The age-herald., 1898-10-23
IMPRESSIONS OF
 REV. J. L. SCUDDER

formidable foe. That Is, 1T MT. Scudder Is making mistake in his backing. It Is Mr. scudder who is conducting the public dancing school for young men and women and children, in sort of long distance connection with his church. MT. Scudder's congregation are with him, heart, soul and purse. He has been on trial at his Congre- gational church for thirteen years. As for some of those early years. Before the end of which, he won his parishioners conf- dence, and now retains it, increasingly.
 But MT. Scudder's dancing school, might be expected, is not having everything it's own way. Persons and elergymen with prejudices principles which forbid danc- ing are fierce, even rantankerous, in their denunciation of it. its purpose, its promoter and-and its probable effects. All of which makes merrler for the dancing school.
 The Rev. Dr. Swaffled of the Summit Avenue Baptist church last Sunday evening pounded his desk as he gave inside inform ation about MT. Scudders undertaking. He said it is ''the devils mission" The Rev. Mr. Scudder cannot worry about this blow. His dancing school Is an established fact; 1t is progressing to his material and spir- itual satisfaction; his congregation have faith in and help him, and he believes he is doing the Lords work. Besides, Mr. Scud- der thinks that the membership of the first class to open this year probably was in- creased by fifty as a direct result of the Rev. Mir. Swaffield's disapproval.
 "If the Lord is satisfied I am not going to worry about anybody else's ideas" So says Dr. Scudder in word look and act, referring to the matter. Mr. Scudder has other helps He Is an all-round athlete and amateur pugilist Not by recent inclination, nor as a result of sudden lessons. All his life, particularly his college life, he has boxed played football, baseball and every- thing. else of the kind which was going.
 In his study at the church pictures of him with his various college teams. He was captain of his baseball class team. Yale "A, and something or other which I cannot remember because l do not know much about baseball of the Yale University team-a picked body from among 700 men.
 q do not hesitate to say that my Yale athletics did more to make a clergyman of me than my training at the Union Theologi- cal Seminary he told me yesterday.
 And may l quote you as saying that?" I asked, spying more gayety for nations.
 Certainly; quote anything. I don't say anything l don't mean, whether I say it through newspaper or in private."
 l saw the Rev. pr. Scudder at his home, No. 129 Bergen avenue, yesterday morn- ing. The house is a modern wooden one, painted ashes of rose color. The interior is what school girl calls "cute," and an art student names "arteeStic." Anybody would say it is home-like. Oriental rugs, grace ful bric-a-brac, mirrors. hangings in warm colors musical instruments of various sorts, copies of famous pictures, are the evidences candy box covered with na- donal flags rests on one corner of the grand piano.
 There was just time to make these mental notes quickly, when MT. Scudder came down stairs and into the drawing-room URlpOma al md aric i, tall, slim, with keen, dark eyes, which might discomfort person having anything to conceal. His age is not plain.
 The story of the actual opening of the dancing school of Tuesday evening was told in The Press, which, we believe was the first New York paper to revive the news accounts of his undertaking. Other jour nals have followed with stories. One of them took hashHght pictures on Tuesday night and will print them showing, fa- cetiousy, the latest style in dancing And newspapers all over the country have caught up and exploited the innovation.
 Which Dr. Scudder says is no innovation at all. And this he thinks is a good grind" on the New York newspapers His dancing school has been running for three years. And they have just found it out across the river" he said. But I am pro- foundly glad of it, he added quickly. These columns and coumns of free adver- Using which We are getting are helping the cause immeasureably. And it spreads the news of our successful undertaking the length and breadth of the country. It is great good fortune.''
 tall, dark, plump, wholesome girl. a young woman with a laughing face, ap- peared at the study door to tell Dr. Scud- der that he was wanted. It was Miss Scud- der. "One of my twins" said the clergy man, presenting her. 'Isn't she a large girl-you didn't think me so old, did you? We have the best of times. She is as tall as I, you see, and for fun, when we go around together, l often introduce her as my sister. That is not for the newspaper" He had said l might put anything in. 1 hold him. as clergyman, to his word.
 We went back to the house. Mrs. Seud- der, dressed fashionably in black silk, came down stairs. The whole family were on their way to noon wedding. The doctor excused himself ito put on my other clothes" He was to be the officiating clergyman. Mrs. Scudder was waving snow- white hair, healthy color and a sympa- thetio presence. Her husband had intro- duced her as she came down stairs:
 '"Ihe finest woman in America" leaving me to guess her identity. Stop your non sense!' she called back to him as he dis appeared above. All of which, especially in an orthodox clergyman's household, was delightful indeed. Mrs. Scudders particu- lar care is the day nursery in connection with the Peoples Palace. Mothers leave their children there while they search for work, or go to it daily. Families are kept from the poor house by this means. Of the dancing school, the topic which interests so many now, she said that wNn it first was started it had worried her a great deal, because some persons so distrusted it. Now she is happy and thankful, the results are so satisfactory.
 Anyway, people are certain to object to whatever Is new in connection with . church. It was just so when MT. sBeecher started his kitchen. Turning a church into restaurant they cried"
 Dr. Scudder says that the Congregational church is democratic, that is why it can approve dancing. It is self-governing. '"rhere are no popes or bishops" Metho- dists and Baptists pretty generally S..ce, any way, he declares. But the seuers .f their religion oblige them formally tp SEs- approve it.
 When left pr. Scudder's house he was trying to help coachman, whom he was calling "major-general, plan to carry all his patrons to the wedding.
 Next Sunday evening MT. Scudder will