The Dance of Death  

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-Innocent and healthful recreation for- +Innocent and healthful recreation forsooth! The grotesque abominations of the old [[Phallic worship]] had a basis of clean and wholesome truth, but as the obscene rites of that worship desecrated the principle that inspired them, so do the pranks of the "divine waltz" libel the impulse that stirs its wriggling devotees. The fire that riots in their veins and the motive that actuates their haunches is an honest flame and a decent energy when honestly and decently invoked, but if blood and muscle would be pleased to indulge their impotent raptures m private, the warmer virtues would not be subjected to open caricature, nor the colder to downright outrage
-sooth! The grotesque abominations of +
-the old Phallic worship had^ a basis of +
-clean and wholesome truth, but as the +
-obscene rites of that worship desecrated +
-the principle that inspired them, so do +
-the pranks of the "divine waltz" libel +
-the impulse that stirs its wriggling devo- +
-tees. The fire that riots in their veins +
-and the motive that actuates their +
-haunches is an honest flame and a +
-decent energy when honestly and de- +
- +
- +
- +
-50 THE DANCE OF DEATH. +
- +
-cently invoked, but if blood and muscle +
-would be pleased to indulge their impo- +
-tent raptures m private, the warmer +
-virtues would not be subjected to open +
-caricature, nor the colder to downright +
- +
-outrage +
What do I mean by such insinuations ? What do I mean by such insinuations ?

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The Dance of Death (1877) is a book published by Ambrose Bierce as "William Herman", featuring a satirical attack on the waltz.

The book was written by William Rulofson's son-in-law Thomas A. Harcourt and Ambrose Bierce and released under the pseudonym "William Herman" and describes the "intolerable nastiness" of the waltz. A man engaged in the dance is described: "his eyes, gleaming with a fierce intolerable lust, gloat satyr-like over [his partner]." Bierce later said, "Rulofson ... suggested the scheme and supplied the sinews of sin." Rulofson himself said of the book, "I have shown society what a loathsome ulcer festers in its midst."

Full text[1]

Collection of Books on Proverbs, Em- blems, and tbe Dance of Death.


JOHN BARTLETT,

(A.M. .17..)


Feb. 1, 1893.



T


HE



ANCE OF UeATH.



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Entered accordins^ to Act of Congress, in the year 1877, ^X GEORGE N. '1 H^MA.S, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.


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I Dance of Death^


BY


William Werman


THIRD EDITION.

SIXTEENTH THOUBAMD.


San Francisco: Henry KellIr & Co., 543 Clay Street.

1877.




^ -.arva.rd College Library,

Gift of JOHN BAR.TX.BTT.


" Wilt thou bring fine gold for a payment

For sins on this wise ? For the glittering of raiment

And the shining of eyes, For the painting of faces

And the sundering of trust, For the sins of thine high places

And delight of thy lust?


" Not with fine gold for a payment,

But with coin of sighs, But with rending of raiment

And with weeping of eyes. But with shame of stricken faces

And with strewing of dust,

For the sin of stately places

And lordship of lust."

Swinburne,


PREFACE.



HE writer of these pages is not foolish enough to suppose that lie can escape strong and bit- ter condemnation for his utterances* On this score he is not disposed to be greatly troubled ; and for these reasons : Firstly — he feels that he is performing a duty; secondly — he is certain that his sentiments will be endorsed by hundreds upon whose opinion he sets great value; thirdly — he relieves his mind of a bur- den that h^is oppressed it for many years; and fourthly — as is evident upon


y


8 Preface.

the face of these pages — ^he is no pro- fessed litterateur, who can be starved by adverse criticism. Nevertheless he would be apostate to his self-appointed mission if he invited censure by un- seemly defiance of those who must read and pass judgment upon his work. While, therefore, he does not desire to invoke the leniency of the professional critic or the casual reader, he does desire to justify the position he has taken as far as may be consistent with good taste.

It will doubtless be asserted by many: That the writer is a "bigoted parson," whose puritanical and illiberal ideas con- cerning matters of which he has no per- sonal experience belong to an age that is happily passed. On the contrary, he is a man of the world, who has mixed much in society both in the old world


Preface. 9

and the new, and who knows whereof he affirms.

That he is, for some reason, unable to partake of the amusement he condemns, and is therefore jealous of those more fortunate than himself. Wrong again. He has drunk deeply of the cup he warns others to avoid; and has better opportunities than the generality of men to continue the draught if he found it to his taste.

That he publishes from motives of private malice. Private malice — no. Malice of a certain kind, yes. Malice against those who should know better than to abuse the rights of hospitality by making a bawdy-house of their host's dwelling.

But the principal objection will doubt- less refer to the plain language used.


lo Preface.

My excuse, if indeed excuse be needed for saying just what I mean, is, that it is impossible to clothe in delicate terms the intolerable nastiness which I ex- pose, and at the same time to press the truth home to those who are most in need of it; I might as well tall^ to the winds as veil my ideas in sweet phrases when addressing people who it seems cannot descry the presence of corruption until it is held in all its putridity under their very nostrils.

Finally, concerning the prudence and advisability of such a publication, I have only to say that I have consulted many leading divines and principals of educational institutions, all of whom agree that the subject must be dealt

with plainly, and assure me that its importance demands more than ordinary


Preface. 1 1

treatment — that it is a foeman worthy of the sharpest steel ; for, say they : To repeat the tame generalities uttered ffom the pulpit, or the quiet tone of disappro- bation adopted by the press, would be to accord to the advocates of this evil a power which they do not possess, and to proclaim a weakness of its opponents which the facts will not justify.

I have therefore spoken plainly and to the purpose, that those who run — or waltz — may read.

But there remains yet something to be said, which is more necessary to my own peace of mind, and to that of many of my readers, than all that has gone 'before. So important is it, indeed, that what I am about to say should be distinctly understood by all those whose criticism I value, and whose feelings I


i 2 PrefcLce.

respect, that I almost hesitate t6 consign it to that limbo of egotism — the preface. Be it known, then, that although in the following pages I have, without com- punction, attacked the folly and vice of those who practice such, yet I would rather my right hand should wither than that the pen it wields should inflict a single wound upon one innocent person. I am yvilling to believe, nay, I knoWy that there are many men and women who can and do dance without an impure thought or action; for theirs is not the Dance of Death; th^y can take a reasonable pleasure in one another's society without wishing to be locked in one another's embrace; they can rest content with such graces as true refine- ment teaches them are modest, without leaping the bounds of decorum to ^


Preface. 13

indulge in what a false and fatal refine- ment styles the "poetry of motion;" in short, to them the waltz, in its newest phases at least, is a stranger. I would not, like Lycurgus and Mahomet, cut down all the vines, and forbid the drink- ing of wine, because it makes some men drunk. Dancers of this class, therefore, I implore not to regard the ensuing chapters as referring to themselves — the cap does not fit their heads, let them not attempt to wear it.

The same remarks will apply to some of those heads of families who permit and encourage dancing at their homes. Many among them doubtless exercise a surveillance too strict to admit of any- thing improper taking place within their doors; these stand in no need of either advice or warning from me. But more


14 Preface.

of them, I am grieved to say, are merely blameless because they are ignorant of what really does take place. The social maelstrom whirls nightly in their draw- ing-rooms; with their wealth, hospitality, and countenance they unconsciously, but none the less surely, lure the fairest ships of life Into its mad waters. Let these also, then, not be offended that in this book I raise a beacon over the dark vortex, within whose treacherous em- brace so many sweet young souls have been whirled to perdition.


CHAPTER


I.


"That motley d«m.! Oh.


be lure


It shall not be forgot!



With iti Phantom chased /or


Bvermor.


Bj a crowd th>t seize it no



Throush a circle that eyet ret


arneth i


To the self-same spotj



And mi>ch of Madness, and


nore of


And Horror, the soul of Ih


eplotf


ri EAUER, I have an engagement

I to keep to-night. Let me take

I you with me; you will beinter-

S ested.

But, stay — ^I have a condition to make

before I accept of your company. Have

you read the preface ? " No, of course

not ; who reads prefaces ? " Very well,


1 6 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

just oblige me by making mine an ex- ception — it is a Gilead where you per- haps may obtain balm for the wounds you will receive on our expedition. And now, supposing you to have granted this request, let us prof:eed.

Our carriage pulls up before the en- trance of an imposing mansion. From every window the golden gaslight streams out into the darkness; from the wide-open door a perfect glory floods the street from side to side. There is a hum of subdued voices with- in, there is a banging of coach doors without; there is revelry brewing, we may be sure.

We step daintily from our carriage upon the rich carpet which preserves our patent-leathers from the contamina- tion of the sidewalk; we trip lightly up the grand stone stairway to the en- trance; obsequious lackeys relieve us of our superfluous raiment; folding


A GOODLY COMPANY. I 7

doors fly open before us without so much as a sesame" being uttered; and, behold, we enter upon a scene of en- chantment.

Magnificent apartments succeed each other in a long vista, glittering with splendid decorations; costly frescoes are overhead, luxurious carpets are under foot, .priceless pictures, rich laces, rare trifles of art are around us; an atmos- phere of wealth, refinement, luxury, and good taste is all-pervading.

But these are afterthoughts with us; it is the splendor of the assembled com- pany that absorbs our admiration now. Let us draw aside and observe this throng a little, my friend.

Would you have believed it possible that so much beauty and richness could have been collected under one roof? Score upon score of fair women and handsome men; the apparel of the former rich beyond conception — of the


1 8 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

latter, immaculate to. a fault. The rooms are pretty well filled already, but the cry is still they come.

See yonder tall and radiant maiden, as she enters leaning upon the arm of her grey-headfed father. Mark her well, my friend; I will draw your attention to her again presently. How proud of her the old man looks; and well he. may. What divine grace of womanhood lives in that supple form; what calm, sweet beauty shines in that lovely face — a face so pure and passionless in expression that the nudity of bust and arms, and the contour of limbs more than sug- gested by the tightly clinging silk, call for no baser admiration than we feel when looking upon the representation of an angel. Observe closely with what high-bred and maidenly reserve she re- sponds to the greeting of the Apollo in

    • full dress " who bows low before her

— the very type of the elegant and


PRELIMINARIES, T O

polished gentleman. In bland and gen- tle tones he begs a favor to be granted a little later in the evening. With downcast eyes she smiles consent; with a bow he records the promise upon a tablet in his hand. Gracefully she moves forward again, leaning on her ^ father s arm, smiling and nodding to her acquaintances, and repeating the harm- less little ceremony described above with perhaps a dozen other Apollos before she reaches the end of the ropm.

"Ah, pure and loviely girl!" I hear you mutter as she disappears, *' happy indeed is he who can win that jewel for a wife. That face will haunt me like a dream!" Likely enough, O my friend! but dreams are not all pleasant.

Now look again at this young wife just entering with her husband. Is she not beautiful! and how devotedly she hangs upon his arm! With what a triumphant glance around the room he


20 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

seems to say: "Behold my treasure — my very own ; look at the gorgeousness of her attire, ladies, and pray for such a husband; gaze upon the fairness of her face, gentlemen, and covet such a wife." Again the Apollos step blandly forward, again the little promises are lisped out and recorded. And so the goodly com- ^ pany go on, introducing and being intro- duced, and conversing agreeably to- gether. A right pleasant and edifying spectacle, purely.

But, hark! The music strikes up; the dancing is about to begin. You and I do not dance; we withdraw to an adjoin- ing room and take a hand at cards.

The hours go swiftly by and still we play on. The clock strikes two; the card-players are departing. But the strains of the distant music have been unceasing; the game does not flag in the ball-room. You have not seen a dance since your youth, you say, and then only


THE SCENE CHANGES. 21

the rude gambols of country-folk; you would fain see before you go how these dames and damsels of gentler breeding acquit themselves.

The dance is at its height; we could not have chosen a better time to see the thing in its glory.

As we approach the door of the ball- room the music grows louder and more ravishing than ever; no confusion of voices mars its delicious melody; the only sounds heard beneath its strains are a low swish and rustle as of whirling robes, and a light, but rapid and inces- sant shuffling of feet. The dull element has gone home; those who remain have better work to do than talking. We push the great doors asunder and enter.

Ha! the air is hot and heavy here; it breathes upon us in sensuous gusts of varying perfumes. And no wonder. A score of whirling scented robes stir it into fragrance. How beautiful — but


22 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

you look aghast, my friend. Ah, I forgot; these are not the rude country- folk of your youth. You are dazzled — bewildered. Then let me try to enliven your dulled senses with a description of what we see.

A score of forms whirl swiftly before us under the softened gaslight. I say a score of forms — but each is double — they would have made two score before the dancing began. Twenty floating visions — each male and female. Twenty women knit and growing to as many men, undulate, sway, and swirl giddily before us, keeping time with the delirious melody of piano, harp, and violin,

But draw nearer — let us see how this miracle is accomplished. Do you mark yonder tall couple who seem even to excel the rest in grace and ardor. Do they not make a picture which might put a soul under the ribs of Death ? Such must have been the sight which made


A PRETTY PICTURE. 23

Speusippas incontinently rave : " O ad- mirable, O divine Panareta! Who would not admire her, who would not love her, that sly)uld but see her dance as I did ? O how she danced, how she tripped, how she turned ! With what a grace ! Felix qui Panareta fruitur ! O most incomparable, only, Panareta!" Let us take this couple for a sample. He is stalwart, agile, mighty; she is tall, supple, lithe, and how beautiful in form and feature! Her head rests upon his shoul- der, her face is upturned to his; her naked arm is almost around his neck; her swelling breast heaves tumultuously against his; face to face they whirl, his limbs interwoven with her limbs; with strong right arm about her yielding waist, he presses her to him till every curve in the contour of her lovely body thrills v/ith the amorous contact. Her eyes look into his, but she sees nothing; the soft music fills the room, but she


i


24 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

« 

hears nothing; swiftly he whirls her from the floor or bends her frail body to and fro in his embrace, but she knows it not; his hot breath is upon her hair, his lips almost touch her forehead, yet she does not shrink; his eyes, gleaming with a fierce intolerable lust, gloat satyr- like over her, yet she does not quail ; she is filled with a rapture divine in its in- tensity — she is in the maelstrom of burn- ing desire — ^her spirit is with the gods.

