UNCHASTITY 233 



mitted. I will say also that all the girls with whom 

 I associated, with the exception of one, had much the 

 same experience in dancing. 



"Married now, with home and children around me, 

 I can at least thank God for the experience which will 

 assuredly be the means of preventing my little daugh- 

 ters from indulging in any such dangerous pleasure. 



"I doubt if my experience will be of much serv- 

 ice, but it is the candid truth, from a woman who, in 

 the cause of all the young girls who may be contami- 

 nated, 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 girl's most secret thoughts, in the hope that 

 people will stop and consider, at least, before handing 

 their lilies of purity over to the arms of any one who 

 may choose to blow the frosty breath of dishonor on 

 their petals." 



Much more might be added on this important sub- 

 ject, would the limits of this work allow ; but this must 

 suffice. We beg the reader to consider carefully and 

 prayerfully the facts presented before deciding that 

 dancing is as harmless as many persons suppose. 



Physical Causes of Unchastity.— Some of the 

 physical causes of impurity in women have been pre- 

 viously referred to, since it is through physical inju- 

 ries that unhealthful clothing exerts its influence. Too 

 little is generally known of the intimate connection be- 

 tween physical and mental conditions. Doubtless, 

 many vices originate in physical imperfections. In- 

 deed, when the full bearing of physical influences upon 

 the mind is allowed, it is difficult to avoid pleading 

 extenuating circumstances in the cases of the greater 

 share of transgressors of both moral and civil laws. 



