, 1877-12-23
THE ROUND DANCE.
THE Child Of xty

|
| CHICAGO, Dec. 20.-As you devote considera
bic space to matters pertaining to fashionable
! society, just let me hare little corner some
! where to criticise one Of its fullies. | don't
| want to argue, but to express, as unc1uiyocalty
| rs may be, an outright condemnation OF the
| round dance.
1t is society's foster-child. It is nourished
| aud cherished BY saint and sinner, br old and
| young. Sous and daughters practice it,
parents assist them, the church permits it, and
| the ministers either dclcately. avoid allu.
sion to it or encourage and approve 1t by their
| presence. s'Society" dances. Fathers have
daughters who dance, AMI husbands have wives
who dance; brothers, sisters; lovers, sweet.
hearts; aud little children have parcnts who
dance. "Society" does many things. but, in
the main, it danccs. The dance VIC have always
with us,-the dance and all That it implies. |
called it i folly. would call it i vice, social
lnoustrosity, Il hiucous thing Of which society
should rld itself. regard its indulgence in the
highest degree iinnodest, Immoral, uebasing.
1t is totally pernicious III its Influences physical
": aud morally ruinous in its ELECTS. see ill
it only the physical expression Of IN lul-
pure desire, OF which it Is rather IN
agg@ravation than 4 qualification. I see
i'll it tile baser motives Of mans
nature brought 10 the front, with chastity and
purity thrust ont Of sight 4 dancing party or
ball is nineteenth century orgie, at which the
vino flows less freely perhaps, and to which So
ciety has placed arbitrary limits, but ut which
the feminine charms nre lavishIy displayed, alld
the feminine fayors {within the limitsj gcncr-
ously bestowed. 1t is scene only possible u1l-
der all apathy Of morals; scene froin which
virtue may we'll avert her face with blush, and
at which the devil may look on aud laugh.
Is society then totally depraYcd! think not.
Are all who dance grossly Immoral! have too
h Il hisfftir III
individuals are ut heart wicked. Some are only
tloughtlcss. They have combined in sucking
amusement, and the impulses Of the bad have
carried the thoughtless with them into evil
practices. Society II sanctions even demands
the round dance, and few condemn. i man
may be hurried along to financial ruin by vcn-
turcs which have no suggestion Of wrong .,,l1-
poses, only of thoughticssness or ignorance.
And MANY girl enters society" pure from
the home circle, to lind herself at the end OF one
gay season OH the verge Of moral bankruptcy.
Some 60 over the precpicc, some arc in man
ner retrieved by the fayor OF County
Clerks permit and minister's blessing,
and perhaps here and there one receives shock
at the first rude license which sends her back
blushiug to innocence and-ncglect.
We pratc OF honesty IN man and still more Of
purity in woman. s'Society" requires neither.
It speaks with bated breath or v1rtuous indig-
mits without question the gallant whose money
so literally helps to gild it, and bids its daush-
tiers surrender themselves freelyt to his poluting
touch, only provided it be in tic glare of the
salon, and to the strains OF yoluptuous
music. Is this picture true? We who have
seen it know it is true. l know that many say
they dance without thought of impropriety.
They may, and one may handle pitch in white
kids. STILL, 1 think that white soul dabbling
in inpurity will be soiled.
This is one opinion, and should be glad to
have every society lady read it, aud try for her
self to realize the import of the request for "the
pleasure Of this waltz" !" which will be made to
her SO often this winter. I should be glad to
hare some Of our pure, innocent girls realize,
before plunging into thcwhirl, that each request
is on its face An improper proposal, and that
every compliance on her part blunts just SO much
the edge of virtue that must be Kept keen and
bright To be effective.
This is, in brief, tho aspect Of the round dance
to NE. II it has another face. it must ie like
the moon, and [ cat see but the one turned to-
ward Inc. In our struggles to ADVANCE, VIC
have. in a great measure, banishcd winc from
the social table, which would show that society
eau, if it will, rebuke i dcmoraiizing fashion.
The round dance is also blot Let it be wiped
out, and another long step taken forward So
cictv is fostering defOrmtty. Choke it, and
adopt healthy child. Aud, as mere individ-
ual Of the organism called society, and perhaps
SO for responsible for it IS whole, beg to sign
myself ATOM