STRAY NOTES.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 658, 12 August 1921, Page 8

STRAY NOTES.

(By “Don Quixote.”) We hear much of the evils of modern dancing now-a-days, but personally I fair to see where the evil comes in. We must remember that there is nothing we do that cannot be rendered evil by the mental Standpoint of the participant. When will mankind get back to a saner outlook on life ? To-day we are forsaking old traditions, that centuries have' shown the safety of. We me allowing our young girls too much liberty of action. Mothers are neglecting their natural duty of supervision the female temperament is an emotional one, and the more famine the woman, the more she is apt to be influenced by her heart instead of her head, and the more she needs care and reasonable supervision to enable her to escape the pitfalls which surround the modern girl. I read the other clay that “many a girl has traced her downfall to the modern dance.” hWat absolute piffle. It would be more reasonable to suppose she can trace her downfall to the fact that she was allowed to return home unattended save by some amorous swain, sadly deficient in all sense of chivalry and honour*!

Not so many years back, no mother would dream of allowing her daughter to'attend a dance or any social function without being with them herself, or any rate, seeing they were provided with an efficient chaperone. 'lnis was quite wise and was only carrying out a mother’s duty ; also, it was then the custom for all social gatherings to be arranged by the older women, who took very good care that they should be conducted with fitting decorum—a far more fitting Environment for the young; girl than the independence of freedom she demands to, -day.

Public opinion held in check any departure froim the orthodox, as might innocently arise from the high spirited vitality of youth which, uncurbed, may lead to blighted lives and ruined homes. Youth is the spring-time, of life, and one would not unduly suppress its natural exuberance, but only a mother’s tact and wisdom can see it is expressed in safe and legitimate ways. A mother has the , light of her own experience, to guide her, and it. is her imperative duty to use every endeavour to guard influence and guide her daughters.

Mothers ! Are you doing your duty by your girls ? It seems to me that you have allowed yourselves to be deposed from your rightful position as ruler and guide to your growing children. And just when they need a firm but gentle touch, then you stand aside, and let them wander ,in the highways and byways of life, with no guide but their own inclination, and

no knowledge of the world and its evil, save what, they pick up from undesirable companions ; and yon are apt to fold your hands and say : “Ob, 1 can do nothing with the children : thev wii! go their own wav-.”

But “to return to our muttons,” as tire French say. This modern dancing ! It is certainly not graceful, as say, the old-time minuet, but it is the craze of the moment, and is certainly not evil in itself. Properly danced it is even pleasant to look at, and it is certainly healthy exercise, and infinitely better for the brain than the endless gyrations of the original waltz. If some dancers find the juxtaposition of the opposite sex, the occasion of harmful and evil thoughts, the sooner they consult a doctor about it the better, but the ordinary healthy man and woman find in it only a pure pleasure ana a, delightful recreation.

This present day idea of doing away with every thing, that may, by its abuse and incorrect use, be the occasion of sin, is farcical. You only make the surface smooth and drive the thing, which then become all evil, underground. ' You can’t make : a nation moral by Act of Parliament, but better far use all things for. good, and above all what you can do is to

supervise your daughter's, pleasures, take her to dances, and see she has as much legitimate'fun and enjoyment as possible: but if you let her wander about at night, except under proper conditions, don’t blame the “modern dance" if harm comes of it.