Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-12-19
A HILARIOUS TIME
At TIE HAcK DRIVERS BALL At FULTON
LAST NIGHF.
A Condemnation Of Frail Females, Tough Char
aclsrs and Young BlOOds-Besr ard
Cigarettes Galore

Imagine q room about forty feet
square, redolsnt with the not too pleas
ing odor Of tobacco smoke; az elevated
platform upon which . band OF colored
musicians tortured their instruments
in vain effort to play popular dance
melodies; about fifteen frail females,
twice as many tough characters, and
twenty or more young bloods, dancing
IN wanton disregard Of ths>conventiOn-
alities of the ball room, and above all
the coarse jest and vulgar guffaw, and
you have a fair picture OF the hack
drivers ball which was given in Fulton
last night
The ball was succeSS-that Is IL
made money for those who managed
the affair, and who maintained Stolid
indifference regarding the nature OF the
conduct of the men and women in the
hall. IL was late in the evening when
the revelry began. at ten o'clock there
were but three persons present. The
reason is easily explained. II was whis-
Dered about. In that quiet but contagious
manner In which such reports are cir
culated, that the "lades" would not ar
rive until late in the evening. Antony
Green was on hand early with his or
chestra, and was ready TO fiddle tune
on Z moments notice.
About eleven o'clock there were SUI
icient number Of frail females present
10 start Quadrille, but the dance was
tams for an hour or more. Meanwhile
a half dozen young boys circulated in
the crowd with their trays, and they
were kept busy in catering 10 the thirsty
crowd. ConvivialitY usually accOmpa-
MES excuses OF this nature, and 1t hap
pened that there was no departure from
the rule on this occasion. The crowd
was constantly augmented by arrivals
from the city. Many Of those who went
out early under mistaken impression
put in the time at a weil-knOwn resort
al the east end OF the town, presided
over by portly female who
is Familiarity known as Mother" She
had two female bar-tenders, who would
not resent familiarity on the part OF
their male customers, and VINO were
decked out in their most attractive
gowns for the occasion.
But 10 return 10 the ball. The men
outnumbered the women eight TO one,
and there was a constant scramble for
partners which threatened 10 involve
some persons in fsticuifs later in the
evening, when the booze began TO as
sert itself, unless the supply OF nymphs
du pave was increased. Each arrival Of
the fair ones-they all came in hacks
was announced by the doOr-keeper.
-Four more ladies, gentlemen"
excited thesthrong, and another hack
load OF girls" never failed 10
create stampede in the direction Of
the door.
With two or three exceptions, all the
girls were inmates of bagniOs Of the
town. The exceptions were one girl,
who, as a rounder explained, was get
ting into high society for the first
times" and two "hired girls" One Of
the latter upon entering the hall dis
covered the sporty" son OF her mistress
over in one corner. Each sQuirmed
about unsasily, and the efforts Of both
TO hide, were painful in the extreme.
Later in the evening, il was all fixed
Up, while the two discussed the situa-
tiOn over their beer glasses.
The males present would have made
an interesting study for a student Of
human nature. Dlsreputable char
acters elbOwed clerks and business
men, and all Joined 10 the revelry on
equal terms. This article would make
mighty interesting reading" il some
OF the names were published.
One gambler secured q table in q
small ants-rOom aud produced a vest
pocket outfit, consisting OF dice cup
and a row Of figures. He proceeded TO
unfold the scheme by which mis- patrons
could become rich at his expense. He was
ably seconded by q "capper," but the
scheme didn't work well for two res-
sons. In the first place, great many
persons present had followed the same
game for livelihood at some time or
other, and were not willing 10 be work
ed as suckers" In the second place, a
gentleman with a bright badge on the
lapel OF his coat, put In an appearance
at an uRtimely moment, and the outfit
was hastily folded up, and returned to
the pocket. Two or three unsuccessful
efforts TO "turn an honest penny" were
made by the gambler.
Ii was not until midnight that the eX-
pectatiOns Of the young bloOds were
realized. Copious draughts OF foaming
lager had the inevitable effect, and
many were then in a maudlin condition.
The fragile creatures who had before
made q show OF decorum, threw of the
veil, iguratively speaking, and permit
ted liberties on the part Of their male
companions. They danced the High
land fling" and several other filings,
at the call OF "chasse 20 right" aud
did not hesitate TO expose their draper
les. Many Of them danced with lighted
cigarettes in their mouths, which they
pulled With the abandon Of women OF
Of their class.
After each dance there was 8 rush
for the drinking rooms, where the girls
sat In the laps Of their male companions,
with their feet perhaps in the lap OF au-
other, aud banded obscene jokes
There was no longer pretense 10 re-
spectabillty.
After midnight the crowd was aug
msnted by arrivals from the houses OF
easy virtue, and the Bacchanalian
revslry continued until early this
morning.
BLACK goods-Read Shook & Co.'S
en-1av