The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-01-05
How a COlOred Hop at Newport
On-the-PigeOR had a Tragic
Termination.
NEWPORT. Dec. 29, 181
Editor of the afolfistown Gazette;

with that gaiety always so prominent
a trait in their character. Passion
ately fond Of music and excitement,
the dance presents irresistible
charms for them. Rare indeed is 1t
to find dusky dame who would for
one moment shrink from tramping on
foot six or eight miles in the dead
hours Of the night to enjoy the fas-
cinations of an "old Virginia reel"
On the night of the 24th instant,
Billy Brown, a molasses candy col
ored gent determinebto usher in the
season by a grand fancy hop at
Newport-on-the Pigeon. So Billy
leased the building now occupied by
Dave Anderson, a young disciple of
Crispin. Whoever has visited our
city will be apt to remember the
dwelling. 1t is true that it is not so
large and commodious as the Max
well. of Nashville, nor is it quite so
ornamental, airy and graceful in ar
chitectural design and finish as many
Of our noted edifces throughout the
land, but there is a history connect
ed with the building. It was the first
erected in Newport after the plan of
the town was laid out. 1t is the pi-
Oneer, as it were, of our ''burg," and
was for several years after it's cree
ton a popular resort for those who
loved to tarry long 'over the flowing
bowl" 1t was also sort Of primi-
tive museum, for its former owner,
one Josephus Turner mo relation
to the father of history, however,
captured bear up in the mountains
some years since and kept him on
exhibition in this house; and strang-
ers who visited the place were often
perplexed to know whether Josephus
kept the bear, or whether bruin kept
Josephus. Now it is possible that
on account of the associations con-
nected with this building, as well as
the fact that it is centrally located,
that the master of ceremonies, Billy
Brown. selected it as an appropriate
place for the festivities. Anderson
leased for the night to Billy for the
sum of two dollars. All the arrange
ments being made. early in the even
ing. just as the little stars came pee
ping through the curtains of night,
guests began to arrive. Ladies with
their escorts came sailing down the
railroad, not in costly equipages,
with servants in livery, but in true
republican simplicity and indepen-
dence-a pied. 1t was very muddy,
it is true, but what of that? Didn't
they intend to knock the mud from
their feet long before the shrill voice
of the cock should announce the
wee hours of morning? You bet
Well, ere the last lingering ray OF
light had passed from the horizon,
company bad all assembled, and the
screwing of the violin keys and the
humping andthumbing of the strings
gave notice that the exercises would
begin.
Conspicuous among the assembled |
guests was Mr.. Harrison Swaggerty,
of color, the gentleman who . called |
the figures" Tall and graceful as a
reed, he was stunningly dressed. |
From each ear were two large ''ear-
bobs" pendant. Encased in the met |
al were two large blue stones that
contrasted well with his face, which |
was rs black and oily as lump of
coal. His hands were en-
cased in pair of gigantic buckskins
Of deep red, or crimson color. and |
when they were lifted up recalled
the bloody hand of the mogul warri-
or of the olden time. His coat was
of the finest material -broadcloth-
cut IL shanghae in the Shanghiest !
sense of the word.
Sets were formed and the string
band struck up the old air of
"She wouldn't and she couldn't and she didn't
at all"
GLANDS all round p shouted the
man in red gauntlets, or as Byron
would have expressed it:
''On with the dance;
Let joy be unconfined, no sleep till morn,
When youth and pleasure meet,
To chase the glowing hours with flying
feet"
And on they went Ye who have
in the dreamy German or
stood in the regular quadrille els q Ue
% some fair haired Anglo-Saxon girl, |
always so light and airy of step,
Who comes to meet you as gently and
softly as the swan floats down on the
current Of some gently flowing river,
re can form no conception of the
style in which the dusky country lass
pears down upon her colored Uis q re.
She comes like the rushing of a
mighty river. She sways to and fro
ike the rocking of the tree tops be-
ore the fierce gales of winter. The
loise of her feet is like unto the clat-
ering of the thousand hammers up
N the great centennial buildings
ike the pattering Of hail stones upon
roof of tin; like the gallop of a
avalry squadron charging over a
overed wooden bridge. There is life
nd animation in it. She came to
ance and she is going to do it, if
he splits the floor. shakes the shin
les from the roof. and breaks her
ustle strings. Dance is in her, and
he is going to let it out. have {
Wondered if it would not be good
lea for those who have bemoaned
he long lethafgy of Africa to SUBJ
titute in the place of every mission
ry about one hundred good fiddlers.
the plan is novel there is some
tactical experience to recommend
If the Dance commenced early, it {
ontinued vigorously and ended only
hen the gray streaks Of light in the
lst heralded the approach Of the
ay-god. Billy Brown was happy. |
is soiree had been a success. The I
nests had danced enough and had
1T enough, and there was still a
ODDLY pile of cakes, candies, etc., ,