The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-02-22
Dancing.
To tho Editor Of the Northern Pacific Farmer:
"A time to be merry. aud a time to he sad;

To the Editor Of the Northern Pacific Farmer:
"A time to be merry. Ud a time to he aad; -.
time to mourn. and a time to dance
Singing :nd dancing are twin accomplish
ments, and their cultivation comes ma ural1y In
the human constitution unless they are obstruct-
ea by internal disease or internal prejudice.
Music is the poetry of sound and dancing is the
poetry of human motion, and these combined
may be called the poetical expression of healthy
human enjoyment, as their exercise develops all
the sentimental and physical organs. This uni
son of music and motion was anciently en-
ployed in religious exercises; but the musical
parts have been gradually modified. and the
physical exercises which constitute the dance
have been almost entirely expunged from mod
ern deyotions. But my attention was recently
directed to this subject by hearing dancing
WIDELY interdicted, under all circumstances, as
disqualitying any person for membership in a
Christian church. This unqualified condcmna-
ton of dancing caused the following review Of
my own experience and observation on the uses
aad abuses of this popular evening exercise.
The benefits obtained by educating ard cxer-
cising the lower limbs in dancing was first point
Cd out by friend while, with party of city
folks, we were approaching great blucberry
region at the northern base of the Adirondac
mountains, in York State. Large crowds If
Young people frequentcd those romantic lakes
aud r.r.~ uuE., the berry season, end the only
entrance from the carriage road was pcecariors
toctpa.h through strip of marsh. Part Of this
path consisted of fallen trees and irregular STEP
ping stones projecting above the mud and water.
These precarious supports could only be travcrscd
in single file, ana required good rerve and
muscle and an accurate control of limbs to
gauge the variety of steps and insure safe
| transit. In discussing the chances of crossing
| over this slough, my friend remarked that al
! those who had learned to dance, whether ladies
| or gentlemen, would Cross over with ease lend
| safety, and enjoy the exercise. But while we
were talking, a little lady, who had formerly
been a ballet dancer, was running along the
logs and skipping from one stone to another Xix:
| a squirrel and directly was dancing hornpipe
on the solid rock beyond.
In striking contrast to this was the experience
of several young ladies whose physical education
had been confined by prejudice to their hands
and arms. They could walk OH the foor or
pavement all right; but to step over a curbstone
or go up and down a stairway was the limit OF
their locomotive exertion. The various adven-
lures and nishaps of those ladies' and the facili'
ty and safety with which the dancing ladies
tripped acspss The slough were many filust1a
lions of the truth Of my friends theory. Thes'
furnished conclusive evidences that. however
helpful devotion may be in getting one out O.
1.-THE Slough of Despond," dancing is better thar
!, devotion for keeping one out of that slough.
; by carefully observing sevezal indication
which this man pointed out, was soon able t.
distinguish an educated dancer-male or femaN
by their gait upon the street. or by their eas]
tact and courteous etiquette when introduced
, into certain companies. To educate the hand
and arms and tongue is right, and to dev:lol
their capabilities is useful but it is equally de
sirable and useful to educate the feet and legs
l and develop their easy, graceful action with
! perfect harmony and control of all the muscum
movements A lack Of physical exercise is ont
bane of American female soci:ty ut this time
l and taste for dancing tends to counteract thu
| defect. Young girls who would be fatigued by
:. walking mile or two, may be so exercised by
the inspiration of music, and the rivalries OF sh'
ballroom that thu can dance for many hours
I and might soon rival their grandmothers 1t
, physical exploits and endurance. My mothe,
used to tell us that she walked forty miles A
J. day, when she was only fourteen years old, ant
that she felt no more fatigue than she had some
times felt after dancing all night How man!
young girls who are prohibited from the exercis
: of dancing could endure such walk as tl1at?'
That dancing, like love, wine or wealth, i
often degraded to selfish and sensual purposes, i
true; but it is equally true that the little III
trigues and coquetries which girls cultivate il
the ball room are offsets and safeguards ata1n*
o the intrigues and Establishments of selfish ant
sensual men. acknowledge is power as truly
this case as in any other, and those young peopl
: whe acquire this kind Of knowledge gradual!
4 as they grow up in the association of the sexes
y are better prepared t. encounter temptation tina
q are those from whom all such information
Y carefully excluded until they go out into tn
l.. " ,riu and learn from the tempter.
Yours, D.