The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1901-10-30
"HonI SOFT ouI Nal v Pense."

EDITOR OF The LEADER:-In last
weeks issue of your paper, there APP
peared an article by Mr.. l.. ID. Posey,
| hurting anathemas at dancing, and vii
| lifying dancers in general. Kindly
lend your columns to a dancer, and
hear the other side Of the question.
This is but just.
| Shakespeare says:
THE man that hath no music in himself
Nor is not stirred by concords OF sweet sounds
Is ut for treason, strategem and spells.
The motions of his spirit are as dull as night
And his affections dark as Erebus.
Let no such man be trusted"
Hear mocking bird, Natures own
creation, perched upon the topmost
limb of tree, pouring forth soul
stirring volumes of melodious harmony
till it seems its little throat will
burst; singing in the very gladness of
its heart, and giving vent to periods of
Heaven-inspired music. Does it not
produce a corresponding thrill in the
heart? Why, music is the very soul
of Heaven itself, and music has,
from time immemorial, been insepa-
rably allied to dancing! Who does not
feel thrilled at hearing sweet music?
Show me the man and 1 will show you
a monster.
The sublime sentiments, the ele-
waiting yet indefinable sensation that
seize upon ones soul and lift him out
of himself find expression in "the 81
lent poetry of motion" in keeping time
with the cadences of concord and be
coming, as it we're, part of the music.
An artist is better qualified to ap-
preciate beautiful painting than one
who is uninitiated; and they who have
not enjoyed the uplifting influence of
dancing are loudest in their vitupera-
tive condemnation of the innocent
pastime.
No matter how depraved and un-
principled man may be, he will
shield his sister from the slightest
suggestion of evil. If there is harm
in dancing, dancer would certainly
know it, and if such were the case,
would he, think you, take his sister to
for he feels that dancing is, as Homer
expresses it, "the sweetest and most
perfect of human enjoyments."
Mr.. Posey is very broad, indeed, in
his assertions. He would lead you to
believe that all dancers are essentially
and de fdcto immoral; while the direct
reverse is true. Evil-minded persons
can educe evil from the most limo
cent enjoyments. Evil can be made
out of anything where a persons in
clinations run in that channel; but
shall class be condemned for the
shortcomings of individuals? Because
America harbors Czolgosz, does it fol
low that all Americans are Anarchists?
In eating an orange, do you swallow
the seeds and throw away the pulp, or
Uice-UerSd?
Every walk of life is open to subver
sion. Riding is pleasurable and di-
verting enjoyment, but because run
Always occasionally occur and people
are killed, should driving be pro
hibited?
If the author has never danced he is
not in position to judge, or form an
adequate and just opinion, and proba
bly, got his data from "FRoM BALL
Room TO HE'LL" written by an ex-
dance master, who, having out-lived
his usefulness as teacher, made
dancing pay him on the other side.
If, on the contrary, he is chronicling
his own experience in dancing, l ask
again if class shall be judged by an
indiuidudl? ?. j. JR.,
alias JACK MCGRATH.