The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1922-01-24

The best statistical reports today say
that we have in our country more than
100000 fallen women. Social service
commissions, police committees in our
large cities, after careful investigation
'by census in the underworld, declare
that Is per cent of these say the larg-
est contributing factor to their down
fall was the modern dance, That IS
the testimony of fallen women which
they gave to police committees and
social service commisslons-not to the
preachers. But some one has said that
there is a difference between our
dances and those OF the large cities
that such evil does not come from our
tanner dances. | doubt, brethren, that
the dances, public and private, in Geor-
gia, in proportion to the population,
are any more modest than those OF
New York city. But aside from that
the Y. w. C. A., which, as you know,
is not an anti-dance tlend, said recent
ly that more than 10000 women from
rural districts and small towns have
gone down in the larger cities. And,
remember, brethren, that the testi-
mony of these women of the under
world is that the dance is largely re-
sponsible for their present condition.
True, possibly most of them did not
fall in their home communities, but
the devil fastened his firm grip upon
the carnal side of them back home
where they were first introduced to
extreme moral hazards-dance floor.
May | relate another appalling fact.
In one of the leading New York dali
lies some months ago the surgeon gen
eral of the United States public health
service declared that more than % per
cent of the men reaching the age OF
maturity each year are affected by
some social disease. And that is not
ali. In another connection this same
public health commissioners declares
that the modern dance has large
part in bringing about this appalling
condition. Brethren, these are facts.
Can any Christian afford to lend in
huence or support to such dangerous
practice?
Now | want to offer to you the tes-
timonies OF few people. Some weeks
ago a gentleman friend of mine and |
were talking on the streets OF Daw-
son about old boyhood days. Gradual
ly the conversation drifted into dis
cussion of the Community Sale, which
was to be held Immediately at that
time. And he, without my raising the
question, turned and asked me why
they were having the street dance in
connection with the sale. In the course
of the conversation following | asked
him, who is not so pious and not much
OF church man, if even a member,
why he was so bitter against the
dance. His reply was that he had been
a dancer once and besides that he had
observed lots at the dances. Then he
made one of the most staggering
statements | have ever heard. He said
Il had rather see one of my little
girls laid in the grave any time than
see her go on the modern dance floor. "
Greater Menace Than Liquor.
A little while ago proprietor OF a
prominent dance establishment declar-
ed that the modern dance has become
greater menace than liquor, segre-
gated vice or the brothel from which
much of it sprang." He declared fur
Their that couples practicing many
forms OF the modern dance should
have marriage license before stepping
out on the ball room floor. He further
added that the wriggling movement OF
the abominable jazz orchestra with its
voodo- born minors and its direct ap-
peal to the sensory centers-and If you
can believe that youth is the same al
ter the experience as before then God
help your child.
A woman, who is now woman OF
letters, in rejecting on the awful NOR
al dangers through which she passed
as a dancing girl said: But the climax
of my confusion was reached when,
folded in his warm embrace, and giddy
with the whirl, strange, sweet thrill
would shake me from head to foot.
leaving me weak and powerless, and
really dependent for support upon the
arm which encircled me. If my part
ner failed from ignorance, lack OF skill
or from innocence to arouse these to
me most pleasurable sensations | did
not dance with him the second time.
A little 'while ago two young men
were in conversation and were over
heard by man. They were discussing
dance and the various girls with
whom they danced during the evening.
Said one; Il would not give straw to
dance with Miss You cannot
excite any more passion in her than
you can a stick of wood"
So great has become the perils OF
the tendencies of the modern dance
that the Dancing Masters Association
OF our nation, two in number, declar-
ed there must be halt or within &
few years there will be a national law
Mrs. Rogers Stricken at