Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-04-03
Talmage on Dancing.

1he IolloNlng most eloquent passage Il
is from sermon delivered by Rev. T. De
Witt Talmage, in his church in Philadel
phia, recently:
i come tonight to exhibit group of what
might be termed the designations of the ball
room. They swing an awful scythe of death
and are ministers to stand idly by and allow
this evil to go en- without saying word foI
fear of trampllng on the trail of some pop
ular vanity? The whirlpool of the ball
room draws down from to-day half the life
and the moral worth of city. In this
whirlwind Of imported silks theexistence of
multitudes goes out. Bodies and souls of
thousands are annually consumed in this
great contlagration of ribbons. They are
the abbettors of pride, the meters to jeal-
olsles, the sacrificial altars of truth, and
| the avenues of lust.
The tread of this wild, indiscriminate,
heated midnight dance is dangerous to the
! purity Of the hearthstones of a city. Phys
| ical ruin is evident. What is to become of
! those who work all day and dance all night :?
A few years VIII turn them into coughing,
cadaverous, exhausted imbeciles. In the
book of God, those Sho have given up mid
| night to spiced wines, 10 hot liquors, and
ride home through the winters cold un-
wrapped from the elements, will be recorded
as suicides. There is but short step from
the ballroom to the graveyard. A sepul.
chral breath floats up amid the perfumes of
the bau room, and the froth Of Death lip
bubbles In the champagne.
Many of our brightest homes are being
desoated; many of them have broken up
keeping house and gone 60 boarding in order
to devote themselves more exclusively to the
higher duties of the ballroom.
Farewell to books, to quiet culture, TO all
the nt homo Tho for bar will Of
ter while, go lower down into dissipation.
The son will be tossed about in society
nonentity. The daughter will elope with
some French dancing master, and the moth
er, still trying to keep within the glitter
ing circle by every art, coaxes color to her
cheek and the wrinkles from her brow, at
tempting all the arts Of the belle without
success an old hirt, miserable butterfly
without wings.
The first time that you find one of the
faithful attendants at the ballroom sudden
ly engaged in home duties, let me know. l
would like to see such one, go great ways.
They have no home. Their children un-
washed, the china closet upset, the furni-
ture dirty, the house scene of misrule, con
fusion, cheerlessness and dirt. You can al
most discover the sickening odors of un-
washed, unclean, and unventilated apart |
ments even amid the Witcheries OF the do
mestic ballroom.
This gilded sphere is utterly bedwarfing
the intellect and soul This constant study
Of little things; this narrowing anxiety
about dress this shoe pinched, hair feck |
ed, strange spectered group; this shrivel |
ing up Of all man s moral dignity, until it is |
10 more discernable with the naked eye ; |
This taking of ones heart. that God meant !
TO be filled with all amenities, and pairing it |
until it is heartless heart, lost; this wrap |
ping Of all the mind in the griefs Of a spot
ted cravat; this trampling down of a soul |
that God meant for great upliftings, under
the feet OF the ballroom dance.
L prophesy the spiritual ruin of all con-
tlnuous participants in this dissipation. For
the white polished biads attending have |
been once on the road to heaven, but the
flash of the ballroom chandelier lighted a
torch for eternity.
From the table spread at the close of that
besweated scene, who went home to say his
prayers? Who? Who went about with
acts Of charity? Who? Who dressed the
wounds of the soldier? Who? Not one
How .mutitudes waste and lose their souls
Alas to many this life is but masque-
rade ball. As at such entertainments, gen
tlenen and ladies appear In dress as queens
and kings and clowns, and mountebanks, and
'iO' ~ " nv ib bicSUioC, cc
to this life all unclean passions move in dis
guise. Across the floor they trip merrily: T
The music throbs, diamonds glitter, lights
bubble, the feet bound, gemmed hands out
stretched clasp gemmed dhands-tinkling feet
respond to tinkling feet On with the
dance Flash, and rustic, and laughter i'm
But the languor of death
comes over the limbs ard blurs the sight.
Light lowers Music saddens into wall
Lights lower Masquers can hardly be seen
The fragrance Of flowers is exchanged for
the sickening odors of garlands wrapped
long in the tomb? A breath of air sweeps
through the hall The wreaths shake I
Lights lower Signs seem caught among
the curtains Glasses shaken by solemn
thunders rattle loudly together! The scarf
falls from the shoulders a shroud The
masks fall off, and to and fro on the slip
perry boards dances Death; in glide jealous
les, disappointments, dispair Torn leaves
and withered garlands half hide the ulcered
feeti The stencil Of lampwicks almost
quench choking DAMP chilliness! feet
still hands folded voices hushed eyes
shut l-LIGHTS OUT
The members of the Legislature are think
ing OF Increasing their own pay to 81, 500 |