The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 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 uncI
pected After short time Of fandango
demonstration the high clerics began involun'
tarily to initiate the movements. and the more
passionatcly the Spaniards INDUCED in their ma
tive whirl the more the Whole court was trans
formed into one great dancing party. Even
The Italian tarantclla probably began dis
With nervous dancing movements, ana then
spread over tho land through mere imitation
which led to an ecstatic turning around and
around. Whoever studies the adventures ut
American dancing during the last season from
New York to Sun Francisco must be impressed
oy this contagious character of our dnncins
habits But this means that tho movement ear.
-ics in itself the energy to spread farther and
farther. and TO fill the daily life with increased
longing for the ragtimc we are already
customed TO the dance mt the afternoon tea: how
long will it take before threatened by
the dance ut the breakfast cofce?"
The professor points out the interesting fact
that the overemphasis on dancing has usually
characterized period OF political reaction, OF
Indifference to public life. OF social stagnation
and carclessness. When tho volcanoes
rumbling the masses always dancing. AT
all times when tyrants wanted to divert tho
attention of the crowd they gavo the dances to
their people. a nation which dances cannot
think, but lives from hour to hour. The less
political maturity tho more happiness does o
national community show in its dancing pleas.
ures. The Spaniards and the Polish, the Hun.
garians and the Bohemiaas have always been
great dancers-tho gypsies dance"
The professor declares himself by no means
devoted to the dangers of tho present
popular form of it than to the benefits to be-
derived from rational and modest indulgence.
In his interesting essay on Sex Education"
Professor Muensterberg makes n bitter attack
on the policy of giving instruction III certain
physiological facts to adolescent boys and girls.
He asserts that tho mystery with which such
subjects were formerly clothed was the best
protection OF the modesty and innocence of the
young, and that such instruction ms is given
must arouse n desire to sin without suffering
tho penalty The professor admits that tha
policy OF instruction has proceeded far and
calls society to reverse It, He calls atten.
zion to some remarkable evidences OF social
decentralization he has witnessed.
Again and again he declares that sex nat.
ters being overemphasized In this country.
Perhaps the most novel passage In this essay
is that in which he suggests that as result OF
the crotic state OF tho public mind women OF
bad character may exercise dominating influ.
ence i'll American affairs, as they did at tho old
French court and in other historic periods lie
makes this startling suggestion in the follow
ing words:
I'm this vicious circle OF craving for sensual
iifo and talking about sexual problems the
erotio transformation OF the whole social be.
havor Is usually rapid one. The Rocco ago
reached many sub:letes, which ", do not
dream OF yet. but to which tho conspiracy
against silence may boldly push us. Read the
memoirs OF Casanova. the Italian OF the