Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1901-06-08
ABOUT DANCING.
Slidell Brown Does Some Pun
gent Talking.

He Thinks That the Board did Exactly
Right-Kick against the Plan Made
in Order to Boom Sectarian
Schools Good Results Follow Intre-
ductioa of the Present Plan.
The M. E. Times, the organ of that
church in this State, grows rabid in
the last issue over the recent order of
the Board of Regents of the Universi-
ty in allowing the students the use Of
the gymnasium one evening each week
for the purpose of social amusement
and intercourse in the way of dancing,
under the supervision and control of
one of the officials Of the University.
The Times heads an article on the
subject "The University Stencil and
goes on in such an Incorporate strain
of narrow minded, intolerant and
orthodox bigotry, that it makes itself
ridiculous and Injuries the cause it adj
vocates. The Times calls on all good
religious people to withdraw their
patronage and send their children to
the Conference Seminary at Buckban
non, says the Kingwood Argus.
This gives the whole secret away
and shows that the real object is to
create a prejudice against the Uniyer-
sity in favor Of the Seminary. So far
as the order of the Board is concerned
we heartily commend it as being
proper and right and in tie interest
of morality, good conduct, physical
and mental development and the bet
ter interest of the students generally.
To back up this broad statement,
let US just recite few facts of which
the M. e. Times is probably ignorant.
Previous to the reign of President
Raymond, the students were allowtd
the use of the gymnasium for week
~ dance and here they held informal
social gatherings attended by some Of
the professors ard always under the
supervision of some official. 1t cost
the University and the taxpayers
nothing and the students but trifle
3 for music and perhaps occasionally
some light refreshments.
All students had access and could
afford to attend and indulge in this
social recreation in the society of
ladies and gentlemen and receive
physical and social culture and re-
fined bearing that can be attained in
no other way. This was much better
than being out on the streets indulg-
ing in a night-shirt parade or riot Of
some kind in order to let off the usual
surplus of youthful exhuberance.
President Raymond stopped the
.o1 ~. = Ifxrf1
refused the use Of the gymnasium or
any other property of the University
for dancing. What was the result?
Did he stop the dancing? Did he
change youth into decrepit old age
by one fell stroke of his pen? Did he
curb the few of youthful spirits and
the desire for recreation? Not as the
Court knows of, for the dancing went
on in a far more extravaganza and dis
eliminating manner than ever before.
The "high roller" students and those
who could afford it went to the most
expensive hotel in the town and had
regular dances, with high priced
music, expensive refreshments, cut
flowers, carriages, dress suits, ETC.,
that cut out the majority of the stu
dents from participation, as the poor
ones could not afford to keep pace
and many OF them sought other forms
of amusement and recreation that
were not under the supervision of
teacher and perhaps questionable to
say the least. The boys were bound
/ to let off steam and as is well known
t#they have been into more trouble Of
nights during this time than ever be-
J fore perhaps. Had several riots on
the streets and been hauled up ia
Police Court and fired. Disturbed
exercises at the opera house and even
broken out 10 open revolt at the
Chapel hall Of the University and Sc
riously disturbed public meetings, so
that some Of them were uspended
and even expelled.
We do not say that all this was
chargeable entirely to their not hav
ing social dances at the University
bun it had considerable to do with it,
for boys will be boys and they must
:. have and should have certain
amount of social and physical recrea-
tion and there is no better or more
enjoyable form Of it than dancing
under well regulated restrictions and
it is much better for the boys to en-
gage in it than to be loaffng around
on the streets. There Is no compul-
sion about attending these dances and
those who do not want TO attend or
who have scruples against doing so,
can stay away but they will be sure
to indulge ia some other recreation,
because they cannot and should not
study all the time.
ADAM BOWER has secured the SER
vices of two more BARRIERS in his shop
on High street The patrons of this
shop are rapidly increasing on account
of the courteous treatment they re-
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