Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-09-19
"THE DANCE OF DEATH"
What Sherman's Wife Thinks of The
Naughty RedOwa.
san Francisco Alta

san Francisco Alta
The following letter is copied from
the original letter in Mrs Sherman,
handwriting, which we have seen.-Eds
Aha.
FORT LEAvENWoRTI. Kan,
August p, 1877
My DEAR Mr. RUIoFsoN Il have
read your book, "The Dance of Death. .
and must say | admire your courage
and believe you have shown as much
herosm 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 fashionable wo-
men. | have always given this miser-
able dance a 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 herosm trust you will not
be 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 viz
tue or selfrespect 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--absorbng
all mountaineering upon and
ridiculing those who quietly decline to
participate-opcnly and constantly in
sinuating of those who decline it that
they are therefore evil-nlinded, etc. or
quoting impudently and insinuatingly
Their only weapon, H0m soft gu NAL
y pe1Se," and then throwing themselves
in mems arms to prove their own purity
Of mind never would have imagined
the half which you declare to be true,
but believe every word you write, as it
explains many things which | 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
INDUCING in it, and at the end of " 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 mortifca-
toni 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 nc
cused and ladies whose families for
generations have strictly avoided such
dances would hc sorry to be supposed
to have had any experience even ut the
price of being considered 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 he 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 willing at least describe her
So that she cannot be easily COMPOUNDED
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.
4 Famous Scout.
Ian, n.