Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-01-10
MAY I DANCE ?

Do YOU mean q round dance or q square
dance? If you mean round dance, stop
and think awhile first.
l. Is the round dance consistent with the
refined delicacy of true woman or a true
man? Is there not involved in it an undue
degree of freedom and familiarity? If any
gentleman should offer to take the same lib
critics with lady while sitting in the parlor,
that he does take in dancing, it would be re-
sented as an offence. This undue freedom
becomes the more Objectionable because it is
used at time when the excitement of the
music and of the occasion tempts one to for
pet the bounds of decorum.
2. The etiquette Of the ballroom or the
dancing assemblage contains one very obJec-
tonable feature. Suppose that Miss A. be
introduced in such company, to Messrs. B.,
G. and D. Suppose that B. and Q. are per-
feet gentlemen, and that D. is man with
whom it were prudent for her merely to ex-
change civiltes and avoid intimacy. Ii ne
asks her to dance and she refuses, he becomes
offended. Therefore the etiquette of the room
compels her to treat with the intimacy of the
dance, a man who is not worthy of her conf
dence. AS the lady has probably had no
control of the invitations issued, if she attends
she is forced into intimate relations with un-
worthy men.
8 The high excitement and over-fatigue
of this amusement does very often injure the
health.
4. l have many times had testimony from
those who formerly danced, that they had
found it decidedly injurious to them. And
we have no right, as Christians, to lead fel'
low-men into temptation.
If you mean the square dances, then let
us think awhile. Is it best for me to engage
in them2
l. may engage in this kind and not 60 to
the excess of the other kind. But in so do.
ing may start my brother, who has little
selfcontrol, on down.hill track, and he may
20 into the excesses described above. For
his sake, will refrain.
2. Dancing has bad name. For the sake
of the honor of Christ, will avoid associa'
ting the name of disciple with that which
the world does not consider worthy of a
Christian.
3. Dancing does lead to dissipation, espe'
cially to the dissipation of serious thought
about our own soul. 1t is fascinating, and |
fear it may make me Cor my brother) cold
and formal in religious duties.
These considerations may fail to carry
weight with some sincere inquirers. The fas'
cination of the amusement may have given a
little unconscious bias to their minds. Many
men will say it was once so with them. What
then?
The grand test of duty in all cases, is to
carry the question to God. Garry this ques
ton, "Shall I dance or not?" upon your knees
to the Saviour. Ask Him whether 1t will
add to his honor, or promote his kingdom
whether he would rather you should 60 or
stay. Stay on yonr knees and keep on ask
ing him till you feel his answer in your
heart: then with good conscience follow
that answer. And what thou doest, whether
thou eat or drink, do it with thy might, as
unto the Lore. d.-Christian Observer.
Follow THE RIGHT.-No matter who you
are, what your lot, or where you live, you
cannot afford to do that which is wrong. The
only way to obtain happiness and pleasure
for yourself, is to do the right thing. You
may not always hit the mark, but you should
nevertheless aim for it; whether you are tc
be praised or blamed for it by others wheth
er it will seemingly make you richer or poor
er; or whether no other person than yourself
knows of your action-still, always, and in
all cases, do the right thing. Your first les
SONS in this rule will grow easier, until, final
ly, doing the right thing will become habit
and to do wrong thing will seem an impos
sibility.
baT We can all find trouble without going
very far and very likely, too, we can all be
like the old colored woman in New York
who hearing the Jubilee melody, Nobody
knows the trouble I've seen" said, Eyes, and