With a last, low wail the music ceases. Her swooning senses come back to life. Ah, must it be ! Yes ; her companion releases her from his embrace. Leaning wearily upon his arm, the raj^ture faded from her eye, the flush dying from her cheek — enervated, limp, listless, worn out — she is led to a seat, there to recover from her delirium and gather her ener- gies as best she may in the space of five minutes, after which she must yield her body to a new embrace.


FROM DREAMS TO WAKING. 25

But did you not notice a faint smile upon the lips of her late companion as he turned and left her? a smile of tri- umph, an air of sated appetite, it seemed to me; and see, as he joins his cronies yonder he laughs, rubs his hands together, chuckles visibly, and commu- nicates some choice scrap of news which makes them look over at our jaded beauty and laugh too; they appreciate the suggestion of the ancient :

    • Tenta modo tangere corpus,

Jam tua mclliHuo membra calore fluent.*'

But she can keep her secret better than they, it is evident.

And now^tell me, friend of mine, did you not recognize an old acquaintance in the lady we have been watching so closely ? No ! Then believe me she is no other than the "pure and lovely girl" you so much admired earlier in the even- ing, the so desirable wife, the angel who was to "haunt your dreams."


26 THE DANCE OF DEATH.


"What ! that harlot-


j>


Hush — a spade is not called a spade here ; but I assure you again that the sensuous, delirious Bacchante whose semi-nakedness was so apparent as she lay swooning in the arms of her param — partner just now, was one and the same with the chaste and calm Diana — virgo virginissima — whose modest mien con- cealed her nudity so well. Moreover the satyr who was her accomplice — I can find no better word — the coward who pastured upon her and then boasted of his lechery, was the Apollo who first saluted her ; the little promise which she gave so gracefully, and which he recorded so eagerly, was a deliberate surrender of her body to his use and their mutual enjoyment. Furthermore, the old man who, filled with wine, sits asleep before the fire in the card-room, dreaming he holds thirteen trumps in his hand, is the proud father of our fair


I


LE JEU EST FAIT. 2/

friend. Unselfish old man ! he, like you, knows no dances but reels and minuets. "Why should not the dear girl enjoy herself ?" he says ; besides, if he grows tired he can go ; Apollo will be glad to see her home. Apollo being rich, the old gentleman has no objection to see him chasing his Daphne; Cupio, Cupid, Cupidity — the Latin always knows what it is about.

But, hark! The music begins again. Le jeu est fait, faites votre jeu messieurs! Gentlemen croupiers, prepare to rake in lost souls ! All stakes are yours that come within your reach.

With energies, recuperated by stimu- lating refreshments^ matron and maiden rise to the proffered embrace ; with lusty vigor the Bulls of Bashan paw their fresh pastures. This is the last dance, and a furious one.

'< Now round the room the circling dow'gers sweep, Now in loose waltz the thin-clad daughters leap; The first in lengthened line majestic swim, The last display the free, unfettered limb.**


28 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

The Saturnalia will soon be ended. One more picture before we go.

What right has that face over there to intrude amid this scene of wild festivity ? That dark and scowling face, filled with hate, and jealousy, and stifled rage. See how its owner prowls rest- lessly about; continually changing his position, but ever keeping his watchful eyes upon that voluptuous woman who, surrendering her soul to the lascivious pleasing of opportunity, is reeling, glid- ing, and yielding in the clutch of her partner — her drunken catholicity of de- sire, her long libidinous reaches of im- agination, the glib and facile assent of her emotions, figured in every move- ment, and visible to every eye.

This was the manner in which Bacch- us and Ariadne danced, which so moved the spectators that, as the old writer tells us, " they that were unmarried swore they would forthwith marry, and those that


BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. 29

were married called instantly for their horses and galloped home to their wives." That miserable, self-despised, desper- ate wretch is the exultant husband whom we noticed on his arrival; it is natural that he should take some interest in the lady, — she is the wife he was ex- ulting over. No wonder that there is a dangerous look in his eye as he takes in the situation ; the gallant who is dancing with his wife may sup with Polonius yet — late, or rather early, as it is, for "murder's as near to lust as flame to smoke." No wonder there is a hang- dog expression in his face as his friends clap him on the back and applaud the lady's performance — ask him how he is enjoying the evening, and so forth. But the climax is reached when the sated Lothario restores the partner of his joys to her lawful lord, with the remark that "your wife, sir, dances most divinely ;" then the poor fool must screw


30 THE DANCE OF DEATH.


up a sickly smile and say "thank you, sir," knowing all the while in his heart of hearts that the man before him has just now most surely made him cuckold under, his very nose. Poor fool! Will he never learn to appreciate the utter vileness of his situation ? Will he always be persuaded next morning that he must have been excited by the champagne — that his jealousy was the acme of all un- reason ? Or will he, as many have done, pop out some fine day a full-fledged dancer himself, and compromise matters with his wife by making the degradation mutual ?

But while we ponder these things the melody has ceased ; the weary musicians have departed. There is a rush for cloaks and hoods, and rather more ad- justing of the same upon feminine forms by bold masculine hands than is perhaps necessary for their proper arrangement.

Shift the scenery for the last act of this delectable drama !


THE DROP SCENE. 3 1

The gentlemen will escort the ladies to their homes! Apollo will still pur- sue the nimble Daphne, Pan will not yet relinquish his hot pursuit of the fleet- footed Syrinx ; and verily on this occasion their reward shall be greater than reeds and laurels. Forward, then, to the wait- ing carriages!

Ah, how grateful to the gas-scorched eyeballs is the thick gloom of the coach — how pleasant to the weary limbs are these luxurious cushions!

There! close the door softly ; up with the windows — down with the curtains! Driver, go slowly, as I heard you ordered to do just now, and you shall not want for future patronage. And you, young man within, strike while the iron is hot. In your comrade every mental sense is stupified, every carnal sense is roused. It is the old, old story:

  • ' Nox, vinum et adolescentia. The


32 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

opportunity is golden. Society is very good to you,young man!

Come, my friend, let us go. The play is played out, and so are the play- ers. The final tableau does not take place upon the stage. We read that under one of the Roman Emperors the pantomimic dance was not unfrequently ended by the putting to death by torture upon the stage of some condemned criminal, in order that the spectators might gaze upon death in all its horrible reality. God forbid that any such ghastly finale should take place behind the scenes now that our pantomime is finished ! But at all events there is no more to see; and lest your imagination spoil your rest let me divert your attention to the speck of dawn over there in the east. At this hour, says the poet,

" When late larks give warning Of dying lights and dawning, Night murmurs to the morning,

«Lic still, O love, lie still j'


THE AFTERPIECE.


And icrvcnc lipi tlut chitl."

But, mind you, in these lines the poet does not even remotely refer to the occupants of the carriage.




CHAPTER


II.



the


TheD

Devil h it h.ve e becccc.


D«i,the.p

mxir ii the come dhhon

— P.T«A.C


utof luM at home


-aci Many


le of wh

-omtn t indifieren


i. vi UT," says the worthy reader

I who has honored me by pe-

I rusing the preceding Chapter,

y "what manner of disgusting

revel is this that you have shown us ?

Have we been present at a reproduction

of the rites of Dionysus and Astarte ?

Have we held high revel in the halls of

a modem Faustina or Messalina? Have

we supped with Catherine of Russia ?

Or have we been under the influence of

a restored Lampsacene ?


IS NOT SAUCE FOR THE GANDER. 35

Don't delude yourself, my unsophis- ticated friend, you have simply been present at a " social hop " at the house of the Hon. Ducat Fitzbullion — a most estimable and " solid " citizen, a deacon of the church, where his family regularly attend, a great promoter of charities, Magdalen Asylufns, and the like, and President of the " Society for the Sup- pression of Immorality among the Hot- tentots." The fair women whom you have somewhat naturally mistaken for prHresses de la Vagabonde VdntiSy are the pure daughters and spotless wives of our "best citizens;" their male companions, or accomplices, or whatever you choose to call them, are the crhne de la crSme of all that is respectable and eligible in society ; and, finally, the dance which you have pronounced out- rageously indecent, is simply the Divine Waltz, in its various shapes of " Dip," 'Glide," "Saratoga," "German." and


36 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

what not — ^the King of Dances "with all the modern improvements."

And this, my dear reader, is the abom- ination that I intend to smite hip and thigh — not with fine words and dainty- phrases, but with the homely language of truth ; not blinded by prejudice or passion, but calmly and reasonably ; not with any private purpose to subserve, but simply in the cause of common de- cency ; not with the hope of working out any great moral reform, but having the sense of duty strong upon me as I stick my nibbed lancet into the most hideous social ulcer that has as yet afflicted the body corporate.

That the subject is a delicate one is best shown by the fact that even Byron found himself reduced to the necessity of " Putting out the light " and invok- ing the longest garments to cover that which he was unable to describe — hear him :


TOLERATED, YET INTOLERABLE. 2>7

^ Waltz — Waltz alone — both legs and arms demands ; Liberal of feet, and lavish of her hands;

  • Hands which may freely range in public sight

Where ne*er before — but — pray " put out the light*

  • ' But here the muse with due decorum halts —

And lends her longest petticoats- to Waltz."

It should not, then, be a matter of sur- prise, when one so gifted in the use of his mother tongue and writing in a far less prudish age, failed to describe the " vol- uptuous Waltz" without shocking his readers, — if I, sixty-three years later, wath so much more to describe and such limited capacity, do not succeed in ren- dering the subject less repulsive.

Many will urge that a practice in- dulged in by the " best people " of every country — seemingly tolerated by all — cannot be so violently assailed without some motive other than a disinterested desire to advocate a correct principle — but such are reminded that much more than one-half the male adult population


38 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

of every American city are addicted to the use of tobacco. Is its baneful effect upon the nerves of man any the less severe on this account ? So in the case of alcoholic beverages, is it open to de- bate that the great mass of our popula- tion are constantly consuming this •* wet damnation " ? And is it not known to all that it is the direct source of desolation to hearth and home, the destroyer of happi- ness and character, — that this has bro- ken more hearts, filled more dishonored graves than any other of man s follies ? Does, I say, the fact of its universality render its destroying influence less po- tent ? I think not. Neither do I believe the fact of society permitting itself to be carried by storm into the toleration of the "modern" dance, obliterates the fear- ful vortex into which its members are drawn, or compensates for the irreparable loss it suffers in the degradation of its chief ornament — woman.


DELICATE, BECAUSE INDELICATE. 39

And here is one great diifficulty in my self-imposed task, for to lovely and pure woman must I partly address my- self. Yet even a partial reference to the various considerations involved, en- tails the presenting "of topics not gener- ally admitted into refined conversation. But in order to do any justice at all to the subject, we must not only con- sider the dance itself, but we must follow it to its conclusion. We must look at its direct results. We must hold it re- sponsible for the vice it encourages, the lasciviousness of which it so largely par- takes. And in presenting this subject, I shall steadfastly ignore that line cf argument based upon the assumption that because " it is general," It must be proper. Says Rochester : —

" Custom does often reason overrule, And only serves for reason to the fool/*

And Crabbe : —

" Habit with him was all the test of truth : It must be right — I've done it from my youth.'*


40 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

No, neither the use of tobacco, the in- dulgence in alcoholic beverages, nor the familiar posturing of the *' Glide" can be justified or defended by proving that they are common to all classes of society. I repeat that th^ scene I have at- tempted to describe in the foregoing chapter is no creation of a prurient imagi- nation — ^would to God that it were — ^but is a scene that is enacted at every social entertainment whiph in these days' is regarded by the class for whose benefit this work is written as worth the trouble of attending. I repeat that the female portion of the "class" referred to is not composed of what are commonly known as prostitutes, whatever the un- initiated spectator at their orgies may imagine, but of matrons who are held spotless, and of maidens who are counted pure — not only by the world in general, but by those husbands, fathers, and brothers, whose eyes should surely be


THE FRUIT OF CULTURE. 4I

the first to detect any taint upon the character of wife, daughter, or sister. And I repeat, moreover, that the social status of these people is not that of the rude peasant whose lewd pranks are the result of his ignorance, but that of the most highly cultivated and refined among us. These are the people who are expected to, and do, lead the world in all that is elegant and desirable; and the Waltz, forsooth, is one of their arts — one of the choice products of their ultra-civilization — brought to perfection by the grace with which God has gifted them above common folk, adorned by their wealth, and enjoyed by their high- strung sensibilities. The boor could not dance as they do though he were willing to give his immortal soul to possess the accomplishment, for the waltz, in its perfection, is a pleasure reserved for the social pantheon.

Said one to me, stooping forward in


42 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

the most confidential way '* Do you see that young lady to the left ? How exqui- sitely the closely drawn silk discloses her wasp-like form ! and those motions — could anything be more suggestive ? Every movement of her body is a per- fect reproduction of Hogarth's line of beauty. Look man! Remove just a little drapery and there is nothing left to desire — is'nt it wonderful ? But then," added he, "it is a perfect outrage never- theless."

Not so, I answered. Can aught be said against her reputation ? no ! — a thousand times no — and as for her dress, is it not the perfection of what all others in the room are but a crude attempt to acccomplish ? Does it not disclose a form intrinsically beautiful, and admit pf a grace and ** poetry of motion" quite unknown to those encumbered with petticoats ? Yes, look at her backward and forward movements — see how she


AN APT PUPIL. 43

entwines her lithe limbs with those of her enraptured partner as they oscillate, advance, recede, and rotate, as though they were "spitted on the same bodkin."

" Thus front to front the partners move or stand, The foot may rest, but none withdraw the hand."

This, sir, is but one of the many improve- ments on the waltz.

And pray, sir, are not this lady to tne right and that one in the center, vainly endeavoring to achieve the same feat } The only difference is that this lady is better dressed, more ably taught than either; is she to be censured because she has the talent and industry to do well, that which they have neither the courage, energy, nor ability to perform ?

Can it be that in this instance alone, a want of proficiency is a redeeming fea- ture }



CHAPTER III.


    • Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness

through the lust of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves.**

— Epistle to the Romans.



OUS


LREADY I see the face of the reader grow red with indigna- tion. "This is a calumniator, an infamous detractor, an envi- pessimist, a hater of all that is innocently enjoyable!" cries he or she. Very well — I bow my acknowledge- ments for the compliment. I have already stated in my preface that I did not expect you to say anything else. I could be well content to tell what I know and let you say your say in peace,


AN "INNOCENT AMUSEMENT." 45


but I will nevertheless go somewhat out of my way to answer your principal objections.

