours.
Since the late grand throat-cutting car
nival OF the universal Puritanic nation,
with its usual Accomplishments Of fire,
rape and pillage, we think it is begin
ming to he time for the world to know
that a white cravat, a nasal twang, up
turned eye-balls and a livery tumble"
department, need not necessarily imply
a very elevated standard Of piety in
their possessor. There are assuredly
enough sad and sorrowful things in this
world without putting ourselves to the
trouble of searching for sorrow and sad
ness or of turning light and cheerful
ness into impenetrable gloom and CHM
merriam darkness of the soul. And id
the instructors of youth can devise any
means which can contribute in the
slightest degree to their pleasure or
happiness, their efforts are worthy of
praise and not Of condemnation.