The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-13

in her hand and which, the corporal
surmised, contained some dainty for his
especial benefit. His hopes fell below
zero, though, when, after considerable
fumbling among it's contents, his charit-
able friend handed him a tract on the
evils of dancing. This is but typical
example of the lamentable want of dis
erection and good sense displayed by
number Of charitably religious people
who delude themselves into the belief
that they are going about doing good.
Tho Rev. DR.. Hobbs, of Denver, is an
other specimen Of mistaken zeal. He filed
his church with a large congregation the
other Sunday to listen to his theories of
amusements and treated them to a bit
ter denunciation of the theater and base
ball, billiards and dancing. While he
was careful to distinguish between the
physical acts involved and the associa-
tons of custom, he loaded the latter
with TRADE of indiscriminate abuse.
He could not deny that the dramatic in
stinct was we'll nigh universal, to quote
his own words, and though he did not
care to go so far as to advocate the idea
that the moral nature of the actor de-
teriorates by reason of the fact that sue
cessful presentation of a low or vile
character requires perfect abandon of
self to the traits and emotions of the
character represented, he made it suffi-
GENTLY evident that he had a sneaking
1itrtpc fCr Tho <hnor1, 1f ~ 70 <p,,
the converse proposition ought also to
hold good and clergymen, whose bust
ness it is to advocate the example Of the
noblest Of lives, ought themselves to
gradually reach pitch Of the highest
moral perfection. But the fact remains
that there are unworthy clergymen who
are constantly playing good part, just
as surely as there are moral actors play
ing a bad one. For the playhouse itself
the doctor has nothing but abuse. Can
any good come out of Nazareth? is his
mental attitude towards that institu-
ton. A drama apart from the theater,
he says, is a thing very different from
the same drama in the theater-even if
the sentiments of the given drama are
of faultless purity. OF course it is,
though not in the sense the critic would
have us infer. The same difference ex-
lists between face that is hushed and
immobile in repose and the same face
when it is lit up by bright eyes, spark
ling words of wit and wisdom and ever
varying expression.
The professional base ball player &C.
cupies very low place in the reverend
gentleman's estimation, because he is
guilty Of using his one talent to procure
his bread and butter and accepts re-
enumeration for his services. It might
| be gently insinuated to this heightened
preacher that he himself might set a
good example to the debased base ball
player by giving up his own salary and
wandering forth on his own scriptural
mission, in true apostolic fashion, with
out purse and without scrip. What is
sauce for the goose is sauce for the gan
der. And, since the doctor has no OBJ
jections to the physical acts involved in
the pastimes he condemns SO forcibly, it
would be rather interesting if, in fu-
ture sermon, he should let us know how
he dances, when he feels an inclination
that way. Does he seize some unresist-
ing chair and gaily waltz round the
study in it's charming company, or does
he execute pas soul or break down?
He admits that David danced upon at
least one occasion of record, but it is to
be hoped that his reverence does not
too closely follow the royal example. II
our recollection serves us right, David
has much to answer for in the adoption
of the present fashion of ballet dress
Had the doctor Qike the rest of us) 8
mother, has he wife or daughters O
his own? we are forced to ask. How
} comes he to believe that it is impossible
for pure minded youth and maiden t.
, engage in the pleasures of the dane.
, without Indictment to evil? Evil he t
him who evil thinks. The doctor mus
, have moved in very queer circles If tina
: is the one conclusion his experience
: leads him to form. The truth is tha
I such outbursts Of what Charles Read'
. called prurient prudery have done ant
r are still doing more harm to the caus.
the doctor is paid to plead than the EN-
f Uttered attacks of it's declared enemies