The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-12-09
AMONG THE CRACKERS.
I PHASE OF SOUTHERN LIFE, WITH
CUSTOMS AND WAYS PECULIAR.
Decorum at Their Social Gatherings.
Starting a Conversation-''Fidd Jim
and His Instrument-The Last Couple
On the FIoor-The Feast.

house and the women CL.Jbe other. The same
. line Of deCoTum Is preserved Ia their social
gatherings. The men sitting or standing II
eIques 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 q rlgidlry Of
position. with their arms folded and their toes
fixed on the same plank in the floor, which
would DO credit 10 a well drilled military COM
pauy. 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 ana makes a remark 10
her. OF asks q question which demands a re
ply, and 70 DO this the young swain must have
time to make up his mind first, whether he
can sufficiently overcome his bashtulneSs to
do it at all. and. secondly, what he shall say
when he has made up his mind to say some
thing-a dilemma IL which more fortunate
Speakers than Crackers have not unfregIent-
" found themselves. This remark which Oc-
casiOns such deep cogilatiOn varies. of course.
with the taste and character of the speaker.
II he is of sentimental turn of mind he nerves
himself to the emergency, and, standing be
fore Ter, tells her that "tnar's a powerful tine
char"e % dO&wCOd blossoms on the creek, and
le'h Fetch her some if she wants them
The maide1, being the first one addressed,
replies timid:y: I'm 'bleegcd to you, John; /
-
Another speaker now ventures to select the
object of hi. admiration, screws himself to
the sticking point and, possessing 81 mental
organization Of an entirely practical Charac-
ter, presents himself with the words: Miss
Susan, you amt seen old Brindle lately; she's
got the pur,jeSt calf i'll the settlement and
want you to iiame it,"
"FIDDaIS' JDI's" APPEARANCE.
To this implied compliment Miss Susan an
sweIS with {. blush:
III pick ont the purticst name knows ON,
Sam. Maybe you'd like to name it after
your sweetheart; and with this speech she
significantly chances in the direction of girl
who is possibly her rival in Sans admiration.
Here, as elsewhere, it is the first step which
costs; and as these two speakers have had the
hardihOOd literally TO set the bali in motion,
conversation rapidly ensues, and the rcvely
is fairly begun. "Fiddlin' jim soon makes
his appearance; important personaSes move
slowly, and, realizing that there can bc no
dancing until he arrives, this distinguished
individual consumes as much time and brings
expectation TO as sharp point rs he chooses
Seating himself in the chair provided fer him,
he begins to tune up" This o. II serious
operation. Oh, shade of Paganini, come not
near this scenel The instrument-which by
the way, is not a Crcmona but none the les.
prized for all that's thumped from neck 10
bridge, and from bridge 90 end, in process of
being tuned The musician screws up "a
string and holds his Fiddle TO his right ear,
then unscrews il a little and holds it to his
left ear; all this being done with the utmost
gravity and a 1ignlind expression Of Counte-
nance which plainly says what he has often
declared IN words, ihat "hc amt uOwhar be.
midland IN tho raul science o plnyH' ii it'd
die"
Lii