Omaha daily bee., 1914-05-31

dancers in order that every one of the priests
might form his own idea of the unholy dance.
But history tells that the effect was an unex-
pected one. After a short time Of fandango
demonstration the high clerics began involun-
tarily to initiate the movements and the more
passionately the Spaniards INDUCED in their ma
tive whirl, the more the whole court was trans
formed into one great dancing party. Even
the Italian tarantella probably began as a dis
ease with nervous dancing movements, and then
spread over the land through mere imitation
which led to an ecstatic turning around and
around Whoever stndies the adventures Of
American dancing during the last season from
New York to San Francisco must be impressed
by this contagious character of our dancing
habits. But this means that the movement car
ries in itself the energy to spread farther and
farther, and TO Ill the daily life with increased
longing for the ragtlme. We are already ac-
customed TO the dance at the afternoon tea: how
the dance at the breakfast coffee?"
The professor points out the interesting fact
that the Oyeremphasis on dancing has usually
characterized a period of political reaction, OF
and carelessness. When the volcanoes were
rumbling the masses were always dancing. Al
all times when tyrants wanted to divert the
attention of the crowd they gave the dances 10
their people. A nation which dances cannot
think, but lives from hour to hour. The less
political maturity the more happiness does a
national community show in its dancing pleas
ures. The Spaniards and the Polish, the Hun.
garans and the Bohemians have always been
great dancers-the gypsies dance"
The professor declares himself by no means
averse to all dancing, but his essay is plainly
more devoted to the dangers of the present
popular form OF Il than to the benefits to be
derived from rational and modest indulgence.
In his interesting essay on sex Education"
Professor Muensterberg makes a bitter attack
on the policy Of giving instruction In certain
physiological facts to adolescent boys and girls.
He asserts that the mystery with which such
subjects were formerly clothed was the best
protection OF the modesty and innocence OF the
young. and that such instruction as Is given
must arouse desire to sin without suffering
the penalty. The professor admits that the
policy OF Instruction has proceeded far and
calls on society to reverse 1t. He calls atten-
tion 10 some remarkable evidences OF social
decentralization he has witnessed.
Again and again he declares that sex mat
ters are being overemphasized In this country.
Perhaps the most novel passage In this essay
Is that In which he suggests that as result OF
the erotic state OF tbs public mind women OF
bad character may exercise dominating innu-
ence In American AFFAIRS as they did at the old
French court and IN other historic periods He
makes this startling suggestion in the follow
ing words;
'In this vicious circle Of craving for sensual
life and talking about sexual problems the
eFOtic transformation Of the whole social be-
havlor Is usually a rapid one. The RococO age
reached many subtleties, which W. do not
dream OF as yet, but TO which the conspiracy
against silence may boldly push as. Read the
memoirs OF Casanova. the Italian OF the