The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1869-01-23
aTuOsE CURIOUS DAHCEs.'

rhe,r Morality An Iiinstrssis sa..sa
point -"may i PMS ny Hand Af
Your WaistF VT
4 LADY correspondent Of the new iofk
OL..rrer discourses A. follows upon me suD.
;cct Of those curious dances caiea ouna
dances. and the duty OF Christsn padenss
In relation thereto: !, 80
Messws. EproRs :-f our quotation rom
,hs Mnyavfon on the subject Of dancing II
.!. no, md sensible. What are Christian
n..sots doing "lsound dancesn - they are
called, have always been objected TO BY sober
people. Waltxipx was for 3 long time the
only form known, and in stories OF English
society s.fast" young women were gwen 20
such dancing, calling those who objected 10
them ssprudes."
Il Is within the memory Of most OF us When
the polka and kindred dances we're lntro-
duced. Notes OF preparation we're sounded
. very peculiar and facinating dance nso
been discovered in Paris il was TO be taught
10 q select few, and first made known % tne
world on occasions Of some great fete. .Curi-
osisy was excited, and presently the new
dance was found OF this side OF the Atlantic,
and spread with American rapidIty. Nm
dred dances with variations followed. Chil.
dren learned them and forgot to drop them
when they were no longer children. EVIL,
minded people liked them, the careless did
not mind, young people were fascinated We
weak yielded against their better Judgemens,
and some who ought 10 have known bet1er
we're over ruled. The refined and delica'e
forgot TO say that these dances are oorfowea
from the pc asantry Of Europe, whose s'snu-
ard OF manners and morals is hardly true
one for W.. Tho truth IL, that Christian and
rieA- mipded parents have not beea urn
enoueh n The matter. They ksow the psao.
tice "a mischievous; they cannot tell young
people I'll the evils, nor would they believe Il
they could, and they have not used their
riehtful authority 10 the matter. Il is never
sasv to do Just right there are always thorns
and briars in the way, but that 10 no reason
| for turning aside.
We know . case in point. A few years
since . man we'll known in society-no'
young, and Who could not dance-vas sitting
at party, near young lady, and watching
the mazes Of Sherman" He turned &c
her, knowing her we'll and said II wish
you would let me put my arm around yot
waist" OF course she looked ct him IL
amusement. "Oh," said he, .'you know
can't dance, but don't see the difference
All these young men have their arms abou
the girls waists, and why shouldn't | have thu
same privilege, though sit still 7"
Christian parents 60 and look on and se'
no wrong. or "hope no harm is done.
They know better.) And young people &
alone-no other friend with them, and dane
til morning, and call Il the "GermAn." Tn,
mischiefs are manfold-the late hours, which
totally unit them for the work of the mex
day the long continued and wearing excite,
ment, making recreation toll; the absolute
need not only Of food but of stimulus to keel
up fictitious strength for 90 many hours work
and as we all know, these scenes, even il
|"good society," become almost orgies. AM
parents mourn and lament and weakly say
l"Wha. can We dol Our children must do q
others do We can't be singular. Our chill
|dren must enjoy themselves Not one in
hundred has firmuess enough to say, cit shal
not be-" And yet they know the mischief
and evils that must of necessity spring fror
these late, exciting, promiscous dances, an
they shut their eyes and let the devil hav
his own way and lead their soma an
daughters to destruction. What shall We do
In many doubtful questions it is very ditficu
to draw the line, as when party is too larg
or an entertainment too lavish, or too late
or what il extravssnt in dress, equipsge G
outlay. Rnt hare the line is plain. ROM
dances. Let them be forbiuden .sS L-.:.ha
Ito their town place. where they flourish
Our police know where TO find them in thei
lluxuriance.
: 1t is marvel that anything so vulgar evt
|. gained place among decent people. "
thing is marked. No earnest, live, workir
Christian man or woman was ever found,
our knowledge, engaged in these dances.