Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-19
"THE DANCE OF DEAEH.o
What SIlerman's Wife Thinks Of The
Naughty RedoWa.
San Francisco Alta.

w NAT SHcIiilaH1S Sffs6 fHsHas Vi any
Naughty Redowa.
San Francisco Alta
THE following letter is copied from
the original letter In Mrs. Sherman's
handwriting, which we have seen.-Eds
Fort LEAVENWORTH, Kan,
August q, 1877.
My DEAR Mr. RULOFsON Il have
read your book, "The Dance of Death"
and | must say admire your courage,
and believe you have shown as much
heroism as any crowned martyr IN your
defense of virtue and your Remuneration
of what is calculated to drive it from the
hearts and minds of fashionable wo-
men. | have always given this mlser-
able dance silent condemnation by
refusing to allow any of my daughters
to participate in it under any circum-
stances; but [ have avoided the evil as
something at the sight Of which my
soul revolted, without being able to
say anything against it, either from eX-
perience or any absolute knowledge Of
its most direct and pernicious effects.
You have had experience Of the
dance itself, and you have evidently
had evidence of its most fatal results
From the published letter of Father
Accolti, lately sent to me, infer that
you are suffering the consequence of
your herOism. | trust you Will not
De cast down, nor allow yourself to
suffer any pain at whatever may be
said of you. Anything less than your
bold declarations wonld have failed to
produce any effect.
Now it must cease. Women of vir-
tue or self-respect will now blush to
have the dance named to them. An
amusement which leads in any case to
such results as you have pointed out
should be forever discountenanced.
Even if they should continue it for
awhile in order to assert their own in
nocence and their Inconvenience in
your views, they will be only too glad to
let it die out.
am rejoiced that you have spoken
boldly and told all you know about it.
The advocates of this dance have had
their own way long enough-absorbing
all misunderstanding upon and
ridicuhng those who quietly decline to
rticipate-opcnly and constantly in
sinuating of those who decline it that
they are therefore evilminded, etc, or
quoting impudently and insinuatingly
their only weapon, " HON. scat q15 NAL
q pe12se," and then throwing themselves
in mems arms to prove their own purity
of mind Inever would have imagined
the half which you declare to be true,
but [ believe every word you write, as it
explains many things which I had OBJ
served without attempting to under
stand One thing alone | shall men
ton [ have observed that those who
enjoy this dance enjoy no Other-that
they are exhausted and miserable after
indulging in it, and at the end of q the
season" they are broken down" in
health All who have participated in it
must feel greatly mortified and humili-
ated on reading your book, and many
will be angry and bitterly denounce
you, therefore [ say | admire your
courage, your heroism in defense of
virtue, which is in danger of being en-
tirely lost to society by reason of this
bold dance Let them suffer mortifica-
ton! They have been ridiculing and
scorning and sighting every modest
and obedient girl who failed to partici-
pate with them for these many years. [
am sorry you could not give the name
of the lady whom you quote against
the dance, because others will be &C
cused and ladies whose families for
generations have strictly avoided such
dances would be sorry to be supposed
to have had any experience, even at the
price of being considered g eminent and
renowned" respect the lady as do
you for being willing to denounce this
from her own experience.
If consistent with your obligations
towards her, would be glad to know
her name, which, of course, would not
mention without your consent. Should
you find the newspapers bounding"
the wrong persons for this good lady,
please give her name to the public if
she is still wiling at least describe her
SO that she cannot be easily confounded
with others
[ have as yet received only the copy
you sent, not the ones [ ordered. With
great admiration and regard, very truly
yours, ELLEN +. SHERMAN.