In the first place, there are certainly many who will deny my charges in tota — who will declare that the waltz is very moral and healthful, and entirely innocent and harmless, and that he who puts it in any other light is a knave and a vile slanderer. These of my opponents I may divide into two classes: First, those who know nothing of the matter, who have never danced, have scarcely ever seen a modern waltz, and are conse- quently unwilling to believe that such terrible things could be going on in their very midst without their knowl- edge ; and, secondly, those who do know and practice the abomination, and find "the fruit of the tree of knowledge" far too sweet to be hedged about as ** for- bidden."

To the first of these classes I have


46 THE DANCE OF DEATH

little to say; it is composed mainly of "old fogies," the diversions of whose youth were innocent, and who can see no evil that does not sprawl in all its ugliness over the face of the community. If a courtesan accosted one of them on the street, they would be unutterably shocked, and so they certainly would if they on a sudden found themselves ex;;- periencing the '^perfect waltz," though even then it is doubtful if they would not' be shocked into dumbness and grieved into inaction. But of the vailed and subtle pleasures of the waltz they are profoundly ignorant — why should they not be ? They see no harm in it because they don't see it at all ; they are optimists through ignorance, and lift palms of deprecation at the mention of vice which they cannot understand or attain to. To these I say: open your eyes and look about you, even at the risk of seeing things not exactly


THE IDOL DEFENDED. 47

as you fancied them to be; or, if you will remain obstinately blind, then pray do not deny that evil exists where you do not happen to see it with your eyes shut. I have painted the picture, you can compare it with the reality at your leisure.

To the second class that I have men- tioned, namely, those who know and deny what they know, a far stronger condemnation is to be applied. It is composed of the dancers ^'* par excelletice, both male and female — who have tasted of the unholy pleasures of the waltz until it has become the very sap of their lives. These are the blushing rakes and ogling prydes who will be most bitter in their denunciation of this book and it^ author; and no wonder — I only oppose the prejudices of the others, but I con-

  • I have stated several times, and I now do so far the last

time, that by *' dancers " I mean loalt^cn, I hope that my meaning will not be ^wilfully misconstrued.


48 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

tend with the passions of these. These it is who are forever prating of the beauties and virtues of the waltz. It is an "innocent recreation," a ** healthful exercise," it is the "mother of grace" and the "poetry of motion;" no eulogy can be too extravagant for them to bestow upon their idol. They see no harm in it,

not they, and for those who dare hint at such a thing, they have ever ready at their tongue s end that most convenient and abused of legends: Honi soil qui ntal y pense. They will catch at any straw to defend their pet amusement. They will tell you that The Preacher says "there is a time to dance," without stop- ping to inquire why that ancient cynic put the words "there is a time to mourn" in such close proximity. They will inform you that Plato, in his Com- monwealth, will have dancing-schools to be maintained, "that young folks may meet, be acquainted, see one another,


THE WORSHIP DESCRIBED. 49

and be seen," but they forget to mention that he will also have them dance naked, or to quote the comments of Eusebius and Theodoret upon Plato's plan. They think the secret of their great respect for the waltz is possessed only by them- selves, and hug the belief that by them that secret shall never be divulged. Bah! They must dance with the gas out if there is to be any secrecy in the matter

Innocent and healthful recreation forsooth! The grotesque abominations of the old Phallic worship had a basis of clean and wholesome truth, but as the obscene rites of that worship desecrated the principle that inspired them, so do the pranks of the "divine waltz" libel the impulse that stirs its wriggling devotees. The fire that riots in their veins and the motive that actuates their haunches is an honest flame and a decent energy when honestly and decently invoked, but if blood and muscle would be pleased to indulge their impotent raptures m private, the warmer virtues would not be subjected to open caricature, nor the colder to downright outrage

What do I mean by such insinuations ? Nay, then, gentle reader, I will not insinuate, but will boldly state that with the class with which I am now dealing — the dancers par excellence^ the modern waltz is not merely " suggestive," as its opponents have hitherto charitably styled it, but an open and shameless gratification of sexual desire and a cooler of burning lust To lookers-on it is "suggestive" enough. Heaven knows, but to the dancers — that is to say, to the "perfect dancers"^ — it is an actual realiza- tion of a certain physical ecstacy which should at least, be indulged in private and no pure person should experience save under the sanction of matrimony.


THE GREAT SECRET. 5 1

And this is the secret to which I have alluded. It cannot even be claimed ^& private property any longer,

" For shame!" cries the horrified (and non-waltzing) reader; '*how can you make such dreadfully false assertions! And who are these 'perfect dancers' you talk so much about .^ And how came you to know their ' secret ' as you terni it ? Surely no woman of even nominal decency would make such a horrible confession, and yet the most immaculate women waltz, and v/altz di- vinely!"

By your leave, I will answer these questions one at a time. Who are these

    • perfect waltzers?*' Of the male sex

there are several types, of which I need only mention two.

The first is your lively and handsome young man — a Hercules in brawn and muscle — ^who exults in his strength and glories in his manhood. Dancing comes


52 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

naturally to him, as does everything else that requires grace and skill. He is a ruthless hunter to whom all game is fair The gods have made him beautiful and strong, and the other sex recognize and appreciate the fact. Is it to be expected of Alcibiades that he scorn the Athenian lasses, or of Phaon the Fair that he avoid the damsels of Mytelene.'^ No indeed! it is for the husband and father to take care of the women — /le can take care of himself. Yet even this gay social pirate and his like might take a hint from the poet:

    • But )e — who never felt a single thought

For what our morals are co be, or ought ;

Who wisciy wish the charms you view to reap,

Say — ^would you make those beauties quite so cheap?**

But this fine animal is by no means the most common or degraded type of ball-room humanity. It would be per«  haps better it he were. In his mighty embrace a woman would at least have the satisfaction of knowing that she was


A FAMILIAR TYPE. 53

dancing with a wholesome creature, however destitute he might be of the finer feelings that go to make up what is called a man.

No, the most common type of the male "perfect dancer" is of a different stamp. This is the blockhead who covers his brains with his boots — to whom dancing is the one serious practical employment of life, and who, it must be confessed, is most diligent and painstaking in his profession. He is chastity's paramour — strong and lusty in the presence of the unattainable, fee- ble-kneed and trembling in the glance of invitation ; in pursuit a god, in pos- session an incapable — satyr of dalliance, eunuch of opportunity. This creature dances divinely. He has given his mind to dancing, has never got it back, and is the richer for that. He haunts "hops" and balls because his ailing virility finds a feast in the paps and


54 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

gruels of love there dispensed. It is he to whose contaminating embrace your wi — I mean your neighbor's wife or daughter, dear reader, is oftenest sur- rendered, to whet his dulled appetite for strong meats of the bagnio — nay to coach him for offences that must be nameless here. She performs her func- tion thoroughly, conscientiously, wholly — merges her idetitity in his, and lo! the Beast with two Backs !

A pretty picture is it not } — the Grand Passion Preservative dragged into the blaze of gas to suffer pious indignities at the hand of worshippers who worship not wisely, but too well ! The true Phallos set up at a cross-roads to re- ceive the homage of strolling dogs — male and female created he them ! Bah ! these orgies are the spawn of unman- nerly morals. They profane our civili- zation, and are an indecent assault upon common sense. It is nearly as common


"CjEsars wife, etc. 55

as the dance itself, to hear the male participants give free expresssion, loose tongued, to the lewd emotions, the sen- sual pleasure, in which they indulge when locked in the embrace of your wives and daughters ; if this be true, if by any pos- sibility it can be true, tha^ a lady how- ever innocent in thought is exposed to lecherous comments of this description! then is it not also true tnat every woman possessing a remnant of delicacy, will flee from the dancing-hall as from a pestilence.


CHAPTER IV.

" What 1 the girl that ] love by anocher embiaceil I Another man's arm round ni|r choieo one'a wjuitl Whit I touched in the twirl by another man'i l[n« ;

Sir, she '< )--uts; you havebtuihed from the grape irttoft blue.

From the rose you have shaken the delicate dew ; .

What you've touched you may take — pretty Waltier, adjni 1"


ri ET us now consider the female ^ element in this immodesty. 3 Is the woman equally to blame jj with the man? ' Is she the un- conscious instrument of his lust, or the conscious sharer in it ? We shall sec.

In the first place, it is absolutely nec- essary that she shall be able and will- ing to reciprocate the feelings of her partner before she can graduate as a


EXPERTS AND AMATEURS. 5/

"divine dancer." Until she can and will do this she is regarded as a **scrub" by the male experts, and no matter what her own opinion of her proficiency may be she will surely not be sought as a companion in that pidce de resistance of the ball-room the "after — supper glide."

Horrible as this statement seems, it is the truth and nothing but the truth, and though I could affirm it upon oath from what I have myseli heard and seen, I fortunately am able to confirm it by the words of a highly respected minister of the gospel — Mr, W. C. Wilkinson, who some years ago published in book form an article on "The Dance of Modern Society," which originally appeared in one of our American Quarterly Reviews.

This gentleman gives a remark over- heard on a railway car, in a conversation that was passing between two young men about their lady acquaintances.


/


58 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

"The horrible concreteness ot the fel- low's expression," says Mr Wilkinson, " may give a wholesome recoil from danger to some minds that would be little affected by a speculative statement of the same idea. Said one : I would not give a straw to dance with Miss

you can't excite any more

passion in her than you can in a stick of wood." Can anything be plainer than this

" Pure young women of a warmer temperament," the same reverend author subsequently adds, "who innocently abandon themselves to enthusiastic proc- lamations of their delight in the dance in the presence of gentlemen, should but barely once have a male intuition of the meaning of the involuntary glance that will often shoot across from eye to eye among their auditors. Or should over- hear the comments exchanged among them afterwards. For when young men


A BALL-ROOM REMINISCENCE. 59

meet after an evening of the dance to talk it over together, it is not points of dress they discuss. Their only demand (in this particular) and it is generally conceded, is that the ladies' dress shall not needlessly embarrass suggestion."

But here is one of my own experiences in this connection. At a fashionable sociable, I was approached by a friend who had been excelling himself in Terp- sichorean feats during the whole evening. This friends was a very handsome man, a magnificent dancer, and of course a great favorite with the ladies. I had been watching him while he waltzed with a young and beautiful lady, also of my acquaintance, and had been filled with wonder at the way he had foldled her in his arms — literally fondling her upon his breast, and blending her deli- cate melting form into his ample embrace in a manner that was marvellous to be-



6o THE DANCE OF DEATH.

hold. They had whirled and writhed in a corner for fully ten minutes — the fury of lust in his eyes, the languor of lust in hers — until gradually she seemed to lose her senses entirely, and must have slipped down upon the floor when he finally released her from his embrace had it not been for the support of his arm and shoulder. Now as he came up to me all flushed and triumphant I remarked to him that he evidently enjoyed this thing very much.

"Of course I do," he answered. " Why not r

    • But I should think," said I, not wish-

ing to let him see that I knew anything about the matter from experience, " that your passions would become unduly ex- cited by such extremely close contact with the other sex."

"Excited!" he replied, "of course they do; but not unduly — ^what else do you suppose I come here for.*^ And don't


HOW TO DO IT. 61

you know, old fellow/' he added in a burst of confidence, ** that this waltzing is the grandest thing in the world. While you are whirling one of those charmers — if you do it properly, mind you — you can whisper in her ear things which she would not listen to at any other time. Ah! but she likes it then, and comes closer jitill, and in response to the pressure of her hand, your arm tightens about her waist, and then" — but here he grew very eloquent at the bare remembrance, and the morals of the printer must be respected.

" But," said I, "I should be afraid to take such liberties with a . respectable woman."

" O," he answered, "thats nothing — they like it; but, as I said before, you must know how to do it; there must be no blundering; they wont stand that. The best place to learn to do the thing correctly is in one of those dance -cellars ;


i


62 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

there you can take right hold of them. The girls there are " posted," you know; and they'll soon "post" you. Let every- thing go loose. You will soon fall into the step. All else comes natural. I go round amongst them all. Come with me a few nights, 1 11 soon make a waltzer of you — you will see what there is in it." He still rests under the promise to "show me round '^ in the intierests of the diffu- sion of useful knowledge; and if he does not trace the authorship of this book to me, and take offence thereat, I will go at some future time. It must indeed be "jolly," as he called it, to possess such consumate skill in an art which makes the wives and daughters of our "best people" the willing instruments of his lechery. Oh yes — I musi /earn. This is a su- preme accomplishment I cannot afford to be without. It has been said that out of evil comes good, and assuredly "this is an evil born with all its teeth."


  • i


TRAIN UP A CHILD, ' ETC 63


"Ah, yes," continued my enthusiastic friend, "it isn't the whirling that makes the waltz, and those who think it is are the poorest dancers. A little judi- cious handling will make a sylph out of the veriest gawk of a girl that ever attempted the "light fantastic;" and once manage to initiate one of those stay-at-home young ladies, and FU war- rant you she 11 be on hand at every ball she is invited to for the rest of that season I'll wager, sir, that there isn't a "scrub" in this room who Just knows the step but what I can make a dancer of her in fifteen minutes — the dear creatures take to it naturally when they are properly taught. But don't forget to come with me to the 'dives one of these evenings and I'll show you what there is in it." And this was the estimation in which this man held the ladies of his acquaintance: this is the kind of satyr to the quenching of whose


64 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

%

filthy lusts we are to furnisn our wives and daughters; this is the manner of Minotaur who must be fed upon comely virgins — may he recognize a Theseus in these pages!

And yet, dear reader, do not imagine that this man was a social ogre of un- usual monstrosity No, indeed, he was, and is, a "very nice young man;" he is, in fact, commonly regarded as a model young man. Nor must you imagine that his partner had a single stain upon her reputation. She is a young lady of the highest respectability; she takes a great interest in Sunday schools, is reg- ular at the communion-table, makes flan- nel waistcoats for the heathen, and is on all sides allowed to be the greatest catch of the season in the matrimonial market. If she and the young man in question meet in the street, a modest bow on her


part, and a respectful lifting of the hat on his, are the only greetings inter-


A STRANGE ACQUAINTANCE. 65

changed — he may enjoy her body- in the ball-room, but, you see, he is not well enough acquainted with her to take her hand on the street.


