Mexico weekly ledger., 1884-01-31
jim PRICES BALL.
A Grand Society Event, Where 1t was
"All Hands Round, and Keep
er.Diggin'."

er.Diggin'."
IF
If there il any one thing that a
darkey loves better tlan he does
w%atermelon, it is tos.shake his hopf ~ =
as they call it, in an old-fashioned,
hrs akdown4quadsilie It's mighty
seldom the fiddler is ever called upon
to indulge bis ideal faneies ID modern
ballroom music-no may waltzes,
giddy racquets and tile like for them.
What the average colored brother and
sister want, and what they will nave,
is the time-honored cotillion, some
times as many as sixteen- eight
dancing in a set. Every
time a darkey's heel hits a p%uncheon
floor it's all night with him; he feels
ten years younger in a minutes and
he a get more solid enjoyment out
of one nights dancing than gina
whole years corl-shucking. Mexico
colored people are not an exception
to this rule, and n night last week
a grand ball was given in the upper
part of town by Jim Price and one Or
two others, which, from outside OBJ
servations, vas a very delightful af-
80 { 80 49, a-#- +
fair. All the ~high-toned darkies were
on hand, and it is said one Or two
prominent bellies made their debut into
society. 1t was a grand affair ; the
house was crowded; Jim Price and
watkins Dude were in their glory
they could be heard dancing all over
that part of the city it was the town
talk (among white folks) for o
week afterwards. A reporter, who
happened along that way about the
time "services'' commenced, saw two
fiddlers-Jim and ''the Dude'-uI
on an old soap-box, "jist t'arin'
things loose" while "Whistling Jim,'
in a coon-skin cap, and the sweat run
ming down his face like June rain
was ''exhorting" those on the foo
to-
Choose yo' pardners, times er-fyin'.
Take yo' places on de f1o'; :
Don't yo' hear dat fiddle cryin'
"Nickerdemus Ebbermo!"
S'lute yo' pardners, bow perlitely,
OATS de motion through en- through
Swing dem corners, step up lightly,
Hail Columby. Hallaloo!
Fus' TO- forward, keep er-dlggin',
Now you sasshay back ag'in.
Nebber mind yo' ragged riggin',
But don't show de naked skin.
Lawdy! see dat coon from Slater,
How he bow en- scrape aroun',
Head look like a peeled pertater'-
Slick ez glass up on de crown.
Ladies change and keep ~er-scootin',
Cross right ober, now you swing,
Hold dem heads up highfalutin',
Look permlskus, dat's de thing.
Lord a mussy, look at Hennie!
Dat gal filings a soople toe;
Crack yo' heels, dar-not too many,
Bow en- smile, en-"so en So"
Balance all! Now don't git lazy,
Fly aroun' en- tar yo' shirt,
Stomp dem feet, but don't go crazy, :
Else Ed. Murray might git hurt.
Jim Price got his mouf wide ope'm,
Holdin' down dat music tight,
Teeth, dey setten' sorter slspe'm-
Look like tomestones in de night.
Ali sasshay! 'clar to gracious,
Nebber seed de like befor';
Richard Phillips dance ou'dacious,
Try to git right fru de foo.
Heb'nly kingdom! look at Pheby!
Bofe eyes shinin' like de moon,
"Doan git wary, doan git sleepy"
Bill Glover, please drap dat spoon!
Promernade! Now, dat comes handy,
Hunt yo' seats en- take a res,
Gentermens will pass de candy
To de gals dey love de bes'."
The festivities like to have neve
ended, and were kept up until al
early hour next morning. In fact
such a good time was had that tn
darkey who turns our press didn'
show up at all the next day, henc'
our delay of last weeks issue. 81