The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-02-22
AT A COUNTRY DANCE.
One Like Thi, Mutt b. San to b, Fully
Appreciated.
An Entertainment Which Ha, Changed Lit
tic Through tbs Passing Years--Detaiis Of
the Revsl, NJ Pictured By City Writer


ciful writer in the Chicago Herald.
Doubtless the custom OF dancing Is as
old as the race, and agile limbs never
saw the cru when they were too sedate
TO express in graceful RyratIou the ex-
nberance OF the heart Time seems 10
have laid its chilling hand on ex-
preston merely; the spirit OF the
dance may be found yet as keenly SEN
sitive 10 delight AS when the world
was young.
But the country dance Is n creation
OF It's own. As David's brimmlng soul
could find no utterance so satisfying
as his dance before the Lord" SO the
rural swain has never been able 10
substitute for this enjoyment any
other SO completely welcome.
The country dance has held its olden
form. The courtly caperlngs OF an
earlier day may change TO the fancy
styles that now obtain, but good old
square dances. with now and then "a
waltz, have never been improved on
out OF town. Guests come as dark
ness falls. riding In any vehicle that
suits the season, and stabling the
horses In meager sheds or on the lee
OF stacks. The women trip into the
house In such finery "a they can Sc
cure, following Polonius' instructions
more closely than their city sisters do
costly thy habit as thy purse can
buy'-for here all men know TO "a
dollar just what resources every neigh
Dor has. The men stand about the
barns for while and chat OF stock,
the crops, and such salacious scandals
as are not shared In general assembly.
III the night be cold these outside
counsels are brief, indeed. The host
need not assist I'm these arrangements.
Every farmer knows enough OF all the
barns In the neighborhood 10 enable
him TO place his team. Inside the
women have chartered with all possi-
bic speed. exchanging coins OF gossip.
while the men were out learning what
they can OF interest In general, and
tossing banter 10 those happy ones
whose fortunes are not made but
who are proud recipients OF some
young mans attention.
Here 10 is not good form for lover 8
to be attentive 10 their divinities.
They Ignore each other, as rule. but
alrty with possible rivals. Tho coun-
try dance is quite too often tourney
field rs well. The savage in man Is
not so thickly glazed over Us in the
more exquisite city cousin, and every
neighborhood has its hero who en-
braces every opportunity. however
slight to test his powers with aspiring
souls. No studied Insult need be Civ
en-. The very air, the guarded glance,
fragments OF speech, all these prepare
the way for battle, and even though
the dance be formed. the music pulls
ing and the motion swift some peg on
which to hang "A fight earn surely be
found
Just step outside!"
That Is the first the. crowd knows OF
hostilities declared. This going out
OF doors Is coigne OF vantage. The
first man TO pass the portal may we'll
take care. just as he trustingly,
boastfully and glorying in strength
steps from the doorway, he Is likely 10
receive blow In the back. catapult
rush, n dextrous trip that loses him
the battle right at the start But II
both men get outside safely, the pre-
liminaries are brief Coats are peeled,
and tossed in anger TO the ground. a
moment spent In sparring. skipping
from side 10 side, n few hot words. and
Ono Is down. Sometimes the host
feels called upon 10 provide his guests
with drink. but oftener some revelers
bring with them the brand that shnll
light the fires OF conflict These and
al who care TO drink indulge repeat
edly as the night goes on. and. II the
holiday season be selected for the en-
tertainmeut the reveI goes on till al
most day. growing more boisterous ms
the hours wear away. till cruel lest
obscene remark and open insult are as
common rs smoother phrase when the
night was new.
Youth. whether rural or metropoli-
tan, always grows rude aud boisterous
as intoxication incre SIS. and the coun-
try lad finds nothing 10 restrain his per-
verted will He shouts attacks. sings
ribald songs, and there is none TO mo-
lest or make him afraid. for oven the
sober-minded. who most readily could,
find restraint la the current license TO
.let them have COOL time But
they that tarry long ut the wine al WAYS
have wounds without cause. always
have redness OF eyes. and the country
dance Is always succeeded by "A season
OF penance on the part Of those most
foolish among the attendants. while
discreet mothers suffer sharply that
daughters ever lent their presencs 10
such scene.
But there Is something OF virtue
about the aflalr-certainly enough 10
have granted IL continue existencs for
decades. The very roisterers may have
struck some note even In thelr widest