The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-06

mission to view the scene Of revelry. He
laughed me to scorn. He sale it was
quite out of the question. He was ada
mant-the most adamant young man to
have such rosy cheeks L ever saw.
asked him if 1 couldn't pay for eight
dances in advance, and join the class.
He replied that the number was all
made up, and that at any rate l WASH t
a member Of the Bible class. DR.. Stod-
dard was not present, he told me- but
added that he lived somewhere In Sum
NIT avenue"
I located Dr. Stoddard's house and
was there told that he had gone to the
church. Returning to the church, I was
Informed that he was somewhere else
1 have forgotten where. The ubiqui-
tcus DR.. Stoddard did not materialize,
but l was presented to Mrs. Stoddard,
who gave a little gasp and told me that
mo outsiders would be admitted"
But there are other ways of going to
Jersey City than by balloon, and 1 am
in position to give a very fair idea of
the first Of the church dances. In the
rear of the church is one story build
ing used by the physical culture class
1t was here that the innovation was in
augurated. There were Just thirty
couples, exclusive of Frederick Ander-
son, who had been engaged as instruc-
tor in dancing, and his sister, who fur
nished the music on the piano.
A Picturesque Scene.
Mrs Stoddard gave the affair her per
sonal supervision. There were round
dances and square dances, there were
waltzes and two-steps, and there was
good old-fashioned Virginia reel
The surroundings were pictures
que in the extreme. The gymnasium
a 20 nd
the walls and ceiling of polished wood,
with the bare rafters glistening in the
gaslight. formed a delightful setting to
the scene.
The flying trapeze, rings suspended
from the ceiling. horizontal and vertical
bars, and all the other paraphernalia
Of the gymnasium were there to add a
picturesque element. There were some
few who had taken advantage of the
opportunity and were receiving their
first instruction in the graceful art.
These were under the direction of Mr..
Anderson But the majority Of those
present were quite proficient.
The idea Of the weekly dances had Its In
rector's Bible class. This class Is in itself
rather unique. At the age of eighteen each
scholar in the Sunday school passes into the
Bible class. where the rector gives lectures
on the Bible. the prayer book and the his
tory of the church, and from which. at the
end of a three years course, members are
graduated and given a diploma. To still fur
Their interest them in the church there Is a
Bible Glass Alumni association. which has
yearly meetings. and its special work Is
raising an endowment fund for the church of
s1O0, GOO
Dancing Class Reception.
But to return to the dancing class. Until
last year the annual receptions had been held
at the rector's house where a progressive
euchre party usually preceded an informal
dance. followed by supper. The last recep-
ton however, was held In the church Those
nasium. while those who had Conscientious
scruples against dancing. either because they
didn't think 1t proper becuse thew ddn t
know how. confined themselves to the Sun
Turing games as Copenhagen" "Postoffice''
and other bOisterous trivialities. DR.. Stod-
dard divided his time between the two rooms.
On one of his visits to the gymnasium he
pupils that he didn't think proper decorum
was being observed in the Sunday school
room "It is relief" he said. Ito come in
here. listen to the music and witness 50
ladies and gentlemen dancing together The
scene is not nearly so refining in the other
| room. There is no vulgarity here. There IS
yonder. They are not acting ladies and
gentlemen should"
At the conclusion of the dance Virginia
reel was suggested, and DR.. Stoddard headed
the line dancing with the vigor which char
acterizes everything be does. And that was
the origin of the dancing class
1t must not be imagined that the intrepid
rector of st. Johns has altogether the APP
proval of his congregation in the matter of
dancing lessons. There are those who openly
decry the innovation. and some Of them are
his most wealthy and influential parishion-
ers. But he is determined to go ahead. and
hopes to convince all the DIRECTORS of the WIS
dom of his course.