Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-05-01

Or like the snow fallS In the river,
A moment white-then melts forever;
Or like the borealis race,
That fits ere you can point the place;
Or like the rainbows lovely form,
Evanishing amid the storm
Nae man can tether time or tide
When I proposed the writing OF these
scraps of of memory, warned my readers
now retrograde, without apology, to about
the year 1900, when settlement, known for
many years by the distinctive appellation
of Halifax" was made in the district.
Few now, presume, are aware it ever
had existence.
It originated by an old man named Ward,
gentleman of considerable means, coming
from Halifax, Virginia, and buying large
survey from Bob Barrow, Esq, (the celebra-
ted old land monger,) and settling himself
thereon. TWAS very fine body of land, ly-
ing on Fishing Creek, about four orfive miles
south of Yorkville. Not long after num-
ber of families emigrated from the same
vicinity in Virginia, and Mr.. Ward sold off
to them small tracts of land, settling them
there on little farms thickly around him.
With one consent, in loving remembrance
ueipbborhoegd, ut Iin SHaiifsx," and SO is was was
soon designated by the whole district.
Among the families thus added to our
population, were the Wrights, PAGES, Fore
mans, knights, Edwards, Bensions, Cooks,
and others whose names lido not now recall.
These people retained the renowned hospl-
tality of the "Old Dominon," and for many
years, in my young days, this section was
the centre of merriment, good living, open
handed generosity and frolics in the district.
A dancing school was standing institution.
One of their number, Mr.. Ben Cook, was
master of the terpsichorean art, and in va
rious parts of York and adjoining districts,
instructed many
"-delicate feet in the dance to twinkle round.' y
Almost every man of Halifax played the
fiddle-old Mr.. Ward eXcelling among
them in this, as we'll as most else. Indeed,
this old gentleman, from his seniority,
wealth and benevolence was, as it were,
the patriarch-his house, the headquarters
of the settlement.
Christmas week was one of entire teStlv-
ity. Each night dance-the ball always
opening, Christmas Eve, at old Mr. Wards;
then each night succeeding, by kind OF
were too generous to confine the guests to
themselves. Kindred spirits were always
welcome-"the more the merrier'' their
motto, and many livel, gallants and merry
maidens, not belonging there, participated
in the holidays at "Halifax." Nor was it
alone at Christmas times they had fun and
frolic. Scarcely a month ever passed by
without a dance being gotten up in this
neighborhood, usually though, it would be
at old Mr.. Wards.
A dance in those days was dance. A
frolic Cinstead Of party) it was called-be-
ginning before sundoWn and not ending till
nearly dawn and as once heard an old
lady say while looking on in the ballroom
at Glenn Springs, at the languid movements
of bellies and beaux in cotillions-then the
fashionable dance-"when I was a girl, l
did more honest dancing, in half an hour,
than one of these do the whole evening"
Dancing in those days was an accomplish
ment much admired, and the steps which
accompanied each PARTICULAR dance peculiar
more or less to it, and all requiring practice
were worn short, and the feet lightly keep
ing time to tune with varying motion, was
very pretty sight.
First, though, the evenings usually open
ed with minuet. This was figure re-
quiring but two persOns-a slow, stately
dance, showing time we'll executed, and
much grace if we'll done. Then would fol-
low siX-handed reels, as many as space per-
mitted being formed on the floor. After
these, the whole company usually joined in
country dance called the "German's Paw"
About
1.-THE wee sma' hours ayant the twal,'
they began dancing the "Strathspey-Congo."
The first figures of this were like those of
the minuet; not quite so slow, but all mo-
tion, gentleness and grace. Suddenly the
music varied to the Congo-a time resem-
bling that of the hornpipe; the dancers, as in
the minuet, but two on the floor at a time,
without losing step, threw themselves into
the transition and life and agility marked
every bar. Again, another variancein time
in the music and with slow, almost solemn
step, the dancers walked the cadences of
the Strathspey time. These ended, jigs be-
gan. But two occupied the floor at a time,
and when in the quick motion they had
lost their breath, two others would rise and
take their places, they gladto sit down. At
old Mr.. Wards, he was almost always call
ed on to play for these, for in this, as in
the neighborhood. Long before this portion
of the evenings amusement had come, he
always grew sleepy. His bed sat in one
corner of the hall where they danced
houses, you must remember in those primi-
tive days, not being as commodiOus as now.
When he got tired and drowsy, he sought
his pillow, not letting the presence or jOllity
of his guests interrupt his slumbers. When
aroused to play the jigs, he would, good
humoredly, rub his eyes, sit up in bed, and
take the instrument in hand, and there he
sat fiddling merrily.
a frequent finale was for the company to
call on his favorite daughter and young
man named William Erwin to dance the last
jig. This young lady, Ferebee. Ward, was
very pretty, and 50 general a faVOrite, she
might be called the Queen of HalitaX-a
beautiful dancer, and her form one which
might have served to inspire the sculptOr's
chisel. William Erwin was not of Halifax,
but frequent participation Of its festals.
He was esteemed, with one consent, the
handsomest man Of his day. TO use fire.
quent expression in regard to him by his
old-fashioned friends, Gas handsome man
as ever walked the face Of the EARTH" He,
too, was uncommonly graceful in measured
show to see Bill Erwin and Ferebee Ward
dance a jig. The old mans bow arm SEEM
ed inspired with new life, and faster and
faster flew the dancers toes, playing on the
floor with different steps, beating perfect
time, till dancers and musician ceased from
fair exhaustion.
Old Mr.. Ward was a somewhat peculiar
man. Although SO hospitable- never firing
Of company at his own house-he did not
leave home to seek society. [ cannot re-
member that ever saw him in Yorkville.
He had negro man named Arnold, IN
whom he reposed every confidence. This
slave directed the making of the crops, saw
to their gathering, sold them, paid taxes,
laid in supplies; in fact was major-domo on
the premises-his masters factotum.
Mr.. Ward owned quite large number of
negroes, and was notedly indulgent to
them. The temper of the whole settle
ment seemed for good living and good
fellowship, not gain. They made abundant
supplies on their fine lands and enjoyed