The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-12-22
Dueling and Dancing.
WHAT THOMAS JEFFERSON THOUGHT
ABOUT THIN FIFTY
YEARS AGO.

|
YEARS AGO.
Mr.. E, L. Xaupi, of this city, has
IN his possession two autograph let
tiers of Thomas Jefferson, written ii
1925, a few weeks less than veal
before his death. One is addressed
to the father of Mr.. Xaupi, Mr.. Johr
A. xaupi, of Richmond, Virginia
and the other was an Enclosure. The
elder MI. Xaupi was at that time 6
teacher Of fencing and dancing, and
some young gentlemen of the Univer
sity founded by Jefferson were anx
ious to take lessons in these arts
and applied to him for the appropri.
alton of room in the College fol-
that purpose, seconded by a letter
from Mr.. Xaupi. The two letters
copies of which are appended-were
answers to these applications:
MONTICELLO,
September l, 1S25.]
MIR. XAUrr-Sir: An application
from two young gentlemen of the
University for the appropriation of a
room, wherein they might receive in.
struction in the use of the small
sword, having led me to the consid.
Grafton of that subject previously to
the receipt of your letter of yester
day, l inclose you my answer to them,
which pray you to receive as equal
ly an answer to yourself. The other
part of your request for the use of a
room for instructing them in the art
of dancing stands on more fayora-
BILE ground. It's object is the embel-
lishment and not the destruction of
the lives of our young citizens, and
the visitors seem to have provided
for it in the statute which enacts that
one of the elliptical rooms on the
middle floor of the rotunda shall be
used for schools of instruction in
drawing, music, or any other of the
innocent and ornamental accomplish
ments of life. Dancing is generally
and justly, I think-considered
among innocent accomplishments;
while we cannot so consider the art
of stabbing and pistoling our friends,
or dexterity in the practice of an in
strument exclusively used for killing
our fellow-citizens only, and never
against the public enemy. Dancing,
therefore, will be admissible in the
way of private lessons in one of those
rooms as soon as finished; but not
being so as yet it would be premature
now to decide on the order of prefer
ences which should be established
among their different use when
claimed simultaneously for more
than one, Or to prescribe regulations
for their preservation while in use.
BE pleased to accept assurances of
my great esteem and respect.
THos. JEFFERSON.
MONTICELLO,
August 9, 1921
Messrs. Rob. "A. Thompson, Philip A.
Boiling:
GENTLEMEN-The visitors of the
University have not considered the
art of using the small-sword as max
ing part of the instruction for which
that institution has been established
by the Legislature. The contrary
may be strongly inferred from their
pointed statute respecting weapons
which may infict death, marking in
strong terms of pointed reprobation
the ofense of using them, and for the
of which this act is a
After such a nantes
tation of their sentiments on the
subject I can not suppose that I have
authority from them to give encour-
agement or facilities toward this ar
ticle of instruction, and must there
fore beg leave to decline the request
of your letter of yesterday. I pray
you at the same time to be assured
that nothing will ever be spared, on
my part, which may promote the ad-
vancement of the youths of the Uni
in every useful branch Of sci
ence. Accept the assurance of my
greatest esteem and respect.
THos. JEFFERSON.
rJE'HS