Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-18
THEY DANCED AT THE FAIR.
Members of the Epworth League Charged
With Too Worldly Conduct.

Al gymnastic exercise a reasonable amount
OF dancing is said by experts to be physically
beneficial, and this general sort Of an assertion
ordinarily gees unchalienged. But there are
those who are more Immediately concerned in
the moral features Of saltatory exertion and it
Is some of these who have come to the front
with accusations which may, for brief season.
disturb the workings q a local subdivision Of
the Epworth League. Those who do not dance
say that those who do should not be allowed to
retain membership in The league, and tSe diff
fereuces OF opinion made apparent by this
declaration are becoming more marked every
day. Both sides are armed with argument. but
the chances are that the dancers will find an
argumcnt-crusher IN the rules OF the society.
Years ago, when Epworth WAS an undiscoy-
cred hole in the ground. when Old Testament
history was being made, there was no popular
objection to dancing. say the dancers. III
man woman felt particularly gladstone over
anything why be or she or both simply danced
They might dance in the house if they were so
inclined, but there was no legal prohibition on
their occupying the sidewalk for reasonable
length of time.
BONE BIBLICAL INsTANcES-
Miriam and many other Israeiitish women
danced to celebrate the crossing of the Red
Sea by the rejoicing host; Davids sanguinary
and successful efforts as slaughterer of Philis-
tines were recognized by tie women of his race
with songs and dancing: Herodins danced and
found especial favor. Numerous are the scrip
tural references to dancing. and the terms en-
ployed are mostly comrneCGatory IN their CHAR
acter. The dancing mentioned IN the Psalms
was generally accompanied by instrumental
music. SO it was probably as elaborate in its ma
ture some Of the figures cut by lisht-footed
humanity in these latter times. OF course
there were people who objected to dancing even
in the early days, but the only pro
test on record was made by David's
wife, Nichal after she had watched her hus-
band dance in public in a somewhat attenuated
and abbreviated costume. Michals objection,
however, was not apparently aimed at dancing
in general, but at the kind OF dancing which
David was engaged in.
putable fact-s fundamental truth-that there
is time to dance The question which now
agitates Epworthian circles is as to when that
time makes its appearance
THE MODERN INSTANCES
Two weeksago there was in full working oper
alton in this city a bazaar something of that
kind, which Was knowl the Columbian ex-
position of 1891. 1t engineered by and
was in the financial interest of Columbia Lodge
Of Good Templars. For six successive even
ings did young men and women, clad IN the
picturesque costumes of foreign nations,
gather shekels into the lodge treasury. the
gathering operation commencing at about l3O
and ending three hours later By that TINE
the crowd would be off the floor and the hail.
a rule. was comparatively empty Then,
said those who were inclined to glide over the
waved surface. this Is the time to dance.
And they danced. A skeleton orchestra pro-
yided all that was necessary In the way OF
provocation. and until midnight came along
and it WAS time for silence according to her
usual custOm) to brood over the city there was
dancing enough to satisfy the most enthusiastic.
Very speedily did some OF the more active