The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-12-02

Whenever or wherever it was that
The idea of the sinfulness Of dancing
arose in New Eogl,nd, I know
not 1t is certain fact that at OH
Town, at this time, the presence OF the
minister and lis lady was not held to
be ID the slightest degree incompatible
with this amusement. We appeal to
the memory of many of our readers, if
they or their parents could not recall
time in New England when, in all the
large towns, dancing assemblies used to
be statcdly held, at which the minister
and his lady, though never uniting in
the dance, always gave an approving at
tendance, and wh:re all the decorous,
respectable old church members brought
their children, and stayed themselves to
watch an amusement in which they
no longer actively partook-- No one
looked 90 with more PLACID and patron
izing smile, as one after another began
joining the exercise, which, eommerc-
ing FIRST with the children and young
people, crept gradually upward amoug
the elders. Uucle Bill would insist on
leading out Aunt Lois, aud the bright
color rising to her thin cheeks brought
back futtcring image Of wha: might
Lave been beauty IN some fresh, early
day. AS to Uucle Eliaklm, he jumped,
and gyrated among the single sisters
and maiden aunts, whi.ling them into
the dance, as if he had been the little
black gentleman himself With the
true spirit Of Christian charity. which
marked allhis actions, he. Invariably
chose out the homeliest and most neg
lec;cd for partners and thus worthy
Aunt Keziah, dear old soul ! was ior a
eime made quiet prominent by his, at
teutisus. .~..t "
Of course, the dances in those days
| were of strictly moral nature. q, Ihs
very thought Of one Of the round
dances Of modern times would have
sent Lady Lathrop behind her fan in
HELPLESS confusion, and: exploded my
grandmother like . fulleharged arsenal
Of indignation. As it was, she stood
with her broad, pleased face radiant
with satisfaction, Us the wave OF JOY
business crept hi CHER and higher around
her, till the elders, whe stood keeping
| time with their heads and feet, began
to tell each other how they had danced
with their sweethcarts in good old days
gone BY. And the e.der women began
TO blush and bride, and to boast OF
step, that they could take in their
youth, till the music finally subducd
Them, and into the dance they; went.
"Wtll, we'll !' quoth my grandmother,
"they're all at it SO hear1y,l [ don't see
vhv:I shouldn't try it myself = and
into the Virginia reel she went, amid
screams of laughter from all the young.
CT members Of the, population. But /
assure you my grandmother was. not
woman to be laughed Ut, for whatever
| She once set her foot on she "put
through" with sturdy energy BETTING
a daug ghter of the .Puritans. = 'eH ny
shouldn't l dance r. she said,a when
she arrived, rcd aud restlendent, at the
bottom Of the set. "Didn't MI: De,
ol,d spoonl,den'cyy, 'cyy aud Miss Muchafraid, and
.Nr. Rcady-to-halt all dance together in
the sPi.srim's Progressf" and the
minister, in bis ample, flowing wig, and
nv laay, in her stiff brecade, gave to
my grandmother . solemn a,aan tx'nkle .,e,,.p o
appreciation; As s! nine O'clock STRUCK,
taa whole scene dissolved and melted
| for what 'well.regulatc1 village would
think of carrying festivities beyond
that, hourYs And 50 ended our Thanks,
giving at Old Town,-Ars. &o'0e,'
tOll I0,on Folks." ""' c7A''-'' ,-''''' -