The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-15

One hundred and sixty-three of
them fell as the result Of the dance.
twenty of them from drink. ten of
them from wifuI choice; seven of
them attributed it to poverty. and
down they went
,ys.s,. az 10y b. snS [ess. sseo sax
'ss -s.,ss.s,y OF * taaHy Il.
wore taught to dance in dancing
schools. That's why, If ! had my way
and could do it. I'd make law that
no boy or girl over twelve years Of
age should ever be allowed To attend
dancing school, aud Id make a law
that no dancing should ever be al
lowed to anybody over twelve years of
age until they were married. That =
the kind of law Id put into effect
If had right to do it. That's what
Id do.
/ Regarding Public Dance.
Now, regarding the public dance
hear me. To the pubic dance can
be traced the downfall of most girls.
The probation officers around this
country tell me that there Is where
the majority of them start And il
parents only knew the dangers that
they are exposing their daughters to
by allowing them to dance, they'd
keep them away from these dances
more experienced girls whose ways
they try TO initiate. And there they
meet Young fellows and they drink
and they will put dope IN their drink
and when the girl awakens in the
morning she finds herself possessed
Of secrets that no girl ought ever 10
know outside of legal marriage.
Oh. they go away from God, and
yet they think because | stand up
to defend the virtue of th. girl from
the subtle influence OF the dance that
! am vulgar, On. these are a lot Of
people, you turn them loose and thcy
will do anything; when they stop
doing that, then I'll sion preaching
shout these thinss---'aiSc 1t from mo.
That's my mission IN life, that's what
ms trying to do with all me power
that have IN the world,
why a town out in Uhi3 4 mink
(! is Akron, II | remember rishD
has passed an ordinance prohibiting
o grill under eighteen years of age to
tatteud a public dance unless she is
chapefored either ny he parents or
some recognized friend. They would
not allow il.
The dance is tho hothel OF immo-
rality. infiinchinsls ] Dc lounce 1T
as one of the Creates evils J 10 not
regard It as an innocent Anusen ent;
II Is the ca Use of The down:<lu o. more
girls than anything on the face Of
God Aluaghty's earth.
If YOU only knew tho letters re
Cciye in The course OF a Year thank
Ing me because / take the stand / do
reEs riding dancing. and # YOU only
knew how many girls come 10 me and
tell me that / didn't tell on~-teuth
OF H. hoW many of them, you'd he
amazed
on. ] IL. stood behind the scenes.
You hook ts The foothGhtS, bur behind
the sred IS YOU look ~ ti,n cohWehs
and vs. scenery and see the immo-
raittN existing there. J Oh see many
things there that / dom reveal in
public. and never would. But II you
only knew the letters / receive, you'd
understand something Of the motive
that impels me TO drive aud preach
with all the power ! have for girls to
stay away from the ballroom floor.
More girls go wrong on The innocent
ballroom Goor than any ether place.
You say: The dance that attend
ari that you speak OF are different"
You say: II attend the club
We'll. you talk about the dance Of
the slums. ! think they have got you
&klgned IN many ways They wear
more clothes down there than you do.
10 you hu.w 10 oor girls leave
home every year for a life OF 81. anne ?
Last year there were $4,000 girls
ruined in this country. Five thou
sand a month were ruined IT'S every
day. young hfe blighted every
eight minute dragging them away
from God and truth. Three tourtns
OF them are ruined by the dance. ac-
eording To their own word.
Did the drunkard take the first
drink In saloon? No, he was taught
TO drink in home. at some soeia!
gathering.
Where did that gambler play the
first game of cards, in gamh bling
den? No, he has become proficient
IN the art OF gambling in some home
Now he seeks out the gambling hall
and on he goes. But the gambler al
, ways plays his first game OF cards in
somebody's home, for a prize or
something.
Where did the girl get her first
| premature excitement of her pas
sions2 As Bishop Hopkins said.
Down on some ballroom floor, the
! fashion show"
am giving you the facts; YOU can
do just AS you please, | am telling
YOU IL is one OF the things we have
, got TO consider II we want TO make
success out of life and go out and
do right fer God and for his truth
fhink OF 1t, young men.--hear me!
Think OF ii. you that love woman
! hoou Tor Womanhood s sake, you that
have a sister OF your own! Three
fourths of these foul creatures that
waddle out of the path of virtue and
are ostracized and stigmatized, went
down as the result of the dance and
its influences.
Statistics only change in the aggre-
gate, but the percentage seems to
hold good all the way.
1t is estimated that there are 500
600 fallen women in this country.
Three hundred seventy-fve thou
sand of them attribute their fall as a
result OF the dance. 's
Some man will say to me: Mr.
Sunday. am | my sisters keeper?
No. you are her murderer IL you
, are encouraging and championing any
: cause that produces her downfall. II
you are doing that. you are her enc
. my. am her friend. | am trying TO
! warn her of the things that ruin. al
though II may not ruin her. That all
may be very true.
! have never contradicted the girl.
and / never will, that tells me that
she has danced without any prema
ture excitement. That may be all
very true, but if | sh 0uld come back
mere a year from nov, could you tell