The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-03-04
SOUTHERN NEGRO FESTIVITIES.
4 Dance In the Cabin and Another in High
Life.

Fill negro about half full of corn whis-
key and keep him in that state for fort
night, and you have one of the most anus
ing sights imaginable sober negro dur
ing " Christmas time y is an exception to
the rule. On the night after Christmas the
writer, IN company with some Northern
friends, attended two negro dances. The
first was at Aunt Heckla's" cabin. Here
the music consisted of fiddle and one
horn, producing the weirdest widest music
imaginable. The leader of the first cotillion
was one of those "smart " negroes, who are
the pets of the colored ladies', and who fire.
quently screamed, Keep up yo' feet"
Keep de pot a boilin',n "Oh glory, see
ne shine !" The bellies of the ball wore
calico dresses, ribbons of various hues,
principally red and blue, made into rosette
shaped bows. The men wore holiday attire
and alarmingly high standing collars, re-
sembling the end men in minstrel show
both in makeup and behavior. The supper
was served at nine o'clock, and consisted of
hot roast pig, roast turkey, chicken pie,
rice, potatoes, tomatoes, pies of various
kinds and ice cream-which to the negro
palate is the most delicious edible that can
be concocted. There were songs and
speeches during the supper, and dancing
was kept up until late hour.
There is among the negroes of South Caro-
lima an upper ten" circle, consisting
principally of gingerbread colored people
with small sprinkling of the pure ebony
Quite in contrast to the drunken revelry we
had just left was the scene at the house of n
colored ex-Representative in the heart of the
town. Chinese lanterns illuminated the
grounds, while the house was one blaze OF
gaslight from cellar to attic. There was sc
much style that we dared not ask for admis
sion as spectators, so we had to content our.
selves by standing ON bench surreptitiously
taken from the lawn, from where we could
see into the beautiful drawing room and
parlor. Some of the guests were almost
white some were of inky blue-among
them the host and hostess. The company
was not large and did not assemble until
nearly eleven o'clock. All came in carriages
with the exception of two young men, who
wore their hair beautifully banged and car.
ried crush hats. To attempt to describe the
toilettes of the ladies were to try to gid gold
or to paint the lilies. Some wore white null,
some satin, some silk, but one woman, black
as the ace of spades, wore black velvet,
black gloves and diamond bracelets, ear
rings, tiara and necklace. The effect was,
to say the least, startling and she was the
observed of all observers. The men all
wore full evening dross and there were but
two who failed to put on diamond shirt
studs and high collars. The ono noticeable
feature of the women's apparel was that
they all wore coifures of false hair mingled
with their own; nearly all were dressed low
in the neck a Ia Jersey Lily. The orchestra
discoursed bewitching music, and was COM
posed of white men. Before the dancing
began, one of the colored ladies-lately with
the famous Jubilee singers-sang several
solos, accompanying herself on the grand
piano in the drawing room. 1.-The german "
was the feature of the evening, the favors
beng bouquets of flowers tied with satin
ribbon on which was painted the date, small
silver bells, hand painted fans and scent
bottles OF cut glass and silver.