Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-02-05
Shall We Dance I!

Presenting that the columns o
the OPINION are always open to
the discussion OF public questions
| venture to write II brief article on
this subject. From present appear
ances IN Bradford, from the fact
that several dances have occurred
and more are likely to; from thu
private discussions going on In r.,
gard 10 tnis amusement, | should
say that dancing had already be
come a question of public interest
1t will take but little reflection fol
any one to see that the community
may be divided into three classes
OH this subject of dancing. First
those who have no scruples against
1t, who have always danced when a
good opportunity presented itself,
and probably always will. 10 this
class we have nothing to say, only
that you show good common sense,
in one particular at least, when you
lay aside your labOrs aud troubles,
to enjoy yourselves heartily for an
evening in respectable dance.
Second, those who have no definite
principles against it, who can see
no objection to one of the social as.
semblies, for instance, who acknOwl.
edge they enjoy it very we'll, who
would like to be there.-"but guess
they won't attend, somebody else
may not be there, and some one
else may not think it Just right"
To this class we would say If you
want to make nobOdies Of your
selves, keep right on and treat every
question that comes before you in
this same way; have 10 fixed opin.
ions Of your own. Have some one
tell you what to think on every
point that comes up for descision in
life. DO this and what do you sup
pose you will ever be worth in the
world 1t is just this course that
makes the time.stepping, policy
serving indi> iduals whom you and
| never intend to respect. | am
speaking now mainly to certain
class of young people here. They
will agree with me in this. In or.
der to be a man or woman worthy
the name, we must in the first place
have some fixed principles, some
ideas of our owl, and in the next
place we must have mind enough
to live up to these principles. Now
you say you have no principles that
lead you to condemn social dancing,
but policy, or something else comes
in and you will not attend. Now
in this course | hold that you are
showing yourself weaker, but no
wiser, than those who attend every
dance and all dances and who make
one of the chief ends of
life.
Let us now look for moment at
the third class; those who oppose
dancing at all times and in all forms.
You may well oppose it in some forms
The public aud promiscuOus ball
for instance, held where rum is sold
and the chief object is to make mon.
ey. But why do you say select
party well known to each other may
not dance at a private house or hall ?
DO you suppose it conflicts with
any law, human or dlvinei DO you
it contrary to any principle
moral or religiOusf 1t seems to me
hat you can not c0nscientiOusly
yourselves so we'll versed
that you may sit as self elec-
ted judges over the actions of all the
rest of humanity. 1t seems to me
hat when you appoint special
prayer meeting, to keep some of the
Young people from attending a so
;iaI dance, you are taking a short
sighted way to do Gods service.
With all the sin, the poverty and
want in this community don't you
think it could be done better in
some other way? Indeed, if that
is doing it az all, it is contrary to the
way | read the gospel. But let us
ourselves to the subject at
hand and not the Interpolation of
the Gospel. If a modern "ladies
,ociable" with the usual amount of
'mbarra sing-standing-around, min
sled with such plays as "Ghost"
and miscellaneous kissing is all right
and a sacial dance all wrong, then l
will acknowledge | don't understand
he principles which lead humanity
upward and Onward,nor those which
ought to be follwed by christian
gentlemen. Looking at the sociable
II this light and the social dance as
YOU may, | will choose the latter
,very time. If the latter is not as
respectable, if it is not more salts
factory amusement, and if it does
not give us a broader, better, a
more correct view of humanity, then
the experience Of others must be
to that Of my own. W.