community. Now it must be admitted that there is as great a desire in the hearts of the poor young men, and as great a desire in the hearts of the girls of poor parentage to make a favorable impression in society, as there possibly could be with the wealthier classes. As a rule, it may be said that not more than one in twenty of all who participate in dancing parties have a sufficient "cash balance" to gratify their pride in the purchase of the supposed necessary outfits in clothing, jewelry, etc., without any misgivings as to the future comforts and necessaries of life.

When we consider the large number of young men, young husbands and fathers and mothers who are not able, in justice to themselves and those looking to and relying upon them for a support, to keep pace with the rich in their extravagance, and that all must come together on the same floor, in the same room and pass in review before the merciless critics always to be found in the ball room, and find that the weakest and most vulnerable points in human nature are here attacked by three of the devil's most powerful armies, under command of three of his most stratagetic and experienced generals—ENVY, JEALOUSY and WOUNDED PRIDE—we may at once proceed to examine the fruit of dancing. Nearly all of our young people are in love with some one, and not unfrequently two or three or more are in love with the same one, or the lover imagines that he or she has from one to a half dozen rivals, which is the same to them as if it were true. It is often the case that an engagement exists, or there is grave suspicion of its existence. A dancing party or ball is in prospect. The same preparation must be made by rich and poor. One young man who chanced to be born of rich or well-to-do parents, and one young lady the same, order their outfits, and they are paid for not unfrequently out of the usurious interest wrung from the fathers and mothers of the poorer young men and girls. Now the poorer and less able to purchase the necessary all outfits, which are always costly, must go. They must go, because they love the dance. They are PASSIONATELY fond of it.

They must go, or it may be said they could not go on account of their poverty. They must go, in order to keep pace with their rivals, so as to keep an eye on them, lest they be supplanted in their affections. These are three powerful inducements. Without Divine aid they are irresistible when brought to bear on the young.

THEY MUST GO!

THEY WILL GO!

THEY DO GO!

Here thousands of fathers and mothers have been compelled to yield to the entreaties of their daughters, and sometimes their sons, in purchasing costly apparel, jewelry, etc., when they knew they were not able, outfits that never would have been needed but for the dance. Hundreds of thousands of young men, with small salaries, in moderate circumstances, have been induced, under this heavy pressure, to resort to many dishonest devices in order to make the necessary preparations. Clerks have sold goods above the market price and put the excess in their pockets. They have often borrowed money from their employer, without his knowledge, small amounts, from day to day. They have borrowed from friends by telling them they had money coming from an estate, or friend or a debtor, which they knew to be false, and in the same way, or by other false statements, have bought articles of clothing, made large livery bills, which they knew would never be paid. Many conceive the idea they can raise the desired amount at the gambling table, and here do their first gambling. Where one succeeds, at least one hundred fail. Some raise the required amount by transferring a few cows, yearlings, steers, a horse or a mule, to distant pastures; some are caught and some are not. Those not caught are in a far worse condition than those in the jail or in the penitentiary, because they have been checked in their mad career, and the others are emboldened by their escape to commit other and greater crimes. "Be sure your sins will find you out." Yes, inexorable, unerring justice is on the track of all evil-doers, and will be certain to overtake them sooner or later. Hundreds of thousands of fathers and mothers, and young married people, have been brought to poverty and misery; some, within my knowledge, to alms-houses, by the heavy draws made upon them by their sons, daughters and wives, in preparing for dancing parties and balls. For weeks before the ball comes off—and here let it be understood that I mean the ball to cover hops, dancing parties and all manner of dancing—the young people are wild with excitement; they are almost wholly incapable of any kind of business. All manner of domestic affairs are almost entirely neglected by the girls and young wives. The bright anticipation of great pleasure in the near future, turns some of their little shallow brains up-side-down, and they are often seen in a sort of deep reverie, wearing a blank gaze, having very much the appearance of poor unfortunate idiots. If the father, mother, husband, brother or teacher speaks to them, unless it be on the subject of the ball, they grin like a baboon and snap like a mad dog. If we run on at the rate we are now going, it will not be a great while until it may be found to be cheaper to build a few asylums for the sane, and let the idiots and lunatics run at large.

THE BALL. THE HOP. THE DANCE.

IT IS ALL THE SAME.

Well, the long looked for day has come; it is now 8 P.M., and the boys, girls and young wives are in their rooms donning their new and costly apparel, which has been bought, borrowed or stolen in divers and sundry ways. Some have been paid for, some will be paid for, and some will remain open accounts until judgment day. The wealthy and those who never pay their bills will be dressed in the costliest, richest apparel, because only these classes can afford these luxuries. EXTREMES WILL MEET. The young men go and bring in their girls, and when they get to the door, they are met by the committee of reception, who politely show the ladies a side room where they will go and lay off their wraps. The young men go out into the corner of the yard or in the woods and lay off their wraps—in the nature of a bottle of whiskey or brandy—or they have left them in a buggy or carriage, or a room has been set apart for this purpose, and the WRAPS have been provided before-hand, or they are to be found in a convenient drinking saloon.

THE WRAPS ARE THERE.

The girls wear their wraps around them. The boys wear themselves around their wraps. These wraps are brought into requisition as the physical man begins to weaken under the excessive and unnatural exercise. Unnatural, because the hours designed by God, our maker, to be used in rest and sleep are appropriated to another and very different purpose. Here the tempter discovers another weak point, and he makes the attack. The great draw made upon the physical forces makes it necessary—the tempter says—to use an artificial stimulant, which is here often taken the first time, and which is not unfrequently repeated, until many are so much under its influence and some get so drunk—no, become so suddenly indisposed, that they have to be carried home. These entertainments seldom break up until the light of the morning begins to appear, but I will compromise on 2 o'clock, A.M. At 9 or 10 o'clock, P.M., the performance begins, and I propose we shall candidly and honestly examine this basket of fruit. Whether designed or not, it is simply a fact that many of the girls and women are dressed in such a way and manner as best and most successfully to excite the baser passions of men.

If the style of dress often, yea, nearly always, seen at the fashionable balls and dancing parties is wholly without any evil design—innocently following a fashion—and if those who thus dress are really ignorant of the effect it has upon the opposite sex, it is high time their eyes were being opened. If this be only a fashion, and I want to