Wichita eagle., 1889-10-18
WHITE KID GLOVES WON THE DAY.
A Cowboys Scheme to BE Chosen "Calls
Cf-' at . Frontier Dance.

Cowboys Scheme to Be Chosen "Caller
Cf-' at Frontier Dance.
We decided to give dance on Christmas
eve, and the frontier town Of Hugo was in
wild state Of excitement That was several
years ago. but l remember the whole thing
as perfectly as If it had happened yesterday.
The population Of the place was like that Of
other western towns. There were four wo-
men there, two children, and perhaps sixty or
seventy men in all, most Of whom were cow
boys. Every man around the neighborhood
had made his plans to be at that dance, and
why every head Of cattle thereabout did no.
get away is q mystery, as the ranches were
all deserted on that evening.
You may be sure that the fame of that oc-
currence spread throughout that part of
Colorado. The arrangements were gotten up
in truly magnificent manner for Hugo.
The store was cleared up, the floor carefully
scrubbed and all the chairs in the town were
arranged along the walls The boys declared
that the floor must be waved, and SO we
hunted up some beeswax and generously scat
tered it around OF course it did not i'm
prove the floor, but it was wax, and wax
was what we wanted. 1t was agreed that
the dance was to be conducted in true eastern
fashion, and we all unstrapped the belts OF
our si1-shooters that evening" some of US for
the first time in good many days. Tbs
browning touch TO the arrangements was
supper. There was not a man in Hugo or
fifty miles around whose chest did not swell
with pride when he thought Of that supper;
collation." we called it.
How we were going to arrange about part
ners did not worry us much, for at a dance in
those days the principal feature was the
dance. But there was one thing over which
l, for one, lay awake nights. That was the
calling Oft" The distinction OF being chosen
to call OFF the figures can hardly be appre-
ciated in these days and in this country. The
man thus honored always had his position at
the head of the room right next 20 the violin,
and Of course he was one Of the head couple.
His power was hardly less than that of die
tator. The caller was always elected by
vote Of the ladies just as the violin began to
tune up.
"Bill" Stevens was admitted by every one
to be the best man who had ever squared
away as he sang out In sonorous tones, sash
ee-ay," or ''dose-ee-dough." He was On ideal
''cailern in the minds of Hugo's citizens. We
all expected that he was sure to be selected.
He always was.
Every one was promptly on hand that
evening. Late arrivals were not the fashion
in Hugo "Bill" Stevens was Respondent in
a new blue flannel shirt adorned with shining
brass buttons, and he had on bright red
necktie He had new heels on his boots, and
on the whole was gotten up faultless; that is,
according to the fashion laws of Hugo.
There was only one man in the town who
could in any way compare with Stevens,
either as a careful dresser or as caller"
This was Col Metcalf, but the colonel that
night did not seem to be at his best. His gray
flannel shirt had no brass buttons, and GER
tainly his green tie was not so gorgeous as
the flaming red one of Stevens. When the
first mournful note of the violin was sounded,
however, the colonel, with a flourish, drew
from his pocket pair Of white kid gloves
and began to squeeze his hands into them
The ladies' committee Of four had apparently
already made their choice, but at this point
three heads went together in their corner and
there was hurried consultation in whispers.
Then l. as floor manager, was summoned ard
requested TO announce to the colonel that lie
would have the honor of calling od' the dg
ures Of the dances that evening.
Wherever in Colorado the colonel got those
gloves always remained mystery. | know
that they were the first / had seen west of the
Missouri, for we seldom got near any large
towns. But, at any rate, be led the dance
that night, and it WAS admitted on all sides
that his maneuver was most brilliant and
strateCic--New York Tribune.