A 17th-century New England town hall meeting in 1684, where a stern Puritan leader presents "An Arrow Against Profane & Promiscuous Dancing," emphasizing the moral dangers and calling for stricter societal standards, while the community members react with varying degrees of concern and agreement.
“And then he danced;—all foreigners excel
The serious Angles in the eloquence
Of pantomime;—he danced, I say, right well,
With emphasis, and also with good sense—
A thing in footing indispensable:
He danced without theatrical pretence,
Not like a ballet-master in the van
Of his drill'd nymphs, but like a gentleman.”~ Lord Byron, Don Juan (1818-24), Canto XIV, Stanza 38.
Here is Increase Mather’s full tract titled ‘An Arrow Against Profane and Promiscuous Dancing Drawn out of the Quiver of the Scriptures,’ courtesy of the University of Nebraska- Lincoln’s Digital Commons.
Happy Reading!
Your support is vital for this Mammoth undertaking & endeavour!
If this project interests you, I would greatly appreciate it if you subscribed to a Monthly/Yearly pledge to support my work so that I can provide you, Dear Listeners, with Top-quality material.
Come & join me to explore & study US History as it ought to be: in the words of the peoples of the time themselves!
Alternatively, you can tip here:
Thank You, Dear Listeners, for all your support!
Share this post