New-York tribune., 1901-04-20
THE ETHICS OF DANCING.
ITS VALUE IN SETTLEMENT WORK IN
KEEPING BOYS AND GIRLS
FROM DANCE HALLS

happier crowd It would be hard to find than the
dancing class just formed Of boys and girls in the
neighborhood OF West Forty-seventh-st It is in
charge of Miss Mildred Britton Fairfield. and
meets every Tuesday evening IN Arios Hall tr
West Forty-seVenth-st. The class IS one of the
features OF the work Of the Chapel Of the Divine
Providence, IN West Forty-foUrth-st., a mission Of
the Church cf the New Jerusalem CSwedenborg). in
East Thirty It IS under the direction Of the
Women's Council Of that church, and grew out
Of desire Of its members TO aid in the present
crusade against vice. Healthful amusements said
member Of the society yesterday are requisite to
youthful morality. The American girl IS full
OF vivacity and must have her fun, and It is
through this natural desire that her temptations
arise.
Certain missions well Settlements have long
appreciated that dancing is Of the most i'm
portant factors among youthful recreations, and
certain evenings set apart in many such n
stutions for this pleasure. The step taken by the
New Church., however. in renting a hall and
giving regular instruction is said to be the first
effort Of the kind made by a church.
Miss Fairfield. teacher of the class, who has
had experience IN various lines of sociological
work believes that dancing is important means
OF ethical development 1t leads the children
discover the mutual relationship to and dependence
upon one another necessary to that enjoyment, for
through dancing must recognize the physical
obedience TO law-the law Of time. rhythm and form.
Into the teaching I put the best I know OF
pedagogics and the like" she said Tribune re-
porter yesterday, 'and my Pupils learn not only
10 Dance but to catch the spirit underlying the
work I do not to say that all will become
unselfsh the spot and remain for all time:
but they cannot help getting idea of considera-
ton for Others which will be carried into their
home life. consider the ethically conducted dam
cling class Of the greatest preventives Of the
dance hall and its entailed evils that be
brought into the way of boys and girls. Most of
the young girls in the tenement districts work IN
shops from o'clock in the morning until o'clock
al night. Shirt waist and millinery classes are
well enough but they not restful nor recreative
What these workers want is amusement, and
they will have it. That element IN human nature
which caused Bacon TO say The mixture of a lie
Goth add pleasure cannot be disregarded. The
thing which Is right in itself and has only come to
De considered bad because ii has been surrounded
by evil should be lifted out of the evil surround
ings and be made and kept sweet and wholesome
and within easy access of all.
one OF my former pupils once said to me: The
9ance halls. but II keeps the young men out. too
DO you suppose that If the Settlement had not
ehered me all the dancing i wanted l wouldn't
have gone where ! could get it?' -
Inc common rules Of etiquette, the courtesy due
woman by man and vice versa, good form IN
greeting the hostess upon entering and leaving
tne room, In giving and receiving tntroductions, In
esy and kindly feeling toward all. part Of the
instruction given with every lesson. Only young
men and women known to the teacher. the church
workers or pupils of the class admitted to the
nan A charge of 10 cents is made to each member
lor every lesson. The standard. dignifed dances
and dignity