CORRESPONDENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1206, 20 March 1880, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

+ [Our correspondence columns are impartially open to all, but \\v do not in any way identify ourselves with opinions expressed therein.]

TO THE EDITOB. DANCING Arc. 1K> — The letter of your mock-modest rorreaponclcnt in last issue— "An Observer " — is moat feeble. It is intended Evidently as a reply to my remarks in reply to " Mores," out I cannot see where the reply comes in. "An Observer" professes to be amused at my "argument from nature, " as he terms my reference to the responsive action of the legs to the tmic of dance music ; I fail to &cc anything "grotesque " in the argument. "An Observer " wanders away from the subject matter of the letter of "Mores" and of my last— namely, what " Mores call iniquities, in which he specially included dancing — and instead of confining himself to the moral aspect of the question, flies away on the tack as to whether dancing is a healthy exercise or not. This is mere begging the question, mere shirking. For delicate people, of course a ball-room is not the place, and they are foolish for health-sake to indulge in dancing and late hours. This is a self-evident fact, but has nothing to do with the question as to whether dancing is an iniqxucy. "An Observer" professes to be shocked and alarmed — apparently on account of his daughters— that arras should encircle the waists of ladies, ami believes " ft deal of trouble is induced through this modoni innovation." Modern 1 save the mark ! Why B.C. dan dug consisted of an entwining of amis and hands, aa '• Observer " would know had he travelled in the Eabt, and htuiJietl the old carvings, &t\, there ex taut. As to the Bible records of

dancing, I have nothing to do with them ; I do not remember having read a ball programme in the volume of Holy Writ ; perhaps "Observer" will kindly point out the passage or passages he refers to. " To the pure all things are pure," and it speaks little for " Au Observer " that the fact of a gentleman's arm being placed on a lady's waist shonld raise ideas of evil character. In conclusion, I will repeat what I insisted on in my last letter, namely, that it is the abmc and not the moderate indulgence in recreation which is wrong. — I am, &c., Mens Sana in Corpore Sano. Cambridge, 19th March, 1880.