Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-03-04
For the New
Moral OF Dancing.
by A. GAYLORD sPALDING.

MuIdl vi DdiiNiuSs
BY A. GAYLORD sPALDING.
The Terpsichorean art is a recreation
and an accomplishment Of grace and gen.
tility, cheap and easy to indulge in, aud
needful in farmers and workingmen's
homes, to relieve the tedious monotoDy,
and prevent the nervous depression, dis
couragement. dependency, suicide and
insanity, sometimes resulting from dreory
and drudging isolation. Such genteel and
orderly exercise is altogether delightful,
exhiliratiDg, and healthful. Nothing is
moro pleasing, inspiring and attractive in
social gatherings, or tends more to unite
and harmonic the hearts and hands of
the people. and to develop the finer ele-
ments of human nature. There is no sin
in it but its moral advantage requires
proper direction and management Avoid
the excesses of cost and late hours, and
observe temperance and modest and quiet
manners. Small companies and family
circles are preferable to large crowds and
noisy and rushing hotel balls, which incline
to be fast and boisterous. To "dance all
night till broad daylight, and go home
with the girls IN the morning" is often
rather coarse, wild, and extravagant, and
lacks the refining and civiizing influence
of smaller groups of acquainances and
friends.
But to call ncightors together at their
own retired homes, for three or four hour2,
at little or no expense, fer varied pleasant
exercises of the dance, the waltz, the
singing Of songs, conversation, and the
playing of innocent aud amusing games,
is not only perfectly harmless, but really
charming and beautiful; and any church
or religion that iorbids or discouragcs such
things must necessarily consist Of an igno-
rant, bigoted, lugubrious, gloomy, unhap-
py quality. The less the world has of it
the better. To expend millions for train
ing mankind to q fearful, fearful, mouin'
ing, groaning piety, is a pitiful and cruel
absurdity. The object of life is happi-
ness. Therefore don't be miserable; but
jump right straight out Of that feeling.
Catch the bright sunshine of joyous glec /;
make tie red blood dance in the veins.
and the heart to bound with love, affection
ard generous impulse Call together the
young and the old stir up the stiff, rigid,
and stupid community melt away all per-
sonal animosties and bitterness tear down
every soctarian fence of creed prejudice,
and social division and regard every work
ingman and woman as brother and sister
throwing aside denominational names
anu ulStluCtlOus. mere is uO FlTtue III
them. Shake the people into close: un-
ity; shake them up shake them down !;
forward and back; cross over; down in
the middle; round outside balance all.
Dance the Cotillon-tho Quadrillc the
Spanish That's il. Now retire 1t is
twelve o'clock. Get good rest and
sleep; and what is the result? Don't
every one feel better? Of course they
do. There is 10 mistake about it.
This method of life is a grand protec-
ton against blues, sulks, horrors, suicides,
and the insane asylum. Then let working
people everywhere demand more time for
thought, less ior hard work, better wages,
and more recreation and amusement. This
is the kind voice Of true Religion, and Of
workingmen's Politics. Call it the moral
Of dancing. Be happy, o ye people,
and leave off the whisky and the lager beer.
Champain, Mimi, Jan. l6, "a.