The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-01-06
THE BALL ROOM
THE ROAD TO RUIN
Powerful Serlnosi by Doctor Robert Mitchell, of
Lexington, KY, on the Evils on Dancing.

The dance becomes more and more
lustful as the years pass. The time
was when the quadrille was popular.
1t was a sort of square dance, and
was done mostly by marching and
changing partners, keeping time Of
course with the music.
This was not lustful enough, so the
waltz was introduced. Then came the
twostep. After awhile these got to
be too tame, and they ushered in the
tango, the turkey trot, and others
equally shameful.
Such dances as these in olden times
preceded the days of the decadence
of nation
While the dance, is increasingly
lustful, Of course this does not apply
to all persons. There are no doubt,
few persons who are sincere when
they say that it does not affect them,
and that they are just as chaste and
pure when they go from the ball room
as before.
But the Apostle Paul says, BE not
deceived; evil conpanionships corrupt
good morals" l believe what he says
in preference to the testimony of the
few who say otherwise, because he
speaks the oracles of God.
The modern dance provides for and
permits certain liberties and familiar
tiles which would nowhere else be toll
Grated by decent, people. The young
girl goes from her home and under the
law of liberty" places herself in a
position with the man with whom she
dances which permits familiarties of
touch and contact, that would be re-
garded as indecent under any other
circumstances.
Do you not know, my friends, that
many man whose lusts have gone
forth seeking to invade a certain wo-
mans sanction of honor, has deliber-
atsly planned to reach her through the
ball room?
For the reason when she has be-
come familiar with him on the ball
room, it is not very likely that she
will repulse his advances off of the
ball room, and he knows that.
Think of your sweet pure, chaste
daughter, laying her head upon the
shoulders of a man, not her husband,
placing her breast against his, and al
lowing him to encircle her waist with
his arm, placing his foot between hers,
and clasp her hand in his.
The very attitude of fthe parties sug-
gests impurity. This contact of the
sexes is calculated to enkindle the
hellish fires that slumber in human
nature. These fires no amount of cul-
ture can obliterate, and the very cos
tune worn on the ball room, is bel
lows tanning them into a flame.
Now what is the secret of the pow
er of the dance over individuals?
1t is the closeness of the personal
contact of the sexes, which outside of
not tolerate for a moment.
The dance is the only society amuse-
ment that would not live a month, if
the legislature of the state would en-
act a law prohibiting men and wo-
men dancing together.
Why, girl soon tires dancing with
her brother, and vice versa.
/ have testimonies of clergymen,
fathers. mothers, and enhancing mas
ters themselves, that three-fourths of
the fallen women of this country
started the downward way as a re-
suit of the dance hall.
The attitude of the Christian is to
cruelty the affections and lusts" of
the flesh by starving them to death
He realizes that to feed them means
to strengthen them and weaken the
power of the Spirit.
Therefore, 1t is the duty of every.
one born of God, ito abstain from all
appearance of evil"