Washington telegraph., 1854-05-03

fellow would take pride in having little
fire of his own; the larger and more daring
would show their courage by leaping through
the flames. Around its cheerful blaze time
seemed to fly on golden wings 1t was lit
orally light to the dwelling, and house
without its yard-Gre appeared dcsolate and
sor ow-strcken. 1t was the daily task of
the hostler to collect materials sufficient to
keep the light burning until bedtime By
ten. o'clock social life was over, and the re-
pose of sleep sought Whilst the visitor
was preparing to return home, the servant
lit his lantern. andwitb this simple but nee
essary escort. she trod the streets of the vii
lage with as much security as the halls of
her own mansion.
Hunting, riding, and social visiting, were
the several and separate amusemcnts of the
sexes IN Pinevlle. The chief amusement
of which they partook. in common. was
dancing The languid city belle, who cannot
conceive Of the exertion necessary to dance
in summer, except, indeed under the exhil-
Grating influence of watering-place may
stare; but the unsophsticated youth of both
sexes. in Pinevile, regarded dancing as
both proper and natural. The month of
June would be devoted to feeling at home,
and then, by way Of making start, the 4th
of July would be celebrates by ball This
first taste would be followed by desire for
more. During the heat of summer, parties
simple and Of short duration, would be ar
ranged BY the gentlemen-a certain number,
t,,rn ho., . L.
and acting as managers; so as to have one
every fortnight. At these parties, the COM
pany would assemble early and by mid
night all would be quiet. The public as
semblles were found to be of too rare occur
renee. and all sorts of expedients would be
resorted to, for the purpose of getting mp a
dance. IF a laday should put her patch
work quilt in the quilting frame, the young
ladies would 60 in the evening to assist in
the interesting Occupation of quilting. and
the young gentlemen would 90 to assist the
latter in threading their needles The rest
may easily be guessed. In a short time
the quilting frame would disappear, and the
young people would be found threading the
mazes of the dance. Benevolent ladies'
too, would be importuned, and not in vain,
to throw open their rooms TO the young peo-
pie. Private parties would multiply, and
the season would close with the Jockey Club
Ball : and now, all courtships being brought
to a conclusion. and frost having opened the
doors of the prison-house, the village would
pour out its inhabitants, and become, during
the winter months, like a city Of the dead.
Nothing can be ina gined more simple or
more fascinating than those Pineville balls
Bear in mind, reader that we are discuss
ing old Pineville as it existed prior to 1886.
No love of display governed the prepara-
tions; no vain attempt to outshine compet-
itor in the world of fashion. Refreshments
were provided of the simplest character,
such only as the usual exercise, and sitting
beyond the usual hours of repose, would
fairly warrant Nothing to tempt a pam
pered appetite. Cards were usually pro-
vided to keep the elderly gentlemen qniet ;
and the music was only that which the gen.
tlemen's servants could produce. The COM
pany assembled early. No one ever thought
of waiting until bedtime to dress for the
ball; contra dance always commenced the
entertainment The lady who. stood at the
head of the dancers, was entitled to call for
the figure, and the old airs. Ca Ira, No
meymusk, Haste 10 The Uedding, ard
La Belle Cathdri7ac, were popular and
familiar, in Pinevile. long after they had
been forg,dten. as dances. every where else
All, well do we remember. with what an ex-
ulting step would the young man, who had
secured the girl of his choice. exhibit his
powers of motion, when his partner called
for the sentimental air of La Belle Caiha-
rine. How proudly would he perform the
pas scnk on one side of the column. while
his partner did the same on the other; how
gracefully would they unite at the head of
the column, to cross hands how triumph
antly would be lead her down the middle
and when the strain was closing. and the
leader commenced with his bow, the prolong-
ed rest on the final note. how full Of senti-
ment, of grace and of courtesy, was the how
with which he would salute his fair lady -
But those are scenes to be lived over in
though, No untutored imagination can con-
ceive them. They are gone forever
Even in Pineville, they have become things
which were. Time can never restore them
but so long as an old Pineville heart beats,
so long will be embalmed in the most fra
grant memory. of the recollection of Pine
vile contra dance.
The staple dance this evening" was the
cotllion But as this so much resembles
the modern quaarille. it needs no special
description. And now, when a contra dance
and one or two cotilions, had gently stirred
up the spirits of the dancers. the signal
would be given for the exhilerating reel =
Come back for an instant, thou inexorable
past, and bring again. before me, that most
fascinating Of movements. No lover now
claims the hand of his beloved this is no
ccann for sentiment for Soft wbisper for tho