The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1894-10-20
EVILS OF DANCING.
DR.. Talmage Discourses on the In
EQUITY of the Princess Salome.
The World Is Too Prone to Repeat the
Riotous Dissipation That Marked the
Banquet of HerOd-Innumera-
BILE Victims of FrivOlity.

Witt Talmage for his latest sermon to
the public through the press was THE
Quick Feet" the text chosen being
Matthew xiv, 6: when Herod's birth
day was kept the daughter of Herodias
danced before them, and pleased Her
3D." Following is the IN
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, captains, merchant princes, the
mighty men of the land, are coming to
mingle in the festivities. The table is
spread with all the luXuries that royal
purveyors can gather. The guests,
white robed and amounted and per-
fumed, come i'm and sit at the table.
Music! The jests evoke of
laughter. Riddles are propounded.
Repartee is INDUCED. Toasts are
drank. The brain is befogged.
The wit rolls on into uproar
and blasphemy. They are o satisfied
yet. Turn on more light. Pour out
more wine. Music! Sound all the
trumpets. Clear the floor for the dance.
Bring in Salome. the beautiful and ac-
accomplished princess. The door opens,
n in bounds the dancer. The lords
are enchanted. Stand back and make
o. for the brilliant gyrations. These
men never saw such poetry Of mo-
tion." Their souls whirl in the reel
and bound with the bounding feet.
Herod forgets crown and throne and
everything but the destinations of Sa-
lone. All the magnificence of his
realm is as nothing now compared
with the splendor that whirls on tip
toe before him. His body sways 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 md
more amazing. After a while he
sits in enchanted silence looking at
the flashing, leaping bounding beauty,
and as the dance closes and the tink-
thunders of applause that shook the
palace begins to abate. the enchanted
monarch swears to the princely per-
former: "Whatsoever thou shalt ask
Of me 1 will give it thee, to the half Of
kingdom" Now, there was in
prison at hat time n minister of the
gospel by the name of John the Bap-
fist, and he had been making a great
deal of trouble by preaching some very
plain and honest He had de-
nounced the sins of the king and
brought down upon him the wrath of
the females Of the royal household.
At the instigation Of her mother,
Salome takes advantage of the ex-
travagant promise of the king, and
says: Bring me the head Of John the
Baptist on a dinner plate"
Hark to the sound of feet outside the
door and the clatter Of swords. The
executioners are returning from their
awful errand. 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 up
roarious merriment? No. Something
red and ~costlier-the CHASTITY, bleeding
head of John the Baptist, the death
with the gore, the features still dis
tressed with the last agony. This
woman, who had whirled SO gracefully
In the dance, bends over the awful bur-
den without q shudder. She gloats
over the blood, and with as much in
difference as q waiting maid might
take a tray Of empty glassware out of
the room after an entertainment, Sa-
lone carries the discovered head Of
John the Baptist, while all the ban
queters shout with laughter, and think
1t a good joke that in so easy and quick
q way they have got rid of an earnest
and outspOken minister of the gospel.
Well, there is no harm in a birthday
festival. All the kings from Pharaoh's
time had celebrated such occasions,
and why not Herod? No harm in
kindling the lights. No harm in
spreading the banquet No harm in
arousing music. But from the riot and
wassail hat closed the scene of that
day every pure nature ~revolts. l Am
not at this time to discuss the old ques-
ton: Is dancing right or wrong? but
l I'M to discuss the question: Does
dancing take too much place and oc-
cupy too much time in modern society?
and in my remarks I hope to carry with
me the earnest conviction OF all
thoughtful persons, and l believe l
will.
You will all admit, whatever you
think of that style Of amusement and
exercise, that from many circles it has
crowded out all intelligent CONVERSE
ton. You will also admit that it has
made the condition Of those who do
not dance. either becaure they do not
know how, or because, they have not
the health to endure it, or because,
through conscientious scruples, they
must decline the exercise, very I'M
comfortable. You will also admit,
all Of you, that it has passed in many
cases from an amusement to dissipa-
ton.
You are also willing to admit, what
ever be your idea in regard to the
amusement 1 am speaking of, and
whatever be your idea of the old-fash-
Toned square dance and of many of the
professional romps in which / can see
no evil, the round dance is admins
trative of evil and ought to be driven
put of all respectable circles. I am by
natural temperament and religious
theory opposed to the position taken
by all those who are Mortified at plav-