The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-07-15

H6 "pP'ouShihS onh
gers before the duller nature Of man
can be aroused even to suspicion. And
yet, ever an anon, we see man presum-
ing to wade the jurisdiction Of oman
here an editor. there u clergyman, thun-
ders his dcnunc:ation Of woman's dress
or Eliminates against the social dance.
Quite recently Carolina society and
in Georgia, have had to listen to
or read sermons and articles on the sub
ject Of dancing. 1t is not my purpose,
nor is this the time nor tho place. tn
discuss the question Of dancing. | only
desire, in the name Of pure girlhood
and pure womanhood, to protest against
this invasion Of the rights Of woman by
either clergyman or editor. l only de-
sire to cmulnt the example Of the Allan
tn clergyman who said that when he
knew hat godly m.trons were to be
~pntroncsses and chapcrons ut n certain
ball, he was content to leave the matter
in their hands !; that it did not become
him to look for danger and harm where
purc-mindcd, god-rcaring women saw
none.
Surely those men who think other
wise, and preach "Thou shalt not
dance to woman, forget that VIC are
not living under an Asiatic or Eastern
civilization, nor under Il Mohammedan
dispcnsation, nor even under the stern
laws Of Moses. They should remcm-
Der that VIC arc living under an Euro
pean, American and Western civiliza-
ton, enjoying the glorious liberty OF the
Gospel Of Christ.
Lee them reflect that the oricntalism
which they seek to impose upon us.
with it's vcllcd women living in the Sc
%clusion Of the harcm, means for woman
slavery and degradation; Tor man trynnny
and Immortality. Their efforts are rs
mischevious rs they arc vain. Whom
yer they NEEDLE, they mar.
History shows that whenever and
wherever man gives law to society, i'm
mortality prevails and inner are
rude. Pure morals and gentle man.
ners can only flourish when woman
rcigns.
The recent scrInon and subsequent
discussion on dancing in the Views anil
Courier. did more harm to the pure
minds and hearts Of youth, than the
balls and dances therein denounced. |
am reminded Of what was told me by n
holy man Of God, who ministers at the
altar he said that all the impure writ
ing Of Byron had injured his moral ma
turc less than had a sermon on dancing,
which he had once heard preached by n
distinguished divine Of his church.
And when | read such pruaish articles
and listen to such suspicious
l think OF what was said by Dean Swift
when he was asked to define what was
meant by mice people"-said he, mice
people are those who have nasty
IDEAS
Men and brethren. whether clergy
mcn or lawyers let US leave the social
question, ~ We should leave all social
questions, in the clean hands and pure
hearts Of our mothers, wives and dauyh-
tiers. 1t is their right it is their prero-
gative. 1t is their safety and ours.
Where these angels Of our hearts and
homes rush in, We need not fear to
tread. For their. sake, let us not seek to
subject them who wore born under the
Star Of Occident to the trammels and
tyranny Of the Orient.
Let us humbly learn Of them their
sweet phllosophy-which is the pl.ilos-
opy of Christianity-that "to the pure,
all things arc pure" Then. and not till
then, may we hope to share with them
the blessing promised on the Mount
by the Son Of Mary-"Blcsscd are
the pure in heart, Cor they shall see
God"
My desire has not been to preach to
the American Woman, Chou shalt and
tho" shalt nor-not say, do this or
don't 40 that,'--prcaching the dreary
religion Of DON'T M the ann Of
some Is. | have not said to her, don't
be II lawyer; : don't be u doctor : don't
seek to g" I" Congress : don't run for
the presidency : don't preach from the
pulpit don't harangue from the
stump" IL ever she chooses to fill these
positions. she will do SO in her own
good time. She is as capable to per-
form these duties as man is to rock the
cradle or to trim II spring bonnet. AS
woman warrior, Joan Of Arc has led
men to war;; as man-pilliner, Worth
leads the --""en Of fashion.
But my emdcavor has been to show
that woman rsigns in home and in so.
ciety-and to cherish the hope that size
will never seek to renouncc her sceptre.
to descend from her home and depart
fran, 1,.,. (s