The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-21

rally unrecognized by the subject. II only un
consciousness of evil influence were a trust
worthy prophylactic against i'll Once again,
unu % Iqr all, protest. with the utmost sincerity,
tnaI am lar from confounding the devO-
ices OF the dance in an indiscriminate ac-
cusauon of conscious impurity. / know too
many pure-hearted women among dancers
Nn9n no fortunate son, or brother, or husband
CouIu possibly charge with one doubtful
thought, for even an instant of the most obii-
Vlous excitement, not TO be myself indignant in
purging my intention of any such cruel inus-
uce And in the opposite SEX too however
much more exposed by nature to temptation,
there are some dancers, no doubt who come
very near to escaping the conscious contagion
OF evil, by virtue of an instructive chastity in
them, Gods gift to few. But, right on the
heels of so wide disclaimer, / must reassert
my conviction that Inconsistencies does not
defend even the purest minds from something
Oh the lnsinuating sensual tendency of this IN
herently voluptuous amusemsnt.
4, And then consider, yc Christian fathers and
brothers and husbands, to what horrible hazards
Ol contact the opportunities of the dance expose
your daughters and sisters and wives. For who,
that has gained any experience of the world, is
ignorant of the fact that hardly once does q con-
siderable party assemble, even in the most re-
spectacle society," without including some man
whom his associates know to be a libertine at
heart, if not in life? To think of pure women
pastured on with palms of pollution, and with
imminent eyes of adultery by such q bull of
Bashan the evening long, in the promiscuous
corral of the dance What better facilities
could be imagined for an accomplished yolup-
tuary to compass the capture of his prey
taugh In the ordinary occasions of society,
lady may let her sacred intuitions have some
play to guard her against the access of impurity
in the uniform of gentleman. But it is the
boast of the dance that it is a democrat and a
leYeller, permitting no individual caprice to
break the circuit of universal equality. You
may shudder to your hearts core at the contact
tnat Is comlng-but the dance leaves you no
elecUon-you must take it when it comes.
Blush, blush, henceforth, We Christian women,
when you are invited to submit your persons to
the uses of n diversion that may at any time
choose to bring you fnger-tip to-fnger-tip with
those whose touch is pollution, or it may be,
encircle you in their arms A burning blush of
speechless shame were the best reply to the in
suit of such an invitation. But plead against
an advocate more eloquent than any individuals
words. o Fashion! Fashion What power
hast thou to browbeat holy nature, so that she
dares not speak to assert her sacred claims
against the imperous sway ! abruptly des-
patch this hateful subject without completing
the discussion of it. If my readers have WINGED
at the exceptional plainness of speech which l
have used, beg them to believe that it has cost
me sincere pangs of resolution to use it, But
have written under duress of conscience
that did not suffer me to shrink. The engineer
ing skill OF the Devil has defended the dance
with mastery dilemma that leaves open barely
two alternatives of attack about equally ineli-
gible. You may either exhaust your strength in
demonstrating the minor and incidental evils of
the usage, in which case you win an easy, but
also n barren victory; or you must freely en-
counter the peril of damaging your own fair
fame for purity, and deliver your blow full at its
inherent and essential immortality The author
has deliberately chosen the latter alternative.
He can trust the honest heat of indignation that
has warmed his words to take away the offense
of their extreme fidelity. AS for the risk of
being charged with bringing the impurity that
he finds, he contentedly accepts it. 1t is q
charge that two classes of persons certainly will
not prefer. These two classes are, first those
who know him, and secondly, those who know
themselves.