Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-03-09

rules in Christendom, sacred or secular
No one can teach an extremist modera
ton. If he does not dance, he will sho'
his propensities in other things, eve
more perncious .n ..
You are evidently versed in argumen
tative logic laughed Mr. Grave.
Let those laugh who win / Iretorted
but to proceed: Dancing seems to be a
old as the world. All history speaks o
it, and think it very likely, when th'
morning stars sang together at creation
BIRTH they danced also.
But, Miss Elsie, you do not seem tc
be getting to the point. Does not thi
amusement, which you are endeavorins
to uphold, feed vanity? expose ladies tc
ill'assorted company? cultivate the taste
for dress? for excitement? and worse
than all, do not the exposure and weari
ness following night of revelry unfit it;
devotees for the life before them during
many subsequent days, and, in some
cases, lead TO premature deathE
your questions shall be answered to
the best of my ability, So far as vanity
is concerned, we all have a greater or
less share. Since | was four years old
l have been dancer, and the pet of our
gay circle, yet l am confident, in your
Quaker community, cannot be found a
young lady near my own age as imper-
vious to flattery as myself, simply be-
cause familiarity breeds contempt, and
| will ask you candidly if, with your
knowledge Of me, you can say display
more vanity than the girls with whom
you have been bred, although they do
not dance?
Il cannot say that you do, or in tact
50 much.
Then for the company. No lady
should attend social gathering without
being we'll informed as to those she is
likely to meet, and any woman who has
not character enough to select appropri
ate partners for the dance, cannot safely
be trusted at a church festival, picnic,
Or public promenade. Any woman can
lraw around her such companions as she
may please, and if her inclination is for
he fop, it is by no means necessary that
she should be versed in dancing to graf
fly that taste. Dress and excitement
ire among the necessaries of life. Wo-
men who have only home matters to oc-
,upy their attention are apt to become
'ault-fnders.'
But surely you do not believe in this
,xtravagaut display so common among
.he fair sex?
mo, and yes. / believe we should be
better without it, but when ones social
standing and influence depend as much
lpon dress as they now do, l think it
should receive due attention. You know
he habit does not make the priest
whether costly or not. So far as dress
S connected with dancing, let me tell
you that part of my wardrobe intended
or church is far more extravagant than
Ill my ballroom attires. Lastly, the
atigue and exposure to which you refer
s not half so deleterious among the
wealthy as lack of exercise and proper
excitement is among the poor and me.
liocrity.'
Then you approve of this aimless lite,
With its selfish ends; this whirlpool,
which engulfs so many who have not the
common sense of which you speak?
mo, l cannot say that l do. But you
ire taking too wide sweep, and, as
Usual, embrace the excess. Still, | do
approve Of dancing, both as an exercise
md social amusement. To me it is ex-
,eedingly invisorating. l often thauk
he Lord that can dance, 1t is fire.
luently more expressive than language
You are an odd little creature
Perhaps am; but my field of obser-
Tation has heen large, and it does not
appear right to me that, because some
people carry a thing to excess, it should
,e cried down by professors Of religion.
No more than that we should cease to
,at, because the medical statistics show
hat many persons have died from par
aking injudiciously of food.
well, perhaps zoe are too strict. l
confess l should very much like to have
you dance for me again, although l
must decline instructions in the art
''W hat is sauce for the goose is sauce
or the gander.' If can dance in mod.
'ration with impunity, so can you
At length l conquered, and we took
'ur places. A merry time We had. He
vas evidently unaccustomed to "trip the
light fantastic toe Round aud round
he mill went, while he came hopping
md stamping after me in such ludi-
'rous manner. l stopped and gave full
'ent to my mirth. Herbert laughed
slso, declaring that he felt like Shang-
lai looking for rose.bug
Every day we repaired TO the mill for
IN hour or so of merrymaking. At
ength | began to teach him the 'galop.
lie found it more difficult than any of
he others; aud, after many Intellectual
'ttempls at the round step, he wound up
~ stepping on his own toes, tripping
himself up, and cutting spread eagle.
was convulsed with laughter, being
ust able to gasp out: 'Lo grace sub
ect is upon the floor
He sprang to his feet, aud with
'ound was at my side. His face showed
leither anger, chagrin, nor mirth, but
IN indefnabIe, powerful something that
obered me instantly. Catching me in