Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-05-28


By the President.
J. G. BANCROFT DAVIS,
Acting Secretary of State.
For the Freeman.
Amusements.
We notice in the FREEMAN (of April 3O)
an article on amusements, over the sigma
ture of B. R. We have been wont to con-
slider that writer's head level on most sub
jects, but upon dancing the man" is not
jesting, but evidently insane. We remember
a clergyman who was so much affected upon
hearing of the death of the Old Man elo'
quent" that he arose from his bed in the
darkness of night, went into his chamber and
commenced singing and dancing with all his
might. His wife, awakened by the loud
noise, called to him to know what he was do
ing. :" Mourning for John Quincy Adams, =
was his reply. Believing that silence is the
fittest language of grief. we say at once, the
minister was crazy. So we say of B. R. in
his retirement and decrepit old age if he has
commenced dancing with all his might and
main, his frosted locks streaming in the
breeze, and inviting all the clergy in the vi
cinity to join him. The most charitable con-
struction we can put upon is to call it insan-
ity; yet the man insists " that he never was
more sincere" We expect that the young,
the gay, the inconsiderate will sport on and
some even dance off the precipice of ruin and
be lost We excuse them and call it the fol-
lies and foibles Of youth, but when grave
men and even ministers are attempting to
inaugurate state of society that will coun-
tenance dances and balls as they exist to- day
"a commingling of church members and the
worlds people, of saints and sinners-and
call it g a rational religion that enhances the
delights of both the body and soul, then we
NAV tremble for whatever in morals and re-
ligion is valuable.
True, men of sedentary habits require
muscular exercise. Then let the modern
clergyman do as the fathers did-take his
staff in hand and walk five or six miles to
make pastoral visit or to exchange pulpits
with a brother, and if that is not sufficient
exercise then he can chop or saw his fire
wood, or tend his garden, but never lower
the dignity of his Office by the supremely
foolish practice Of hopping up and down and
turning around, 50 tripping the fantastic toe. y
But B. R. would not endorse expensive all
y. Ill. II.
ings of old and young But does not all ex-
perience prove that the young men or the
young ladies who learn to dance, who become
expert dancers will sooner or later find their
way into the midnight ballroom where they
will find the vicious of both sexes, the reck-
less and profigats. Oh, the amenities Of
life must not be withheld by one individual
from those of another
But those long faced, grim-visaged, solemn
toned ministers who were the dread of B
RS youth, and who haunt him still. ''They
meant well, let Us be charitable Such
sneers come with poor grace from any son
of New England who has been reared in the
sunshine of the best state of society that ev-
er existed in any age or nation. We search
in vain the annals of the world for class OF
men that will equal the clergy of New Eng
| land the past century. Grand in intellect,
uncomprsmising in principle, they welded
an influence which gave tone to society and
did more to shape the institutions of the
whole country than all other causes COM
bined. 1t is in vain that we cry out " bigo-
try, superstition and intolerance " the an
swer to all criticism is the fruit. Ask the
most learned man or the most ignorant in
the world where, all things considered, is the
most lovely spot in the wide world, and he
will point to the handicapped Granite hills
of New England. What is the secret of all
this? Why is it that Vermont and, indeed,
all New England, in defiance of sterile soil
and frozen climate, is the very garden of
of the world ? We answer, without fear OF
successful contradiction, we owe it to pious
ancestry who with thcir Bibles knelt in the
wilderness, here built the church and estab-
lisicl t'!.. relation of pastor and people out
ofwhich have grown blessings untold. Aw y
then with that contemplate cry for a more
liberal religion. What this age most needs is
that excellent system of family government
and sound orthodox preaching which has
reared and disciplined so many sons and
daughters who have gone forth to bless the
world. If the little town where B. r. re-
sides was for a long time distinguished above
ether towns for its intelligence and moral ex-
| cellence it is owing in great degree to the
influence of that great and good" grim Wis
aged man who for so many years. at the
center of the town, sounded the trump of the
everlasting Gospel, and there taught both
parents and children their true relation to
each other and to their God. They meant
well, let us be charitable" In this age OF
looseness in morals and ethics how pure and
lovely appears the religion of our fathers.
Let us then renew our bonds of fidelity to
the great lessons they taught.
OLD SCHOOL.
Foreign News.