The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-02-04

Oruef OF dancing III, Is something III lbis
wise: One and kick; two and KICK
one, two, three, and kick. Don't be
shocked; / assure you it is actually accepted
in polite society; is really not so very undig
digni6ed after all. The kicks are naturally of
the mildest order, and it is this very soupcon
of naughtiness about it that has already
given the dance prestige in fashionable cir
cles.
If it is wicked to dance how many thou
sands of years have we persisted in our de-
pravity? There is nothing more obscure
than the origin of dancing. We find allu-
siOns to it in the records of almost every age
and every nation, whether barbarous or civ
iized. 1t seems more an instinct than an
art 1t is twin sister to the innate love of
music, although the latter passion is without
doubt the stronger. Dancing is the tamest
thing in the world without music, but music
has in itself so many peculiar charms that 1t
Is dependent upon no companion Almost
every one, the veriest savage, is susceptible
to music, and il naturally inspires an ineli-
nation to dance This invocation is spoken
of in the Scriptures; among the ancient He
brews dancing formed important part of
their religious exercises. The chief priests
themselves composed the dances, which were
performed at their great celebrations with
rigid solemnity.
1t is no new order of things to rail against
dancing. There is no amusement or recrea-
ton, however innocent in itself that may
not suffer debasement at the hands of the
vulgar and ignorant; 30 perhaps, many Of
the condemnations against dancing may have
been made with just cause. In an old re-
pertory of mOnastic lore writer says:
young men and women while dancing do
as it were cruelty again their redeemer.
Going on to explain: alt often happens that
dancers spreadOut and extend their arms in
order to give greater energy to their perform
ance, by which stretching out Of the arms in
this profane amusement, they display man
ifest disregard of the holy crucifix, the figure
whereof they so irreverently initiate. The
same author condemnsas equally impiOus the
lifting of the head and voice, thereby imply
ing that it is wicked to sing, and goes on to
cite terrible instances of how
certain people were prOfane enough
/ to dance on Christmas Eve, and were pun
ished bt not being able to cease throughout
the whole of the following year. Or course
all these are ancient opinions that cause only
smile now, and vet there are later-day
divines who appear to me quite as eXtrava-
giant when they say that a person in dancing
| breaks the whole of the ten commandments.
/ Yes, certainly dancing has always had its
opponents, but on the other hand il has al
WAYS been easy to produce a host of defend
ers For instance, Socrates, who thought
! himself never too old to learn, began at a
late period of his life to take dancing lessons
from the beautiful and accomplished Aspasia,
and in reply to the jeering comments of his
friends he said: "You laugh because
pretend To dance like young people;
you think me ridiculous to wish for the
benefit of exercise as necessary to the health
of the body as to the elegance of deport-
ment'
| The society man of to-day, who Is not re-
markable in some way either as a converse
tionalist, musician, or reader, must know how
to dance, and, after all, it seems to be if the
| lightest, about the safest accomplishment. A
talking man" is in danger of being snubbed;
the 'recitationist' is apt to make himself
wearisOme, and who has not felt his heart
swell with pity for the unfortunate
amateur tenor who stumbles weakly
over the pathetic phrases of some
popular love ditty. But the dancing
man. is so useful. Perhaps his brains may
be all in his heels, but he is entertaining for
all that 1t is part of his profession to have
continually on hand full stock of small
talk, he dresses well looks particularly nice IN
evening dress, and you are always glad to see
him ceming into your drawing-room. And
then the dancing men" are seldom marrying
men; it is the exception if you find this an
objection. You are delighted to see your
daughter lead of the German with such a
glorious dancer, but you would be sorry to
choose him for her partner to glide through
life with. 1t is a social misfortune that we
have not more dancing men. 1t is to be de
plored that so many of our eligible young
men "peep in" at parties only out Of cOmpli-
ment to the hostess, and spend the remainder
of the night at the club, intent OF pool or
billiards. Perhaps now that our fashionable
dances partake little of Partisan ''spiciness, -
the "heel and toe" and ''racket, when they
are perfectly understood, may not be alto
gelher without lOOkers-on.