| Citation |
AWM.736.027
19-26 Aug 1736:11, 12 (869)
A Short Address to the Prudent and Thinking People of each
Sex and Religious Persuasion.
He that would attain to a proficiency in any science,
must with delight and steady application, pursue it step by
step from its first principles of operation . . . [11 lines]
And it is by all allowed consistent, that mankind should
relax at times from study and business; a change of exercise
and action, being profitable for body and mind, provided
always the diversions be innocent.
But there are a sort of idle artists that strole about
the town called Fencers and dancers, who make it their
business to accomplish the hands and heels, rather than the
heads of our youth; who under pretence of teaching them what
they call good breeding, too often teach them that of
sinning: At best, they teach them certain fashionable airs
or gestures (which are unnecessary, wanton, and effeminate)
and this at the expence of much money, and the precious
[time] of our youth; the only time of life, best for
learning ingenious, commendable, and profitable things: . .
. [15 lines on fencing.]
The ordinary use of dancing renders it familiar, and
therefore we must believe some persons, chaste of body,
practise it; otherwise, I am certain, those airs and motions
of the different sexes in concert, would for modesty sake be
laid aside.
How many fine girls are ruined in marriage, or before
marriage, at these schools; and parents bereft and sorrowful
the residue of their days? The passions of youth are
strong, and let loose are ungovernable: Which of them that
has made a beginning can tell where to leave off? The
health of many have been impaired by this exercise; and who
can say the reflection ever gave them pleasure, or fail'd to
end flat and insipid?
. . . [25 lines, warning Christians not to participate.]
To conclude, I would humbly put the magistrates (who are
God's ministers) in mind, that (if I be not mistaken) there
are statutes in force against fencer, gamesters, common
players of interludes, minstrels, pipers, &c. wandring from
country to country, and directing how such persons may be
dealt with by those in power; and it behoves them to
suppress vice, and the nurseries of vice, and to keep the
people in order.
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