The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-10-01
SKIRT DANCE OF SALONE.
The Head Of John the Baptist on a
Plate Her Reward.

query O4u- A1Ine OeQUnClaUlOn8 OF
the Poetry of Motion"
Brooklyn. Sept. 3O.-Rev. DIR. Talmage,
who is still absent on his round the-world
tour, has selected as the sub ect of to-
days sermon, through the press. The
Quick Feet" the text chosen being
Matthew l4:6: when Herod's birthday
was kept, the daughter Of Herodias
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
tains, 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 purveyors can
gather. The guests, white-robed and
anointed and perfumed, come in and sit
at the table. Music! The jests evoke
roars 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 not satisfied ye.. Turn on more
light. Pour out more VINE. Music!
Sound all the trumpets. Clear the floor
for dance. Bring in Salome, the beau
tifuI and accomplished princess. The
door opens and in bounds the dancer.
The lords are enchanted. Stand back
and make room for the brilliant gyra-
tionS. These men never saw such ''pO-
etry Of notion Their soul whirls in
the reels and bounds with the bounding
feet. Herod forgets crown and throne
and everything but the fasciuations of
Salome. All the maEnificence of his
!.
the splendor that whirls on tiptoe before
him. His body sways from side to side,
corresponding with the motions
of the enehantress. His soul is
thrilled with the pulsations of
the feet and bswitched with the taking
postures and attitudes more and more
amazing, After awhile he sits in en-
chanted silence looking at the fias' 'ng,
leaping, bounding beauty, an8 as the
dance closes and the tiu4sliIg cymbals
cease to clap and the thundeFs Of applause
that shook the palace begin Ato abate, the
enchanted monarch swears tp the prlnccly
performer: Whatsoever thou shalt ask
of me 1 will give it thee to THE half Of my
kingdom" Now, there was, In prison at
that time minister of the gospel by the
name of John the Baptistf and he had
been making a great deal oF trouble by
preaching some very plain an q honest ser
mons. He had denounced Tn ? sins of the
king and brought down upon him
the wrath of the females of the
royal household. At the in$tigation 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"
Hark to the sound of feet outside the
door and the clatter of swords. The exc
cutioners are returnil from their awful
errand. open the Sor. They enter, and
they present the platter to Salome. What
is on this platter A new glass Of wine to
continue the uproarious merriment? No
Something redder and costlieV-the
CHASTITY, bleeding head of John thel Bap-
fist, the death glare still in the eytl the
locks dabbled with the gore, the features
still distressed with the last agony 4 mis-
woman, who had whirled so gracew ally
in the dance, bends over theawful bUeden
without shudder. She glOats over the
blood, and with as much Indifference as a
waiting maid might take a tray of empty
glassware out of the room after an enter
tanment, 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 a way they have got rid of an ear
nest and outspoken minister of the Gospel
Well, there is no harm in a birthday
festival. All the kings from Pharaoh's
~,
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 that closed
the scene of that day every pure nature
revolts. ] am not at this time to discuss
the old question is dancing right or
wrongln but am to discuss the question.
docs dancing take too much place and
occupy too much time in modern society2"
and in my remarks I hope to carry with
me the earnest conviction of all thought
full persons, and | believe / will
You VIII all admit, whatever you think
OF that style of amusement and exercise
that from many circles it has crowded
out all intelligent conversation. You will
also admit that it has made the condition
OF those who do not dance, either because
they do NOT know how, or because they
have not the health to endure il, or be-
cause through conscientious scruples they
must decline the exercise, very upcom-
Portable. You VII also admit, all of YOU.
that II has passed in many cases from an
amusement 10 a dissipation. ana YOU are
easily able TO understand the bewilder-
ment of the educated Chinaman who
standing in the brilliant circle where
there was dancing going on four or five
hours, and the guests seemed exhausted.
turned TO the proprietor of the house and
said: why don't you allow your SER
wants to do this for youl"
You are also willing to admit whatever
be your idea in regard To the amusement
am speaking Of, and whatever be vour
idea OF the old fashioned square dance
and OF many of the professional romps in
which ! can see no evil, the round dance
is administrative of evil and ought to be
driven out OF all respectable circles. |
am by natural temperament and religious
theory opposed TO the position taken by
all those who are Mortified at playfulness
on the part of the young and who think
that all questions are deciGed-Questions
of decency and morals-by the position of
the feet, while on the other hand. | can
see nothing but ruin, temporal and eter-
nal, for those who go into the destinations
of social life, designations which have al
ready despolled thousands of young men
and young women of all that is noble in
character and useful in life
Dancing Is the graceful motion of the
body adjusted by art to the sound and
measure Of musical instrument or of the
human voice All nations have danced.
The ancients thought that Castor and
PolluX taught the art to the lacedamo-
mans. But whoever startedit, all climes
nave adoped it. In ancient times they
had the festal dance. the military dance
the mediaforial dance, the bacchaualinn
dance and queens and lords swaved To
ana tro IN the gardens, and the rough
backwoodsman with this exercise
awakened the echo of the forest There
IS something in the sound of lively music