The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-27
THE CHARITY BALL.

THE CHARITY BALL.
All over the country. 1t has become
the custom OF well-meaning people TO
secure funds with which 10 aid charlta-
Bile institutions By giving bali. the pro-
ceeds Of which are donated to local
organization or distributed among the
several institutions 1t is recognized as
one OF the pleasurabis duties OF the
year, and so far as can be seen. no
harm has ever come Of the practice.
Occasionally. it meets with opposition
on the part OF ministers. however, and
several preachers OF Des Mosnes have
appealed to the Associated Charities of
that city to abandon the practice on
the ground that the public dance does
much to break down spirituality and to
overthrow that very type Of unworldli-
ness which the church of Jesus Christ
strives 10 build up" Some OF the minis
tiers have declined TO interfere. and In
this they show their good sense.
There are many good church people
who object to dancing. and they are
not required 10 take part in public
ball II Ia always open to them to make
their contributions to charities direct.
There can be no objection, moreover.
10 pious ministers who see danger in the
dance advising their congregations
10 eschew it. together with the wearing
OF jewelry, the display Of fnery. and
the other forms Of worldliness TO which
even cburch-goers, especially of the
gentler Sex. are prone. But II they
must dance. surely 1t II less unpardon-
able IL they dance in a good cause.
1t Will not stop pubic balls ner put
q ban upon dancing to persuade charita-
bic institutions not to take the proceeds.
The merry dance viii go on just the
same. and the charities will have 10 seek
other means by which To find compensa-
tion for the loss. The attitude Of the
preachers is one of those manifestations
Of a want of good judgment in dealing
with human nature and an lmpervious-
ness to logic which repels instead Of
attracting people to the churches. The
same objection has been raised IL hay
ing organs in the churches. TO having
flowers about sacred edi1ce. to church
fairs and church rsi,les. and Of all these
Inducements TO do good works a charity
ball is far less Objectionable than the
church lottery.
The question IF the morality" II
dancing can be considered quite apart
from the question whether IL In obiec-
tionable for charities to accept the pro-
ceeds of a charity ball So long as the
amusement is tolerated by custom II
would seem that Il there were any spe-
cial justification II would h when I,
was enjoyed In connection with the DO.
ing OF a good work
Even the ruritans did not objeet To
dancing. They thought that men hv
themselves and women by themselves
might dance without sin TO recreate
the mind oppressed with some great toll
and labor" They denounced tire schools
at which mixed dancing was taught
as places for teaching the noble sci
ence Of heather deyiltry' But In those
days they burned witches AZ the stake
and objected 10 the mlngllnS Of boys
and girls IN classes. ara haH ether no
u-f,s-h Hat.. t..r.~ at,.... ,..--
doned by a free ard lntcllirent neopi,
The fac; IS that Il We are e. abandon
every form Of enjoyment because II is
worldly" We shall soon become, a race
az misan,hropes II dancing is % he
prohibited because man puts hss arm
about \ wonsns waist. chen ne shall
60 another step and proslhi. he~ pus.
ting her hard through his sru. then
smother. ana prohibit his taABue her -
the hand in welcome or at Parting.
then another. and ye.l heg face So that
man shall not took uron tt~anA 81 find
ourselves very rear the customs ~
Aohasnneaan countries.
X does ret have direct bearing on
me subject. bat IL Is worth remember
ing that the dances which civilization
regards as paos, heashen!sa ard las
civsous are those ~ the countries where
The sexes dance alone The dance II the
Nanseh girls. thar o. the Turks. aaa
- i ast1s e4sxz sr.aseasAs .