Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1917-09-13
the MODERN DANCE.

AAnS"Au6 ~ VOnAOAeAOo
in home and school toward the
adoption of this child of the in
fernal region, we make seven in.
dictments against it.
/. The Bible is against it. No
instances of dancing are found
upon record in the Bible in which
the two sexes united IN the ex-'
ercise. either as an act of amuse-
ment or worship. 1t was per-
formed by maidens only, and
usually in the day time, in the
open air, in high ways, fields, or
groves. There is no Instance uI-
on record OF social dancing for
amusement, except that OF the
vain fellows devoid of shame; OF
the irreligious families described
by Job, which produced increas-
ed impiety and ended in destruc-
ton; and OF Herodlas, which ter
minated in the rash vow of Her
cd and the murder OF John the
Baptist. Don't quote the Bible
in defense OF the modern dance.
2. The churches are against
it. Do all the churches take this
stand? Yes, all OF them! The ma
jority of them through their Off
cial utterances, while in the few
which are independent in govern
ment and have no such official
utterances, you will find the at
tltude OF the leaders quite asprc-
nounced against this indulgence
as the others. Well, you say, 81
don't care what my church says,
| am going to do this thing any
how" And is this your idea OF a
true church member and a con-
sistent christian? You who stood
at the sacred altar and before
God, and made your vow to re.
nounce the world and be obedi-
ent to the will OF your church! Is
it possible that you purjured
your soul, or do you no longer
care?
8. 1t does not require intelli.
gence to dance. To say that ra.
tional beings cannotpossibly get
on for an evening without the
vigorous movements and sundry
gyratios OF the body at the sound
of music, is a confession OF "crau.
al vaculty." The monkey might
be trained to display a greater
agility, and the bear a statelier
gravity.
4. 1t violates.tht laws Of health.
Suppose 1t should be announced
by the proprietors OF a agymna-
. stun that it's hours OF exercise
would continue from 10 O'Clock
at night until 3 O'Clock in the
morning; that the participants
: would meet together under the
rigorous demands OF fashion?
No disease could be considered
"providential" under such a cur
riculum OF exercise.
3 5. 1t retards growth in Chris
tian character. There may be
! some who are spiritual, who are
good Sunday school workers,
who are anxious for a revival in
] the church, but they certainly
, are exceptions.
6. 1t is immoral in it's nature
: 1t permits liberties and familiar.
!. tiles which would nowhere else
= be tolerated BY respectable soci
: ETY.. Would a lady with a sparl
t OF self respect, at any other plac'
than in the dance, permit such
liberties with any man not bel
husband, as is assumed in waltz
ing? DR.. Horace Bushnell said
8 "rhey are the contrived poasi
:. bilities OF license, which belong tt
). high life, ouly when it runs low.
+ I. 1t is the cause OF many ru
!. ined lives Archbishop spaulding
% of New York, said recently tina
10 nineteen out ofevery twenty girl
who lost their virtue found th
cause in the round dance. Pro
: II. A. Falkner, al ex-dancin
master. said OF two hundred 6