Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1877-09-27
ssTHE DANCE OF DEATH"
What General Sherman's Wife Thinks Of
the Naughty Redowa.
from the San Francisco Alta

THE following letter is copied from the
original in Mrs. Sherman's handwriting,
which we have seen.-Ed. Alta:
Fort LEAvENwoRrH, (Kan., August 81,
1877.-My Dear MIR. Rulotson: have read
your book, ''The Dance of DEATH and l
must say admire your courage, and believe
YOU have shown SO much heroism as any
crowned martyr in your defense OF virtue
and your denunciation Of what Is calculated
to drive it from the hearts and minds OF fash
ionable women. l have always given this
dance silent condemnation by refusing to
allow any of my daughters to participate in
it under any circumstances; but l 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 H.
self, and you have evidently had evidence OF
it's most fatal results. From the published
letter of Father Accolti, lately sent to me, l
infer that you are suffering the consequence
of your heroism. trust you will not be cast
down, nor allow yourself to suffer any paln'
whatever may be said of you. Anything
less than your bold declarations would have
failed TO produce any effect.
Now it must cease Women OF virtue or
selt-respect will now blush to have the dance
named to them. And amusement which leads
in any case to such results as you have pOln-
ted out should be forever discOuntenanced.
Even if they should continue it for while
in order to assert their own Innocence and
their non-concurrence in your views, they
will only be to glad to let it die out.
lam rejoiced that you have spoken boldly,
and told all you know about it. The advO-
Gates of this dance have had their own way
long enough-absorbing all entertainments; !;
sneering upon and ridiculing those who
quietly decline to participate; openly and
constantly insinuating of those who decline
it that they are therefore evil-mindcd, etc., or
quoting impudently and insinuatingly their
only weapon, ''Honi soft Qui mai 9 pense, p"
and then throwing themselves in mems arms
to prove their own purity OF mind! never
would have imagined the half which you
declare to he true, but l believe every word
you write, as it explains many things which
I had observed without attempting to under
stand. One thing alone l shall mention: !
have observed that those who enjoy this
dance enjoy no other-that they are exhaus-
ted and miserable after indulging in it, and ut
down. in health. All who have participated
in it must feel greatly mortified and humil-
lated on reading your book, and many will
be angry and bitterly denounce you; there
fore, say l admire your courage, your hero
ism in defense of virtue, which is in danger
of being entirely lost to society by reason OF
this bold dance. Let them suffer mortiflca-
ton! They have been ridiculing and scorn-
ing and sighting every modest and obedient
girl who failed to participate with them for
these many years. l am sorry you could not
give the name of the lady whom you quote
| against the dance, because the others will be
! accused; and ladies whose families for gen.
erations have strictly avoided such dances
would be sorry to be supposed to have had
any experience, even at the price OF being
considered ''eminent and renowned re-
spect the lady as do you for being willing
to denounce this from her own experience.
| If consistent with your obligations towards
her, l would be glad to know her name,
which, of course, would not even mention
| without your consent Should you find the
newspapers ''hounding'' the wrong persons
for this good lady. please give her name to
the public If she is still willing; at least de-
scribe her, so that she cannot be easily con-
| founded with others.
| have as yet received only the copy you
sent not the ones ordered. With great ad-
miration and regard, very truly yours.
| ELLEN G. SHERMAN.