Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-10-09
A Ball and a Prayer Meeting.

Did you ever see ball followed by pray
er meetiDg2 We have, A few days since,
while on visit o,he g White Sulphur Baths" :"
the proprietor Informed me that at night he
intended to give a ball and supper TO the
employees Of his establishment, including
those who had remained faithful to their
trusts during The recent strike" and those
who had taken the places and performed The
dnties of the rccrear5 ones who had been
driven away in Disgrace. After tea we stroll
ed out to the ball room, which we found bril-
liantly lighted and filled with an assembly Of
mixed culors The guests of the establish
ment were seated around the room, interest
ed spectators of the amusing scene, while on
the floor the negroes and their invited friends
were whirling away to the inspiring strains
of the music. Cocks, chambermaids, nurses,
washerwomcu, and f-ld hands were mingled
together, dressed in the very best that their
wardrobeF could afford.
Round jackets, clay hammer and pigeon
tail coats, of various styles, on the men, were
set off by the musins, tarletans, cslicoes, til
ters, Aounces, furbclows, ribbons, wreaths
and waterfall of the women. Here stall
wart ebony hued leader of q hce gang, with
a foot like child's coffin, balanced to sad
die complexioned nurse, who famed and frt-
ed with all the airs Of shoddy Saratoga
belle, while at the otker end of the set tall
and lithcy ostlerwas cutting the pigeon wing,
greatly to his own satisfaction and the amuso-
ment of his partner and the spectators. But
the most noted figure in the group was the
"chcf de cuisine" which, vulgarly intcrpre-
ted, means "head Geek" With skin as
black as night and as slick as 9 billiard BALI
:. figure ,ha. did rot belle his calling, and
dressed III style becoming his figure, he
looked every inch like a black Count Fosco
Dsdainipg the stately walking, which is mis-
named dancing in these latter days, be pirout-
ted with grace and precision which would
have reflected credit upon the ballet master of
the Black Crook"
after few coilions had been disposed of,
the company were marched to the dining room
ofthe Lolcl, where most elegant and boun-
tiful supper had been prepared for them
Amid speeches, toasts, and sentiments. sar-
dimes, marmalsdes, fees. cakes, and jellies,
we're disposed OF, and the order was given,
"0n with the Dance"
and the ball room again re.echoed to the sounds
of music, and ire N blcd under the rapid steps
of the dancers.
Just at 10 o'clock, the leader Of the band
tapped his violin end notified the company
that he could not violate either Lis OWN con
victions or the prophecies of life by flourish
ing his bow on the Sabbath, and silence like
a pail suddenly fell upon the scene.
We have long been acquainted With the
emotional character of The negro. but we nev
er before witnessed so marked an Instance Of
his capacity to Change
From grave to gay, from lively to severe
After few Hurried and whispered con
vcrsatious it Was, BY common consent, agreed
t, spcnd the re,a,;!cr of the nght in deTo-
t!yIial exercises, aud hymn was raised by &
small mahogany coored mail in a long waist
cu;.t and putaps, who h&ci previously showi
aim>el an adept III tie sailatpry art, ana VIII"
nov developed yp:ce q srca, power and
sweetness. "a gray kcadad veteran OF the
.oi!op patcI. :o!, pu5 III crashing bass, a'd
iae otaer mcu AID women s@el!el ihc vol
ume OF sorg witt; roccs faneiag ir'n & true
...i;i smooth tcmVr 20 Lie sharp aud hntl.rl!s
,,ates o! The lo';icst ,:chc.or alto. a; this
pu.,,t vs.: withdrew ani saughl oar c'icil, bui
ste III The nlsnt We were awakened TO hear
inc steI!lorian voice oi The coiofed eent!emah
% expert at lie double ss.affl and cross hcp
earl, in the evening, pleading with teryor and
lnc,ion lor the Divine blessing upon wicked
nd wandsrlug souls, tie screams ard shouts
Of dusky belle under c''nviation, aud the
splendid clIorrs Of more tl:an fliy voices, led
bv tge Count, as they sent down the valley
By the Springs, and over the hills in the soi;
moonlight, the echoes of
"Jerusa;en my happy hore,
When shall rest in thcc!"
Coiun bns Sun.