The San Francisco call., 1897-08-18

the attitude of the organization regarding
soma of the dancing and entertainment
given ct the Exposition building.
Mrs Johnston has long been known in
this city as a leader in the w. C. T. u.
work, and her wealth has always been at
the command OF cases deserving of
oh ~rity. She declares that there is moth
ing more healthful, either morally or
physica ~, than agitation. She is pleased
tuaG these matters have been brought for
ward.
The ". C. T. . is not a secret sociaty,"
she says, "and visitors and reporters are
always WelC me at our meetings, but it Is
both silly and useless Tor people who OBJ.
tain n9ws through keyholes to put US in
ridiculous light.
The question as to the development of
rome and Drawn is unde batable but
whether am bilious athletes may appear in
the regulation tights before a promi--
cuous assembly and give an all-round
physical performance without lowering
the standard OF pure morals is not so clear
in the mind OF the sel-respecting cit zen.
Surely everything that lends to educate
along The llne of prize lighting is per-
nicous II the extreme.
"lf from the stand point of good morals,
m IL may give pubic performances in
athletic tights why may not women? The
same code OF mo ais must be law for both.
There i not a right minded man in
the cily OF Oakland who would tolerate
his wife or daughter appearing in public
performance in the tights OF the athlete
and, if we mistake not, the city authori-
ties would cut short such a performance
if attempted"
Mrs. Johnston also takes up the cues
ton OF dancing as exh bited at the recent
exposition, and says:
But that which is most agitating to the
minds OF some of our critics is the question of
fancg and promlscuous dancing. II is not the
proylnre OF the Woman's Christian Temper.
ance Union to regulate the manners and
customs" OF society, only so far as such man.
hers and customs tend to degrade public
morals and affect the homes of those who
stand for that which is pure and eevating.
Toe matter OF daucing-sch school, as well as
what IS Taught there, peTtaius wholly TO q
financial and educational arrangement of the
1, acher and MS patrons. but when a professor
OF the terpslchoTean art is allowed 10 intro
quce an object enable performance into an
institution iulenued to educate and elevate
1t Is nigh Tune that all who stand for good
morals and gentle manners should speak out !
II Is almost the universal testimony of in
stTuctors in the various departments of edu
cation, that children and youths who attend
dancing Classes at the same time that they
are members of the ord nary school rarely a.
tain 10 any degree OF good standing. One
thing is certaln-that the tendency OF the long
ana continued drili necessary for ex pert fancy
dancing eduCates for the dive and the variety
theaier. Wisdom demands upIft in educa-
tiou rather than Generalization.
The local athletic cluts which are re-
ferred 10 by Mr.. Johnston will probably
be next heard from OH the matter The
most remarkable thing in connection with
the whole controversy is tAar on the night
wh6n athlete and dancing D rformances
were given the greater portion of tn
seu fence were women and nj ost of them
were pleased with the entertainment