CHAPTER V.


<* Where Uvo the man thu hith not tried How minh cin Into fi)]ly glide.

And folly into tin ! "—Scott.

ri HE conversation I have given I in the last chapter is faithfull)' f leported — it is exact in spirit iJ very nearly so in letter ; we may surely believe that the clergyman from whom I have quoted some pages back, was honest in his statements, and I think that there can be no man who has mixed among his sex in the ball- room and not heard similar remarks made. All this is, it seems to me, ample proof of the fact which I set out to demonstrate, namely, that the


THE woman's part. 67

lechery of the waltz is not confined to the males, but is consciously partici- pated in by the females, and if further evidence be needed, then, I say, take the best of all— watch the dancers at their sport — mark well the faces, the contortions of body and limb, and be convinced against your will. But even over and beyond this, I shall now lay before you a kind of testimony which you will be surprised to find brought to bear on the case.

Shortly after I had determined to publish a protest against the abomina- tions of the waltz, it became plainly apparent to me that I must if possible obtain the views on the subject of some intelligent and well known lady, whose opinion would be received with respect by all the world. With this end in view, I addressed one of the most emi- nent and renowned women of America. I could not fortell the result of such a


68 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

Step, I certainly did not expect it to be what it is, I hardly dared to hope that she would accede to my request in any shape. But I knew that if she did speak, it would be according to her honest convictions, and I resolved in that event to publish her statement whatever it might be. This lady freely and generously offered me the use of her name, and as this would be of great value to my undertaking, I had origi- nally intended to print it; but upon consideration I have concluded that it would be a poor return for her kindness and self-devotion, to subject her to the fiery ordeal of criticism she would in that case have to endure, and for this reason, and this only, I withhold her name for the present. But I do earn- estly assure the reader that if ever the words of a great and good woman de- served respectful attention, it is these : — '*You ask me to say what I think


A woman's, experience. 69

about 'round dances/ I am glad of the opportunity to lay my opinion on that subject before the world; though, in- deed I scarcely know what I can write which you have not probably already written. I will, however, venture to lay bare a young girls heart and mind by ^ giving you my own experience in the days when I waltzed.

"In those times I cared little for Polka or Varsovienne, and still less for the old-fashioned 'Money Musk' or 'Virginia Reel,' and wondered what people could find to admire in those 'slow dances.' But in the soft float- ing of the waltz I found a strange pleasure, rather difficult to intelligibly describe. The mere anticipation flut- tered my pulse, and when my partner approached to claim my promised hand for the dance I felt my cheeks glow a little sometimes, and I could not look him in the eyes with the same frank gaiety as heretofore.


JO THE DANCE OF DEATH.

"But the climax of my confusion was reached when, folded in his warm embrace, and giddy with the whirl, a strange, sweet thrill would shake me from head to foot, leaving me weak and almost powerless and really almost obliged to depend for support upon the arm which encircled me. If my partner failed from ignorance, lack of skill, or innocence, to arouse these, to me, most pleasurable sensations, I did not dance with him the second time.

"I am speaking openly and frankly, and when I say that I did not understand what I felt, or what were the real and greatest pleasures I derived from this so- called dancing, I expect to be believed. But if my cheeks grew red with uncom- prehended pleasure then, they grow pale with shame to-day when I think of it all. It was the physical emotions en- gendered by the magnetic contact of


<<


SWEET GIRL GRADUATE." 7 1


Strong men that I was enamoured of — not of the dance, nor even of the men themselves.

"Thus I became abnormally devel- oped in my lowest nature. I grew bolder, and from being able to return shy glances at first, was soon able to meet more daring ones, until the waltz beQame . to me a.nd whomsoever danced with me, one lingering, sweet, and purely sensual pleasure, where heart beat against heart, hand was held in hand, and eyes looked burning words which lips dared not speak.

"All this while no one said to me: you do wrong; so I dreamed of sweet words whispered during the dance, and often felt while alone a thrill of joy indescribable yet overpowering when my mind would turn from my studies to remember a piece of temerity of unusual grandeur on the part of one or another of my cavaliers.


72 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

"Girls talk to each other. I was still a school girl although mixing so much with the world. We talked together. We read romances that fed our romantic passions on seasoned food, and none but ourselves knew what subjects we discussed. Had our parents heard us they would have considered us on the high road to ruin. '

"Yet we had been taught that it wals right to^ dance; our parents did it, our friends did, and we were permitted. I will say also that all the girls with whom I associated, with the exception of one, had much the same experience in dancing; felt the same strangely sweet emotions, and felt that almost imperative necessity for a closer communion than that which eV6n the freedom of a waltz permits^ without knowing exactly why, or even comprehending what.

" Married now, with home and children around me, I can at least thank God for


EXPERIENTIA DOCET. • 73

the experience which will assuredly be the means of preventing my little daugh- ters from indulging in any such danger- ous pleasure. But, if a young girl, pure and innocent in the beginning, can be brought to feel what I have confessed to have felt, what must be the experience of a married woman ? She knows what every glance of the eye, every bend of the head, every close clasp means, and knowing that reciprocates it and is led by swifter steps and a surer path down the dangerous, dishonorable road.

"I doubt if my experience will be of much service, but it is the candid truth, from a woman who, in the cause of all the young girls who may be contaminat- ed, desires to show just to what extent a young mind may be defiled by the injurious . effects of round dances. I have not hesitated to lay bare what are a young girls most secret thoughts, in the hope that people will stop and con-


i

J


74 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

sider, at least before handing their Jillies of purity over to the arms of any one who may choose to blow the frosty breath of dishonor on their petals."

And this is the experience of a woman of unusual strength of character — one whose intellect has gained her a world- wide celebrity and earned for her the respect and attention of multitudes wherever the English language is spok- en. What hope is there then for ordi- nary women to escape from this mental and physical contamination ? which

'• Turni~]f nothing du— at lean our hodl."

None whatever.



CHAPTER VI.


'< II fault bien dire que la danse est quasi le comble de tous vices * * * * c'est le <ommenceinent d'unc ordure, laquelle je ne veux declarer. Pour en parler rcndement, il m'est advis que c^est une maniere de tout villaine et barbare * * * A quoy servent tant de saults que font ces filles, soustenues des compagnons par soubs les bras; a fin de regimber plus hault? Quel plaisir prennent ces sauterelles a se tormenter ainsi et demener la pluspart des miicts sans se souler ou lasser de la daiMcr L. V1VE8.



ANY will say — have said — By- ron wrote against the wakz because a physical infirmity prevented him from waltzing— that ne is not a proper person to quote as an example for others to follow. It must be conceded that whatever his mo- tive was, he we/l knew what he was writing about, and whatever his practices


76 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

may have been in other respects, it is to his credit that his sense of the proprie- ties of life were not so blunted as to render him blind to this cause of gross public licentiousness.

But, unlike Byron, I have, as has been stated before, practical experience^ and positive knowledge in the matter whereof I speak, and am possessed of the most convincing assurances that my utterances will be received with joy by thousands of husbands and fathers whose views have been down-trodden — their sentiments disregarded, and their notions of morality held up to scorn because they disapprove of this "innocent amuse* ment."

It has also been before said that this vice was "seemingly tolerated by all," but I am proud to say that the placard posted about the streets announcing a " Sunday School Festival — dancing TO commence at nine o'clock/' does


DANCING AND CONFIRMATION. TJ

not reflect the sentiments of the entire community; that in all the marts of businiess, in every avenue of trade, in counting-house and in work-shop, men are to be found who would shrink with horror from exposing their wives and daughters to the allurements of the dance- hall— men who form a striking contrast to those simpering simpletons who sym- pathize with their feelings, but have not the courage to maintain the family honor by enforcing their views in the domestic circle.

It is only a few years since the Frank- fort Journal announced that the author- ities had decided, in the interest of good morals, that in future dancing-masters should not teach their art to children who had not yet been confirmed. The teaching of dancing in boarding-houses and hotek was also forbidden. It is not desirable that the law should 'interfere with purely domestic affairs, but really it


78 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

seems as if those unfortunate parents and husbands who shudder at the evil but are awed into silence by ridicule or open rebellion, stand in as urgent need of the law s assistance as the Magdeburg god- fathers and godmothers.

I well know that many young ladies profess entire innocence of any impure emotions during all this "palming work."

To them let me say: If you are so sluggish in your sensibilities as this would imply, then you are not yet fit subjects for the endearments of married life, and can give but poor promise of securing your husband s affection. But if on the other hand (as in most cases is true) you ex- perience the true bliss of this intoxication, then indeed will the ground of your emotions be pretty well worked over before you reach the hymeneal altar, and the nuptial couch will have but little to offer for your consideration with which you are not already in some measure familiar.


DEMAND AND SUPPLY. 79

A friend at my elbow remarks. "I agree with you perfectly, but my wife likes these dances, — sees no harm in them, and her concluding and unan- swerable argument is, that if I danced them, I should like them just as well as she does." The truth of this latter statement depends upon your moral perceptions. There is but one answer to the former, given by "Othello,"

    • This is the curse of Marriage :

We call these delicate creatures ours — But not their appetites."

If you are so lax in your attention — so deficient in those qualities which go to make a woman happy — that she seeks the embrace of other men to supply the more than half acknowledged need — if this be true, my friend, I leave the mat- ter with you — it belongs to another class of subjects, treated of by Doctor Acton of London — I refer you to his able works.


8o THE DANCE OF' DEATH.

Another says: Both my wife and I enjoy these dances. We see no par- ticular harm in them — "to the pure all things are pure." The very same thing may be said by the habitues of other haunts of infamy —

  • ' Vice is a monster of so frightful mien.

As, to be hated, needs but to be seen ; Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace.**

There is, again, a very large class of dancers who frankly allow that there is immorality in the modern waltz, but in- sist that this immorality need not be, and by them is not, practised. They dance — but very properly, you know. These are the Pharisees who beat their breasts in public places, crying fie! upon their neighbors, and bravo! upon them- selves.

Of course, they will tell you, there are persons who are excited impurely by the waltz, but these are persons who would


IDEAS OF PURITY. 8 1

be immoral under any circumstances. " To the pure all things are pure. It is astonishing how apt they are with these tongue-worn aphorisms. To the pure all things are pure, — yes, but purity is only a relative virtue whose value is fixed by the morai standard of the in- dividual. What would be pure to some would be grossly impure to others, and when you place your wife or daughter in the arms of such salacious gentry as have been described in the foregoing pages are you not pretty much in the position of the gentleman who when gravely informed by a guest who was taking an unaccountably hasty leave that his (the host's) wife had lewdly en- treated him, replied : " But, my friend, that is nothing ; your wife did as much for me when I visited you last year." This gentleman, remember, was also ready to add : "to the pure all things are pure." The Waltz should assuredly


82 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

have figured among the "pure impuri- ties" of Petronius.

But even if it be allowed that a lady can waltz virtuously, I have already shown that in that case she must not dance welL And what a pitiful specta- cle, surely, is that of a lady trying "how not to do it"— converting her natural grace into clumsiness in order that she ma^ do an indecent thing decently, and remain

  • ' Warm but not wanton ; dazzled, but not blind.**

But perhaps she cannot waltz. In that case how long will it take her to learn ? Will not one single dance lower her standard of purity if her partner happens to be one of the adepts I have de- scribed ?

" But," cries the fair dancer " you must remember that no lady wiir permit herself to be introduced to, or accept as a partner, any but a gentleman, who she is sure will treat her with becoming respect.*'


GENTLEMANLY PARTNERS. 83

« 

I will not stop to inquire what her definition of a "gentleman" is — whether the most courteous and urbane of men may not be a most desperate rou6 at heart The attitude and •contact are the same in any case, and if it needs must be that a husband is to see his wife folded in the close embrace of another man, is it any consolation for him to know that her partner is eligible as a rival in other respects than his nim- ble feet — that he who is brushing the bloom from his peach is at least his equal? Can you stop to consider the intellectual Accomplishments and social status of the man who has invaded the sacred domain of your wife's chamber ? No — equally unimportant is it to you, who or what he may be — that has thus exercised a privilege reserved by all pure-minded women for their husbands alone.

But in this matter of the selection of


/


84 THE - DANCE OF DEATH.

the fittest the ladies have set up a man of straw, which I must - proceed to demolish. In order that the lawless contact may be impartially distributed, and that no* lady may be free to choose whose sexual magnetism she shall ab- sorb, we have imported from across the water a foreign variety of the abomina- tion, by which ingenious contrivance the color of the ribbon a lady chances to hold determines who shall have the use of her body in the waltz, and places her in the pitiable predicament of the "poore bryde" at ancient French weddings, who, as we read in Christen, "State of Mat- rimony," must "kepe foote with all dan- cers, and refuse none, how scabbed, foule, droncken, rude, and shameless soever he be."

Nor are even the square dances any longer left as a refuge for the more modest, for to such a pitch has the pas- sion for this public sexual intimacy


THE WALTZ QUADRILLE. 85

come, that the waltz is now inseparably wedded to the quadrille. Even the old fogies are sometimes trapped by this device. A quadrille is called and they take their places feeling quite safe. "First couple forward!" "Cross over!" "Change partners!" "Waltz up and down the centre!" "Change over!" "All hands waltz round the outside!" and before they know it their sedate notions are lost in the "waltz quadrille." It may be said that every arrangement of the dance looks to an "equitable" distribution of each lady's favors. It is a recognized fact that a lady dancing repeatedly with the same gentleman shows a marked preference thereby — and he is deemed rude and selfish who attempts to monoplize his affianced, Or shows reluctance in resigning her to the arms of another.



CHAPTER VII.


ned all wivei to Daliliht, WhoH hiubindi were nol lot the ciuec ; And turned the men Co ten-hom'd canlc, ficciiuc thcf went not out to battle."

