The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-03-02
About Dancing.
Mccormick Advanced

i''"'ic"tloh IN last weeks issue Ito
establish reading room in Mccormick
good one, but his allusion to the
dancing element Of the town (or. Az he
terms it, "agility of the heels') rather
cutting. Now, Mr.. Editor, there are
lot OF us who claim there is nothing
wrong in the dance. I believe it to be
beneficial, when properly INDUCED in
and also that the benefits arc not CON-
hned to the "heels" only. Locke saws
the effects of dancing are not confined
to the body. 1t give childrens, as we'll
us grown people, not mere outward
sracefulness of motion, but manly
thoughts and becoming confidence"
Experience has taught us that for
graceful and easy carriage dancing is
necessary and imperative, and although
IN times past it was decried, it has
again grown into popular favor. and
boasts now Of greater number of de-
voices than any other recreation. Ev-
cry person who can weld pen has
lelt the subject to be one Of grave i'm
portance- The dance. like religion. is
the natural offspring of the heart. It
Is spontaneous action of the BODY.
under strong mental or moral pressure.
and as mans heart watts upward to-
wards the sky its sweet incense Of
prayer when over whelmed by some
great good or sorrow, so the body gives
vent 10 its joy or grief IN the poetry Of
the dance. In the Scriptures we find
many passages which speak of dancing.
Miriam, a. the spectacle of the Eyypt-
lans struggling and buffeting with the
waves Of the Dead Sea, burst forth into
song and dance at the destruction Of
her enemies. David, the gentle shcp-
herd Ind, danced on the hill round
about Jerusalem to the sound Of his
rustic pipe. and subsequently, when
King of tho Israelites, ut the recovery
of the golden ark, performed DANCE
before it in his triumph over the re-
possession Of the holy treasure.
Solomon, the wise law-giyer Of the
Jews, to whom came people Of intellect
and genius from all surrounding couu-
tries to worship at the shrine Of his
wisdom, has told US there is time
for all things; time to weep and a
time to laugh, time to mourn and
time to dance!" Some Of the. fathers
Of the church picture the angels with
harps of gold, singing and dancing
around the throne Of the Lamb. -
10 the dancers the sculptors and
painters of old were wont to have re-
course, as studies of those passions and
sentiments which sway mankind, so
wildly did their motions strike the
mind. Many people to-day regard
dancing as immoral in its tendencies,
and the relation Of dancing tc chris
tianity and morality has been ugitated
to greater extent than the political
welfare Of nutions. Poets, statesmen,
essayists and novelists have welded
their pens for its support or condemns
ton. Preachers have hurled the bomb
she'll of the gospel against it. while
others have upheld it with Scriptural
text. Byron, the English bard Of bards,
has not felt the subject too insigtican.
for his eagle quill, and has given us the
poem, 1.-THE Waltz"
1t has its partisans and likewise i,s
opponents. Physicians have given their
opinions that it is the most healtt5ul
of all exercises. cxhilirating the mind
and brain by the cheerful, inspiring
music, and agreeable accompaniment
of angels, beauty and flowers.
It's not my purpose to answer or.
attempt to set Alright these conflicting
expressions. In my opinion all dancing
is not compatible with virtue and pu-
rity; like all pleasures it is abused
But enjoyed in moderation and accord
ing to the dictates and rules Of good
taste, it is q pleasant and beneficial
pastime. There are some dances
which are immodest and i1jusiaas To-
indulge in. just as there are sOme books
that should not be read, pictarea tha.
were better not seen, and songs which
offend the ear; but for those objections
should we condemn literature, art and
music? To tho pure all things are
pure.
hope the time is not far distant when
the dance, hallowsd ~ il is by antiquity
and poetry, will not be deemed ..revo-
luton Of the heel.o but . sensible pas-
time. beneficial alike 10 the BODY md