There is No Harm in Dancing

by W. E. Penn

"I do solemnly vow that I will carefully read the following pages as nearly as possible free from all prejudice and partiality, with a desire to know the truth, and that I will a true verdict render, according to the honest conviction of my own mind and heart.

"(Here sign name.)________________"

When and where are the trees of dancing to be found? They grow in the night and generally perish with the darkness when the morning light appears.

"This is the condemnation that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light; neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved."—John 3-19-20.

The trees are to be found in many private residences, dancing schools, dancing academies, seminaries and colleges, where our girls are educated; in public halls, in side shows, in some of our so-called churches, in beer shops, beer gardens, variety theatres, music halls and houses of ill-fame. In the five last-mentioned these trees grow much taller, larger and more luxuriant than anywhere else, because it is supposed by naturalists that they are more indigenous to this kind of soil. In these places those are the favorite trees, the trees admired above all others, because of the fruit they bear. Why the virtuous and the vulgar are so fond of the same fruit, I shall not try to explain. I must leave this knotty, ugly problem to be solved by wiser and more experienced heads than mine. I asked the proprietors and proprietresses of these last-mentioned places where they procured the sprouts from which all these great trees had grown; these trees that have grown so tall and strong, and the bark so thick, that they do not vanish with the darkness when the morning light appears, but grow and flourish in the brightest day, even better on SUNDAYS than any other time.

They all, without a dissenting voice, made answer and said: "The seeds were planted in the decent, respectable parlors, generally among the polished and refined people of the towns and cities—were watered and cultivated by the fathers and mothers, and then transplanted into the dancing schools, church festivals, and then they are removed to the public halls, and here they are kept until the bark on some of them becomes hard enough to be carried to the beer gardens, masquerades, variety theaters, music halls and other towns and cities in Sodom and Gomorrah."

Without the fascination for dancing, which is germinated and cultivated in the private parlors among the nice, respectable, refined people, many of the largest towns and cities of Sodom and Gomorrah would soon be depopulated. We next come to enquire who it is that attends dancing parties, balls, hops, etc., and when they usually break up. But one answer can be given, viz.: young men and young women, together with young married people, with an occasional sear and yellow leaf repainted.

With a very few exceptions, dancing parties, balls and hops are made up of young men and girls of every grade of society, from the poorest to the wealthiest in the community. Now it must be admitted that there is as great a desire in the hearts of the poor young men, and as great a desire in the hearts of the girls of poor parentage to make a favorable impression in society, as there possibly could be with the wealthier classes. As a rule, it may be said that not more than one in twenty of all who participate in dancing parties have a sufficient "cash balance" to gratify their pride in the purchase of the supposed necessary outfits in clothing, jewelry, etc., without any misgivings as to the future comforts and necessaries of life.

When we consider the large number of young men, young husbands and fathers and mothers who are not able, in justice to themselves and those looking to and relying upon them for a support, to keep pace with the rich in their extravagance, and that all must come together on the same floor, in the same room and pass in review before the merciless critics always to be found in the ball room, and find that the weakest and most vulnerable points in human nature are here attacked by three of the devil's most powerful armies, under command of three of his most stratagetic and experienced generals—ENVY, JEALOUSY and WOUNDED PRIDE—we may at once proceed to examine the fruit of dancing. Nearly all of our young people are in love with some one, and not unfrequently two or three or more are in love with the same one, or the lover imagines that he or she has from one to a half dozen rivals, which is the same to them as if it were true. It is often the case that an engagement exists, or there is grave suspicion of its existence. A dancing party or ball is in prospect. The same preparation must be made by rich and poor. One young man who chanced to be born of rich or well-to-do parents, and one young lady the same, order their outfits, and they are paid for not unfrequently out of the usurious interest wrung from the fathers and mothers of the poorer young men and girls. Now the poorer and less able to purchase the necessary all outfits, which are always costly, must go. They must go, because they love the dance. They are PASSIONATELY fond of it.

They must go, or it may be said they could not go on account of their poverty. They must go, in order to keep pace with their rivals, so as to keep an eye on them, lest they be supplanted in their affections. These are three powerful inducements. Without Divine aid they are irresistible when brought to bear on the young.