The Morning herald., 1877-07-02
wILMlNa rON. Dol. July , 1877,
Nor1oE TO SuBsoRBHRs.-Those Of our
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ING HERALD, will oblige by an early re-
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DANCING.

-4a at,a- DANCING. 'I
"A house divided against its If oanno
stand
The tent was disturbed Saturday night
One of the wings of the temperance army
were in favor Of dancing &c, at the com
ing pic.nic-the other wing sounded on
its note of combat against dancing in tb'
Republican of Saturday. We are unable
(heaven help us,) to see what harm ther,
is in dancing: for centuries after the Chris
an era it was recognized adjunct to re-
lyious ceremonies, and the millions O.
good christians who have gone to theil
seward, have danced to the enchanting
music Of the harp and flute. Itis cur
ious fact, that the first to war against dam
cling, was that Arch Infdel, Mohomrt, and
he found no imitators or followers in
Christendom until the advent Of the
Puritan movement in England. The mis-.
take certain reformers make, is trying to
be too good, and too force upon men Of all
tsmperments. and likes, and dislikes, their
own grim sense of right. Dancing is not
wrong per see-some dances may lead to
temptation but we opine they are not
those which will be iudulged in by the
simple honest folks who will attend the
temperance picnic. a. .-. 3. ss
1t is just such extreme views and mat
ters as those Of the anti-dancers, which
repel moderate and liberal men from join
ing or giving countenance, to any move.
ment dominated over, or led by clergvmen.
They are as a rule impracticable and lack
ing in knowledge Of men, they labor
under the delusion, that prayers, and
hymns, suffice to keep from temptation.
This is isabsurd:-every means Of enjoy
should be given to reformed man, to oc-
cupy his mind, and direct his thoughts
away from the'haunts where he fell. The
cravings Of his appetite should be satisfied
with rich stimulating food. Tie rough
rude joke of the bar room fingers on the
recollections, and dance, and pleasan,
frolic, elsewhere, would occupy the mind
in lieu of the fun around which temptation
hung. Forty Parson power is insufficient
to curb and restrain, the natural love Of
dincing and music in the young. Let the
dancing wing stand firm. Custom, the ma |
tural desire for amusement, the bible, which
is an authority in both Tent and Hall. is
on their side. Miriam danced to the sound |
of taber, and harp. David the holy danced
before the Lord" 'The women came out
singing and dancing"
There is no use of making men too good,
the average man cannot stand it. Men
must eat, drink, work, and amuse them,
selves human life demands amusement
TO compel one to follow in the walk of
ome goody, goody people, would drive
hose of a warm temperament mad, and on
be other side beget 1anaticism, and thi.
hooking familiarity with holy names ard
hings, which really good men desire to
,e sacred.
If temperance men will quarrel about
lancing, shut up the Hall, pull down the
Tent, disband the paid staff of reformerq,
men will dance and sing until the crack
II doom. We wish we'll to the temperance
'ause, but when it's advocates become So
'ial tyrants WHO would ban innocent GUS
oms and recreations, which gave pleasurp
o the world in its infancy, and will lift w
he dropping head Of dependency for
thousands Of years to come, it is high time
o distinguish between a man,o set of men
Vho labor to lessen drunkenness and thos.
Vho would shackle social freedom, and re-
uce all men to the same dead level Of
yspeptic pharasaism.
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