The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-16
MRS. SHERMAN ON DANCING.
THE WIFE or TBE GFNER.tL WRITING
sYON Tgfg RIDOWt.
N,ae 81 her DAUGHTERS Pcruitted to pSrtici-
rate IN u Cndcr any Circumstances What
Women 81 virtue aud sense viii Biush At.

ron 1,.-'n Fencveo At,
Tho following letter IL copied from the
original letter in Mrs. Shcrnan's handwriting.
which We haze Soon.
FoNr iIAvrSwoErH KAN. Aug. 81 1877.
VIZ D1AE Mr. RuiorsoN; I have rond your
lsaoN. " Tho Dance If Death and | must snv
admire your courage. and believe you have
shown rs much hcroism as any crowned mar
tyr in your defence Of virtue and your denun-
citation Of what Is calculated to drive 1t from
tho hearts and minds Of fashionable women.
have always given this miserable dance a ST.
lent condemnation by refusing to allow any Of
my daughters to participate in it under any cir
cumstanccs but | havo avoided the evil as
something At tho sight NJ which my soul re-
voltsd. wthou. being able to say anything
against ii. either from experience or any abso-
luto knowledge OF its most direct and PERM
cious effects.
You have had experience " the dance itself
and you have evidently had evidence Of it's
most fntal results From tho published letter
OF Father Accolti. lately sent 10 me- infer that
you AFRO suffering tho consequence of your
hcro.s,n. ! trust You will not he cast down. nor
nllow yourself e. suffer any pniii, Whatever may
b. said III vou. Anything SIS than your bold
declaration would have failed to produce any
elect. =,
respect will now blush 10 have the dance
named 70 them. An amusement which leads IN
ont should be- forever disco,int,unnccd Even
II they should continue II for while in order
TO assert their own Innocence and their non-
too glad 10 lot u die ont.
am rei9ced that you have spoken, boldly.
and told all you know about II. The advocal q
OF this dance have bad their own way long
mountaineering all eutcrtnninents sheer
ing upon and ridiculinG those who quietly de-
cline to participate; openly and constantly in
sinuating of those who decline it that they are.
therefore. evl minded. g., or quoting impu-
dcltly and insinuntnely their only weapon.
Honi soft qui NAL pense." and then throw
Ing themselves in msns arms 10 prove their
GSn tho haf Which yn dr ~3u.1 10
true. hut | bel.eye every word you write. NJ
It explains many things which ] had OH
One thing alone | shall mention: have OBJ
served that those who enjoy this dance enjoy
no other-that they are exhausted anu MIS-
cradle, after indulgnG IN IT,, and It the
end. Of the season they IRE broken down
in health. All who have participated in I,
must feel greatly mortified AMI humiliatod
on reading your book. ami muny " II be angry
mud bitterly ccnounce you; therefore, ! say |
admire your courage. your heroism in defence
lost 10 society by reason OF this bold dance.
lie, them suffer mortiiiaauon They have been
iidiculing and scOrnne AMI Slehtiug every
modest aud obcd!ent gir! WHO failed 10 parti'i-
patio with thcu for these many years. am
whom you quote against the dance. because the
others Will be accused; aud ladies whose inmi-
lies Tor g"neratons nave strictly avoided su h
dances would bc sorry to be supposed TO have
had any experience. even at the price of being
considered eminent ana renowned, respect
the lady rs ] do yOu for being willing to de-
noince this from her own experience.
II cons istent With your obi cations toward her,
/ would he glad 20 know nor name. which. of
course. would not even mention without your
"founding tho wrong psrsons for i6iS ,p"5d
lady, please give her name to the public II she
Is still willing; at lcast describe her So that she
cnrhnot be coniounded with, others.
have us yet received only the copy you sent
not the ones | ordered. With great admiration
and regard. very truly yours.
ELLEN L. SHERMAN.