Samuil Butlii.

n ONE time ago a lady friend said

to me; "How is it that while

I so many of you gentlemen are

il fond of dancing until you are

married, yet from that moment few

of you can be induced to dance any

more. In fact it is a fraud perpetrated

upon young ladies; you fall in love with

them in the ball room, you court them

there, you marry them there, and they

naturally think you will continue to take


WIVES SUPPLANT WALTZES. 87

them there. But no — thenceforth they must stay at home, or if you are induced to go occasionally, you are as cross and ill-natured about it as possible; as though it was something dreadful. If the dancing-hall is good enough to get a wife in, is it not good enough to take a wife to ? "

My dear lady, said I, you have stated the case with a fairness not often met with in an opponent. There can be no stronger evidence (none other is re- quired) to establish the sexualism of the popular dance than that which you have just cited. The privileges of matrimony relieve the necessity for the dance. The lover is compelled to share that which the husband considers all his own. Those who, while single, were most deeply versed in the mysteries and pleasures of the waltz are, when mar- ried, the first to proclaim their abhor- rence of it, too often, it is true, in a mild and impotent protest, but not always.



88 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

Is the reader acquainted with Boye- sen's novel called "Gunhar?" If so he will remember that Ragnhild was to wed Lars under the pressure of parental au- thority. She preferred, however, the valiatit, dancing Gunnar. "Ha! ha! ha! cried he, strike up a tune and that a right lusty one!" The music struck up, he swung upon his heel, caught the girl who stood nearest him round the waist; and whirled away with her. Suddenly he stopped and gazed right into her face, and who should it be but Ragnhild. She begged and tried to release herself from his arm, but he lifted her from the floor, made another leap, and danced away, so that the floor shook under them."

"Gunnar, Gunnar," whispered she, "please, Gunnar, let me go" — he heard nothing. "Gunnar," begged she again, now already half surrendering, "only think what mother would say if she were here." But now she began to feel


IN THE TOILS. 89

the spell of the dance. The walls, the roof, and the people began to whirl round her in a strange, bewildering cir- cle; at one moment the music seemed to be winging its way to her from an unfathomable depth in an inconceivable, measureless distance, and in the next it was roaring and booming in her ears with the rush and din of an infinite cat- aract of tone. Unconsciously her feet moved, to its measure, her heart beat to it, and she forgot her scruples, her fear, and everything but him in the bliss of the dance.

Gunnar knew how to tread the spring- ing dance, and no one would deny him the rank of the first dancer in the valley, so, it was a dance worth seeing, and of the girls, there was scarcely one who did not wish herself in the happy Ragnhild's place" — (of course they did.) After the music had ceased, it was some time before Ragnhild fully recovered


i


90 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

her senses — (quite likely) ; she still clung fast to Gunnar s arm, the floor seemed to be heaving and sinking under her — (quite common in such cases), and the space was filled with a vague, dis- tant hum." (Why not ?)

Later, the gleaming knife in the hands of Lars, showed that he but too plainly understood the nature of the perform- ance in which his future wife had been engaged. And the sequel well attests, that his happiness did not increase with his knowledge. Even the vigor of a Norwegian climate was not sufficient to cool his fury. What a promising field for future operations must sunnier climes present for such enterprising young gentlemen.

Follow the subject a little further and it will be seen that Ragnhild lost more than her head in the bewildering whirl. Now let me ask any father or mother (or husband if you will), — any man pos-


WALTZING MATRONS. 9 1

sessing a grain of common sense, if Ragnhild was in a safe condition to be shown by Gunnar, to one of our com- modious carriages and driven to her home (perhaps miles away) at three o'clock in the morning?

'* Lead us not into temptation."

Yet this is done — is permitted by very many of our so-called "prudent parents" and while they are crying out about

    • social evils/' are doing all in their

power to furnish recruits for the great army of the infamous.

    • Deliver us from evil.**

There are two types of married ladies who practise, and of course enjoy, the waltz, and lest either might discover the portrait of the other and take offence that her own lovely face was not used to adorn these pages, each shall have a separate notice. They will probably have already recognized portraits of


/


92 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

themselves in this volume, but the object here is more particularly to distinguish between the two.

The first of these we may safely call semi-respectable — ^she is so partly from necessity, partly from choice — from choice because she regards it as the

    • proper thing" that her husband should

dance attendance while she dances something else, during the performance of which, the poet tells us,

    • The fair one's breast

Gives all it can and bids us take the rest."

She has not yet quite reached that stage of shamelessness when she can ca- rouse the entire night without some lingering regard for what Mrs. Grundy will say; besides this, she is not quite sure of her position, and does not !:now exactly how much her husband will bear. She is afflicted with a bare sus- picion that his docile nature might be over taxed — that in the pigeon holes of


FREE AND INDEPENDENT. 93

his dull cranium might be found a desire to make it rather lively if too openly slighted. "Oh, no," she reasons, "take him along— r his presence makes it all right — his smile gives sanction to all that may happen. When he is with me who dare complain ?"

But the woman whom it would be my joy to describe, whose perfections surpass description, is moved by no such paltry considerations. She glories in an inde- pendence which scorns all such petty restraints. She it is whose insight into domestic politics descries the true posi- tion, " to go with her husband is a bore" — his very presence is a hindrance to a full and free exercise of all the privileges of the " Boston Dip." . She can find it in her heart now to laugh at the ridicu- lous vow she made when playing that old-fashioned farce before the altar — ^the vow to " leave all others and cleave to him alone. How much pleasanter,


94 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

surely, to cleave and cling to all others, and leave him alone. She may be "too ill" to attend with her husband; but let " Mr. Nimblefoot" — sprightly of heel and addled of brain — come along, with an invitation to attend a ball, and in a trice she so far recovers her declin- ing health as to make such an elaborate toilet that

  • ' Not Cleopatra on her galley*! deck.

Displays so much of leg, or more of neck.**

Then it is, when with a disregard for neighborly comments which would do credit to a better cause, we see her in all her naked loveliness. No vulgar re- straint upon her movements, no "green- eyed monster" to inquire into her absence or take note of her doings. None to say

"Methinkf the glare 6fy9Pi(ksr ch^iMcIier Shines much too hx — or I am much too near.'*

But a more detailed account of this lady and of " how it all came about," is


TRUK HEROINES, 95

it not written in the chronicles of the Courts having " original jurisdiction " in cases of divorce ?

Who, then, after reviewing this ghastly procession of moral lepers, shall find words wherewith to express his reverence and admiration for those pure-minded girls and women who refuse to dance — on principle! No renowned hero of ancient or modern times has a better right to claim the bays than the woman who, seeing the degradation of the mod- ern dance, has the independence and moral courage to avoid it. Her heroism is greater than you might suppose, for she is sorely tempted to do wrong on the one hand, and severely punished for doing right on the other. Tempted — because she is as fair and graceful as her less modest sisters, and naturally as fond oi man s admiration, and as sensible oi physical pleasure as they; punished — by the sneers of women who call her "prude"



96 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

and " wall-flower," and by the slights put upon her by men who avoid her because she "doesn't dance." In spite of the example set by those whom she has perhaps been taught to regard as wiser and better than herself, she yet resists the fascination of the Social Basilisk from pure pride of womanhood, and sacrifices her inclinations upon the altar of modesty.

These are the wives and daughters who do honor to their families. Their reward is the respect and admiration of all honorable men.

" My child," said a friend of mine to his daughter who had declined to attend a " sociable " on the ground that dancing was improper, " my child, I honor your judgment, and let me give you a father s advice : never allow a man*s arm to en- circle your waist till you are married, and then only your husband s And this advice I re-echo to all young ladies.



CHAPTER VIII.


    • lUic Hippolitum pone, Priapus erit.**

^ Ovid.

    • Le Proverbe qui a couni a Tegard des Cloitres, dangereux

comme le retour de matinesy en pouvoit produire un autre avec un petit changement, dangereux comme le retour du hal,**

Batli.



HERE are, of course, many other classes of waltzers to whom I might revert, though I have sought in vain for a single one that is entirely free from re- proach. It is however time that the evil should be viewed from other points. Let us consider some of its results and effects.

I have repeatedly declared, and I now do so again that the waltz has


98 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

grown to be a purely sexual enjoy<netit. That I may not be supposed to stand alone in this assertion I will again quote the words of the worthy clergyman before referred to. He writes :

The dance " consists substantially of a system of means contrived with more than human ingenuity to excite the in- stincts of sex to action, however subtile and disguised at the moment, in its se- quel the most bestial and degrading." And again: *'it is a usage that regularly titillates and tantalises an animal appe- tite as insatiable as hunger, more cruel than revenge."

Gail Hamilton, to whose words most of us will attach some weight, I think, in a contribution to an Eastern journal, says: "The thing in its very nature is unclean and cannot be washed. The very pose of the parties suggests impurity." But I must go further than this, and assert that the pose and motions


    • TO THE PURE," ETC. 99

of the parties cannot even be spoken of by a young lady without danger of com- mitting a double entendre at which many a " nice young man " will laugh in his sleeve.

I will illustrate this statement: A charming young lady, just arrived from abroad, informed me that we do not execute these new round dances "quite right" in this country. She describes it as having "two forward and two back- ward movements, then sideways, with a whirl." But she will "show me how to do it on the first opportunity."

"That must, indeed, be nicer than the way we do it," said I, "though I have heard of a similar dance in the Sand- wich Islands." Yea, verily, "to the pure all things are pure."

What ssiys St. Aldegonde in a letter written as long ago as 1577 to Caspar Verheiden ? He says that he approves of the course adopted by the Church of


IPO THE DANCE OF DEATH.

Geneva, which by interdicting the dance has abolished many filthy abuses of daily occurrence; it being the custom of the men to take young girls to balls at night and there to vex them by lewd postur- ing. No one, he contends, can look on at such a spectacle without sin; what then shall we say of those who take part in it. Much more he adds, and when I say that I dare not translate it here, the reader will be ready to believe that the worthy Saint is pretty plain-spoken in his strictures on th^ dance. But he is no more so than is Lambert Dane^u in his " Trait6 des Danses," the perusal of which might do some modern dancers good. And yet both these old writers only saw the play of Hamlet with Ham- let left out, for the Waltz did not ^xist in their day.

Now, this being the case, what are we to suppose are its effects upon those who indulge in it ? Does the scandal


WHAT FOLLOWS ? lOI

end in the ball room, or, as Byron says» may we not marvel

  • ' If nothing fbllowi all this palming work.**

and do we not feel ourselves constrained to believe his assurance that

    • Something does follow at a fitter time.**

That the waltz has been the acknowl* edged avenue to destruction for great multitudes, is a truth burnt into the hearts of thousands of downcast fathers and broken-hearted mothers; and the husbands are legion who can look upon hearths deserted and homes left desolate by wives and daughters who have been led captive by this magnificent burst of harmony and laying-on of hands.

One of our ablest writers says : " it is a war on home, it is a war on physical health, it is a war on man's moral nature; this is the broad avenue through which thousands press into the brothel." The •'dancing hall is the nursery of the


I02 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

divorce Court, the training ship of pros- titution, the graduating school of in- famy."

Olaus Magnus tells us that the young people of the North danced among naked sword-blades and pointed weapons scat- tered upon the ground ; our young people dance among far deadlier dangers than these.

Think of it, dear reader, picture to yourself the condition to which a young girl is reduced by the time that her car- riage is announced. All the baser in- stincts of her nature are aroused — to use the words of Erasmus she has " a pound of passion to an ounce of reason." Ans- wer me, is she not now in a fit state to fall an easy prey to the destroyer? And yet in this condition

<* Hot from the hands promiscuously applied Round the slight waist or down the glowing side,**

she is almost borne to her carriage by an escort, " flown with insolence and


FUGE QU^ERERE! IO3

wine " arid whose condition is othei*wise similar to her own, except that the ex- citement of the moment makes him as bold and ardent, as it renders her lan- guid and compliant. He places her panting form upon the soft cushions, and with a whispered admonition to the coachman not to drive too fast, he en- sconces 'himself by her side. But here> as upon an earlier page, we must leave them. The hour, the darkness, every- thing is propitious — it is little short of a miracle if she escapes.

" Look out, look out and see

What object thU may be

That doth perstringe mine eye ;

A gallant lady goes

In rich and gaudy clothes,

But whither away God knows.**

But let us charitably suppose that the sequel is only a continuation of the li- cense of the waltz, and that she reaches her home with merely the smell of the fire through which she has passed upon


I04 THE DANCE OF DEATH..

her garments — let us suppose that the Ah si liceret f of Caracalla has not been answered by the yielding quic- quid libet licet of his mother-in-law — and what is the result? The flame that has been aroused must be allayed. If she is unmarried, then in God's name^ let us inquire no farther; b.ut if she is a wife then is the dear indul- gent husband at home privileged to meet a want inspired in the embrace of '* the first dancer in the valley/* and to enjoy some advantage, at least, from the peculiar position which he sustains to- ward the matronly dancer.

And now may we not take a peep at the fair danseuse as she comes into the breakfast-room at noon next day. Is this broken-down, used-up creature the radiant beauty of the night before 'i. Can it be that that " healthful recreation," the Waltz, has painted those dark circles round her eyes and planted those wrin- kles on her brow ?


. PRESTO ! CHANGE ! IO5

'^Alas, the mother, that her bars. If she could stand in presence there, In that wan cheek and wasted air

She would not know her child.**

She is paying now for the sweetness of " stolen waters " and the pleasantness of bread "eaten in secret." For the next week what pleasure will husband, father, or brother, derive from her society. She is ill and peevish — she is damaged both in body and soul. For the next week, did I say ? Well, I meant until the next invitation to a dance arrives. That is the magic elixir that will brighten the dull eyes and recall the dead smiles to life. Then invoking the rejuvenating spirit of the cosmetic- box and tricked out in the finery which those most near, but not most dear, to her have toiled to purchase, she will sally forth to lavish upon the lechers of the ball-room a gracious sweetness which she never showed at home.

But where is Apollo all this time ?


I06 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

We left him burning with half satiated lust before the gate of his paramour s

m

mansion. Where will Ae go to complete his debauch ? At what strange foun- tains will Ae quench the flame that is devouring him ? Go ask the harlot ! SAe will reap the harvest that has ripened in the warm embrace of maids and mothers. She is equally fortunate with the husband described above. Ah, well ! verily it zs an ill wind that blows nobody good.

