The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1891-06-20

tluctS H.
takes place among the dancers a
cheerful grin light up his sahle visage.
Then the harder he scrapes the louder
he beats time with his foot and the
faster the feet of the dancers fly.
Thus the dance goes on till about mid
night, then they retire p~eaceable and
happy to their respective homes. But
it must be remembered that these
country dances were not so frequent, rs
might he supposed.
The pioneers and their immediate
descendants had but little time TO de-
vote to pleasure and amusements.
They felt that they had higher destiny
to fulfill. The country had to be
improved schools and churches lad to
be established throughout the land.
The education and moral training of
the rising generation was earnestly
looked after. | am now going to re-
late what are supposed to be some of
the evils of the dancing. DR.. Watts a
noted English divine and poet has in
his work on the mind devoted Il whole
chapter to this subject. But | do not
wish it to be understood, that what
am going to relate applies to any
general custom or practice. | must
say that in many places balls are con-
ducted with the utmost order and de-
corum. But such is o always the
case, 1t has been the custom, particn-
larly before the license law WAS fully
put into force, to provide Il certain
quantity of whisky wine anisette and
&c. These were called refreshments
and were often sought and procured
before a musician was engaged.
These kind of balls Of course are
free. Little boys as we'll as grown
persons attend them. Some time they
slip away from home to do so. Here
they learn to smoke and drin6 if not
that they got into mischief. Liquor
was of course sold by the glass
These young men learn to drink old
men frequently drank more than
they wanted and more wine was offer
ed to the ladies, than was CONSTANT
with temperance ideas. As the night
advanced and drinking increased quar-
rels and noisy disputes took place and
often serious difficulties arose. Ii
might be asked by any sober reflect
ing person, if these are the proper
scenes and associations to develope the
minds of young females and form them
into gentle and refined ladies. who
have to become the mother of a fu-
ture race of men who have to look af-
ter the affairs of our country. And
the young men who attend these as
sembly two and three times a week us
has often been the case; are they fit
ting themselve yes to become useful and
prosperous citizens or to fill offices of
trust and honor in state or parish.
Are they fitting,themselves to even APP
proach the ballot box. In addition to
this there are other bad effects produc-
ed by loss of rest, and fatigue particu-
larly when the dance is prolonged till
daylight Which is frequently the case.
This sometime produces sickness and
even death. These young men are of
ten tempted to spend money beyond
their means. While perhaps at home
mother and sisters are in need of dres-
ses and shoes. Or an invalid or disa-
bled father burdened with and almost
helpless family is in need of ever dol
lar spent so lavishly. His daughters
are forced to leave home to work for
their clothing where they have to face
the world with all it's snares and
temptations. 1t has been related to
me as Il certain fact that young men
have been known to spend in one night
five six and ever seven dollars. An
amountsufficient to pay for then school
ing that many months at the rate that
teachers are usually paid. The excess
to which dancing is sometimes carried
owing in a great measure to the ex-
tensive improvement in our modern
musical instruments and the beautiful
style of dancing music that has of late
years been composed. Suppose a
party of our young folks have to dapce
to Parispipe Oh some other rude in
strument of the ancients they woald
perhaps dance a few rounds. They
would soon become satisfied and re-
tire to their homes sober and obtain a
good nights rest. Even the piano with
all its elegance and beauty of tone sell
dom holds the votaries of Terfsecore
longer than midnight. But when a
skilful performer on the violin and
perhaps equally skilful with himself
commences to play a beautiful air from
some of the modern composers all rise
to their feet. Its magic tones seem to
thrill every nerve OF the dancers they
are filled with exstatic delight. They
become wild with excitement. The
story of little Fred and his fiddle is no
longer a fable when we consider the
power modern music when exerted to-
wards a company of dancers. While