Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-02-19
That Ball at Oak Hill.

| Ed. OBsERvER-SeldOm, If ey-
er, has it been our good fortune
to witness and participate in a
more social, pleasant and hospi-
table affair than the one we at
tended on the evening Of the 10th
install the residence ofthat prince
of good men jeff NJ. Stone, at Oak
! Hill. The crowd was large, or
lderly,quiet, and nothing but good
humor seemed to prevail. All
empty formalities were laid aside
and everybody was made to feel
they were at home, and the occa-
sion meant merriment and fun.
The ladies, both old and young,
had on their sweetest charms and
smiles,as well as their bestclothes.
The young men behaved gallant
y,and conducted themselves with
becoming ciyility. The oltm
well, nobody cares what they
did or how they did it, they were
in full trim. When we arrived
sweet music was ringing through
the house. Some of the young la
dies and gentlemen were dancing
i'll sweet accord, while some We're
laughing and talkingiin high gIee,
some were playing, some counting
and some wanting to. Several
ladies and gentlemen from dis
lance were present. Alabama
was fully represented, as were al
so the counties of Bedford, Moore
and Marshall. We heard it said
that Grant had been invited, but
sent a telegram that he couldn't
attend, because an earthquake in
Cuba had somewhat frustrated
his plans. Gen. Key was expec-
ted to arrive in the mails, but
on its arrival and inspection it
was found that he was not in it,
to the great establishment ofevery
body. About 8 o'clock the most
laughable scene of the occasion
occurred. In company with some
nice young ladies, that somewhat
celebrated gentleman, Capt. G. w.
Higgins, Governor of the city of
Camargo, Capt. JEFF. M. Stone,
commander Of the forces present,
DIR. Whitfield and a "crooked-
footed" gentleman from Fayette-
vile proceeded to electrify the
crowd and occasion by an old
fashion ''hands-round" Ounce
and such thing as that was! AT
ter the music had begun in sweet
est tones to fill the room and ev-
cry body in it with feelings fam
tastic, Capt. Stone halted it and
deliberately rolled up his pants
about an inch, spit in his hands
and gave orders for all things to
move. Well, they moved-they
twisted-they turned-they went
cross = and recross - backward
and forward--right and left-and
when the reverse order was given,
the Governor of Camargo, some
what left on the occasion, might
have been seen turning round by |
himself in the middle of the floor
like spinning top, his partner
gone and no one near him. Hell
continued to wind himself up I'M
i'll he became reduced in size to
the dimensions OF a hen egg,when
Mrs.Stone, the good woman of the
house, kindly picked him up, put |
him in her egg basket and had him
carried to the hen house. Capt. |
Stone, in the general confusion,
got hold Of the wrong lady, step
ped on her foot and mashed it as
flat as a pancake. She tainted. !
Stone ran up the chimney and in
his efforts to get out at the top
rubbed all the hair off the top Of |
his head, and so black was his
face after he got out that his good |
wife ordered him to the kitchen
with Instructions to keep up good |
fires and in case of failure, for
repairs next morning. The young
lady about this time called for the
doctor, who when found was still
dancing, had danced the set out,
had danced every body ont of the
room and was at the front gate |
dancing around a hitcliing post,
muttering to imself,"Swing your
corner, Liza Jane After some
effort, the good lady of the house
procured "a rope, tied his hands
and feet together, put turkey !
bone in his mouth and sent him
home on a wheelbarrow. Save
this mishap, the whole affair was
Il splendid success. Long may
the good people, whose kindness
and open, frank hospitality we er-
ioyed on that occasion, live to
receive the lpflise and high esteem
they SO richly merit. May their
old age be crowned with happi-
ness is the earnest wish of their
many friends ~ ETiCIDER.