Montgomery County sentinel., 1883-08-03
Miscellaneous.
THE WICKED WALTZ.

Prof. James =. Welsh, the popular
Philadelphia dancing master, is about
to begin crusade against the waltz as at
present danced, which no pronounces to
be immodest, vulgar and generally de-
moralixing. II have been dancing
master for the past ten years." he says,
"and have made it pratice through
out that period to observe carefully the
changes in the public taste, aud note
the changes for better or worse in my
profession. | have watched closely and
thought deeply on the subject, aud now
| have no hesitation that the waltz, un-
der whatsoever name it may go for the
time being, is immoral It is the only
dance that decent people protest against.
and am happy to say that there still
remains numbers of careful fathers who
will not allow their daughters to dance
it, although a vast proportion Of the
fashionable, and majority Of the others,
do not seem as yet awakened to its ini-
quity. | have recently been in consul
tation with the Rev Mr.. Wayland, Of
Of the Baptist church at Broad and Arch
streets, and with other Of the clergy,
and they agree with me that the dane
ing of the waltz has fully as demoraliziDg
an effect in its way as have alcohol aud
tobacco in theirs"
"Do you hear many objections to
waltzing? 2"
"Oh, yes, any quantity Of them. and
| think the time is right to begin cru
sadc. don't think my efforts or those
of the clergymen who will take part in
the good work will have any immediate
effect, but when the people begin to
think, which they will do when the sub
ject has had little agitation, they will
soon act, and the voluptuous waltz will
gradually disappear. Ten to fifteen years
ago the waltz was not so Objectionable as
at present. Dancers Of to-day come
into altogether too close contact. In the
old time the gentleman merely touched
ladys waist, and at the same time
holding her right hand or bis left. Now
be throws his arms clear around her
form, pulls her closely to him, as though
fearful Of loosing her, brings his face
into actual contact with her soft cheek,
and in word. hugs her. Such action
is altogether to familiar. but still Gus
tom and society sanction it, aud instead OF
improvement for the better, VIC see. year
after year, a marked advance in impro-
pricties 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 vices that are preached
against from the pulpit and deeply de-
plorcd in private life."
"You speak with much force, pro-
fessor, with regard to tho morality of
the waltz. Do you speak from per-
sonal observation or from bear-say."
"From personal observation | have
made il my pratice for years TO attend
balls and parties in order 10 keep pace in
my teaching with the popular demand.
! have no hesitation in saying that !
attribute much Of the vice and immo.
rality now prevailing TO the insidious
influence of the waltz This may seem
an overstraining Of the point, but it is
my honest conviction. I tell you that
in the higher circles young ladies' at
parties and balls are absolutely hugged
by men who were altogether unknown
TO them before the music Of the waltz
began to inspire the toes Of the dancers
Is this pleasant sight TO contemplate :
| have seen couples so closely inter
locked that the face OF the man was
actually ia contact with that Of the pal
pitating girl in his arms. have seen
kisses intcrcbsngcd amid the whirl Of
the maddening waltz.
"The persons Interested in this cru
sade intend to send circulars TO the lead
ing clergymen and heads Of the great
ccclcsiastical organs and institutions Of
the United States, and ask them all TO
aid in the great work. DR.. Wayland
said he would help US in any way he
could, and promised to write TO Mrs
Gen. Sherman, the authorsss Of book