The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-25

modesty and content once reigned now
boldness and restless activity now prevail.
We produce the picture which he draws
oil thirty years ago. Its very wording
seems to have been gathered from the
lavender-scented books OF u half century
ago:
"The mind Of the old man, your corre-
spondent, dear old APPEAL, runs back
along the path OF life till it reaches
the second quartz OF the present cen
fury, when he was bashful youth OF
twenty, with stud horse cravat and q
navy-colored cut velvet waistcoat, and
tight pants that REQUIRED him to straddle
the back OF chair so us TO enable him TO
force himself into them, after the plan Of
putting on kid glove by forcing one hand
between the fingers OF the other hand, and
with straps under the feet TO prevent the
said pants fronrparting company with his
pumps. Thus arrayed in verdant fresh
ness he would stand on Sunday mornings,
in the spring-time OF the year and watch
the little angels from the big boarding
school trip into church, in wide Leghorn
hats, with ends OF ribbons fiuttering, and
their wings hidden under their fresh
Swiss muslin dresses with slkcn sashes,
broad and high, around their trim
waists, and the slarchiest pantalets nearly
kissing their dainty little pedal extremities.
OH ii one OF those white dresses were 10
burst open in the back like the smell OF q
locust, he knew that pair OF suow-white
wings would unfold and bear that pure,
innocent little angel straight back to
heaven At the Commencement Bali
given ut the Stewards hall, he was TO be
seen walking past the door of the big
dancing parlor in pumps, black pants,
white vest, stiff stock around his neck,
with standing collar saving under his ears,
and black dress coat OF the clawhammer
pattern, casting longing looks through the
doorway ut the rows Of female loneliness
standing back against the four walls OF the
room. Oh! how he envied and admired
the floor managers always students from
some city where they bad attended dancing
SCHOOL, who would come out into the hall
and pouncc upon some bashiul youth. and
almost by main force carry him into the
parlor, and turning TO the first lady on the
| right would introduce the frightened man,
and then the next, and so on all around
! the room, introducing him separately to
every lady, down 10 the last
one, who stands at the left OF the door,
when the youth, all aglow with fright and
D
across the hall into the dressing-room
throws up window, pol;os his head oul
and pants Tor breath. while his comIan.
ions, in admiration, would gather around
linn and ask him il he was scared, and he
would answer 'Whcw | tell you what,
boys, it's WORSE than the final examination
bc'orc all the faculty.
Presently OF the professors and the
iioor-managcrs would come out in the
crowd and each ono would capture a
young man, march them in 10 be intro
duced the crowd would press along after
/ them, introductions would follow fast, the
| hoys and girls would pair off and the three
negro ilddlen would strike mp 'rnOwbird
on the Ashbank;' cotillion sets would
/ form, the leader Of the band would call
out Forward four, cross over, back IA
| places; side couples toward, cross over,
| back to places; swing corners; ladies IL
/ the right and oil all would 60 into per
I petuui motion.
Then the leader would rap on the lacl.
I OF his fiddle, and that set was finished.
1 During the pause a city-brcd youth, d
! pupil OF Prof. lupus, wouldtip the fiddler
aud ask for a wallz, and then beg some
married lady 20 waltz. lie would never
think OF asking one OF the girls 10 Walt
with him, and ID WIS rare II lac got any one
10 indulge. The old men would shak,
their heads and say 1t was too near akin tC
hugpin'.
"somc Of the BOYS would watch for the
girls ut night-nceting, walk home Will
them. Others, more bold. would go I,
their homes and take them to church OF
reaching home the young lady would IN
vito him 10 come in-noihfng more. The,
never invited young man to call. Some
times the father 90 mother would. Ladici
never, as now, took gentlemen 10 task io
treating them caynicrly by neglecting 9,
visit them; nor Is il done now by ladies o
good breeding. With tliem they believe
that all advances should he made 10y Oh,
gentlemen. They avoided all iamiliarit!
and ali nppearance d evil. ~