The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1903-05-15

Gle iuyour recent issue signed a Spec
n,or" crI.i.i-ing questions asked 10y a
member Of ihe y. NJ. G.. A., will say
that "A Spectator" and the writer
thoroughly agree ou The questions in
y,lyed dlult think it wrong to
dance togot,, or engage IN horse
racing. OF 90 engage iu man racing or
athletic sports such a. were engaged in
ly members of the Athletic Club.
"A Spectator haas entirely misunder
stood my questions, and while he
write, with -o1mou'- pen aud hand of
an aihelete. aud show, culture to a GER
tain extent am puzzled 10 know why
obi. modern solomon and sampson
should have come % the conclusion
thatmy questions criticised the per.
formance gwen by the Athletic Club
which is as follows: "lf it is spiritually
wrong for Christian people to engage
in dancing aud horse racing, why is It
not wrong f1r them to engage in man
racing and entertaining an audience
in such costumes as worn by the Y. NJ
e.. A. Athletic Club? VIII some
minister please enlighten Us on the
subject" did not intend 10 reflect in
any way ON the management or mem
bers Of the club more than I would on
one dancing or attending or engaging
in horse racing. The young men Of
Farmville, who no past years attended
slciables I'm which dancing WAS partici-
pated in, have been preached to by the
ministers of Farmville as being sinful
and unbecomiug church member; the
same applys to horse racing.
"a Spectator reasons thus:-"To
assume that all dancing is wrong or
all horse racing is sinful is to assume
what is not true" The former is a
graceful and pleasant diversion unless |
carried to excess, the latter an exciting /
sport and only wrong when money /
is waged Therefore "A Spectator /
agrees that man racing is wrong because /
money was waged on the y. NJ. G. I
races and premiums were paid to the
successful racers, which is in every re-
spect similar 10 horse racing. / do
not blame the club, however, for the
money waged by the spectators over
whom they have no control.
As 10 the costumes worn by the club,
will leave that TO the public l think
they are entirely appropriate for the
purpose for which they are worn in
the gymnasium room, but if il is pro-
per 10 wear such clothing in the pres
elce Of our girls, why is it wrong for
gentlemen % wear fail dress suits and
ladies evening dress in ball room, is
The simple question asked?
III mistake not Gt may have been
Pauls writing "Ihe Bible says we
must avoid the appearance Of evil"
Then ifman racing is not the appearance
OF horse racing, when premiums are
offered and money waged, l offer an
apology for asking the question. l also
agree with "A Spectator" that gym
naslum sports are beneficial to young
men and should not detract from their
Christian life, then why should not
dancing prove beneficial to both young ,
men and ladies without detracting from
their Christian life?
did not intend the question for "a
Spectator" because 1 have never heard
him preach against dancing and horse
racing. The questions were intended
only for the ministers and if they can
draw the distinction / will thank them
aud retire, otherwise, we will have
horse racing at our annual fair and
pleasant ana graceful diversion at the
Hotel, aud hope no one will |
object on the grounds that It is wrong. c
Quoting A Spectator" comments on !
wearing knee pants and the small boy
going barel0oied, etc, which might
drive me 10 the cave. It will give me q
great pleasure when the small boy can I
90 bareiooted and the little girls shed
Their stockings, aud pickaninies wear /
'uy garb tine law permits, and assure a
nun my m0desly will not drive me to a
caves. But / Will modestly suggest to \
.he judges that in the future they re- n
iuife the name aud fetlocks Of some I
'i the racer, ID be trimmed before h
.nIeung them in the race that they g
nay appear more graceful and pleasing Il
" the large aud appreciative audience.
Thanking "a Spectator" for replying =
% my question which he has entirely q
niscoustrued aud assuring the men, @
ers Of the athletic club Of my hearty n
upport and cooperation, and APP a
reciatug Prof Jones' good work, ! y
n, Yours truly, ~
MEMBER Y. NJ. G.. A. 81