The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-02-27

MISCELLANY.
VIRGINIA FIDDLERS.
How the Gentlemen Of the OIden
Time Amused Themselves-The
Village Ball.


The senior editor of the Richmond
(Va.) Dispatch indulges in two columns
of "reminiscences OF Virginia life, dating
from the period of cooked hats, fair-top
boots, queues, &c, and extending up 10
last decade or two. He assigns TO the
old Virginia fiddlers place in the his
tory of the State, and mentions some of
the distinguished gently of the olden
time who reckoned their skill with the
fiddle as among their best accomplish
ments. The veteran editor is himself,
it is said, no ordinary performer on that
old Virginia instrument He says:
No country can live without music
As we say, the fiddler met the necessity
of the Republic. The fiddler, begin
ming his practice at The latter part of the
eighteenth century, grew in skill and
grace until the second decade of the
present, when he reached his zenith
Some of the best, as well as the most dis
tinguished. citizens, gave to the fiddle
much attention. Mr.. Jefferson was
great admirer of the fiddle. He kept
two Instruments which teacher we
know tried, while ON visit 10 Monticel-
10, and pronounced excellent. He was
the author of notes on the fiddle, as well
as On Virginia 1t is due 20 him to say
chat he was a man of refined taste, and
having had opportunities of hearing
good music in the days of some of the
greatest musicians, his taste was undoubt-
edly good.
Later in time some of the old-time
gentlemen we knew were admirable
players. Almost every section of the
State has It's famous gentleman fiddler.
The Southside was especially brilliant in
this respect. Lynchburg was headquar-
tiers of very expert community of fid-
dlers.
The fiddle was once good election
teerer, and we are not sure but that it will
help a man out now considerably. We
knew left-handed fiddler who got into
the Legislature on his bow. Canvassing
for reelection, he met an adversary who
outplayed him. He was taunted with
his inferiority by his opponents, where
upon he dared them to a test with the
left hand. "Your man may do tolerable
we'll with his right, but put him on his
left, and you'll see that he is nowhere" +"
The effort told, and "left-hand" was re-
elected.
1 The dance was companion to the fid-
dle-they were made for each other.
Dancing school days and ball-days were
bright ones in the village. Country
bucks came to town in style. The plant
er's son on a fine horse with body ser
want with glazed hat and gold band
riding another behind him, carrying the
inevitable saddle-bags and portmanteau.
Young master alighted at the hotel from
the saddle as though he trod upon a
spring board Those gallants were great
equestrians. 1t was no uncommon thing
for them to place one hand on the horse
and from the ground leap into the sad
die. And on brisk, bracing morning
to see them mounted, with close-6ttine
great coats of many capes, and prancing
. through the village on their high-met-
, | tied steeds, was sight that attracted
many eyes, and of course among them
not few of those of the gentle SEX
, The ball days, we have said, were-ir
G the absence of the things which have
o destroyed the independence of the local
q ities-great days in the villages. The
y surrounding country sent its representa-
, tives. Young men came on horseback
and the carriages brought their ricf
, tributes of grace and beauty for the oc
casion. The community was independ
ent, while there were no overgrowl
1 fortunes. The style of dancing was an
4 imated and energetic, compared witt
Il which the movements of the ballroom
a of this age resembles the cautious step
O. of paralytics. But their actions were al
a graceful, especially those of the fair sex
r The men danced with full force. Wha
! Chicken hops" what "pigeon wings!"-
A gallant rather hurried into the dance
and venturing upon the pigeon win
with spurs on, slitted his long-taile'
blue into threads. There was no re
O. straining their bounding activity whe
+ inspired by "Forked Deer" or "Kiss m
# Sweetly." And, then, the gallantry @
&c the times! 1t was most marked.
Is To return to the music of the day.
e Virginia sent with the settlers of tn
IS West ambassadorial fiddlers of whoT
e. Daniel Boone was shining light-an
lie the Mississippi rang with their vii
,e music while yet the primitive forest
f. threw their deep shade upon the "Fatl
er er of Rivers" There "the instrument
1t hou-ished and cast its soothing inhuenc
d upon many wild scene in cottage an
r, on raft and flatboat. There it achieve
re much, and impressed alike the spirit an
l. history of the country. 1t brought
lie US that irresistible story of the "Arkal
70 sas Traveller" and the very musical re-
which belongs to it-a story that coul
ce have originated nowhere else on cart
,e. and reel that excites the spirits of e.
st cry one who hears it. We call to mir
at now some OF the lively old "tunes"
lg other days, and with them the gay seen
he which they inspired: "Natchez .Und
IT the HILL" "Love in the Village" "Hc
ng Light, Ladies'" "Of for Charleston
at "Snow-bird on the Ash-bank," &C., vii
nd hornpipes, jigs, &c.; the college" Il
es; "Sailor's, ""High Bob, ,""Near Bedtime
ck Grip Roam, Your Brides Broke" &
X The fiddle was a necessity-the iddl
h. became a man of high consideration
nay, admiration. His day was brigl
but his "May of. life" has "fallen in
the scar and yellow leaf" Now al
We then we meet with one who speaks of t
ey past The venerable Senator Tc
les Franklin "draws a conde-copre-had
'ix bow" and the first door-keeper of IL
an body-one of the old ruffled shirt q