The White Ribbon. For God and Home and Humanity. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1909. DANCING.

White Ribbon, Volume 15, Issue 171, 16 September 1909, Page 9

The White Ribbon. For God and Home and Humanity. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1909. DANCING.

Wiikx discussing questions on matters of gem-ral interest, it is difficult for those who have only an outside acquaintance with the facts of the case to see things in the same light as those who are intimately concerned. One of our correspondents speaks of dancing as a proper and healthful recreation, hut adds—#/ kept Within hound*. 1 herein lies the crux of the question : what is within bounds ? Another correspondent entirely does away with the idea of it being a healthy exercise for anyone, by quoting the words of a high authority. And its own advocate deprecates late hours, high-heeled shoes, unwholesome suppers, &c. But far worse than these can be, is the vitiated atmosphere and the often immodest dress, combined with the dangerously arranged cosy corners for sitting out. Workers who spend time in finding and reclaiming those who have left Christian homes and the loving arms of mothers, whose hearts are breaking, have no need to inspect evil of the dance—the evil is before them continually. It is certainly more comfortable to go through life avoiding all dark places, an<l keeping severely away from those who have fallen out of the ranks of pure society; but “facts are stubborn things,” and it is the duty ot all who are working to make the world a purer place for the tread of the little feet coming on, to act plaint themselves with fact* concerning the so-called select dances of the present day. We could

give instances known to ourselves where the first downward step was taken at a birthday dance, and almost under the eyes of those who should have guarded. In many cases the first glass of wine is offered and taken at a dance, ami this is a fiuitful cause of ill. Not long ago a motherless (’hristian girl asked for advice on dancing. She had been brought up to enjoy it and to consider it an innocent recreation, and had only been taken to those of the most select kind. Hut her modest nature became alarmed at the tilings she saw allowed by her own friends, the cheeks that were inflamed by the excitement of wine, or supper dishes in which wine was used as part of the composition, and the suggestive meanings of look and gesture. Indeed she felt that if she wished to keep her own selfrespect she must give up this amusement. We are afraid that it is only too true that our workers among the submerged tenth find that wine and dancing are the two things most responsible for the downfall of girls from ('hristian homes. It seems to us there i> need for (’hristian people and ( ’hurehes to hold aloof from all that is questionable We know the dancing that was not reproved in the Bible was not of both sexes embracing each the other as is seen to-day. When Miriam danced it was alone or w ith her maidens, likewise Ibtvid alone before the Lord. We are told to “ avoid the app< aranee of evil.” And it cannot be any help to the growth of grace in the character of a ('hristian girl to be held in close contact by the man of nicotine-smelling and alcohol-flavoured breath and in many cases of vicious habits. It is time to ucquuint ourselves with the truth of this matter, and draw aside the curtain that screens much that ought to be known to W.C.T.r. workers, but that it is impossible to write plainly of in the pages of this paper.