Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-08-29
A PHASE OF SOUTHERN LIFE, WITH
CUSTOMS AND WAYS PECULIAR.
DeCoTunI at Their Social Gatherings.
Starting a aConversstion-"Tidd jim"
and His In,trumsnt-Ths Last CoupIs
On the EIoor-Ths Feast.

position, with their arms tOliel and their t'H-S
fixed on the same plank i'll the floor. which
would do crsiit tO a well drilled military com
pany The young men are ordinarily pain
fully bashfuL No girl would dare address a
word 10 one Of the youths until he presents
himself before her and makes a remark to
her, or asks a question which demands a re
ply, and to do this the young swain must have
time to make up his mind, first, whether he
can sufficiently overcome his bashfulncS, tD
do il at all, and, secondly, what he shall say
when he has made up hiS mind tn say Some~
thing-a dilemma IN which more fortunate
speakers than Crackers have not unfrrqu"nt-
" found themselves. This remark which oc-
ca'luns such deep cOgitatiOn varies, Of cOurS",
with the taste and character of the speaker
II he is Of sentimental turn Of mind he nerves
himself to the emergency, and, standing he
fore her, tells her that "thaT's a powerful fine
chance q doxwond blossoms on the creek, and
he'll fetch her some if she wants them"
The maiden, being the first one addressed,
replies timdly: I'm 'bleeged To you, John, |
like dngwosd blossoms powerfully"
Another speaker now ventures to select the
object of his admiration, screws himself to
the sticking point, and, possessing a mental
organization Of an entirely practical charac-
ter presents himself with the words: Mis-
Susan, you amt seen old Brindle lately; she's
got the purti,St calf in the settlement, and
want you to name II. "
"FIDDLIN' JIN's" APPEARANCE.
To this implied compliment Miss Susan all
swers, with Il blush:
iii pick out the purtiest name | knows on,
sam. Maybe you'd like 70 name it after
your swe.theart"; ami with this sIs."h She
significantly glanc,s i'll the direction Of girl
who Is possibly her rival i'll Sans admiration.
Here, as elsewhere, 1t is the first stop which
costs; and as these two speakers have had the
hariihOOl literally 10 set the ball in motion
conversation rapidly ensues, and the reveIy
i. fairly begun. "Flddlin Jim" soon make,
his appearance; important persnlages move
slowly, and, roallzing that there can be no
dancing until he arrives, this distinguished
individual consumes as much time and brings
expectation 10 as sharp point Us he choOses
Seating himself i'll the chair provided for him.
he begins to tune up" This is II serious
operation. Oh, shade Of PaganinI, come not
near this scene. The Instrument-whiCh, bv
the way, is not u Cremona, but none the l,ss
prized for all that's tAumped from neck sp
bridge, and from bridge to end, in process OF
being tUnt,i. The musician screws up
string and holds his fiddle to his right ear.
then unScrcws it a little and holds it To hi,
left ear; all this being done with the utmost
gravity and dignited expression OF cOunte.
nance which plainly says what he has often
declared in words, that he amt nOwhar b,,
hIndhand in the raul science o playin' u nd
die"
Finally deliberate pizzicato movement re
veals the fact that the fiddle Is in proper con
ditiOn, and All audible and visible excitement
is seen among the young people.
Cit your partners" screams "Fiddlin
Jim, drawing three violent strokes Of the
bow, and utterlng the command with IA
marked rhythmic accent on each word
The fiddle ami the terpsichurean tempta
ton have put all bashfulness 10 flight; the
most awkward rustic can ask a girl TO dance.
under the effect of such inspiration, and
hands aCrUss and down the middle shake
the cabin to its foundations. The fiddler
plays md looks like one in a sort of ecstasy
His foot keeps time to the measure Of the roll
licking tune, while his eyes seem fixed upon
the blue space which peers through the cracks
Of the roof rs if his soul were floating out,
borne alOft upon his own harmonious strains.
To the cultivated ear it is execrable, it is tor
ture; hut -Fiddlin Jim" has passed beyond
the regions Of criticism into the unalloyed
bliss Of one who sees and knows 10 diScor,l.
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
well known, and each contestant has his or
her beyy Of admirers
WHO LASTS THE LONGEST.
Now for who lasts the longest ~ screams
"Fiddlin' jim" Who Eeers if the river Is
up"
This last defiant interrogatory is perfectly
intelligible to the company. who fully appre-
ciate the serious Inconvenience which enters
into their lives when the river Is up Burning
Rome and swollen rivers. however. do not
interrupt enthusiastic tiddlers and dancers
After startling feats Of agility on the part of
the men, and many graceful evolutiOnS OH
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 nov brought back from his divine ecstasy
10 the realities around HIM. and himself be
comes an ardent partisan, eSpOusing the cause
II the girl, Of course. who perhaps in her
dancing career has slain her hundreds
Dance up, Kitty; don't be afeerd," saws
"Fiddlm' jim encOuragingly.
Brace up, Sam, or shell fag YOU, old frl
ler, Elutters one Of Sans companions. who's.
friendship gets the better of his galantry
Old and young gaze at the rival dancers
with mtenssSt interest and curiosity. Th,.
dancers grow more and more excited Each
astonishing feat performed by one suggests
one still more astonishing ON the part # the
other Sans friends applaud, and kittyS
friends applaud more loudly.
Make his head swim, Kitty suggests
~Fiddlin' Jim," who Sans enthusiasm
beginning to flag. This Kitty propc,lS to do
by turning rapidly round AMI round. which
series OF evnlutlOns Sam l. bound by all the
rules Of the floor to follow This. perhaps
brings the dance to a conclusion. aS Kitty il
able TO reyolye longer and more rapidly than
Sam-
sam was allus sorter light hea,l,ri. bu; he
had it on the jump" remarks one of Sans
friends, apoloSetically. As every defeated
youth is accorded the gallantry of having
the triumph quite unrulu .tIutlv
To n girl, Sam and Kitty retire III thu. h.>t OF
humurs. After the dance comes tn" feast.
which, i'll all probability, is u "harhycur," at
which the inevitable chicken pie div. H., the
honOrs with a tremendous peach CuJhlcr.~
As break downs usually occur during th..
fruit season, there is no lack of peaches mp
pies and waterlnelonS which are dispensed in
prodlgal profuSlOn. Among Crack =, who
arc what they dCuOminatc under cow Z. l.! 3
that is, strictly loyal To the laws aud regulc-
tons Of the religious body to which they bc- /
long-games arr more III fashion than dances.
and all young people, whether they dance or
not, take part in these nmuScmcntS. Games
are SURE to he Iiayed after "quiltim'," and I
by the more discreet Of the Cracker settle
mant are rOI Sidsr,d more dIgnitied and far
m>rc inuoceI t.-Br"0klvm Magazine.
Every Tree was W hitewashcd.
The other day pretty young lady occupied .
a seat on the hurricane deck of one of the .