The Waltz is, therefore, in its effects, fearfully disastrous to both sexes, but nevertheless the woman is the greater sufferer — physically, because what is fatal excess for a woman may be only hurtful indulgence for a man, and mor- ally, because she loses that without which her beauty and grace are but a curse — man s respect.

r And her punishment is just, her fault being more inexcusable than his. For


THE WOMAN AND THE MAN lO/

woman is the natural and acknowledged custodian of morals. It is she who fixes the standard of modesty — a variable standard, it is true, different in different ages and countries, but always sufficiently well-defined. She draws across the path of passion, lines limiting, on the one hand, the license of masculine approach, on the other, the liberty of feminine concession. To a certain extent man may blamelessly accept whatever privileges she is pleased to accord him, without troubling himself to consider *'too curiously" their con- sistency with the general tenor of her decrees. It is her discretion in such matters that must, in a large way, pre- serve the race from fatal excess. When, therefore, she shamelessly violates this sacred trust which nature and society have confided to her, it is to be expected that the ball-room roti^ should regard her as something lower than the harlot, who at least ministers to his lusts in a natural manner.


I08 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

But, what is worse still, she also loses moral caste with those who have more than a negative respect for honorable women. For even your gentleman is no professor of heroic virtues, and the same easy courtesy with which he dis- misses the soliciting courtesan, restrains him from wounding, even by implica- tion, the merely facile fair being whom favoring fortune has as yet prevented from taking to the street. He dissem- bles his disgust, begs the honor of her hand for the next dance, flutters her pulses to her soul's satisfaction, and re- gards her ever thereafter with tranquil, philosophical contempt. And so they come to mutually despise each other; she sets no value on his flattering praises, he no longer cares for her good opinion — the wine of woman's approval has gone stale, and the sunshine of man's admira- tion is darkened in her eyes.


/



CHAPTER IX.


    • So she looks into her heart, and lo ! Vacuc^ udts et inania

arcana * * * And the man is himself, and the woman herself; that dream of love is over as everything else is over in life; as flowers and fury, as griefs and pleasures are over.**

Thackxkay.

  • ' Wir haben lang genug geliebt, und woUen endlich hassen.**

Gborgb Hkrwkgh.



UT this "innocent amusement" entails worse consequences than these. It is the high-road to the divorce court, it has brought strife and misery into ten thousand happy homes; truly it is the "abomina- tion that maketh desolation."

Take the case of the poor, dull, stupid Benedick who, like Byron with his club foot, dances not at all. He is a splendid


no THE DANCE OF DEATH.

man of business, perhaps, and is highly- respected on change; but here, in the ball-room, what is he ? A dolt, a ninny, an old fogy, a nuisance — to be snubbed and slighted by the woman he calls wife for every brainless popingay who dances divinely/* He has been proud to toil from day to day to be able to purchase costly apparel with which to adori' this far better half of his; now he has the felicity of seeing the fine fruits of his labor dangled about the legs of another man; he had supposed her the "wife of his bosom,** yet,, behold! she reclines most lovingly on the bosom of another; she is the mother of his children, yet as she quivers in her partner's arms, her face is troubled with

"The half-told wish and ill-dissembled flame/*

He has, pride enough to attempt to look interested, and to affect ignorance of his own shame, but the sham is ap- parent. Note how uneasily he sits upon


ONE OF THE MERRY-MAKERS. Ill

the benches provided for such "wall- flowers " as himself. Anyone who Mrill take the trouble to observe him, can see that his heart is not in the waltz in which his spouse is taking such a lively interest. Approach him, now, and tell him that it is a very nice party, and that he seems to be enjoying himself. " Oh very nice, he answers with a ghastly grin intended for a smile, "I am enjoying it greatly." But now incidentally remark that after all you have no great liking for these "fancy dances," and see how quickly a fellow-feeling will make him wondrous confidential, as he answers:

" To tell the truth, I don't like them at all"

Perhaps you have known him when a bachelor and have seen him dance then. You mention this fact.

" O yes," he answers, " of course I used to dance; but can't you see that there is a mighty deal of difference be-


A

A


112 THE DANCE OF DEATH,

tween hugging other people's wives and daughters to music, and taking your own wife to a place where every fellow can press her to his bosom and dangle his legs among her petticoats? No, sir, I do not like it, and if my wife thought as I do about it, there would be no more dancing in our family. ' I would rather be a toad and feed on the damp vapor of a dungeon, than keep a corner in the thing I love for others' uses.' "

Follow the conversation up and you will find that if ever Sorrow mocked a festival by its presence it is in the per- son of this man. He is not jealous, he is outraged ; all the finer feelings of his nature are trampled under foot, he is grieved and deeply wounded beyond re- covery.

This is the beginning of the end ; she is never the same woman to him here- after; he may smile and appear careless, but none the less has that tiny satin slip-


THE END OF IT. I I 3

per crushed all the fresh love from his heart. The second volume of his Book of Life is opened ; the first chapter there- of being headed " Estrangement," and the last " Divorce.'*

And this is not an exceptional case ; the writer will venture the assertion th^t out of every fifty husbands who have dancing wives, there' are at least a dozen who if spoken frankly to upon the sub- ject would express themselves in terms of most bitter condemnation.

And what kind of men are those who do not object to see their wives made common property in this manner.'* Well, there is your weak good-natured husband, who would willingly suffer any personal annoyance rather than thwart the wishes of his beloved wife, no matter how ill-advised those wishes may be.

The writer is personally acquainted with a young and newly-married man, whose experience will illustrate what I


114 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

have just said, though it is true that he eventually came to see the error of his ways He had the misfortune to marry a lady who was excessively fond of dancing. He had never learned to waltz himself, but finding it impossible to remain a looker-on he determined to acquire a knowledge of the intox- icating art. He, poor fool, imagined that when he had conquered the first elements of the dance, his wife would take particular pleasure in attending to his further instruction. Picture, then, his surprise and disgust when on making his cUbut in the ball-room he found that his wife would avail herself of every pretext to leave him to shift for himself — a conspicuous object for com- miseration of the experts — while she accepted the amorous attentions of every clodhopper who possessed the divine accomplishment.

Were I, dear reader, to reproduce his


A MARTYR TO THE CAUSE. II5

exact words in giving expression to his indignation at and contempt for an in- stitution the effect of which is to ignore the relations of husband and wife, and exalt the accomplishments of the heel over those of the head and heart, you would be shocked beyond measure.

All his happiness was centred in this one woman ; her good opinion was the dearest thing on earth to him. When therefore he found himself unable to partake with her of the pleasures of the dance, he tortured himself to acquire an art which in itself had no attraction for him, merely because he thought it would render him more pleasing in her sight. We have seen the manner in which she encouraged his first attempts ; but the wrong was to be deeper yet. Content that h<er pleasure should not be spoiled by his bad dancing, he allowed her to choose her own partners, while he ap- plied himself vigorously to his self-ap-


1 1 6 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

pointed task of learning to waltz "like an angel/* Exactly how he achieved this end is not quite clear. He was not seen to practice much at the fashionable gatherings he attended with his wife ; he was too sensitive to ridicule for that. Perhaps, like Socrates in his old age, he found some underground Aspasia who was willing to give him lessons in the art. But however this may be, certain it is that before long he had acquired a degree of proficiency which was quite surprising. Now, he triumphantly thought, his fond wife could have all the " Boston Dip" necessary for her "health- ful exercise and recreation" without submitting her charms to the embrace of comparative strangers.

Alas, for his hopes! After walking through the stately opening quadrille with the "partner of his joys," he discovered that as though by magic her card had been filled by the young bloods who


CARIBERT'S DANCING-LESSON. II7

clustered about her; and then for the first time he was informed that after in- troducing his wife to the floor it was a breach of etiquette to monopolize her any further — he must either sit content to see her whirl, spitted on the same bod- kin with men he had nevfer seen be- fore, or must turn his own skill to the best account and

•* Give — ^likc her—caresses to a score."

It is more than likely that he adopted the latter course — most of his class do. ' Those wives who are so eager, for va- rious reasons of their own, that their husbands should learn to dance, might draw a wholesome lesson from the story of Caribert, king of Paris, whose wife Ingoberge would fain prevent him from spending so much time in the hunting- field.

To this end she prepared a series of splendid festivities, which she induced


115 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

her lord to attend. Now, fairest and most graceful among the dancers were two sisters of surpassing beauty, named M6roflede and Marcovere. Having, at his queen s express solicitation, essayed the "light fantastic" with these ladies, the good Caribert, who had before no thought for any woman but his wife, suddenly became so enamored with the skill and grace of the sisters, that he not only forswore the chase forever, but with all possible despatch divorced I ngoberge and married first Meroflede and then Marcovere.

And thus it is that this demon creeps between the husband and the wife, and sooner or later separates their hearts for- ever. The sturdy oak may laugh at the entering of the wedge, but his mighty trunk will neverthefess be riven asunder by it in the end.

But there is one other type of ball- room husband, whose portrait must not


A SELF-MADE CUCKOLD. II9

be"" omitted. This is the miserable, sim- pering, smirking creature who fully ap- preciates the privilege of being permitted to furnish, in the person of his wife, a a well draped woman for other men s amusement; who has an idea that the lascivious embraces bestowed upon his wife are an indirect compliment to him- self ; who is only too happy to be a cool- er to other men s lust in the ball-room, and is content to enjoy a kind of matri- monial aftermath in the nuptial cham- ber. Can any human being fall lower than this ?

Old Fenton has told us that flattery "supples the toughest fool," but I regard the man who thus willingly resigns his wife to the palming of these ball room satyrs, merely because her beauty and gorgeous raiment bring notice upon him as the owner of so splendid an article — I regard this beast as a pander of the vilest kind; and a most foolish pander


120 THE DANCE OF DEATm

« 

withal, for he simply purchases the title of cuckold at the price of his own dis- honor and his wife's open shame. He loves to hear it said that she "dances divinely," though he knows that the horns on his forehead are plainer to none than to the fellow who tells him so. Bah ! In the words of Mallet,

    • He who can listen pleased to such applause

Buys at a dearer rate than I dare purchase."

The budding horns affixed to the hus- band s pow in the fierce light of the ball- room have not the simple dignity of even the most towering antlers prepared by the neat-handed Phyllis" of his heart in the domestic seclusion and sub- dued half-lights of a house of assig- nation. In the one case he poses as a suppliant for honors to mark his impor- tunity; in the other his coronation is the unsought reward of modest merit. The Waltz may not make such despicable creatures as I have described above, but


DEATH TAKES A HAND. 121

it at least affords them ah opportunity to parade their own degradation.

But the modera Terpsichore has to answer for, if possible, still worse conse- quences than the seducing of our maids, the debauching of our young men, the prestitution of our wives, and the debas- ing of human nature, both male and female. She is worse than a procuress, there is blood upon her skirts, she is a murderess.

From the day when Herodias danced John the Baptist's head into a trencher the dance has been the cause of violence and bloodshed. The hate and jealousy which smoulder within the breast of the rejected lover, and which he is struggling to extinguish, burst into flame at the sight of her he loves folded in ecstacy upon the breast of his rival. His cup was already full — this is more than he can bean

We may pass by Venetian masquer-


A


122 THE DANCE OF DEATH,

ade and Spanish fandango — where the knife of the avenger sends the victim's, blood spurting into the face of his part- ner — and may look nearer home, at our fashionable "hops" and "sociables." where, though the Vendetta may not be carried out upon the floor (and instances of this are not lacking) it is nevertheless declared, and where, though no mute form be borne out from the ball-room to the grave, the dance is none the less a veritable Dance of Death — a dance of murdered love and slain friendship, of stabbed and bleeding hearts, of crushed hopes and blighted prospects, of ruined virtue and of betrayed trust.



CHAPTER X.


    • To save a Mayd, St. George the Dragon slew j

A pretty tale if all that*s told be true; Most say there are no Dragons, and Vis sayd There was no George — pray heaven there was a Mayd.*

Anonymous.



ND now if I have succeeded in showing the modern dance as It is and the dancers as they are, together with the almost inevitable effects of the evil upon those who indulge in it, my main object is accomplished. I did not set out to deal with theories, but with facts. Indeed, did those whose godly calling places them on the watch- towers of the church, use a tongue of


124 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

iire to lay bare this pernicious practice, and obey the divine mandate : " Thou shalt teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them fo discern between the unclean and the clean," and did those whose office it is to spe^k to the mill- ions through the myriad tongued press, use a pen of flame to expose this grow- ing iniquity, then would this thankless task be spared me. But when

    • Pulpits their sacred satire learn to spare.

And vice admired to find a flatterer there,**

then I say a layman must speak, or the stones would cry out against him.

I have no personal or pulpit popularity to preserve, would not preserve it if I had at the price ot divesting this public sensuality of its terrors, or at the risk of not causing the types of dancers herein painted to shrink from their own portraits.

It only remains for me, then, to make a few concluding and general remarks.


SOME EXCEPTIONS. 1 25

It IS often urged that dancing cannot be desperately wicked, because it is "tol- erated by all except those of narrow and bigotted religious views." A greater mistake was never made, I assert that there are hosts of men who never per- mit the members of their families to take part in round dances. Nor is this the result of religious bigotry'. With most of them "religion," in the popular sense of the word, does not enter into the question at all — they are not too pious, but too chaste to dance. In their eyes this familiar "laying on of hands " is essentially indecent, and they cannot see that the fact of its beings done in public makes it any less inde- cent. They will not allow even omni- potent Fashion to blind them in this matter, especially when they see that the vice is most common among those who lead the fashion.

Far be it from me, however, to imply^


126 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

that even the most ardent votaries of the dance are blind to its impurity. No indeed. I*? there one so-called respect- able woman among them who would submit to be painted or photographed in the attitude she assumes while dancing the latest variety of waltz — even though her partner in the picture, instead of be- ing a stranger just met for the first time, were her most intimate friend — aye, even though he were her husband ? Not one of them would submit to be thus de- picted ; but if some maiden could be per- suaded, what a pleasing family picture it would be for her husband and children to gaze upon in later years! Had I such an one to illustrate this book with, the success of its mission would be as- sured, with the simple drawback of the author being held amenable to an offended law for issuing obscene pictures.

Such a representation would imme- diately effect the fulfillment of a proph-


A PROJECTED IMPROVEMENT. \2^

ecy made by the writer of a recent work entitled "Saratoga in Nineteen Hun- dred." In those times there is to be no more dancing. The gentlemen, it is true, are to engage the ladies for a por- tion of the evening as in these benighted day3; but instead of taking her on the floor, he will retire with her to one of a number of little private rooms with which every respectable mansion is to be pro- vided, and there they will do their hug- ging in private. A great improvement, certainly, upon the present plan, in such matters as decency and comfort, but scarcely in completeness.

