Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-04-07
Kissing Mr.. Beecher.

kissing was written by Mrs. Jane
Gray Swisshelm to the Chicago Iyib-
aene, under date of March 18th.
The promiscuous kissing brought to
public notice by the great scandal trial
Is questionable social custom, for
which Plymouth congregation should
not be held solely responsible; and
those good folks who are holding up
their hands In pious horror because
Mrs. Moulton kissed Mr.. Beecher, be-
cause MIR. Beecher kissed other women
and other women kissed Mr.. Tilton.
should stop and consider that all the
Orthodox churches in the country have
tor a. century, teen teaching that pro-
miscuous kissing is a most innocent
amusement,-nay, more, means Of
sanctihcatlon. This assertion will
doubtless shock the reader, but in
vlte his attention to the proof.
In what direction have the Ameri.
can churches so persistently exerted
their influence as in efforts to suppress
dancing? Rythmical motion to music,
by persons of opposite sexes in compa-
ny, has been earnestly and constantly
denounced as the inspirer of unhai-
lowed passion, and those who engaged
In promiscuous dancing have been de-
nounced as enemies to chastity, and
expelled from churches, unless the
dancing were accompanied by kissing.
1t four men and four women went
through the figures of a quadrille to
the sound Of any usic,-that of an
Instrument, of other voices, or of their
own,-ana did not kiss each other dur
ing or at the close of the performance,
they had violated the rules of the
church, had gone over to the worlds
people, and deserved expulsion from
the fold; but let them 60 through pre-
cisely those same figures and motions,
to exactly the same tune, and each one
of the four men kiss every one of the
four women, and it was all right. The
promiscuous kissing sanctities the pro-
miscuous dancing. Dancing unreliev-
ed by kissing is Of the Devil; but
dancing literally interspersed with
kissing is of the Church?
1t any one doubts this, let him at
tend an evening party in the house of
some pious Deacon, where 4" kissing
plays" are the substitute for dancing;
let him watch the asnpany go through
the motions Of "Dear Sister Phoebe :"
" The White Cockade," or any other
of the plays in which the motions are
regulated by music; and he must see
the sanctifying influence of promiscu-
Gus kissing in making pure that which
without it, would be grossly impure.
Another way in which kissing has
been made common is the general habit
Of teaching-nay, constraining-child-
rem to kiss every visitor and casual &C.
quaintance Of the family. Now, a
little girl accustomed to be kissed by
men outside her own family loses Ma
ture's principal safeguard to virtue.
That exclusiveness, that instinct of the
pure mind, which shrinks from person
al contact with any unloved object, is
guard set by Nature over personal
purity and personal safety, One of
the first lessons a child should be
taught is to permit no stranger to
touch it, and to resent with all it's force
any personal liberty.
| always lock with apprehension to
the future of a child who goes like a
cat, to every stranger to be caressed
and one that kisses everybody, or
makes merchandise of these commodi.
ties-exchanging them for candy and
coppers-has need of an early grave as
it's only safe refuge.
lndlscriminate kissing Of children
leads to evil, and of late years there
has been growing habit among our
best people Of unwise kissing. Some
of the best and purest men and women
| have known have been in the habit
of kissing as salutation. 1t has al
ways seemed to me a mistake, and it is
one against which [ have often pro.
tested, as custom more honored in
the breach than in the observance. In
some cases it is no doubt innocent. but
it opens the way for cases that are mot
innocent. There can be little doubt
that all the odium now darkening great
names originated in beginnings allowed
by society as innocent. If there had
been no promiscuous kissing, there
would have been nothing worse; and
the churches and that society which
have fostered this should bear their
share of the blame in spreading nets
for the feet of feeble walkers.
A kiss between persons of opposite
sexes, and not of close family ties, is
the language of passion; and friendship
has no right to purloin it, or wrest it
from lts'legitimate Specification. When
she attempts do SO, she is liable to
serious misunderstanding; and. if both