The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-09-08
.~cErs AMONG THE CRACKERS
Phase of Southern Life, Customs
Peculiar and Original.

Dancing among the Crackers is usually
solo performance. The reel and break
down sometimes include several participants,
but the passeul is more popular than
the ballet. As in "meetin'" the men sit on
one side of the house and the women on the
other. The same line of decorum is pre-.
served in their social gatherings, the mer
sitting or standing in cliques at one end of
the room set apart for the entertainment,
while the girls occupy chairs or benches
ranged against the wall on the opposite
side, maintaining rigidity of position,
with their arms folded and their toes fixed
on the same plank in the floor, which would
do credit TO a well drilled mill tary COM
pany. The young men are ordinarily pain
fully bashful. No girl would dare address
a word to one of the youths until he pre-
sents himself before her and makes a re-
mark to her, or asks question which
demands reply and to do this the young
swain must have time to make up his mind
first, whether he can sufficiently overcome
his bashfulness to do it at all, and, second.
ly, what he shall say when he has made up
his mind to say something-a dilemma in
which more fortunate speakers then Crack
ers have not unfrequently found them
selves. This remark which occasions such
deep cogitation varies, of course, with the
taste and character of the speaker. If he is
of sentimental turn of mind he nerves him
self to the emergency, and, standing before
her, tells her that g thars q powerful fine
chance o dogwood blossoms on the creek,
and he'll fetch her some if she wants
them"
The maiden, being the first one address,
ed, replies timidly; " I'm 'bleeged to you,
John: like dogwood blossoms powerful
ly.n
Another speaker now ventures to select
the object of his admiration screws him
self to the sticking point, and, possessing a
mental organization of an entirely practical
character, presents himself with the words:
Miss Susan you amt seen old Brindle
lately; she's got the purtiest calf in the
settlement, and want you to name it."
To this implied compliment Miss Susan
answers, with blush:
"Pll pick out the purtiest name | known
on, Sam. Maybe you'd like to name it after
your sweetheart y; and with this speech
she significantly chances in the direction of
girl who is possibly her rival in Sans
admiration. Here rs elsewhere, it is the
Grst step which cost and as these tive
speakers have had the hardihood literally to
set the ball in motion, conversation rapidly
ensues, and the revery is fairly begun.
"Fiddlin JIM soon makes his appearance
important personages move slowly, and,
realizing that there can be no dancing until
he arrives, this distinguished individual
consumes as much time and brings expect
sation to as sharp point as he chooses.
Seating himself in the chair provided for
him, he begins to "tune up" This is
serious operation, Oh, shade of Paganini,
come not near this scene The instrument
which, by the way, is not Cremona,
put none the less priced for all that's
thumped from neck to bridge, and from
bridge to end, in process of being tuned.
The musician screws up string and holds
his fiddle to his right ear, then unscrews
IL little and holds it to his left ear; all
this being done with the utmost gravity and
n dignified expression of countenance which
plainly says what he has often declared in
words, that " he amt nowhar behindhand
in the raul science o. playin fiddle"
Finally deliberate pizzicato movement
reveals the fact that the fiddle is in proper
condition, and an audible and visible ex-
element is seen among the young people.
Git your partners !" screams " Fiddlin'
Jim," drawing three violent strokes of the
bow, and uttering the command with
marked rhythmic accent on each word
The "fiddle" and the terpsichorean
temptation have put all bashfulness to
flight; the most awkward rustic can ask a
girl to dance under the effect of such in
,piration and " hand across and down the
middle shake the cabin to IFS foundations.
The fiddler plays and looks like one in q
sort of ecstacy. His foot keeps time to the
measure of the rollicking tune, while his
eyes seem fixed upon the blue space which
peers through the cracks of the roof as If
his soul was floating out, borne aloft upon
his own harmonious strains. To the cult
waited ear it is execrable, it is torture; but
" Fiddlin' jim" has passed beyond the
regions of criticism into the unalloyed bliss
of one who sees and knows no discord.
By and by the reel is finished, and only
the champion dancers remain on the floor.
Then begins the tug of war. The true
Greek is we'll known, and each contestant
has his or her beyy of admirers.
"Now for who lasts the longest !" screams
"Fiddlin' JIM Who keers if the river
is up?"
This last defiant interrogatory is perfectly
Ineligible to the company, who fully mp
preciate the serious Inconvenience which
enters into their lives when the river is up.
Burning Rome and swollen rivers however
10 not interrupt enthusiastic fiddlers ant
dancers. After startling feats of agility on
the part of the men, and graceful evolutions
on the part of the girls, most of the dancers
are exhausted, and take their seats, leaving
one couple in possession of the floor. These
two are TO do honor to the occasion. The
fiddler is now brought back from his divine
ecstasy to the realities around him, and
himself becomes an ardent partisan, espous-
ing the cause Of the girl, of course, who
perhaps in her dancing career has slain her
hundreds.
"Dance up, Kitty; don't be afeer'd,"
say Fiddlin' JIM" encouragingly.
Brace up Sam, or she'll flag you, old
feller," mutters one of Sans companions,
whose friendship gets the better of his gal.
lantry.
Old and young gaze at the rival dancers
with ntensest interest and curiosity. The
lancers grow more and more excited. Each
astonishing feat performed by one suggests
one still more astonishing on the part Of tho
other. Sans friends applaud, and Kitty's
friends applaud more loudly.
Make his head swim, Kitty" suggests
''Fiddlin' Jim," who sees Sans enthusiasm
beginning to flag This Kitty proceeds to
do by turning rapidly round and round,
uvhicb aa,;aa rs ayol,tiono Gan, 10 houud nv