The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-08
SOCIETY A CENTURY AGO.
The Dancing ASSGmbly'S Rules and
Regulations in 1889.

A Relic of Savannah's "Four Hun
dred" in the Ante-Revolutionary
Days-Etiquette of the Ball Room
According to the MoA1listers of That
Period-Mrs. Basingsr's Gift to the
Historical Society Reveals Glimpse
of the Early Exclusive Set.
1t is generally supposed by society peo-
pie of to-day that assembly balls are a
thing of the last half century or less, but
n disputable evidence to the contrary has
ibeen discovered.
A copy of the Rules and Regulations of
the Dancing Assembly of Savannah,
dated Dec. 4, 1889, was presented the
Georgia Historical Society last night by
Mrs. Jane L. Basinger, widow Of Major
w. L. Basinger, of Dahlonega, formerly
of Savannah. Mrs. Basinger moved from
Sannanah recently to make her home
with her son in Dahlonega.
Before leaving the city she entrusted
Mr.. VIM Harden, librarian of the Geor-
gia Historical Society with this relic of
the last century, to be presented to the
society. 1t is well preserved and is
| neatly printed and the paper is encased
in neat frame with glass cover.
A SOCIETY RELIC.
The rules which regulated the balls
| of Sayannah's society one hundred years
ago will prove of considerable interest to
society people of to-day. Style and fash
ion in dancing have evidently changed
very much since that time. What an I'M
heard hour & O'Clock would seem now
! for beginning q ball Those were the
days Of the stately minuet
and the square dance. The
young gallants had no opportunity to dis
play their ability as leaders of the ger
| man. Instead the ladies seem to have
| called the dances, judging by the reading
of the rules.
The ladies drew for position, and each
lady was entitled to name the figures for
her dance. Those were the days Of Off
cial precedence, and the governors lady
always ranked first. There were thirteen
rules in all, as foliaws:
THE RULES IN VOGUE.
/. The assemblies to commence on the
third Wednesday night in December
inst, and to continue once every fort
night throughout the season.
2. Each assembly to open with minuets,
beginning precisely at $3.50 O'Clock
3, In country dances the governors
lady shall be entitled to the first number
without drawing.
4. All other ladies shall stand agreea-
ably to the number which they draw,
brides and strangers excepted, who for
one evening shall be entitled to the second
number without drawing.
5. No lady shall call more than one
! dance and the figure which she sets shall
| be observed through the whole without
| variation unless altered with her con-
sent and no lady shall dance out of her
| set but by permission of the managers.
! 6. Every lady shall stand up when her
number is called and no lady shall sit
! down till every couple shall have gone
| through the dance.
7. Every lady and gentleman shall have
| the privilege of engaging their own part
ners, but if there should be any lady I'M
| engaged or any gentleman not a subscrib-
| er the managers will endeaYor to engage
| partners for them.
A RESIDENT AFFAIR.
s. No gentleman residing in or within
| 10 miles of Savannah who is not a sub
| scriber shall be admitted.
| 9. Strangers to be admitted by appro-
| batioq Of the managers on their paying
| 81 ticket.
10. Any subscriber introducing a
! stranger Qady or gentleman shall be an
swerable for any improper introduction.
II. No card playing until the country
dances begin. No gentlemen to be adj
mitted in boots.
~. There shall be six managers chosen,
| two of whom shall officiate each night,
| who shall have full power to regulate and
| conduct the entertainment as they think
| proper. No acting manager to dance for
| the night.
ID. There shall be treasurer appointed
who shall receive and account for all
moneys to the managers.
The following gentlemen were chosen
managers at a meeting of the subscribers
on the 4th Dec. 1888: Sir George Hous-
ton, Major Habersbam, Jas.
| C. Grove, Esq, DR.. G. Wilson,
| Mr.. Il. L. Fortman, Mr.. James Wallace
| and Mr. John Webb Checkley, treasurer.
THE DONOR OF THE RELIC.
Mrs. Basinger, who presented this old
! document to the historical society, is SO
| years of age and is a remarkable old lady
| Her father died about the beginning of
! the war at the remarkable age of IS. This
| copy of assembly rules has been in pos
session of her family for nearly 100 years.
| In all probability it hung upon the wall
| OF the ball room whose floor was graced
! by the bellies of a century ago and the he
| rOes of revolutionary fame
| The war with Groat Britain had
| only ceased three years before and
the tide of prosperity which had been so
| long interrupted had just resumed its flow.
| One thing the old relic shows and that is
! that the spirit of Savannah was the
| same 100 years ago as it is to-day, always
| ready for pleasure, but tempering its
! gayety with courtesy and dignity.
Little Marguerite Mcclure Dead.