Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-03-04
That "Danclng,"

MR. NDlTOR: ~ seems that wv"
must have becn mistaken In the
amount OF interest felt IN tho sub.
.ject OF "dancing;' aud, from tho
similarity of style IN the communi.
cations, one would infer that he was
under the necessity of answering
his own epistle. At oil events, the
the conclusions of one are about a.
rational as the other
There is too general disposition,
on the part of parents aud guard.
ans, to ignore the fact that tito men.
tai and PHYSICAL well.beinp Of young
people requires some kind OF recrea.
ton, and have very much Of that
disposition which characterizes the
unrestrained life Of many of our
young men when they learn the in.
tiuences of home. AS to the strong
predjudices existing in the mines of
many in regard to dancing, the
writer can only answer with the
light of observation-having lived
more than half century in the
"strictest sect" Puritan in this 70.
spect-and it does not appear that
those communities or denomina.
tions, in which it is practised are
exceptionally vicious; but the re.
verse is more often demonstrated;
for this reason, the parents and
older classes, generally, participate,
and thus control its character.
There are certainly very few 40 un.
reasonable as to contend that there
is anything in the simple act of
keeping step to music that is culpa.
BILE. Very much of the enjoyment,
undoubtedly, arises from the desire
to display and compare toilets, in
connection with the skill of the or.
chestra; and this is really too much
akin to that feeling which produces
the elaborate exhibitions of dress.
and the anxiety to hear salaried
choirs of our modern churches. to
merit very severe criticism from pro.
Tossing Christians.
Not long since mother, who has
not the means uOr the disposition to
make dummies of her daughters to
advertise the goods of Jorden.
Marsh u Co., or "any other man."
asked one of the most Jealous, and
strange as it may seem-extrava
gantly dressed members of church
if she did "not think it wrong to
make such Il display of dress =,
The reply was, 81 do not, because I
do not think it sinful if you think
it sinful, it would be wrong for yeu."
Alas! for the blindness which can.
not see that the over-dressing, of
our church.going people, not only
deters large class from attending
public worship, but indirectly origi.
mates hundred fold more crime
than all the dancing they Sc earn.
estly deplore!
The idea that the strong social
and mirthful instincts, that every
healthy youth is endowed with, for
somewise purpose-can be, or ought
to be gratified in the prayer meet.
ing, is too absurd for the most big.
oted. With the utmost respect for
the institution, one cannot avoid be.
ing panied by the indiscreet zeal of
some of those who think that they
are especially SCALED" to force the
attendance of young people by such
articles as j. w. L. recommends,
lie: "Get up a prayer meeting every
time there is to be a Dance" A la.
dy conspicuous for her efforts in
this direction, told young girl that
she sprayed earnestly the night of
the dance that she would not have,
a good time, &c. )" but the latter re-
piled, ~ did have splendid time ~
So is it marvellous that she doubts
the efficacy of prayer7
Young people have stronger dis
eliminating faculties than adults
give them credit for f; and they "fail
to see' why they ought to be debar-
red from all kinds of amusements-
except, when their services are re-
quired at entertainments for reliQi-
Gus purposes. 4. G.