Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-08-02
THEWlCKED WALTZ.
It's ImmoraBfg Exposed by Professor
Who SKIES His Living by
reaching 1t.
The waltz . at Present Danced De.
elared 70 Be Vulgar, Immodest
ard DenoraliziDg.
philadelphia Press.

I. WEIGH, who keeps dane
-; lo oLcoI At Tenth and Chestnut streets. is
log-scnoIhi = crusade against the waltz as
aoout 70 5spced, which he prououpces
pre: n,odsst, vulgar and generally de-
20 PC Re said: II have been a
Inofaii-ins. for the past ten wears. and
SSanciug Il n : practice throughout that
49, - .bssrye carefully all the changes in
he nnblie taste, and to note the changes for
better or worse IN my profession. l have
watched closely and thought deeply on the
:uolISs -. wsi,z, under whatsoever name
ina. - ~ for The time being, is immoral. 1t
:; - 'sI, dance that decent people protest
- a9e on "a I am happy TO say that there
.s.1 ains, ,,rmbers of careful fathers who
sun sun re.n L. their daughters to dance it,
rI.u not ys,f proportion OF the fashion
et1l ,,.iority of the middle and lower
.I ~ "' r. ,ot sesm as yet awakened to its
;n;s..s, ~ have recently been in consulta-
ton win the Rev. Mr.. Wayland, of the Bap-
s,9n NIL h,rlb ma al puau auu nrrA rureeLs, anu
~, o,hsrs If the clergy, and they agree with
~ 81 sbe dapcing of the waltz has fully as
5n..a..'I;-;,S an effect in its way as has
Alcohol and tobseco IN theira."
op,EcuoNs TO THE WALTZ.
4Do Won besr many objections to waltzing
nowadays
,h;nt ~ t;meis right to begin acrusade. /
49,, ,h;nt nv efforts or those of the clergy
No., vho viii take part In the good work
iii h.ve anv immediate effect, but when
H. naonIs besip to think, which they will
IL hi The subject has had little agita-
ton tbey will soon act, and the volupiuous
waltz viii gradually disappear. Ten or If
teen wears ago the waltz was not SO objec-
y
tiouable as at present. Dancers OF to-day
come into altogether too close contact. In
the old time gentleman merely touched a
lady's waist, az the same Time holding her
arm clear around her form, pulls her closely
TO him. as though fearful OF losing her, brings
bis f.ce into sctual contact with her soft
cheek and. in word, hugs her. Such action
Is ALTOGETHER too familiar, bus still custom
and society sanction it, and instead OF i'm
nroveme nj lar The better we see, year after
wear marked advance in the improprie-
ties Of he dance. In the old days the waltz
was comparstirs1y modest; now it is just the
reverse. and ihe waltz Is calculated TO do
more injury to the young than many of the
vices that are preached against from the
pulpit and deeply deplored In private life"
GOOD SUBSTITUTE.
"But supposs you succeed in abolishing
the waltz. profsssor, where will you find any
dance to take itspiace?"
"WelI. when The necessity arises a new
dance will be inrenfed that will have all the
gliding grace and The glorious exhileration
OF the waltz without its delirious yolupta-
business. My own intention is 10 substitute
the aMinuet de ID Cour," dance introduced
by Louis XIV of France, which kept its
place in public esteem for centuries, but has
- ,1ofaIv ont of nae r.
was partially revived in this city in 1875,
but was allowed 10 drop out of fashion
again, principally for the reason that the
ladies and gentlemen who danced il were
compelled by the dictates of fashion TO dress
in court costume, which is very expensive,
and is at the same time repugnant TO the
fierce republicanism of Americans. The
dance consists of marching, bowling and
turning, and develops all the graces that the
dancers possess. Its great recommendation
is that it is perfectly modest, and admits of
no hugging such as we see nightly in the
waltz"
"You speak with much force, professor,
with regard to the morality of the waltz.
Do you speak from personal observation or
from hearsay~
'sFrom personal observation. have made
it my practice for years to attend balls and
parties in order 10 keep pace in my teaching
--i.l shs spn.lslss- a.zsl. hazs ~ ifcui-
tafion in saying that i attribute much Of the
vice and immortality now prevailing TO the
insidious influences of the waltz. This may
seem an overstrsining of the point, but it is
my honest conviction. tell you that in the
higher circles, Young ladies at parties and
balls are absolutely hugged-embraced
would be too weak TO express my meaning
by men who were altogether unknown to
them before the music for the waltz began to
inspire. the toes of the dancers. Is this a
pleasant sight 10 contemplated
THE MADDENING WALTZ.
"Then, in the lower classes, the license of
the dance is much more shocking. 1 have
seen couples so closely interiocked that the
face OF the man was actually in contact with
that of the palpitating girl in his arms. I
have seen kisses interch anged amid the whirl
of the maddening waltz.
"The persons interested in this crusade in
tend to send circulars to the leading clergy
men and heads Of the great ecclesiastical
organs and institutions of the United States,
and ask them to aid in the great work. Dr.
Wayland said he would help us in any way
he could, and promised to write to Mrs.
General Sherman, the authoress of book in
opposition to waltzing, asking her assistance.
1 also wrote TO that lady, requesting her adj
vice as to the conduct of the crusade. Mrs.
Shermap's book takes the ground that the
waltz is immodest; that it detracts from the
purity of young ladies who indulge in it;
that 1T gives to the young men opportunities
for familiarities that should never be al
lowed, and that it Is in fact, demoralizing in
the extreme. She holds that no young lady
should be embraced save by the man she
proposes to marry, and that the close con-
act OF the waltz Is dangerous and injurious
to the modesty and purity of womankind.
THE wALTzEs CLASSIFIED.
'There are six dances now in vogue that
involve the hugging principle of the waltz.
They are the plain waltz, which was intro
duced by the Germans (who seldom. by the
way, take part in square dances) ; the aGlide,n
a very fashionable and pretty dance: the
Redowa," which has held its own for many
OF dancers; the asDanishD (haif
march and half waltz, and the "Three-Step
Galop" Ientered upon this crusade. first
because thought the waltz an immoral
dance, and, second, because the clerpymen
whom I consulted thought the initiatory
steps in the matter should be taken by a
member of the profession most deeply inter
ssted.n
Prof. WEIGH, In conclusiop said that the
waltz step is In itself unobiectionable, but
,hst the cioseness OF the partners, as the
lance is now practiced, il worthy Of strong
He suggests that the waltz
step be retained, but that the partners be
widely separated BY very simple expedient.
This is. to cross and JOIN the hands. A Dos
'ible objection tothis il that ID will not afford
o the lady that sense Of support and protec-
ion that is derived from the pressure of her
partners arm about her waist. The prcfes-
or says that he introduced this style of
% lf1ir7 In rf