The Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1927-1930, 1929-02-14
A BLESSING OR A CURSE

We take pride in commenting thru the col
umns of our paper, the faithful untiring eff
forts OF our home town christian workers. who
have worked and still aboring, with never
ending energy for the advancement of Gods
Kingdom In Clintwood Had it not been for the
great work of few citizens here, no telling
what Clintwood would be like today 1t, no
doubt, would have been so corrupt that old
Satan, himself, in passing thru would not dare
stop for he never tarries where he has no op
position. But we glad it is not so bad, but
that Gods presence is often felt among his
worshipers here and opposition to sin and the
works of the devil is growing keener da by
day, which is great blessing to our town ana
community Christian unity and concentrated.
as we'll as individual effort, of all christians OF
Cllntwood are the major needs of this town.
This was discussed, to some extent by Mr..
Nickes in his most excellent discussion of tbs
Sunday School lesson last Sunday; also in the
sermons of Rev. NJ F. Combs Sunday and Sun
day night
We talk about the criminal element OF
Clintwood, especially the younger generation.
What else can we expect when that is the most
they have ever known? This particular element
or class, tho comparatively few in number.
have never attended Sunday School or church,
and have spent, ard yet spending, their
time and lives in deness and. we all know
that idleness breeds crime: The busy person has
no time for misconduct and riotuous living
We could enumerate several sources of evil
present existence of the dance-hall or the peri
odical staging of Dances the conduct of which
is fast attaining criticism from all parts of the
several counties of Southwest Virginia. This
does not speak well for Clintwood 1 cannot
comprehend the good that is derived from
dances OF any nature, and just to be frank
about the matter, the writer of this editorial
considers the curse of the dance-hall one of the
most damnable evils that has infested Clint
wood in many day. l am convinced of the
truth OF this and have apologies to offer
or any compromising to propose to anyone. l
consider the effects of the dance-hall the next
geratest thing to liquor, for they both go hand
in hand
When have you had dance in Clintwood
without seeing from one to dozen DRINKS par
ticipating in the same? You may try to put up
some fhmsy excuse or try to defend dancing
by saying folks should not get drunk or should
not come to dance and get drunk, but this is
poor Defense for we'll you know that the op-
portunlty OF attending dance is sugar to the
palate of the drunkard as well as the bootleg
ger. There is absolutely argument in de-
tense of the dance-hall, and it breeds evil from
the beginning to the end Many times result
ing In fights and murder, for we'll you know
that when people congregate, even for what
you may call civil, social dance, there is some
ignorant clod who must load his innards with
that damnabe drug called whiskey, and when
SO loaded, loses what little sense and self-re-
spect he ever had, if any, and the savage in
stinct cries out to be appeased by inflicting
bodily punishment upon his fellow man; thus
your dance ends in free-for-all fight What
good is it? And how long are the christian and
civilized folks of Clintwood going to stand fol