Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1888-05-10
PASTORAL DANCES.
The Leading Amusement of Early
CaIifornians.

Dancing was passion with Californians
early in the present century. 1t affected
all from infancy to old age. Grandmothers
and grandchildren were seen dancing to-
gether. Their houses were constructed
with reference to this amusement, and
most of the interior space was appropriated
to the sola, a large barn-like room. A few
chairs and a wooden settee were all its
furniture. If few people got together at
any hour of the day, the first thought was
to send for violin or guitar, and should
violin and guitar be found together in
skillful hands, that of itself was sufficient
reason for sending for the dancers.
Balls were also held in the open air. A
large space was selected in front of the
house and rooted over with boughs; three
of its sides were covered with white cotton
stuff adorned with ribbons and artificial
flowers The fourth side was left open
and there horsemen collected in a group
before strong fence which prevented the
intrusion of the horses. Around the three
inclosed sides were seats for the women.
The musicians and two or three singers sta
toned themselves in corner where they
were out of the way. The master of cere-
monies organized everything connected
with the ball. He led out the women
when they danced singly, beginning at one
end of the saloon. Clapping hands, he
took steps to the music in front OF her
whom he desired to call out. She, rising,
went to the center of the saloon, and ex
tending her skirts with both hands began
to dance to the sound of the music. After
taking turn or two in the center of the
saloon she retired and another took her
place. In this way all the women present
were called out, except such as could not
dance or did not desire to do so, and these
for compliments sake rose, and giving a
hand to the master of ceremo-
MES, were turned by him and
then reseated. While the woman
were dancing, the men ON horse back kept
up continual movement and sky-larking,
coming and going and disputing places,
each endeavoring to force his horse to the
front. If the piece were to be danced by
a couple, the horsemen who wished to take
part dismounted, removed their spurs and
hung them at the saddle bow then, hat in
hand, they entered the parlor and esch
took out the partner selected. The piece
concluded, the women retired to their
places and the men remounted.
AI.hor<,L Ill c,-l.r--:--, hl1-.
much alike, they varied in the song and in
the ceremonies. The jota was the favorite.
Each cavalier took out lady and the
couples faced each other. The music began
and the singers began their verses or
estribWos-a kind of refrain in lyric
couplets of no very high order of poetry
and Immediately each set of couples COM
menced to move the hands and arms
capriciously, taking care that this should
last as long as the verse lasted. On the
singers beginning another estribillo,
all Joined hands, forming a chain, and the
circle moved around till partners were
facing each other again. The singers then
began another verse, and the couples to
make different figures. The step in this
dance consisted in alternately raising the
feet and hopping gracefully in time with
the music. This dance was most harmOni-
GUS and graceful when understood by
the participants; on this ac-
count it was generally exc
cuted by older persons who were
skilled in it and because it required GER
tain digniied grace. The words Of the
verses were according to the caprice of
the singers and perhaps came down from
ancient times. The estribHo was long or
short, according to the number of couples
taking part in the dance.-Hubert HoCe
Bancoroft's California Pastoral.