Year: 1861

''ADvlCE TOYOUNG MEN"


III T. 9: ARTHUR.


Against dancing much has been
urged, but nothing that We have seen
having any basis in rational truth. It
has been called sinful; but nothing is
sinful except what is done from evil
intent. Some have said that it awak-
ems impure thoughts; but they who al
lcge thus have impure minds or
have never danced. Such is well
known not to be the case. 1tis friv-
olous waste Of time say others and
the dignity of men and wom-
|en. 1fit is made to interfere :ith
any duty it is certainly waste Of time;
as to the "dignity," the objection will
be worth considering, when it is un-
dcrstood in what mans true dignity
consists. 1t is a fact worthy of obser-
walton, that the most strenuous oppos-
crs OF dancing are those who have
least charity, so called, for their neigh


bors, and one Of those persons will
|spcnd an evening in aniruadverting
upon the faults and foibles of their
jneighbors, and indulging in spirit of
ill-will and consciousness, while those
engaged in dancing dnring the time
have been blessing each other with a
spontaneous and generous reciprocal
ton Of the kindcst feelings. 1t is Bit
ter spirit, indeed that does not feel
kindly emotions while threading the
graceful mazcs Of a cotillion, every
step and every motion of the body
harmonizing with sweet music.


The whole truth, in regard to the
objections against dancing which pre-
vail, lies in the fact that it is erroneous
ly imagined that all pleasures are in
compatible with religion, than which
there cannot possibly be greater
mistake. The pleasures Of sense are
not evil in themselves, but good the
evil lies in their pcrversion and abuse.


The partaking of food is a highly
gratifying sensual pleasure; but it is
not evil, except where eating il abused
to the injury Of the health. 1t can
not be evil for the ear, so finally at
tuned 10 take in harmonies of music {:
although for any one TO neglect al the
duties of life in giving him.clf up to
the enjoyment Of music, would certain


ly be a great evil. 1t cannot be evil to
enjoy the odor Of sweet flowers, nor to


delight in viewing an exquisite picture,


or piece Of statuary, or a beautiful


landscape, and yet these are all pleas


ures of the senses, 80 called, though


in reality the pleasures of the soul, az
it looks out upon and harkens unto the


world of nature, and there sees and


heres those things that correspond to
affections and principles in itself. The
law Of our spiritual constitution IS, that
all things Of the mind into their fullest
power and delight in the lowest of
sensual plane; and all who hinder in
any way this descent Of the soul into
the orderly plane Of it's activity, des-
troy much Of its vital forco, and take
away its power Of clear intellectual
discrimination.


Dancing is nothing more nor less
than graceful movements of the body
in time with the music, and is Joined
in by two, three, or much greater
unmber, all acting in concert. The
Frightening eye, the glowing cheek,
and the smiling lip, attest the pleas
ure that is felt by each. A pleasure
in what? In consummating an evil
purpose? None will say that. There
is delight, and it must be either in
good or evil. Is it in evil? And ifso
in what does it consist? The dancers
are virtuous maidens ard young men OF
good principles, who to the sound of
music, have arranged themselves upon
the floor, and are moving their bodies
in harmony with it. ltis not evil, We
nnhesita,ingly say, but good; for it is
alway COED for the mind to flow down
into external acts that are in them
selves innocent, and encourage kind
ness and good will from one toward
another; and this is precisely what
occurs in dancing. The objections
against its abuse arc as good as the
objections against anything else, but
no better. Another use Of dancing is,
that it gives young man an easier
and more graceful carriage, with more
freedom in his social intercourse. 1t
also aids him in acquiring self:pos-
session in company, which is 10 nec-
essary for the pleasure Of all, yet so
hard to attain in mere CONVERSATIONAL
circles, or even in the half awkward
promenade, into which a stiff and
formal sitting party is sometimes prok.
en- upby an effort, soon to snbside
again into score of little circles, all
detached from the rest, and feeling
nothing in common with the whole.


BY all means, take lessons in dane
ing, if you have not yet done so, We
would say to every young man. Don't
let an awkward bashfulness prevent
your doing 80; for it is ono Of the very
best means you can adopt for its cor
rection. You are social being and
are bound to mingle in society, both
for your own good and the good of
others. You are under obligation to
give your quota to the general enjoy
ment, and under a like obligation to
take your own in return, for the sake
of that healthv flow of anirits so esson