The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-22
BALL ROOM TO HE'LL"
Ruff1anly Title of a Preachers
Sermon.
Makes a Lot of Outrageous, I'm
substantiated Charges.
Society Amusements Abused by an
overbaked Evangelist"

All of the anathemas of the century
upon the total depravity of dancing,
accumulated by Rev J. H. Sims, the
Christian church evangelist, now hold
ing meetings at the Christian church,
corner Third and Lake streets, were
hurled into society's face last night.
The evangelist promised a "trip from
the ball room to hell" but it was not
completed before it got too hot on the
way.
People who dance will not, accord
ing to his theory. enjoy sedentary hab-
Its IN the life which is to come. The
preacher believes that a continuation
of the popularity of dancing will not
make necessary a suspension of bust
ness in the devils domain. He also
believes that dancing is a pastime of
the devils creation, and that people
who indulge in it, progressive church
members and all, are engaged in a de-
voted service to his satanic majesty.
Evangelist Sims says dancing prop
agates the following list of evils:
Destroys health
Impairs intellect.
Cultivates immortality.
Promotes indecent talk and indecent
action
Is sensual and carna1
Promotes whisky drinking, dandyism
and roWdyism.
Blunts mOdesty.
InStigates jealousies.
Breaks up families
Separates husband and wife.
Kills religion.
Destroys Christianity.
Is responsible for the downfall of
seven-tenths of the women who depart
from the paths of virtue.
Breaks down health.
Makes fools Of women and idiots of
men.
Lacks culture and refinement.
Removes the possibility of becoming
useful wives and good mothers.
Destroys the mission and purposes of
sO-called society.
Is disgraceful.
Outlines the path to hell
Maintains dancing maSters-the most
disreputable and heartless villains in
the world.
Is curse to society and humanity
the absolute and certain route to hell
Evangelist Sims arraignment of
dancing, dancers, the ballroom and So
ciety was especially bitter. He direct
ed particular attention to the costumes
or lack of cOstumeS-Worn by women
who dance. He spoke of decoIlette
gowns and said:
That's French for nearly naked 1t
means just as near naked as one can
be, and yet not be.
"Once there was a Judge in New York
who was not addicted to the habit yet
ne was prevailed upon to attend a So
clety ball He entered the house and
was met by the lady thereof, clad in a
decOllete gown. She was quickly sur
rounded by others who had just as lit
tie on The judge was Mortified. He
exclaimed:
You women go home and dress
yourselves, or 1 will have you summon
ed before my court for indecency.'
That's the kind of men we should
have more Of" exclaimed Mr.. Sims.
Some of our women in attending
balls-and the leaders of society, too
are like good, old mother Eve-naked
and not ashamed.
CT hot
way in Topeka or not, but they are in
Ft. Wayne and Wichita. In all Goddess
cities they dress that way. I hope it is
not true in Topeka as this is and should
be the center of grace, morality and de-
cency-the holy city-in fact all of this
great state.
why, if a Drained, silly, MINI
licking, foolish, sleek, Well-groomed
dancing master or any other dancing
man should waltz around a ball room
with my wife I would hunt him up
the next morning and kick him around
the public square If 1 could do it. If
I couldn't do it, would hire the big
gest darkey in town to do it for me. 1t
would be done.
Women, young or old, who attend a
dancing school make the most serious
mistakes of their lives. Mothers who
send their daughters there start them
on the road to hell There they come in
contact with the vilest men on earth.
Men who are immoral in every respect:
men who have no respect for women
and less for virtue. Seventh-tenthS of
the fallen women of this country have
gone down in degradation from that
kind of a beginning.
''WhO is responsible? I leave that
question for you yourselves to answer"
The evangelist gave what he consid-
ers the six stages of dancing.
F'irst-A young girl in a christian
home is sent to a dancing school to at
tain grace.
Second-She goes away to complete
her education and incidentally attends
a few parlor parties.
Third-She engages in wild reVelry
at night with her companions, drinking
wines and eating lunches after the
balls.
Fourth-The next stage is the pub
lie ball followed by more extended or
gies. There she falls.
Fifth-Fallen, she leaves home and
takes to the dance hall
Sixth-She is found in the streets.
If there is anything in the English
language in the line of denuncfation
and criticism against dancing which
Evangelist Sims did not utter last night
it was because it appeared in the part
of the lecture which he omitted because
the trip to hell was too hot.
Sims assertions about what becomes
of society girls ought to be called down.
It approaches very close to bIackguard-
ism.