The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-05-28
Original poetrp.
AN EFFORT WITH AN AIM.
Written for the Democratic Advocate
BY .F.w.

rho t,l,o,viup lines were suggested by attendin
a dance at Howard Hall" SykcSvihe' on rE'9'e
Monday nlght:l
owe an apology to dance
And will if am given but the chance
Make public my regrets, and give to you
The substance ofmy nOlc and former view
Yes I'll acknowledge with sigh,
That often I'd a country dance descr!
In nv imagination as the height
of all that's boorish and unerudite
I thoupht that here and there in cowhide boo'S
rd see the rustics dressed in blue-jean Suits
THAT .Irish.iies." and "Double-quicks' wonld he
The only dances could hope to see.
Rut now at length, 1 own, am amazed
tn see how foolishly il was appraised
How little knew ofthe real affair
Indeed Il nearly drives me TO despair
To think ON what missed, when all the winnie
reigned, with critics smile
That duty led me quite the other way
When friends for country dances babe me stay
AT length went, and ifyou can believe
,..you know that brunettes neuer do deceive)
| had most enchanting time, and feel
Zen now the Joy my words cannot reveal;
For we do not always know the thrill
Ofgenuine emotion, Till It's STILL
All. when the hour is past we often see
What we have lost III dreamy iC'et'S
The music of The Dance, when ali Is stiIl'
In dreamy echoes all my slumbers hii'
And faces bright and forms than all more i'ea'
Glide past and past again on fairy ieet'
often wish to dance those dances DER
I crv with Others. pleasures votaires)-"iaore'-
In dreams the moments of that night retnrh-
But never the reality for which yearh'
hear the notes Of walzes sweet ana 10"
tl,a in feel bcstDM
Upon the glossy floor, all eager TO dlSpla!
Their skill in dancing, to the lay
And thea, like graceful yachts upon the sea
with siIken sails and all bewi.ching beauty,
They glide towards me; here and there they tack
Astbough each helmsman did his care relax
Now one beans down upon me all in yetto'c
To tease her bow" about the other fellow
Another follows all in red and white.
And forms own IL most entcing sight
And now while beauties. and their colors ny
In quick succession It's no wonder
Must own myself confused nd quite dslrait
But such indeed is every rhymers fate,
They hardly know a dress. when It's just seen
And nearly always tells you what lit should hay
been.
Rut am struck on" purple, | confess
Al least think that was the color of the dress
(which She had on but then I'll give il ''dea'
away"
If I'm not quick 10 write what I've 10 say
Purple is indeed pretty shade,
And will be 80 until its history fades
Until the records of Phocnician sight shall he
Only A freak of some most wondrOus memory
own | liked the dress. aud for the present, too
know greater like was happily due
Rut then there was IL dress which had IN me
It's chifest beauty in simplicity.
White for virtue, aud red bows above
To show the maiden still had faith in love.
And then the chaperones owe and feel
A lingering debt of thanks to Mrs. steele,
And Mrs warfcld too, must have share.
Or else know she'd think was unfair.
But then "by George" vow ii is pity,
near had passed nor thanked the dance com
mitce;
But as still have time I'll let them know
l feel most grateful to them all, Guy, Penn am
Beau"
But having come without the slightest predilect"i
Please grant me pardon for the relrospecti'h'
of country dances assure you now
bind me TO their pleasures by rOr
Never no never, while God gives me life
And haze Il heart and foot for the strife;
Never no never, shall dance music fail
To lift from the past the cnshrouding veil.
The night of the dance will dawn on my view
Aud often my thoughts will revert 10 you,
And oft when uneasy and things go wrong,
| will lust for luck hum the "Old sweet song,
And looking backward make that one night seen
The happy elimination Of rhymer's dream