Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1877-12-07


AFom Mrs. Sherman.
9l2 GARRISON AVENUE, ST.. Louis,
Oct. 10, l67T.-Mr. RufuIson: Dear
Sir-I owe you an apology for my
long silence. lam very much obliged
for the two books received. Tam deep
ly interested In the result Of your book;
the more go as ! hear the wall that
goes up from the wounded and the
guilty but as you strike 10 heal, the
wall inspires neither awe nor sympa-
thy. So many are implicated in this
evil custom, either personally or In
their daughters, sisters, or near rela-
tlves, that there are very few who can
form an impartial judgment. Many
editors are afraid to praise your book,
and slationers TO keep Il; and even
many clergymen shrink from O public
denunclation Of the dance, be-
cause their direct personal appeals
have been Intellectual to prevent
their own relatives, or the children Of
prominent parishioners, from joining
In It. A verdict can not be procured
against polyg my in . community Of
polygamisls. The anger aud morll6ca.
ton Of our friends is natural, and not
unexpected, but they have betrayed
moro malice than they were supposed
10 possess, since their only defense Of
their pet amusement 10 individual
abuse. True, the dance admits Of no
rational defense, but they could person
ally plead "not guilty" 10 pernicious
effects, and each leave the verdict to
time and quiet examination Of con-
science. The Church has always con-
demned this kind of dance. The mildest
of her saints (St. Francis dc SaleS)
warns against such excuses, and Bish-
ops Of the United States, In council
long since, earnestly exhOrted Catholics
to refrain from II. Parents are Fespon-
sible for the defiance Of all this author
ity; II is th0y who assume the risk for
their children and themselves. II is
not 10 be expected that young girls,
who are unconscious Of evil In The be-
ginning, should reflect long enough 10
summon tho moral courage TO resist the
alluremenls OF the dance, unless with
encouragement and support Of their
parents. To the honor Of pure maid
enhood be II said, however, that there
are young girls who decline, from In
stinctive delicacY, even when their
parents would have them join the
throng who dance down the broad
road Of worldly pleasure.
I take with grain OF allowance what
hear Of q Grand Jury indicting you
on account Of your book, for even an
ger aud revenge could not render men
so unreasonable as to admit q prosecu-.
lion for the description, while the dance
is still permitted.
Your opportunities for seeing and
4 hearing the fatal results of this custom
have been greater than mine. / have
looked on (when compelled TO SEQ ~
with abh0rrenoe, but l have not cared
10 reflect what its precise results might
be, nor to Judge lie effects beyond The
utter physical prostERtion Il produces,
In its most innocent votaries, ard the
vitiation of their tastes for any whole
some amusement. To that can testi.
fy. The very sight of II. when danced
In Tho least harmful manner, forces
upon the mind the conviction Of all you
state regarding its often serious results /;
but rather than abandon what all the
Churches condemn, they SANDER and
persecnte the ono who dares 10 raise q
voice against 1t. But, as l said before,
their side Of the case admits Of no
other defense.
II was not from any unWillinRness 10
bear abuse thatI hesitated 10 enter the
Lists against the dance. You know
my reason. Now that my namo las
appeared, l would earnestly repel any
suspicion of having ever participated,
and gnard the memory Of my parents
from the aspersion of having ever
countenanced ii. This was nv sole
motive In requesting the namo Of the
lady who gave her experience. Persons
who read the book before reading nv
letter, supposed you referred to me,
without rejecting that your compli.
mentary description did not answer for
me. How can those who claim 10 be
innocent say that mono are guilty. II
any are guilty (and who doubts i?(,
arc not even the most innocent acces.
sorry to their sin I hope you will send
rue Whatever appears on this subject,
pro and con. leave you 10 make
whatever usO of this letter you please.
There Is no doubt but you have done
brave act, and. that It will result in
great good. lam, with sincere regard
very truly yours.
ELLEN EWING SHERMAN.