Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-02-01
TIE TOUGH BALLS
WHICH EVER RID ANON CONE OFF IN
WHEELING.
4 Tvpical Scene at Recent "HOp'-Bssr, Girls
Profanity, TOughS Music and lndscsncy
All Mixed Up Together.

Then the Olu IOunueEi WHO mas az
tended all the public balls given in the
city for the past ten years, walked slow
ly away, softly humming that popular
refrain, But oh, what a difference in
the morning"
Public balls, ordinarily, are conduct
ed with a show Of responsibility, but
there was an affair Of this nature given
in city hall one evening lately,
which capped the climax for the
free-and-easY manner in which il was
conducted. Everything goes" was the
motto Of the management, and TO say
that those who attended took adyan-
tsge Of the unrestrained liberties which
they were allowed is 70 express IL mildly.
10 was not a ghost dance, in the COM
mon acceptatiOn OF that term, but a
view of the interior OF the hall, during
the progress Of the affair, reminded one
very forcibly of the memorable "tuff"
ball given at Turner Hall last winter.
The crowd was made up Of people from
an sections Of the city, and from Ben
wood, BelIaire and West Wheeling.
a REGISTER reporter dropped into the
hall about midnight, and took adyan-
tage OF the opportunity to witness the
dizzy scenes when the festivities were
al their height. The commodious hall
was packed. Little groups Of girls and
men stood about the hall, chatting mer-
rily and exploding with 'aughter at
each fresh obscene jest, while above the
din could be heard the stentOrian voice
of the floor manager, calling out:
Three mere couple this way"
The dance was simply indiSCribable.
The first was a square dance. After
considerable delay, the music started.
Swing corners"
A lively shuttle of the feet, a sudden
dash for corner partners, q grab with
both hands for the young lady'S waist,
s close embrace, and a succession Of
dizzy revolutions, after which the part
ners return 10 places, with a movement
Of the feet which must be seen 10 be APP
preciated.
A buxOm widow from West Wheeling
Is dancing in front OF the reporter.
Seven men fill out the set. She goes
through the figures with a dOn't-care
air that catches the boys In great shape,
especially when balancing, as she grabs
her skirts on both sides and does some
fancy kicking which would make Car
mencita blush with envy. There IS q
mad rush for the solitary woman In the
set, when the ''swing partners is
called, and the dancers jostle and
crowd each other In their mad scramble
for the buxom widow.
Ladies lead TO the right"
A girl who was not fortunate enough
10 secure a partner, daShes into a set,
throws her arms about one OF the men
aud takes her turn in the rapid swing
ing. One man sees that COnfuSion,m
result. He selects a favOrite woman,
and swings her, until the next order,
Scents follow is given.
During the intermiSSiOn between the
different figures, a girl leaves her part
ner, rushes over % a young man who Is
talking with some friends and imprints
a kiss square upon his lips. The crowd
laughs hilariously. The Young man is
somewhat abashed, but he decides i'm
mediately upon course Of action. He
must reClprOcate. Then follows mad
chase about the hall, the girl IS caught,
aud the osculatory act is repeated.
At length the dance is finished. Two
young men lead their partners to the
seats along the side OF the hall. They
sink into the chair, and the girls, see
ing no other place 20 sit down, drop
comfortably upon the masculine knees.
Others are heated and-thirSty. They
pair of, and Sart for the bar, which IS
i'm another part Of the building. But
one young fellow sees another march
lug of with his girl He protests.
''Well III set 'em up to her, and I'll
take her home too, see
Angry words follow. The young
lady, a very pretty girl, who has seen
much of the gay side Of life, in the six
teen years of her existence, is asked
to choose between the two. She de-
ClineS.
BIZ.
One young man is sprawling upon the
fOOr. Two lovely knots raise upon his
face, closing his right optic, while a
stream OF blood slowly trickleS down his
cheek. A female scream, a crowd
gathers, an officer appears, and the
young men are hustled OIL in the patrol
wagon to the lookup. But the band
plays, not Annie Laurie, the dance con-
tinueS, and the little incident IS soon
forgotten. The respective sweethearts
OF the two boys wipe away their tears,
get outside of q few more glasses or
lager" and arc as gay as ever. Next
morning the young men are fined under
assumed names by Mayor Seabright.
But the reporter finds a seat near the
door, and awaits the next dance. A
curly headed dame, with her trim figure
encased In a stunning costume OF pale
green, returns from the bar, and with
uncertain step, StaggerS up, and placing
her elbow on his shoulder TO steady her
"Say. are you the fellow that's goin'
70 take me home in a cab?'
She receives q reply in the negative,
but keeps her elbow on the repOrtorial
shoulder, and continues mum0led
talk, until a girl who is scuitling with
Voung man behind her, strikes her sud
denly. The next instant l65 pounds OF
female lovelinesS is comfortably squat
ted upon the knees Of the olushing
scribe She is assisted In regaining her
feet. and Stammers out;
"WhoOpe, Was / too heavy for you?
Say. I've been drinkin' all evening, n
] b'Heve I'm gettin' tipsy."
A polka is called. The reporters
new friend is asked to dance. why,
cert" she replies. After several IN
successful attempts, they get started,
and away they go. They strike aeouple
inst getting ready to dance. A pair OF
No. : shoes cut a slice out Of the atmoS-
Dbere. a dull thud, and four pairs OF
limbs are going through gymnaSsic ex-
erCiSes.