The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-05-19
Dancing Again.
DAHLoNEGA, Iowa,
Nav 10, 1870.

~ WV
Editors Courier Permit mo O.
place in your columns tor a few refeo-
tons on the above subject. In my
remarks | shall aim to combat
principle, and not the man. Others
may descend to slang phrases and
personalities if they choose. | do
not see fit to indulge in thom. Such
language as some which i have no.
tioed on the subject above named. is
very apt to come from those who
have educated their heels, to the
neglect Of their head and heart. In
the estimation of K, have boon
completely demolished, and unable
to come up to the scratch" made by
himself. Others may not think as
he does. This however, is not mat
ter for me to decide. l leave the
reader to decide on the merits of the
arguments.
l said in former article, that 1T
was very doubtful whether any
physician of good reputation would
give direction to an invalid to dance,
to regain his health. 1t they did
give such prescription, that it was
prompted by corrupt heart rather
than an educated head. | re-assert
it, DR.. Fitch to the contrary notwith.
standing. If dancing is the great
panacea for the ills of life, it is pass
ing strange that it was not discover
ed before Fitch's til
One was curcd by dancing, OF
Consumption. Perhaps it would be
more proper to say, 'one got we'll
and but one, of al! the patients pre-.
scribed for by the Doctor, in which
dancing was an ingredient.
Cutters treatise on Anatomy, Phys
iology and Hygiene is qoted to prove
the value of dancing to health. He
enumerates labor on a farm, domes-
tic employment, archery, quoits
and dancing. You will notice dan
cling is last, because it is least. Try
those recommended first, and if they
fail to restore health, or to keep'you
healthy, then dance if you are able.
1t is not recommended to go to a
ball to accomplishit.
| once read of a man who was
afflicted with very loathsome dis
ease. He was directed by q very
good man to 60 and dip seven times
in the river Jordan, and he should
be cured. DR.. F. and his adherents
would say, so and dance, and you
shall be made whole. Another
notable parsonage said, go and WASH
in certain pool No, stop this
modern teacher, and his emmissary
would say, go and Dance and you
shall be made whole.
GO till the ground said God to
man. sSu5due the earth, it shall be
thine We are created to labor, and
it is essential to health and yigor.-
If man does not labor he is not
fulfil ing the object of his being. If
he does not dance, imagine he can
enjoy as good health as tho Dotor
quoted, or his adm;rer either. And
yet fulfill the object of his being. |
would say, better dance than commit
suicide by inactivity. But in world
SO well adapted to labor, no one need
be driven TO dancing for exercise -
LABOR is more honorable than dan
cling, even If il is brush cutting, for il
does not lead into such evil company
as dancing does. Tho Bible has been
quoted to justify dancing. tits true
David danced, but it was IN areligious
procession, after the Ark, thus per-
forming his part of a religious cere'
mony, which would be, q question.
able mode of worship under the
Gospel. When our modern pleasure
takers dance in the fear of God and
in the enjoyment Of His love, as
David did, we will not object. iii
was quoted Praise God in the
dance" That is what they do not
do. They do the dancing, but God
gets no praise. Bacchus is praised
by our dancers, instead of God; and
often to very great excess. There
are other cases of dancing, quite
different from the one mentioned.
The Israclites in the Wilderness for
sock God who had delivered them,
and danced round a golden calf, the
work oftheir own hanJs, for which
their names were bic led out of the
Book Ct Life. Here, we see, as soon