contrary, in and by itself it is a perfectly harmless amusement; that is to say, moving about in time to the music is no more to be objected to than any other kind of gymnastic exercise. Indeed, in many excellent Catholic schools the pupils are occasionally allowed to amuse themselves by dancing. In this case no danger to innocence can possibly exist, any more than when brothers and sisters, or other near relatives, dance together. For these family gatherings the only evil is that they tend to awaken and foster a taste for what so often proves to be a dangerous amusement.
3. Thus we see that dancing is not, in itself, a danger to chastity; it is rendered perilous only by the circumstances attending it A great deal depends on the person with whom one dances. If the dancers are of opposite sexes, and not very closely related to one another; if they are quite young, and therefore more likely to have their passions kin died in the intoxication of the dance - then the amusement may assume a dangerous character. An illustration will explain my meaning.
To carry a lighted candle about without any guard against the flame is assuredly not dangerous, but useful and necessary. But if you were to light a fire close to a heap of dry hay, or to take a lighted candle into a room where there had been an escape of gas, What a catastrophe might be the result!
With regard to public dances you will do