It will only remain for the sons and daughters of that future generation to make dancing their religion. Let them convert their churches into dancing-halls, and set up an appropriate image of their deity — the Waltz — ^upon the altars ; not the decently draped Terpsichore of the dark, pagan past, but the reeling Bac-


128 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

chante — flushed, panting, dishevelled, half-naked, half-drunk, half-mad — of the enlightened, christian present ; let the grave priest give way to the gay master- of-ceremonies, and the solemn benedic- tion to the parting toast ; let the orches- tra occupy the pulpit, and the "wall- flowers " sit in the vestry ; let the pews be swept away, and the floors duly waxed and polished, but let not the tab- lets of the dead be removed — they are the "handwriting upon the wall,*' the nteney ntene^ tekel^ upharsin, most fitting for those to read who delight in the Dance of Death. Then, when the prayerbooks are programmes, and the hymnbooks the music of Strauss, the jingle of the piano may mock the dumb thunder of the organ, and the whirling congregation may immortalize a bard of to-day by singing the following verses of his composition to the "praise and glory of — the Waltz :


A HYMN OF THE FUTURE. 1 2C;

" In lofty cathedrals the organ may thunder Its echoes repeated from fresco-crowned vaults,

And the multitude kneeling in rapture may wonder^ But give me the music that sounds for the waltz \

The Angels of Heaven, in glory advancing, Are singing hosannahs of praise to the King j

Unless they have women, and music, and dancing. Forever unheeded by me they may sing.

Oh ! take not the sunshine that knows no to-morrow. The rivers of honey and fountains of bliss.

Where the souls of the righteous may rest from their sorrow — They have not a joy that is equal to this.

When the dead from their graves stand in awe and des- ponding,

And the trumpet calls loud on that terrible day, To our names on the roll there will be no responding —

To the music of Love we*ll have floated away.*'

But having brought this delectable

  • ' recreation " to the utmost pitch of re-

finement of which it is susceptible — a condition it bids fair promise to attain in a few more seasons, I feel that it is time, as Byron has it, to " put out the light." I therefore conclude with a very brief exhortation to my readers.

To dancers one and all I would say :


130 THE DANCE OF DEATH.

Try and see yourselves as others see you; remember that there are many harmless pleasures that have about them no taint of filthy lust; above all cease to believe DT to assert that the modem waltz is an '* innocent amusement."

To the women, in particular, I say : Set your faces against this abomination, which is robbing you of man's respect, and is the primal cause of infinite misery to yourselves.

To the men I would say: Those who are the natural arbiters of what is per- missible between man and woman, have shown their weakness and betrayed their trust; it is now for you to show your strength and redeem your honor.

You who are unfavorable to the mod- ern dance, I adjure not to let your oppo- sition be merely negative, but to work positively for the putting down of the evil precisely as you might for the sup- pression ol prostitution or any other cor-


CONCLUSION.


rupting influence. For as surely as thy soul liveth, this is " a way that seemeth good unto a man, but the end thereof is death."


OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.


•»•


"It is not too mach to say that this book is the most powerful arraignmont of the most popular of dances that was ever put in print. It may be an un- comfortable book to read, but any man or woman who picks it up is sure to read it to the^end. "—^m«ric<»» Bookseller.

"It is one of the ablest protests ever penned against the sins of the ball-room and the pernicious tendency of the modem waltz. Young men and maidens, married men and women, have gone on whirling and hugging each other in pub- lic with a freedom which would certainly never be tolerated in private. The glare of the gaslight has covered a multitude of sins, as many a mature man and matron will admit, and many a sullied maiden has found to her sorrow. While society has kept on winking at all this and deceiving itself into the belief that the young persons were doing no harm, one man has stepped to the front and boldly denounced what he not inaptly terms ' The Dance of Death.' The book is so remarkable in every way that we present our readers with its salient points." — Chicago InUrocecui.

" It is a fiery philippic against the deathly tendencies of modern dancing. Whether one agrees with the conclusions of the author or not it will be difficult to put the book down without reading it." — Chicago Evening JoumaL

" There has been nothing issued from the press which gives the reader such an unfavorable opinion of the waltz as this little book. It is a tract of the most powerful kind. To the husband who does not care to see his wife held in the arms of a libertine and gliding over the floor, and to the wife who is jealous of the woman embraced in her husband's arms, the book will make no new appeal. The author has undertaken a good work, and we regard his book as a powerful sermon against a most detestable and dangerous amusement."— (7A<ca^ Pott.

"It shows in language of remarkable boldness, the essentially immoral ten- dency of the waltz. One feels hardly warranted in finding fault with the words he uses in setting them forth, for really it ought to be so exposed as to strip away all social and fashionable disguises."— C/i/caj/o Standard.

" The Dance of Death," should be read by every ignorant but virtuous woman, and by every head of a family with growing girls in charge. Even those who go to it incredulous, as we did, will be convinced by the quiet intensity and Jeremy Taylor-like vigor of the author's righteous indignation, and shudder at the abysses of sensuality and nastiness he indicates. It is the book of the time, in this country, and nowhere mora so than in this very city of Washington."— WoiJiiiigton National Intelligencer,


OPINIONS OF

"This iB, or abould bo oa opooh-maldnff Iwok. It is ezooodingly well and powerfully written, and with a direotnesa of purpose and plainness of lanfiraa^e which oommand attention. Assnredly it is no fanciful or bigoted opposition t«  innocent amusement that inspires this book. As to whether " The Dance of Death ** should be read by every body, perhaps it is too late to consider a question which has already resolTod itself. We tTUnk that a /rank communieaiian qfOUa book to the young it cbriro&la, and we do not think that any girl capable of conseeutiTe thought can take harm from its perusal. We are decidedly of opinion that the case against the waltz is proved, and we may say that the most alarming proof of a general decadence of morals conceivable, would be the fact, that this book had exercised no influence in causing the waltz and its congeners to be discarded by society."— tSocromento DaUy Union.

"It seems high time that somebody should ca!l attention to practices that ap- pear to be disgracefully on the increase, even if the shaking up be as rude as that administered in the pages of this * Dance of Death."— iS. F. Morning CaO,

" The book is a most uncompromising attack upon the ' modem waltz.* Th% writer is well acquainted with his subject, and writes in a bold, fearless, and at the same time classical and elegant style. The author of the book— a gentleman of high standing in San Francisco, whose name, were it substituted for its paea donym on the title page, would furnish all requisite evidence of the integrity of his purpose— has most cordial letters of endorsement and encouragement from leading literary men and women, clergymen and others, East and West. No book was ever put in print so likely to create a revolution in the dancing customs of society. It is not blatant, frothy or bigoted; it is cool, clear, logical, dealing only with facts within the author's range of knowledge, and subject to his proof. It seems hardly possible that any father can tolerate the thought of 'bail-rooms' after reading ' The Dance of Death,' or that any woman can compromise herself by entering one."— Soa Frandjsco Evangd,

" This evil, the waltz, so insidious in its approach and influence, has existed long enough amongst us: it daily gains power through the sanction of Fashion, and Heaven only knows— though our author hints at it— what stage of legalized lubricity it may reach unless promptly attacked and slain. Many ladies whose position and breeding should render them impassable and Immovable, will doubt- less lose their temper and confess their sin by their indignation. Many gentle- men, of oily manners and principles, will, of course, be furious at finding a look- ing-glass in the pages of 'The Dance of Death.' But we nevertheless do plainly advise Mr. Herman, if that be not his true name, to publish another edition (for the present will soon be sold out) with his veritable praanomen, nomen, and oog- nomen upon the title page, and to fearlessly rely upon the support and counten- ance of all pure and honest men and women for his vindication."— £!an FrancUmo News Letter.

" * The Dance of Death,' by a San Franciscan, is a powerful attack on Him^^m as a licentious amusement. Certain ly no gentleman having a high respect for his chastity will indulge in such an idiotic and demoralizing fandango."—^. F. Galdm £rcL »


THE PRESS.

"Th« uffwnont is in many respeots consistent and admirable, and the Writing •hows a praoticed hand, large reading and accompi ished scholarship. The aathof is said to be a gentleman of San Francisco and an artist of repute."— 5. F. Chranide,

  • ' It will require something more than scoffing to negative the force of this

earnest attack. The redhot shot have too much of truth to be lightly turned aside. The yotaries of the mazy whirl must needs call up their entire reseryeg if they would meet the onset of this uncompromising reformer. The spirit in which the book is written, its strong illustrations of the evil it deplores, and the pointed, earnest, courageous sentiments of morality it espouses, will command for it the sincere respect of all lovers of purity and home. This book is such a orjstallization of all the evil influences of the voluptuous dance that it dispels all doubt in the premises, and will det-ermine many a vacillating soul to nerve its resolve against ever again indulging in the Dance of Death."— iS. F. Evening Po$U

"A fierce denunciation of the waltz, as a danoe in which the rules of modesty are frequently violated, in which young ladies learn to tolerate liberties that would never be permitted under other circumstances, and in which the first ap- proaches are often made toward dangerous license. The author discusses the subject with bold thought and vigorous language, looking at it from many sides, and bringing up illustrations and evidences from a wide range of reading. This most comprehensive and forcible essay will be received with satisfaction by thousands.*'— iSon FranUseo AUa.

    • The author writes evidently under a deep conviction of the truth, and gives a

voice of warning in terms that well nigh take away the breath of the reader."— California Chriatian Advocate.

"A startling book, written with intense force and vigor."— ^on FrwuiKo Mail.

"The literary sensation of the day is undoubtedly the little brochure recently published in this city, entitled the * Dance of Death.' The whirling waltz, with its modem improvements, is described as it has never before been described in the English language. Byron's celebrated verses are weak and meaningless com- pared with the trenchant and scathing sentences of the portrayer of the ' Dance of Death.' The book is a good one, and it is sure to have excellent effect. It can begin to number its converts already. We do not believe that there is a false or exaggerated line in the book from beginning to end. It will establish a lasting^ reputation for the author."— &m Dranciaoo Monitor and Guardian.

" As a literary composition it is a treat. It is one of the books, if not the book of the day. and should be read by all who care to keep up with the times."— iScm Fi-ancuito Daily Stock BeporL

  • ' It is a most remarkable book, and has taken like wildfire within the few weeks

it has been issued. It will make the reader think. '-'-OaXc^and Prem.

"It maybe fearlessly asserted that after having read it none but an avowed libertine would proffer, and no lady who had any care for her reputation accept^ an invitation to particiiAite in a waltz."— Oo&toid Tranacrijpt.

\


OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.

"We haTe read from cover to cover the ' Dance of Death,' and do not wondei at the sensation it has created. The author's powers of description are certainly wonderful, and remind us of the high coloring of Boccaccio."— Xos Angeles MeraUL

" This is no ordinary work, and it is a pleasure to read so well written a book. The style of writing is vigorous and polished, a model of good English. "—Pteoef Argiu.

• .

"This is the most remarkable book of the age ; it has almost entirely stopped round dancing in California, and we believe it vrill have the same effect all over the world."— /St Helena Star.

"This is a remarkable book, and one, the effects of which on the rising genera- tion cannot but be considerable. The writer of it is a consummate master of lan- guage, and his attack is severer and perhaps more just on the evils of round dancing, than has yet been made by preacher or xaoraliat."— Stockton Herald.

" No one who reads this remarkable work will deny that the author is a vigorous and powerful writer, and that he strikes at the root of a deeip and moral scourge. The book is as full of scathing sentences and burning denunciation as one of Juvenal's Satires, and we hope that it may find its way into the band of every husband and parent in the land."— ftyeXca Daily Sentinel.

'* This book has created a greater flutter in social circles than anything pub- lished within our remembrance. Its pages should receive the earefnl perusal of IHirents, and the equally careful attention of the young. One thing is certain, it will be read."— r^ yew North-west.

"The book is written with remarkable and intense vigor and courageously as. sails a custom whose tendency is immoral." — Portland Oregonian.

" The language of the writer shows him to be a cultivated and vigorous writer. The plainness of the langtiage is at times absolutely startling. The great ma- jority of people will heartily concur in his condemnation of the modem waltz."— Virginia Evening Chronicle.

    • We feel pleased that there exists a pen bold enough to denounce the evil

complained of in so masterly a manner and in such vigorous English. If we mis- take not it will work great good in the social world."— Xo« Angeles Express.

  • 'It shows a picture easily recognized, and will, we think, work a needed re-

form."— S. F. Dally Hotel Gazttte.

" It is a book that should be read by all and its remarks cherished."— Or e^nton.

"This is the latest literary sensation and is creating a furore. The pictures of a modern ball-room are drawn with wonderful poviBv.'*— Nevada Slate Journal.

  • 'Such a publication, in our jnd;;ment, was timely, and. indeed, necessaty in

order to correct an evil palpable to all who pay the slightest attention to such subjects."- San IVanclm} Examiner.

    • No work has been published in modern times upon wbich has been expressed

such a wide difference of opinion. It is well written, and the subject of dancing is handled in the choicest language."- 5toc^-tort Independent.


INDIVIDUAL ENDORSEMENTS.

    • If ever a meritorious and worthy pablioation was sent into the world, it is

this offepring of the heart and brain of William Herman. This litis work will do more good than the press and pulpit coold accomplish. It is a book which parents, and their sons and daughters who have arrived at years of discretion, should read."— TTerf Coast Signal.

"We think most readers, even among those who indulge in dancing, will find his arguments striking if not convincing. We doubt if the waltz had received a harder blow since Byron's famous satire. We think ' The Dance of Death ' wor- thy of an extended reading."— r/ie Chicago Alliance.

" There is one remarkable fact about that remarkable book * The Dance of Death;' the clergy generally endorse it and recommend its circulation, while the so-called ' worldly ' and pleasure-loving people denounce it as utterly immoral and bad. This fact cannot be without significance. It is one of those paradoxes underneath which a reflecting mind sees a tmth."—I\tzgeraleF9 Borne Newspaper and Educational Journal.


INDIVIDUAL ENDORSEMENTS.


