Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-12-23
The Social Dancing Club"

EDITOR HERALp At last Lancaster has
awaked from its deep slumber aroused not
only oy the busy hustle of news, the hoarse
clangor of the rafting cars aud the harsh note
OF the locomotive imagined TO be heard not
far off, but also by the sweeter music of the
"Laneesteri.string Band" employed for the
delight of the Social Dancing Club" The
young people of a country village usually
find It very difficult to devise some innocent
and profitable pastime for the long winter
EVENING" and to this cause probably more
than to any other influence, must be assigned
that almost irresistible attractveness of those
fatal grog-shops and saloons, which are, every
day, ensnariDg and destroying so many of the
noble and promising youths of our villages.
We are glad to see that, through the univer.
sal exertions of some very earnest workers
in the cause of temperance, "a temperance
lodge has been organized tor the correction
and eradication of this growing and frightful
evil; and we consider this project of soci-
al dancing club, as another very efficacious
step in the same direction, and consequently
to be encouraged by every right thinking and
temperate man. We are aware that there are
strong, and TO certain extent reasonable,
prejudicies existing in the minds of many in
teligent and highly esteemed citizens of Ian.
caster, against this amusement. So far as
these prejudices are grounded in any reason
at all, they may be classified as follows:
Firstly, Those which are based upon the
respectable reason Of the oyerpowering fasci-
nation of dancing, rendering il extremely
liable of being abused.
Secondly, Those which are founded upon
the usually open and indiscrimina:e publicity
of these exercises.
Thirdly, Those which urge the demon alizing
Intimacy of the association between young
men and ladies', which, it is said, inevitably
accompanies these amusements
These are the reasons and all the reasons, we
think, that people of fastidious delcacy, urge
against dancingas pastime. Now no refined
and worthy man or woman, competent to
educate, instruct and direct the conduct of
their children, would, for a moment, hesitate
in perceiving the validity, force and Justice of
these objections, when advanced against any
particular reason to which they might be APP
plicable; but because any particular dance or
instances OF dances are liable to these truly
weighty objections, good logic will not sup.
port an inference drawn therefrom, that all
dances are and must of necessity be open to
the same objection; and that dancing can be
conducted upon no principles which will lib
crate it from them, take it out of the black
category of corrupting influences, and com.
mend it to all, even the most particular and
sensitive individuals. The first objection is
not entitled to any regard, if notwithstand-
ing enticing allurements and potent charms,
it ID not abused nor carried to excess. In.
deed, in such a case, dance would be an
instructive school of self-denial The second
objection has no weight, if the exercises are
not public, but are confined to certain few
The third objection loses its force when
gentlemanly department on the part of the
young men, and becoming mod
esty on the part of the young ladies, govern
Their relations.
Having promised thus much we desire to
inform the citizens of Lancaster of the nature
and aim of the Social Dancing Club" and of
the principles upon which it is to be conduc
ted 1t Is a society of young men, having a
president, treasurer aud, what is the most
important feature of the organization, CONS
mittee on membership, who have thus far
shown commendable taste in the selection
OF members Inc exercises are tnuS euIrely
private, none being expected to participate
but members, and therefore, not open to the
objection of publicity. Its aim is pleasant
recreation and the innocent, social enjoyment
of some of the long winter evenings, which
otherwise might be more unproftably spent
It's exercises are to terminate always at IL
o'clock, thus intoxicating temperate and
beneficial indulgence in this mysteriousy
fascinating amusement.
The first exercise of the club was last
Thursday evening, and no indecorum, no inn
proprietes, no rough, disgusting rowdyism,
nothing but high, manly demeanor, modest
bearing and a good jolly time were INDUCED
in. Fathers ard mothers may encourage it,
without any fear of any demoralizing influence
or bad result.
We ought to beg pardon for occupying so
much space in your columns and so much of
the time of your readers, but we have written
thus lengthily that we might create, if pos
sibe, popular sentiment in favor of an en-
terprise which for its unobjectionable nature,
worthy aim and the sound principles upon
which it is conducted, deserves the encourage
ment and patronage of every good, christian
man and woman.
DANCING CLUB.