Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-10-01
THE DANCE OF DEATH
DR.. TALMAGE FINDS A WARNING ~
THE DAUGHTER OF HEROOiAS.

Cases, but In All Ages 1t Has Been As
sociated with the Lower Forms of Dig
sipatIon.
BROOKLYN, Sept. 30.-Rev. DIR. Tai
mage, who is still absent on his round
the world tour, has selected as the sub
.ect of today's sermon through the
press 1.-The Quick Feet" the text chosen
being Matthew xiv, 6, when Herod 5
birthday was kept, the daughter of He
rodias danced before them and pleased
Herod.''
1t is the anniversary of Herod' s birth
day. The palace is lighted. The high
ways leading thereto are all ablaze with
the pomp of invited guests. Lords, cap
tairs. merchant princes, the mighty
men of the land, are coming to mingle
In the festivities The table is spread
with all the Injuries that royal purvey-
ors can gather. The guest, white robed
Bnd anointed and perfumed, come in and
sit at the table Musicl The jests evoke
roa-s of laughter. Riddles are PROFOUND
ed. Repartee is INDUCED TOasts arc
drank The brain is befogged. The wit
rolls ON into uproar and blasphemy.
They are not satisfied yet. Turn on
moro light. Pour out more wine. Mu-
sic Sound all the trumpets. Clear the
floor for dancel Bring in Salome, the
beautiful and accomplished princess.
TIE door opens, and in bounds the dan
cer. Tho lords are enchanted.
Stc--d back and make room for the
brilliant gyrations! These men never
saw such poetry of motion. Their
soul Uhirls in the reel and bounds with
the bounding feet. Herod forgets crown
and throne and everything but the fS;
ciEations of Salome. All the magnifi
co~cc Of his realm is as nothing row
c0-,T5-->-ed with the splendor that whirls
on tiptoe before him. His body SWAPS
from side TO side, corresponding with
the motions of the enchantress. His
soul is thrilled with the pulsations of
the feet and bewitched with the taking
pastures and attitudes more and more
amazing After awhile he sits in en-
chanted silence looking at the flashing,
leaping, bounding beauty, and as the
dance closes and the tinkling cy1nbals
cease to clap and the thunders OF APP
plauso that shook the palace begin to
abate the enchanted monarch swears to
the princely performer, Whatsoever
thou shalt ask of me will give it thee, to
the half of my kingdom. - Now, therewas
in prison at that time minister of the
gospel of the name of John the Baptist,
and he had been making q great deal OF
trouble by preaching some very plain
and honest sermons. He had denounced
the sins of the king and brought down
upon him the wrath of the females Of
A. l. Il !
of her mother Salome takes advantage
of the extravagant promise of the king
and says, Bring me the head of John
the Baptist on a dinner plate. -
The Head of John.
Hark to the sound of feet outside the
door and the chatter of swords! The eX-
ecutiCners are returning from their aw
full GRAND. Open the door! They enter,
and they present the platter to Salome.
What is on this platter? A new glass
Of wine to continue the uproarious mer-
rimcnt? No. Something redder and
costlier-the CHASTITY, bleeding head Of
John the Baptist, the death glare still
in the eve, the locks dabbled with the
gore, the features still distressed with
the last agony.
This woman, who had whirled SO
gracefully in the dance, bends over the
awful burden without shudder. She
gloats over tire blood, and with as much
Indifference as a waiting maid might
take tray of empty glassware out Of
the room after an entertainment Salome
carries the discovered head of John the
Baptist, while all the banqueters shout
with laughter and think it good joke
that in so easy and quick way they
have got rid of an earnest and outspo-
ken minister of the gospel.
You will all admit, whatever you
think of that style of amusement and
exercise, that from many cicrles it has
crowded out all Intelligent converse
ton You viii also admit that it has
made the condition of those who do
not dance either because they do not
know how &c. because they have not the
health to endure it or because through
conscientious scruples they must decline
the exercise very uncomfortable. You
will also admit, all of you, that it has
passed in many cases from an amuse-
ment to dissipation, and you are east
ly able to understand the bewilderment
of the educated Chinaman, who, stand
ing in the brilliant circle where there
was dancing going on four or five hours
and the guests seemed exhausted, turn
ed to the proprietor of the house and
said, why don't you allow your SER
wants to do this for your"
The AbeminabIe Round Dance.
You are also willing to admit, what
ever be your idea in regard to the
amusement am speaking of, and what
ever be your idea of the old fashioned
tuuare dance, and of many of the pro
ressional romps in which I can see 10
evil, the round dance is administrative
of evil and ought to be driven out Of
all respectable circles. I am by natural
temperament and religious theory op-