The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-17
Those "Dance Meetings. -
by Our Regular.)

more Oanetul effect on society than a
participation in anything which has a
tendency directly or Indirectly to
undermine morality. Morality is.
the life I'D soul of society. In its
absence society becomes the school
Of satan. Society is madeup of man
kind. Man, indeed, is noble being,
the noblest on earth but his great-
ness consists in the soul within him
which was given by God, and i'm
pressed with Gods image. So long
as the soul remains pure, and through
its purity reflects clearly the image Of
it's Maker, so long is man united to
God, and is thereby in possession of
the greatest dignity. Take away this
purity from man and his greatness
ceases, because he has destroyed that
in which his greatest treasure lay.
If we consider those things which at
the present day appear, and really do
tend to give US society without
morality, we will find two taking
prominent place. The frst is the
reading Of bad books, in which
America aboands; the second is
those assemblies, or meetings, gener-
ally termed balls, and which perhaps,
might more accurately be designated
"dance meetings" AS to the first
we say nothing now, with regard to
the second few remarks may not be
out of place.
Dancing is not sinful in itself, but
only in its abuse, and in going be-
yond the limit of decorum. There
are many dances which have in them
no harm, and which might. perhaps,
be reckoned as Indifferent, but un-
fortunately the dances in vogue IN
this enlightened age, such as the
"waltz," the "polka,'' the ''schot-
tische,' etc., have a direct tendency
to pave the way to immQral!ty: IN
the ballroom is assumed the fsniI -
iarity which has led to the rliaaaes.
thousands. Many young gentIe-
man, many young lady are now suf-
fering in the abode of torments,
where there is weeping and guasling
of teeth, and their ruin may be traced
to the Indulgence in those dances
which are SO productive of everlast- Z
ing death-misery. -
1t often happens that parents
otherwise very careful Of their
daughters and their sons, never even :
think of preventing them from being
at balls and assisting at dance meet.
ings. It is, indeed, a sad mistake
for young ladies and young gentle.
men To allow themselves to be so far
blinded by their amusements as to
see in them no harm. 1t is a mistake
still greater for parents to be so in
sensible to the great duty which de- = =
wolves on them of guarding as most
precious treasure the virtue Of their
children.
There is great deal to be said
about dancing. For instance, young
ladies allow gentlemen privileges in
dancing which, taken under any
other circumstances, would be con-
sidered as improper. It requires
neither brains nor goo0 morals to be
q good dancer. AS the love of the
one increases the love Of the other
decreases. How many of the best
ncn and women are skillful dancers?
In ancient times the sexes danced
separately. Alcohol is the spirit Of
beverages, so sex is the spirit of the
dance; take it away and let the sexes :
dance separately and dancing would
soon 90 out of fashion. This whirI-
pool Of social dissipation is drawing
down into it some Of the best craft
afoat. It is the curse of every town
in America. What may we expect
of people who work all day and dance
nearly all night, eating hot suppers
and drinking? They are afterwards
thrown on society as wrecks, and ~
be written down as suicides, as much
as if they took their lives with pis-
tol, a knife or strychnine. How
many go from the ballroom to the
grave?
There is no harm in birthday
party, nc harm where everything is /
conducted right. But the question
is, does dancing take too much o.
place and occupy too much tide M
modern society? wish to make nol
harsh criticism on the subject. am
opposed to those who oppose play
ness on the part Of the young, ana :
believe God intended them to rompz
and play. When the mother and
children gather in the parlor, and
passing to and fro, dance to 9e
music of piano, or where company