The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-22
LETTERS TO EDITOR
FUNDAMENTALS OF DANCING

To the Editor of The Age Herald:
 Being constant reader of The Age-Herald l have read everything pro and con on the dance question, and the reason I have not ex- pressed an opinion on this question is that I have never regarded it fundamental enough to occupy space in such publications as The Age-Herald and Birmingham News
 Frankfort, Ky, little burg up here in the bluegrass belt, noted only for a good article of drinking whisky and "chawn and spittin'." tobacco, is using the columns of her press in the discussion of 'Evolution," question that has been fundamental one the wide world over. and here we are in the Magic City of the south, located in state that is conceded by all thinkers to be the dimple on Uncle Sam's cheek, using our valuable space, pulpits and lec- ture platforms in the discussion of dancing, which is not only not fundamental cause of our troubles, but merely an effort of a high state of civilization in a modern industrial city
 Of course, it would not be justice to all parties to discuss side of this question without discussing both sides. Personally I can't say that heartily agree with anything that has been said on the opposing side of this question, but in the language of Voltaire, 'I will fight to the death their right to say it."
 Some good people are outspoken in their con- demnation of the dance anywhere, any time or any place; others say that it is perfectly sinless on dark porches and in private parlors, but would evidently disturb the gods in we'll constructed and ably-supervised public dance hall.
 The writer has always been opposed to any good proposition under cover, the Klu Klux Klan not excepted.
 If you have got a good thing and are not ashamed of it, why insist on hiding it by keep ing something over it? If dancing is sin, the great Lawmaker is responsible; for it is just as natural for human beings to dance as it is for birds to fly.
 The great Creator gave our little bird fam fly wings and desire to fly, and it would be inconsistent His part to dam them for flying.
 Let an old-time fiddler go back to a rural district 10 miles from church or school, house, where the owls mix up with the chickens, and begin to play Turkey in the Straw" "OId Ben Patton" or kitty Fuss" in lonely loc cabin, an da wee tot, just big enough to sit alone, will not only kick with both feet and hands, but will wiggle its little body off that dirty pallet; and this crude little individual evil dently gets its instructions from the great Lawgiver above, not merely through agents. Concrete facts are the most divine things in this old world of ours; let them lead us where they may, they can only lead us on the high way to a higher plane of intellectual brother hood and human progress. The animal and vegetable kingdom being very closely allied, scientific data which would be beneficial for one kingdom would also apply to the other. Our best farm demonstrators advise our farmers that 1t might be necessary to occasionally spray sthe plant externally to keep down local para sites, but the fundamental thing to do, and to know how to do, is to treat the soil in which the plant is growing rather than the plant itself.
 For many of our reformers in this fair land of ours are treating mere effects and not causes, prescribing headache powders which merely paralize the little messengers going .o brain to remind us that something is wrong. But we glad to report that few of our advanced thinkers have seen the light and are outspoken in their advocacy of a pro- gram for saving human souls by treating the soil in which our human individuals are grow ing rather than the human individuals them selves.
 In conclusion I wish to say that if Henry Ford gets Muscle Shoals, let us cheese this dance racket down here and dance while to Henrys music, all hands up and circle to the right, assisting him all we can to get busy for better farms, better streets and better roads. Yours very truly,
 W. A. ENGLAND.
 Birmingham, February 21, 1922. 171s