Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-05-08
HUSKISG.
view England Custom BiendinR Useful
Occupation and Social Hsereation.

New England Custom blending Useful
Occupation and Social Recreation.
In referring to the customs. recreatlons
and nmuscments of the farmers of New
England, one Is sometimes told of the
husking parties which prevail 10
greater or less extent among them but
IL may be surmised that few dwcllerg in
cities know much about the ponuine
New Hamphire or Vermont fugking
parties. Let me tel. them about 1t.
After the Indian corn has been gath
cred into the barn, the ears, incased In
Their rough outer husk, are broken from
the stalk and piled up in large mound
on the barn floor rs high ns n mans
head, and then the farmer is ready for
the husking. which process consists In
stripping the husk from the ear.
The neighbors, old and young not too
young To enjoy the sp0rt--are invited
from far and near 10 attend the huskinR:
and be 1t known that il Is AN event that
no one cares to miss.
The women and men, girls and boys,
married and unmarried, arrange them
selves on benches, boxes, milking stools,
or any thing that will serve for II low
seat, around this immense pyramid of
corn. Then the labor begins: and as
il Is known for a certainty that there are
more or less rcd ears Of corn In every
farmers field. though they cannot bc dis
covered until the husk is partially re-
moved, and in the 6Jidihg Of the red ears
the fun begins, there il great interest AT
tachcd 10 that accident-if il may be
50 called; for sometimes there j. method
in such finding.
Al farmers lads and lasscs know full
well that the lucky finder Of such prize
a.. Il F..fg . g..
II entitled 10 a kiss from the Young (nr
old rs 10 that mnttcr) man seated next
her, while the work Of the evening goes
on with spirit: aud at every such cpi-
sod" in the evenings entertainment a
furry J. occasionod such as one expert
cnces but seldom, except AT "A lusking
party.
The furry. however, j. not OF long
duration, for all are anxious, rs matter
OF coursr-1iot to find red ears il may be
supposed, but Ia get through with the
Job so ms Ia participate In the further en-
joymcnts prepared for them.
When nil is completed and the last
husk stripped from the corn, the COM
pany is invited into the house. where n
large brown carthcn pan filed with
smoking hot baked beans is placed on
the table Of the great kitchen. ALWAYS the
largest room in the house. and all fail 10
with will. The rcpast ended the room
j. cleared for dance. and rs some one
IN the party can always play the fiddle.
the real sport Of the evening begins: and
of 0Goh sport, no one ignorant Of an old
fashioned New Hampshire husking party
can have any conception. The agility Of
the ruugher sex Is here brought into re-
quisition Ia its fullest extent. and woe
80. d aHHHH L..
wing gracefully. rs well with the one
foot n the other. or execute another
Rymnasiic exercise. the precise name of
which | cannot recall, but which will
here describe.
The process consists of n succession
of leaps in n perpendicular position.
and striking ihc feet sideways to-
together at least twice and sometimes
thrice before touching the floor. This is
"A positive requirement with all good
dancers oi th" stronger sex, and il is so
taught by MI instructors of the art Of
dancing, or tcaS NJ the time referred 20.
which was many wears ngo. iu.t how
many need not here b. said.
The pigeons wing consists of raising
one foot from the floor. carving the foot
well back and vigorously giving il
rapid lateral motion. Immediately chang
ing 10 The other foot for the same cxer-
cisr.
The husking is done by daylight. but
the dancing il done by candlc-light and.
as a boy. ] have wondered how il were
possible for these hard-working farmers
and housewives Ia exhibit 50 much
agility rs one never failed to experience
as the Virginia Reel or FISHERS H0rnpipc
were gone through with 10y both dancers
and fiddler.
These were good old times. Whether
the customs he Described arc now kept
up the writer cannot say: but one thing
can bc said. no happier people ever ex-
isted than the New England farmers Of
forty OF fifly years ago. ifrcports bc true
and before railroads and manufacturing
villages turned the heads Of the rising
generation. and enticcd them from the
farm Ia seek what seemed to them easier
and more lucurative employmcnt.-I -Ior-
ing h. Barfaes. IA Boston Courier