Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-14
WHITE KID GLOVES WON.
A Cowboys Scheme to be Chosen
'sCaller-Off" at a Frontier Dance.
From the New York Tribune.

From the New York Tribune.
We decided to give dance on Christmas
eve, and the frontier town of Hugo was in a
wild state Of excitement. That was several
years ago, but 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 women there
two children and perhaps sixty or seventy men
in all, most of whom were cowboys. Every
man around the neighborhood had made his
plans to be at that dance, and why every head Of
cattle thereabout did not get away is a mystery,
as the ranches were all deserted on that evening.
You may be sure that the fame OF that occur
renee 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 waxed, and SO we hunted up some
beeswax and generously scattered it around
VI course 1t did not improve 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 six-shooters that evening, some of
US for the first time in good many days. The
GROWING touch to the arrangements was a
supper. There was not man in Hugo or fifty
miles around whose chest did not swell with
pride when he thought Of that supper; ''colla-
ton We called it.
THE IDEAL CALLER-oFF.
How we were going toarrange about partners
did not worry US much, for at dance in those
days the principal feature was the dance. But
there was one thing over which 1, for one. lay
awake nights That was the calling off. "
The distinction Of being chosen to call off the
figures can hardly be appreciated in these days
and in this country. fhe man thus honored
always had his position at the head of the room
right next to the violin, and, of course, he was
one Of the head couple. His power was hardly
less than that Of dictator. The ''caller" was
always elected by a vote of the ladies just as
the violin began to tune up. "Bill' Stevens
was admitted by every one to be the best man
sonorous tones 'Sash-ee-ay" or .dose-ee-
dough" He was an ideal caller in the minds
CT 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 "Bilr'
Stevens was respondent in new blue flannel
shirt adorned with shining brass buttons. and
he had on a bright red necktie. He had new
heels on his boots, and on the whole was gotten
up faultlessly-that Is, according to the fashion
laws of Hugo
The COLONIES sTRATAGEM.
There was only one man in the town who
could in any way compare with Stevens either
as care1ul dresser or as q caller. This was
Colonel Netcah. But the colonel that night
did not seem to be at bis best. His gray flannel
shirt had no brass buttons, and certainly his
green tie was not SO gorgeous as the flaming
red one Of Stevens. When the first mournful
note OF the violin.was sounded 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 ap-
parently already made their choice. but at this
point three heads went together in their corner
and there was a hurried consultation in whis-
pers. Then /, as floor manager, was SUMMONED
and requested to announce to the colonel that
he would have the honor of calling orr the
figures Of the dances that evening.
Wherever in Colorado the colonel got those
gloves always remained a 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, he led the dance that
night, and it was admitted on all sides that lis
maneuver was most brilliant and strategic.