The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-02-11
Guiding the GoRysLLs, YARDS, WYArTs, ano
n,horo RsrrrNnxpas EABsII waaa protabiR

cludiug the EoRv.LLs, WARDS, WYArTs' ano.
RscrxggipGaslE AsEls. ssaa-, probaniR'
| Ma chief. He emerged from the "hoMe-
tnade ',sc6eos ana connected tWhh amore
elevated order Of wall xeg sentlme nl a l
audconcertos. DIR. BAGsr, born IN lynch
burg, got Gimp ofthfs bright school just
As it was, disappearing. He has neYer, LOT
gotten ,it. Hence his muni6cence. PERHAPS
| he heard BILL BURwEIL," who was even =
better fiddler than he was editor, ana 'ha'
IS indeed . compliment .--..-~ -"
There were fine fiddlers, mostly mulatto's,
who followed Kidding for o living, ana
played at the balls. Old CY. GiiLIAT was
famous; as were afterwards JESSE SCOTT
and sons, of Albenarle /; cold BOB WALKER :
(whilc), who played from Virginia TO heh-
lucky aud back, was almost world'fenown-
ed. SLAUGHTER, of Petersburg, with his
strains dissolved into cotilons, waltzes. ana
polkas. still keeps up the war, relatorcea oy
continental fifer.
The fiddle was once good electioneerer ;
and we are not sure but that it will help a
man out now considerably. We knew a
lett -handed fiddler who got into the Legts-
laturc upon his bow. Cafsyassing for re-
election, he met an adversary who outp'ayed
him. He was tainted with his inferiorl1y
By his opponents; whereupon he dareo
them to test with the left hand. Your
/" man may do tolerable well with his r'sht'
=" but pat him on his left and you'll see that
she is nowhere" The retort told, ana
"left-hand was reelected.
The dance was companion of the fiddle
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 planters son on line morse,
with body servant with glazed hat and gold
band riding another behind him, carrying
the inevitable saddlc-bags and portmanteau.
Young master alighted at the hotel from the
saddle as though he trod upon spring
board. Those gallants were great cques'
trians. 1t was no uncommon thing ioi
them to place one hand on the horse anu
from the ground leap into tie saddle Anu
on brisk, bracing morning 20 sec t"e1-,
mounted, with close-ftting greaI-coat %
many capes, and prancing through tne VIZ
LACE on their high-mcttled steeos' Was u
sirbt that attracted many eyes, ana OF course
o,oon, thom not q few of those Of the gen.
tier sex.
The ba)l.dayS, we have said, were-in the
,h.ence of the things which have destroyed
the independence Of the localiiies-sreat
DAYS in the villages. The surrounding
country sent its representatives. Young
men came on horseback, and the carriages
brought their rich tributes of grace and
beauty for the occasion. The community
was wonderfully Independent, while there
were no oyergrown fortunes.
The style of dancing was animated and
energetic, compared with which the move
ments of the ballroom OF this age resemble
the cautious steps Of paralytics. But their
actions were all graceful, especially those of
the fair sex. The men danced with full
force. What " chicken-hops," what "pigeon.
wings" A gallant, rather hurried into the
dance, and venturing upon the pigeon-wing
with spurs op, slitted his loug-taled blue into
threads. There was no restraining their
bounding activity when inspired by "Forked
Deer" or "Kiss Me SweetIy." And then
the galantry Of the times. 1t was most
marked. An admirer, dropping on knee
with wonderful litheness in the rapid move.
ment of the dance before his " ladye-love,"
seemed ready to.fy to the moon to steal bit
of silver light to illumine her hair.
The young ladies of the day were lovely,
graceful, and unaffected. They were reali-
ties, and fitted by education for the trials and
duties of life. They were bred and tutored
BY mothers whose wisdom, and virtue, and
grace were frightened and strengthened and
made practical and active by the age in
which they lived. If ever there was an age
in which woman merited the eulo9y paid by
MILTON to EVE that was it. Her inward
grace of virtue and of confidence in herself
and in society shone in her ease Of manner
and her frank spirit. Nor was ever there i
time when man more thoroughly awarded 10
woman her true position. Gallantry and
decorum prevailed, and that high mark of
refinement, Difference to age, was never more
perceptible in any community.
To return to the music of the day Nir-
ginii sent with the settlers of the West am
bassadorial tiddlers, of whom DANIEL Boone
was shining light ard the Mississippi
rang with their wild music while yet the
primitive forests threw their deep shade
upon the Father of Rivers" There !" the
instrument" flourished and cast its soothing
influence upon many q wild scene in cottage
and on raft and flatboat There 1t achieved
much, and impressed alike the spirit and
history of the country. 1t brought to us
that irresistible story Of the Arkansas
Traveller" and the very musical reel which
belongs to it-a story that could have origl-
mated nowhere else on earth, and a reel that
excites the spirits of every one who hears 1t.
We call to mind now some of the lively
old " tunes of other days, and with them the
guy scenes which they inspired: "Natchez
Under the HILL" Glove in the Village"
CHOP Light, Ladies', "ss OF for Charleston"
"snowbird on the Ash-bank,": ETC., with
hornpipes, jigs, &c.--the "College," the
=" Sailors " High Bob" "Near Bedtime"
Grip Roam, your Brides Broke" &c.
The fiddle was a necessity-the fiddler be-
came man of high consideration-nay, ad.
miration. His day.was bright, but his
g May of life" has "fallen into the scar, the