[Selected from a vast number received during the short time the book has been before the public. ] ^

Mrs. General W. T. Shebman writes:

" I have read your book, ' The Dance of Death,' and I must say I admire your courage, and believe you have shown as much heroism as any crowned martyr, in your defence of virtue and your denunciation of what is so calculated to drive it from the hearts and minds of fashionable women. I have always given this miserable danoe a silent condemnation, by refusing to allow any of my daughters to participate in it, under any circumstances ; but I have avoided the evil as something at the sight of which my soul revolted, without being able to say any- thing against it, either from experiences or any absolute knowledge of its most direct and pemipious effects.

Now it must cease. Women of virtue or self-respect will now blush to have the dance named to them. An amusement which leads, in any case, to such results as you have pointed out, should be forever discountenanced ; even if they should oontinue it for a while in order to assert their own innocence and their non- concurrence in your views, they will be only too glad to let it die out.

I am rejoiced that you have spoken boldly and told all you know about it."

The Rev. B. F. Tailob, writes:

"Last evening I purchased a copy of 'The Dance of Death ' and read it through at one sitting, and now hasten to thank you for the noble, manly utterances you have expressed. As a minister of the gospel I have preached on the dangers of the dance, but dare not, in the pulpit, treat the subject with your plainness. I


4


INDIVIDUAL

hope all the mothers in the Uad will read your book, and if Ihmd a dAv^hter I ivoald have no hesitancy in plaoing it in her hands.**

[ So many letters of a simiUu: purport have been received from olergymen, that it is impossible to publish them. This is given as the tenor of alL ]

The Rev. O. P. Fitzqebald, ex-Sunerintendent of Public Instruction for the State of California, writes :

  • 'Tbis is a most remarkable book and its publication will make astir. It

abounds in passages of wonderful power. Parts of it are as keen in satire as Juvenal ; other parts are suflFused with a pathos that is startling in its intensity. Every parent ought to read ii. If we mistake not, its publication will afFeot the pub- lic mind something like the shock of a powerful galvanic battery.'*

The lady principal of one of the chief female educational establishments on the Pacific Slope, writes to request that a copy of "The Dance of Death " be sent to the principle male educational establishment as she particularly de- sires it to be read there.

The same lady has introduced many of her persona) friends to the author, to enable them to procure advance copies, but in no way has she shown her approval of the work more plainly than by reading it, " chapter and verse," to her senior

class, a member of which writes: *' Mrs. ^has begun to read your book to oar

class: she spoke to me about it, and said she agreed with you perfectly." Nor was this done unadvisedly, as the following letter will show.

Dio Lewis writes to the lady above alluded to, by whom he had been furnished with an *' author's copy : "

" I thank you for the volume—' Dance of Death.' Please say to the author that, in my humble opinion, he has done his work most power* fully and effectively. It is the vulnerable point in the enemy's works. No one — no decent woman of any age, can read the volume without finding it difficult, or impossible, to waltz again. I feel myself greatly indebted to Mr. Herman. Is that his real name ? Please tell me how I m(ty address him. Oan't you, dear madam, read that volume to your young ladies? It will do great good,"

The Pastor of a Presbyterian Church, writes :

    • I am glad you have written it. • • • With the object of the book,

the abatement of a dangerous amusement— dangerous as now conducted to the moral purity of its devotees— I am in full accord, • • • ^^y treatment that will aid in abating the evil must be not only justified, but commended. I sincerely hope your book will go into the hands of the fathers and mothers of our whole land."

A Rev. Father of St. Ignatius College, San Francisco, writes to a friend :

    • The author describes one of the greatest evils of present as well as past times.

His colors, no matter how heavily laid on, are far from exaggeration. The evil is there— toe know it, who are left to heal the sores of the soul ; they know it, who, with the indulgence of eaay parents and the sanction of law and fashion, avail themselves of the opportunity to satisfy their morbid passions. * * * I


ENDORSEMENTS.

wonld that ev»ry tether and mother Btaeuld read M, and even yeung ladies. • •" • T¥ith us, Oatholios, the matter is settled ; we know all about it. It is difficult to speak each things from the pulpit ; but we are glad^tbat troth is made aoces* ■ible through a book of this kind."

A. 8. Babnes, of the well-known New York school-book publishing Arm writes:

" You have evidently taken the bull by the horns, and produced a book which should be read by every parent and guardian. The writer is a little at loss to- decide whether it is a book for young girls and boys to read, and yet he is not certain but that it should have a free circulation. If you are inclined to send n» the plates, we will either publish it or find a publisher for yon.

Gen. Albebt Pike, of Washington, D. C, writes :

"I have received and read "The Dance of Death." I think it is true, every word of it. The waltz is only fit for houses of prostitution, and I never have been able to understand how any father could permit his daughter, or any hus- band his wife, to waltz with other men. But, ehaeun i son gout. The chief object of dress and action of young women now seems to be to excite men's pas< sionate desire. A general reform is needed, and the preachers will have to talk as plainly to women, by and by, as they did some centuries ago in France."

The Bev. R. S. Stubbs, of Yancouver, in a long and eulogistic letter, says: " This book fills a vacant niche in the temple of literature, not occupied by ser- xnons or homilies.

•Mr. Stephen Massett (** Jeems Pipes, of Pipesvllle,") writes : "Among those who have spoken in praise of your powerfully written little book— 'The Dance of Death,' let my name be enrolled."

Geo. T. Bbomuey, the OaliforDia humorist and lecturer, writes :

"I have been deeply interested in your forthcoming work— 'The Dance of

Death,' and the impression left upon my mind after its perusal was, that as a.

restraining influence in this fast age, the book should be in the possession of

every parent, and earnestly read by all who have an interest in the moral welfare

of the present generation as well as that to come.'*

Mb. Henbt Edwabds, of the Califomia Theatre Company, writes : "I have no doubt but that your volume will have a very large circulation, and that its opinions will sink deeply into the minds of those to whom it is addressed."

Mr. Chables A. Mobse, a naval gentleman, well-known in Cal. writes ;

"I must say I liave an admiration for the author who has the boldness and in- dependence to probe so popular and fashionable a moral ulcer, and express hi» ideas and convictions in good old Saxon, without half concealing them in gener- alities, for fear of offending the sensitive reader. * * * In my judgment, thes«. are truths to which we must not close our eyes, and they are here presented with an earnestness of expression that carries conviction of the author's sincerity of purpose. It must work a great good in time."


INDIVIDUAL

J. Y. Bti>zb. of Clereland, Gbao, writes :

    • I am in sTmpatiij with yoa od the " waltz." snbjeet. I have always pTO>

€lairoed acainst the improiKietj of so macb axdent hncsing on short acuauntr anoo as the eostomaiT waltz admits of. Your shaking np of it is powerful-"

Mr. J. S. JoinEs, a weJI-known merchant of San Fnmciaoo, writes :

    • Yoa have photognphed the ball-rocm eorrectlj."

C. W. M. SafiTH, a lawyer of Ssa Francisco, writes :

Your work ** has opened op to my mind new fields of thonght which it would not be wise or prudent to isnorSk The proofs therein contained of the lascirions thouchts and actions incident to participation in the round dances, should lead tts to sineerelj consider whether or not we should permit our wires and daueh- ters to share in them."

8. D. 8tstshs» of San FranciBco. writes :

    • When we come to look back to what we know onraelres, we must admit that

jon have not orerdrawn the picture. It is a book that from its Tsxy boldness will be eagerly sought for and read, and cannot help but do much good. Many will condemn it who fear the truth ; so much the better, for they show ttisir eolozs, or ignozance, of the subject treated. "

Bbacsbbzdgs Hkmtno, ("Jack Harkaway/') writes :

    • Yon hare brought to bear long study and deep research— not sparine the

Imife, in laying bare this excreeence on the body social,'*

a. H. LooMZs, s jonmaUst and artist, writes flrom East Gambridge, Mass. :

    • No doubt these things are true * * * I shall, with many others, re-

joice when cause and consequences are «s apparent to others that ought to know and comprehend as they are to you."

Says Henry L. Chambbbuon, a gentleman eminent in religioas circles in San Francisco :

" I do not think jou have exaggerated the dangers, nor spoken too plainly of the corrupting inllaenoes of the modem waltz. I beliere the book will do good, and cannot see how it can do any harm."

One of the most favorably known lawyers in San Francisco, writes: " I have read your little book aloud to the Principal of the High School of one of our neighboring cities, and he endorses everything I say when I declare that yon have done a good, compared with which, the preachings and teachings of the ordinary lifetime of ordinary men pass into insignificance. What can I say more 7 * * * In regard to the plainness of your talk, this only can be said, that the subject admits of no other treatment."

The Bev. Fathsb Agoolti, S. J. an eminent Catholic clergyman of San Frandsco, writes:

" EUving carefiilly perused your excellent book, ' The Dance of Death,* I can- not forbear expressing my full approval thereof, and I cheerfully endorse every line contained therein. • • • Some persons may think that yon have employed colors too high in depicting the moral dangers of the fashionabla


ENDORSEMENTS.

ianoes of the day. But if those who practice them would read yoar pa^s witb an unprejudiced mind, I am sure they would own, at least within their own beart. that you are perfectly right, and perhaps would confess that the reality if still much worse than its portraiture. You hava opened, dear sir, a campaign against a public evil."

The Eev. Fatheb Bajiohi, S, J., writes;

" I am full of admiration for your bold, learned, and irresistible condemnation of a public and domestic evil, no less scandalous and ruinous than common and attractive. • • • You are a true Seneca— stigmatiy.ing the most cor* rupting, widespread, lascivious practice of our age. I am glad to endorse every word of your valuable work. I should also bo glad if your work were put into the hands of every father and mother. As for boys and girls, if they are bad. it will render them no worse; if good, it will open their eyes. * * The Catholic Church has long since anticipated your views, and through her Bishops Pastors and Confessors, condemned these demoralizing evils, and deterred her children from this disorder— denouncing them with the severest penalties."

The same reverend father received a letter from a lady to whom he had submitted a copy of the book for examination, from which the following are extracts :

" I agree with this same William Herman in all he says concerning this matter. He will. I imagine, be more readily endorsed by those of his own sex than by those of mine. We are not apt to admit that it is possible to sin, when we may only be the innocent cause of oxhers sinning. Better a thousand times that our rhildren's eyes should be opened by the tbuths contained in the book, than that their soul's honor should be sullied."

George Howard, a gentleman well-known in San Francisco as President of the Knights of Pythias Library Association, writes :

" 1 am convinced that it is a work that is much needed. • • • • I have often watched the lascivious dances you have so ably described, and having resided for several years in the Hawaiian Islands, I am thoroughly convinced that the Hulahula of the natives is not half so demoralizing in its effect as the modem waltz.,'

Major A. F. Beitdbr of San Francisco, writes :

" I have never been a dancer, and did not know that such effects as yon desoibe could result from what has always seemed to me a harmless amusement ; but Kince the book has become a subject of conversation, I have heard enough to convince me that it has not appeared at all to soon. I think that parents cannot enough recommend the courage that has enabled you to oppose in so public a way an evil of such proportions."

Mr. W. T. Carleton, of Hess' Grand English Opera Troupe, says : "I can only record my entire concurrence in your views. All who read 'The Darice of Death ' should first carefully familiarize themselves with the preface* and should they then eensure the author, their objections will surely be baaed upon vicious bigotry or a wilful blindness to the truths expounded."


INDIVIDUAL

Ifr. Jos. Bbowv, Ex-Hayor of St. Lonls, writes :

  • ' It is a shame thaA society countenances snch things, and it is more responsi-

ble for the min that grows out of it than the victim. Yonr little gem of a book should be in the hands of OTery mother who has children growing up."

Mr. Edwabd Wilson, of the firm of Wilson & Adams, Philadelphia, writes: " I have a copy of your remarkable book. I began reading it the evening it oame, and did not go to bed until I had finished it, for it was most fascinating. I fear I shall be a poor critic, however, for I do so entirely agree with yon. I am «ure you are right, and if the book is as widespread as it should be, there will be many to thank yon, for it will awaken the guilty to a sense of the evil they are cultivating and make them * hold on.' I think you have most graphically de- tailed the horrors of one of the most crying evils."

Db. Bbown, it. S. N., writes:

" I have read the * Dance of Death * with unusual interest, on account of its merits. The subject is graphically treated, with a commendable terseness.

  • * * It forces the attention alike of those who approve and oppose."

Dr. J. C. Tucker, of San Francisco, writes:

" Many young (and old) * society men ' have admitted to me their knowledge " from others * of the bestial horror you so boldly War against. I trust your righteous crusade against this fearful moral iniquity may prevail."

General Lucius H. Foots, of San Francisco, writes:

" I have read and re-read * The Dance of Death : ' it is a remarkable book ; writ- ten with a wonderful vigor, and more than all, it is a naked truth. You have uncovered a hissing serpent, and it will do good. I predict that men and women will read it and stand aghast. You have shown admirable courage in attacking the dragon singly and alone, but thousands will rally to your support. ' Let the galled jade wince,' you will be sustained."

Prof. Alonzo PhbIaPS, A. M., of Boston, Mass. writes :

" It is a masterly production, and cannot fail in its laudable and worthy pur- purpose and endeavor— to redeem society from a degrading social indulgence."

E. D. Farnswobth, P. Gt. Sire I. O. O. F., writes:

"The bold and fearless manner in which you have handled the subject should entitle you to the gratitude of all parents. • • • I have no word of censure to express, but would say to all : read 'The Dance of Death,' and answer for yourselves as to its justness. The preface should be assurance that you have endeavored to deal fairly with the subject, and without condemnation of the innocent."

Pay Director J. C. Cunningham, IT. S. N., after bestowing praise which I do not care to repeat upon the book as a literary production, goes on to say:

" And as for the matter of the book, the author deserves yet higher pnuso, for he says a truth that should be told, but few dare tell."


ENDORSEMENTS.

H. M. BoswoBTH, of San Francisco, writes:

    • Of the subject, as yoa have experienced it, I know nothing ; but as one of tht

most immacalate women of my acquaintance, who knowa something of ball-room annoyances, says * Amen I * to the book, I can safely say I think yon are right.'*

J. H. FrrzQiBBON, a prominent business man of St. Louis, writes:

" There is a moral to be drawn from it— never let your wife or daughters fa-

dnlge in round dances, for this is the road to perdition. * * * It is a

book that should be in every well regulated family."


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