The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1904-12-01

Ing dancei You can trace It's history
back Ia tho archives OF the past 1000
years. The first authentic record Of
the art OF dancing dates TO the early
Egyptians, over 1000 years n c., who
ascribc their Invention 10 their god
Thoth. The Cretan chorus, moving
In measured pace, sang hymns to the
Greek god Apollo, and n OF the
MUSES. (Terpsichore) was the especial
patroness Of the art-hence ths name,
"Terpsichorean."
From this remote date dancing has
been confined % no indisldual race,
and Is a part OF the history OF the fes-
tivities and amusements OF all nations
on the globe, from those Of the high
est intellectual attachments 10 tho
naked savages who roam the forest
wilds.
In Out modern civilization, the o
onation Of Kings is followed by the
dance; the inauguration OF presidents
Is incomplete without the inaugural
BALI" national holidays are chosen as
especially appropriate occasions for
the dance. The theme has been dis
cussed from press and pulpit, and
while the more orthodox OF the Chris
tian world denounce IL, no church Is
entirely free from Its indulgence.
A few years ago we listened TO n
sermon on the subject OF dancing.
The preacher chose for his text Matt.
xiv.6, "But when Herod's birthday
was kept, the daughter OF Herodias
danced before them, and pleased
Herod."
The result OF the dancing OF the
daughter OF Herodias, and the pleas
ure IL gave Herod, caused him to
promise as a reward any gift hc might
bestow, ever TO the half Of his king
dom. Her request was for the head
OF John the Baptist.
Our minister drew from the illus
radon Tho coac!u !on that dancing
was evil and It's influences degeneraL-
ing. And TO one dnacquaihted with
the Scriptures, his argument was con-
elusive. But II we turn 70 Holy Writ
we will lind within IL many passages,
not one Of which refers TO dancing as
a sin. In Isaiah KILL, we read: "But
wild beasts Of the desert shall lie
there; and their houses shall be full
OF doleful creatures; and owls shall
dwell there, and satyrs shall dance
there" We should presume to add,
Gin ghoalish glce.' The place des-
cribed isBabylon after It's fall.
Record Is given in III. Sam. xvi:ll
of David dancing before the Lord
himself, without rebuke or condemn.
alton, as follows. "And David danced
with all his might; and David was
girded with n linen ephod.n
And again, II. Sam. vl:le, "And as
the ark of the Lord came into the city
Tor David, Michal, Saul's daughter,
looked through a window. and saw
King David leaping and dancing be-
fore the Lord; and she despised him
In her heart"
Just why the daughter OF Saul des'
pissed David, Is only TO be conjectured
The Psalmist, In sounding praises
TO the Almighty, In Ps. xxx:ll, says as
follows: "Thou hast turned for mt
my mourning into dancing; thou hast
put of my sackcloth, and girded me
with gladness." And again exhorts,
In Ps. cxlix:3, "Let them praise him
in the dance; let them sing praise:
unto him with the timbrel and harp
other passages relative TO tn
dance, we quote rs follows, two IN
particular In which women INDUCED
In I. Sam, xviii:6, sand IL came u
pass as they came, when David wal
returned from the slaughter OF TN,
Philistines, that the women came out
OF all cities OF Israel, singing anc
dancing, TO meet King Saul, with tab
rets, with Joy. and with instruments
or music"
And again, Miriam, the prophecies
led the dance, referred To In Ex. xy.20
as follows: "And Miriam, the proph
etess, the sister OF Aaron, took a tim
: brel In her hand; and all the womer
went ont after her with timbrels anC
with dances"
) In drawing n comparison, tn
Prophet Elias refers TO children In Sc
Matthew xi:l7, as follows. "And say
Ing, We have piped unto you, and "
have not danced; we have mournet
unto you, apd ye have not lamented.
From the foregoing, would IL b
profane, or too imaginative, TO ex
: press the belief that there Is dancing
IN leavcnY
: Our orthodox friends viii ut orc