The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-12-04
A BALL AT WOODS HALL.
If You Want to Learn How TO
Dance the "Yersoylanner,"
Go There.

Much has been said and written about
the art OF dancing. but IL one desires to
study the popular pastime. a trip TO
Woods Hall on almost any evening in
the week will give one an insight into
the different styles aud steps that could
not be obtained elsewhere. nor even at
Carriers. For years Woods Hall has
lower part OF the city. and all sorts of
organizations have held balls aud
receptions there. One evening last
week when / visited the hall 1 found a
scene Of wild revelry. A masquerade
ball was In progress and from tan O'Clock
in the evening until daybreak the hall
was crowded with wouid-b tough
youths. painted wo men and bald headed
"rounders." Smok ing was not prohibited
aud the air was so thick aud heavy that
the stout man who played the coruet in
the orchestra" had to puff himself up
until ne looked like a potato standing On
q watermelon in order to N AXE enough
noise co guide the dancers through the
difficult movements of the "versovi n
ner."
The costumes of the dancers to use the
expires sion OF the floor manager were
plum CiSdu Oub eE SikuL. Inc nlOSG
noticeab lie thing in regard to the "ladies"
was tina t a great deal of the burden of
clothing was laid aside Ons tall blonde
was attlred In a nile green skirt that
reached hardly to her knees. She wore
RED and White stockings. aud this
together with the chrome yellow waist
made a study in colors that l will not
soon forget There were over thirty
flower gi rls," a choice assortment Of
little girls in blue" aud enough school
girls" to crowd our public schools to
suffice alton. Then there were girls with
bleac he'd hair adorned with diamond"
pins and flowers. One of these said
"Hully gee If dis amt Gus. Say Gus
where's yer woman. Amt got none.
We'll den Pm dead In it. amt l."
"You bet" answered Gus, coma an
have a beer" aud the ceu pie walked arm
In arm down stairs III search for The
amber fluid. That tn ey found it was
shown by afterward by GUS inability to
dance "der Saratoga" without wip ing up
the floor with his coat tails.
Whenever the music struck ND all
hands rushed for the ballroom fsor.
Negros, clowns, sailors. little girls iu
blue. daisy bella and scores of other
characters, seldom seen outside OF a
nightmare plyoted. whirled. kicked.
yelled aud collidsd with eacn other on
the. polished floor. At-times it looked
very much as though the female dancsrs
were turning summsrsauits. but there
was no remonstranca against this style
Of dancing and consequently NO tcouble.
But the scenes here were s.uot to be
compared With those in tae Liquid re-
freshment" room GU the floor bslow.
Here the gaudily costumsd females sat
on the laps Of their escorts aud placed
their weary feet upon the table wails
they poured beer down rhsIr more or
less shaDeiy threats. The rictous living
OF the Proiigal Son could not hold a
candle to the rsvelry III his room.
Say Mag. what do yer think er dist"
shouied one girl to another.
der fuest pail of der season. was the
reply.
Are yer goiu' to der Mugs racket"
'Certi"
is Billy goin'f"
"Nawl"
Come an be wild us Ted's blowing
off. Ted don't MUD"
Nav" said Ted. ppm wild yer till der
dough hangs out" So Mag came over
and had a beer at Ted's expense.
Scenes like these were enacted all
night. As dawn approached, the bali
was 1t its height. The dancers ed
to never weary. and when "Home, Sweet
Home" by the orchestra announced that
1t was time to quit many demurred and
asked III 1t a few mora dances be- given.
The Janltor closed the argument by puts
ting opt the lights.