Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-10-11
WALTZING WICKED.
A Dancing Master and Some Clergy.
men Combine to Put 1t Down.
From the Philadelphia Press.

From the Philadelphia Press.
Prof. James P. Welsh, dancing master. is
about to begin crusade against the waltz as at
present danced, which he pronounced to be i'm
modest, vulgar. and generally demorallzing. II
nave been dancing master for the past ten
years. he says, land have made it O practice
throughout that period to observe carefully all
the changes in the public taste, and to note the
changes for better or worse in my profession.
L nave watched closely and thought deeply on
the subject, and now have no hesitation in
saying that the waltz, under whatsoever name
1t may go for the time being. is immoral 1t is
the only dance that decent people protest
against, and | am happy to say that.there still
remain numbers of careful fathers who will not
allow their daughters to dance it, although q
vast proportion of the fashionable and a ma
jority of the others, do not seem as vet awakened
to its iniquty. have recently been in consul
tation with the Rev. Mr.. Wayland, of the Bap-
list church at Broad and Arch streets ana with
Others of the clergy. and they agree with me
that the dancing of the waltz has fully as de-
morallZng an effect in its way as have alcohol
and tobacco in THEIRS
'Do you hear many objections to waltzing?"
ION, yes. any quantity of them; and think
the time Is right to begin a crusade L don't
think my efforts or those of the clerrvmen who
Will take part in the good work will have any
tnink, which they will do when the subject has
had little agitation, they will soon act, and
the Voluptuous waltz will gradually disaDpear
len or fifteen years ago the waltz was not so
objectionable as at present. Dancers of TODAY
come into altogether too close contact In the
old time gentleman merely touched a ladv's
waist. at the same time holding her right hand
in his left. Now he throws his arms clear around
her FORM pulls her closely to him. as though
fearful OF losing her. brings his face into actual
contact with her soft cheek and, in a word
mugs her. Such action is altogether too familiar.
but still custom and society sanction it. and in
stead OF Improvement for the better, we see
year after year. marked advance in the impro-
pfietleS OF the dance. In the old DAYS the waltz
was comparatively modest; now it is just the
reverse, and the waltz is calculated to do more
injury to the young than many of the vices that
are preached against from the pulpit and deeply
depored in private life.
You speak with much force professor. with
regard to the morality of the waltz Do YOU
speak from personal observation or from hear
say"
From personal observation I have made it
my practice for years to attend balls and parties
in order to keep pace in my teaching with the
popular demand. | have no hesitation i'm saw
ing That l attribute much of the vice and i'm
mortality now prevailing to the insiduOus infiu-
ence OF the waltz. This may seem an oyerstrain-
ing OF the point, but it is my honest conviction
tell you that in the higher circles young ladies
at parties and balls are absolutely Rugged by
men who were altogether unknown to them
before the music OF the waltz began to inspire
the toes ofthe dancers. Is this pleasant sight
to contemplate! | have seen couples so closely
lnterlOcked that the face of the man was actu-
ally in contact with that Of the palptating girl
IN MS arms. L have seen kisses interchanged
amid the Whrl of the maddening waltz
Tine persons interested in this crusade intenu
to send circulars to the leading clergymen and
heads OF the great ecclesiastical organs and in
stltutions OF the United States. and ask them to
ala In the great work. DR.. Wayland said he
would help us in any way he could and prom
lsed TO write to Mrs. Gen. Sherman the author
ess OF book in opposition to waltzing, asking
her assistance. | also wrote to that lady re-
guessing her advice as to the conduct of the
crusade. Mrs Sherman's book takes the ground
that the waltz is immodest that it detracts
from the purity OF young ladies who indulge in
1t; that it gives to the young men OPPORTUNITIES
Tor famiarities that should never be allowed
and that it is. in fact. demoraliZinp in the ey-
IRENE. She holds that no young lady should
marry.
There are six dances now In vogue that in
yolye the huggng principle of the waltz They
are the plain waltz, which was introduced by
the Germans (who seldom, by the way. take
part In square dances); the gijde.a very fash
ionable and pretty dance; the redowa. which has
held its own for many generations of dancers:
the Danish (haf march and half waltz and the
three-step galop. l entered upon this crusade.
first. because thought the waltz an immoral
dance, and, second. because the clergymen whom
consulted thought the initiatory steps in the
matter should be taken by a member of the pro-
fesson most deeply Interested"
Prof WEIGH. in conclusion said that the waltz
step is in itself unobjectionable, but that the
closeness of the partners, as the dance is now
practiced, is worthy of strong condemnation
He suggests that the waltz step be retained. but
that the partners be widely separated by very
simple expedient. This is to cross and ioin the
hands. A possible objection to this is that it
will not afford to the lady that sense of support
and protection that is derived from the pressure
OF her partners arm about her waist. The Pro-
lessor says that he introduced this style Ofwaltz
ingto some of his higher classes last winter,
and it was fayorably received