There is No Harm in Dancing by W. E. Penn
page 17 of 43 (39%)
page 17 of 43 (39%)
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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. |
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