The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1883-12-14
MORMON GAYETY.
How the Young Saiuts Look and Act
in Society.

Utah Correspondence ofthe New York Sun
If one'wishesto see Mormon life in All
it's primitiveness and simplicity. ha
must not look for itin Salt Lake Citv
for there it ls overshadowed by much az
the outside world. No, if you wish "a
see the pure inner life of MormoniSm
you must strike out into the country dis.
triCts.
A few evenings ago / had the pleas.
ure of attending a genuine dancing par.
ty of the Latter Day Saints they don't
like to be called Mormons). This was a
small town nestled away IN the Wasatch
Mountains, about n hundred and fiftv
miles south of the metropolis of Utah.
The dance was held in what is called the
Ward Westinghouse, a stone bdildimS
used for general public purposes.
The hour for opening was z D.. m.
was there on time. WHAT first attracted
my attention on entering was that TIE
ladies and gentlemen sat separately
the men on the right and the ladies en-
the left. At the end CT the hall was a
raised platform, upon which sat the
orchestra, which consisted of a first and
second violin and organ. The nationsl.
ity Of those present Was very district
and easily detected. The Scandinavian
element predominated, but there WIS a
sprinkiing of English, Scotch, Irish.
Welsh, and Swiss, while the Ohio twang
and the Missourian's dee could also be
heard. All had a happy and contented
look, there being no attempt at formality
but each appeared to feel as If he or she
was at home with members of their W
family. #.
When / arrived the dancing had not
yet commenced, and there was quite 4
buzz of conversation. Presently the
floor manager called out: please to
come to order! Brother Brown, will You
open?" Immediately all was silence
aud every head bowed in reverence.
Brother Brown responded by walking
to the platform and offering q brief but
earnest extemporaneous prayer, IN
which he asked the Lord to be with
them during the time of their amuse-
ment and to keep all harm and wrong
doing from those present.
The floor manager then gave a num-
Der to each mar who wished to dance,
when all had numbers given them he
called out, Numbers one to eight, take
your partners for a cotillisnP" There was
only space for two sets. Up started the
eight numbers and rushed across the
room and secured partners. There YVES
no waiting for introductions, and now
they stood in readiness on the floor,
falling into conversation with their ladies.
The music struck up, the caller shouted
the figures, and the dancers started of
as II their life were at stake.
The Danes were remarkably graceful
in their movements, and of course, there
was the usual Quantum of verdant youths
who did not know what to do with their
legs. There were many pretty, yes
handsome, faces among the fair sex.
All were neat and clean, but no attempt
was made at show in dress, plain cotton
and wooden fabrics being the rule.
Some of the girl tmade a faint attempt
with simple ribbons and laces. Many
ofthe men did not appear to have made
ception Of liberal use ofsoap and water.
Others, again, we're dressed in we'll
made, ~serviceable bToad-cloth of home
manufacture.
/ could not help but notice many OF
the young men born and raised
in this mountain region. They
are perfect giants--hale, hearty,
and vigorous. Don't ever impute to
polygamy the cause of muscular decline
in man, for here / had ocular proof to
the contrary.
When the first dance was concluded
the gentleman escorted their partners TO
their seats, and then retired to their
own. Then another batch Of eight was
Immediately called for, and the fun was
repeated. The polka or waltz, round
dancing, as it is called, is not by sttict
rules, allowed, although a few on this
occasion were permitted during b
evening.
After several dances had been conc
through, some Scandinavian sisters sang
q charming song. This was followed by
an Engliahman singing a comic song and
Then more dancing with occasional sing
ing till IL o'clock VIII n "Come to order"
was called, and. the assembly was dis
missed with prayer. All seemed happy
and contented with the evenings enter
tainment and hied at once home, every
lady having an escort Of father, brother,
husband, or beau.
During the whole of the evening the
only refreshments that / saw or heard
OF was pure water, although / was told
upon special occasions q light beer with
cake is handed around. Intoxicating
drinks are strictly prohibited. There Is
no saloon within thirty miles ofthe town,
and even If man smells of liqnor he -
r-eprimanded.
These dances are not open for any
who may choose to attend, but who all
wish TO partake give their names in to
the bishop of the ward. He has power
to blackball, and he uses that rower,
especially with outsiders and apos-
tatss.
BY / o'clock all lights were out In the
town, and the only sounds TO be heard
were the occasional baying Of the watch
dogs and the lullaby OF the canon
breeze.