The Western advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1872-1874, 1874-07-11
IRE Published BY Request from the Advance a
December q, 1871
THE DANCE yvs$~:,

A~V~1UoS~
December q, 1877
THE DANCE yv=@:,
EDITOR ADVANCE: Your article on
"Amusements, i" together with the dis
cussion of the dancing question by the
Worthington Lyceum, brings the sub
ject of the dance prominently before
the community. Since you have invi-
ted communications on the subject, and
''Ted," in your last issue, calls upon
those opposed to certain amusements
(meaning the dance) to give their rea-
sons, IF they have any," 1 shall re-
spond, briefly giving my views upon the
subject.
The question was ably, though not
exhaustively discussed by the Lyceum.
Had I been one Of the disputants
should have taken ground somewhat as
follows
I should have laid down this propo-
sition first, viz: That if the dance re.
suits in more evil than good, then it is
not a proper and expedient amusement.
And should have contended that it
does result in more evil than good for
tile following reasons:
I. Nis injurious to health. Latehours
or loss of sleep in nine cases out OF
ten are connected with dancing. Late
eating, or eating late at night, III most
instances attends the dance. Exposure
to night air after having been heated tc
the point Of perspiration, always fol-
lows this favorite amusement. All
these, the advocates of the dance will
admit, are injurious to health.
II. The Dance, as usually conducted
leads to eril associations. So distinctl,
is this recognized in all our cities thai
ballroom acquaintance does not con
tinue. That is, the lady is not expec
ted to recognize on the street the Mex
day the gentleman with whom sh.
danced the night before. The result
often is that refined and innocent
lady gets into the arms of man whom
she would not recognize on the street
and goes spinning around the room
with him in i public hug. This would
be bad enough even if they were on ;
par socially and morally, and lovers be
sides, but when the virgin and the rak'
indulge in i. public embrace, the leas
Christian can do is to protest. VIVA
would you do, Mr.. Editor, as lover
brother, or father It may be said j,
reply that the virgin should dance onl,
''square" dances with the rake, or re
fuse to dance with him at all. But tn
fact is she neither refuses to dance will
him nor confines hel self to dancing OF
the ''square." Drunkenness, moreover
is a common attendant of the dance
and rivalries, jealousies and animosi
ties frequently spring up which end il
personal conflict even before the dane
is over.
Ill. 1t units for more serious occ,.
patton. Young ladies in our cite
spend days in preparing for fashiona
ble ball, and after it is over spend tn
first day sleeping or moping and severa
subsequent days dwelling upon thei
tlirtations, conquests and triumph
over each other. In smaller towns
they do the same in proportion to thei
capacity and opportunity. Any on
who has lived in the city and had tn
opportunity Of attending even the bes
dances, say round of parties given il
honor of some popular marriage, simp
! " knoWS that this is the case beyond an
possibility Of question. a week o
such parties not only units the mind
of those who participate for more ia
tional amusement, but for religious an
business duties.
w. Those rho dance are lei to 10 S
at unseemly and unfit times. There is
prevailing impression that in almos
any aftiiction, except the death of
near relative. the subject should resor
to amusement, especially dancing All
merry-making, to cheer the mind. l
most cases our Affections do not ris
from the ground. They are the chas
tisenents of God, and nothing can b
more unseemly or pitiful than to see
man OF woman whom God has taken i
hand and made to pass under the roC
flying about and plunging into anus,
ments i'll a vain endeavor to escap
from an Almighty hand. Infinitely be'
ter is it, as David says, i'll such a strait
to go to the house Of mourning than
the house of feasting. Often dancin
and gaiety are the very things fc
which God is chastiseing them, and sti
they 80 on trying to cure the disease b
keeping up it's very cause.
V. Dancing eciU not, as Il rule, beo
reflection. speak, Mr.. Editor, som'
what as reformed dancer. In lool
ing back over a number of dances a
tended during a period of ten or tWely
years, a majority of them will not De:
reflection because they resulted i'll MOI
injury than benefit. No other amus'
ment 50 takes the youthful FRESHNESS
out of young men and young women a
a series of dances. In most case!
something disagreeable occurs, eve
When there is nothing violent and fl:
grant. In many Of the States it is
custom to give dances at the Insar
Asylums for the benefit of the inmates
Citizens attend and dance with the il
sane, just as they attend charity BALL
to do good. But, judge, there are fe'