The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-08
LETTERS TO EDITOR
SUPERVISED DANCING
,r of The Are-Herald:

Having been q resident of Birmingham for many years and calling it my home still, I naturally am Interested in her welfare. It is a great source of pride to hear Birmingham mentioned as a great place when in other cities long distanced from here. I want to see Bir- mingham grow faster in the future than in the past. I want to see her progressive city, al- ways alive to the needs of the times, modern in thought and aggressive in every action. don't want to see her run by age-old methods-good in their time but useless to modern city don't want to see 1er run by the ministers of the churches-good though these are and well meaning. Of late there has been consid- erable discussion along amusement lines, and in that discussion number of letters pertained to the cause of the downfall of women, prob- lem that caused men in Solomon's time 10
 ratch their heads and think.
 A long time ago, -vhen I was a boy, I sent for book entitled, "Why Girls Go Wrong Lad forgotten entirely about it these many years until all the papers of the city hit upon this very subject, somewhat to the discomfort of certain members of the city commission.
 These letters and editorials were far better reading than the book had sent hard-earned 50 cents for, and some one should copyright .s PoosiOAI in book form 15 or 20 years from now, as it will be live issue then as now.
 Some of our good ministers and lades' aid societies blame it on the dance. Some thought ful we'll wisher planes it on the movies, while some of the more advanced lay it to the love of fine clothes. Whatever part these may play in the game, there is reason fo Tit that has not been touched on by any of these, and if committee of one or will take an hours time to thoroughly investigate and go not only to these girls themselves, but to all girls who toll for their daily bread, they will get the req son and get it straight You know what mean; they know what I mean. When girl is paid living wage for her six days work per week, the only ones who will go wrong then are the ones who want to go that way.
 properly supervised dance has no more 60 do with the downfall of women than going home from church. I would far sooner see a daugh- ter of mine at a properly supervised dance than in a joy ride car or a hundred other circum- stances that l might mention, Whats wrong with supervised dance? l have yet to hear one sensible reason from any one. Trues there are many things connected with dancing that are bad--very bad--and should never be al lowed, and there are many things connected with every pleasure under the sun that als the same I believe the trouble with most of the people who condemn proper dancing is that they either know nothing about it at all or else they have been participants in the evil forms of dancing.
 Someone says, "If dancing is right, why need supervsion?' For the same reason a church needs supervision or any other place where people congregate. I have seen as many dead soldiers in basements of churches where have worked as I ever saw at Pershing Pier. Does that surprise you? It simply proves the old, old fact that where many people are you will find>al kinds, and supervision is necessary. I believe it was only year or ago that one of our leading ministers had his overcoat stolen froo the church while he was preaching against this very thing
 However, we can't blame the ministers. They are good men and their business is to preach and teach. It would be funny preacher indeed who would come out in favor of everything his church was against It's their duty so long as they are ministers of the gospel to hammer everything that looks bit wrong. But here is the rub Almost without exception they see evil in everything connected with pleasure, and l would like to have them give us program of pleasure according to their ideas and see how many of the church members themselves would follow it through.
 God Almighty gave every one of us the fac ulty of enjoyment, and He intended for us to use it. It is one of the greatest things in the world, not intended for few with money to purchase it, but for every one. So long as r do not hurt myself or some else, so long before God my conscience is clear and no man has right to deny me that
 This would be better wo. i'd if people would try, instead of getting themselves into heaven, to get heaven into themselves instead of trying to keep themselves out of hell to keep heF out of themselves. c. CUNNINGHAM
 Pell City, Route ?. February 2, 1922