The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-09-15


had been linen standing collars on
heavy cotton shirts with no bosoms. striped
home made pants, and very heavy cowhde
boots.
Some of the girls were truly handsome
/ never was much of a critic of ladies'
clothing, and, therefore, / will not here
undertake 10 describe the outline, except
to say that the dresses were OF very costly
material, and made after the very latest OF
rustic fashion, and each one was highly
pleased with her appearance.
On kitchen table sat a very big and
certainly very black, negro playing the
violin, and calling off, in meliifuous, sing
song tones, tuning his voice to the music
of his instrument perfectly. There were
two cotiiiionS on the floor whirling and
twiriing in the giddy mazes of the dance
to the vofuptuouSiy measured cadence OF
the "ArkanSaw Traveller" The music is
familiar to almost every ear, but, alas,
how few there are who have been SO favor
ed by Divine Providence and prOpitiouS
circumstances as to have seen the "Arkan-
saw Traveller danced by natives to the
manner born. No other people know it's
performance as do the people Of Arkansas,
and no other musician can render the
piece on the violin or banjo like an Arkan-
Sas plantation darby.
By the side of the fiddler sat a veteran
banjo picker, who added much to the effect
of the music, and as the fiddler called cff
the figures of the dance this old darky
would recite the dialog OF the "Arkansaw
Traveller keeping perfect time to the
music. For the benefit of the reader who
has never had the pleasure OF seeing it
performed ! will endeavor to convey an
idea of it, although one can give but a
faint conception of il on paper. The thing
must be seen and heard TO be appreciated
A QUAINT DANCE
The scene represents a belated traveller
| in Arkansas in an "airly day." ] suppose,
| reader, when your dad" and mine were
boys, OF, perhaps, earlier He haits before
a diiapidated cabin to see if he can get To
stay all night. 1t is miserable. squalid
place. The rain is pouring down in tor
rents, and the old man of the house is
perched on a whisky barrel in the only
/ dry corner playing the first part of a tune
The children are huddicd around the
| fire peering curiousiy at the stranger,
while the old woman with one arm akin
| DO, is stirring a pot OF mush over the fire,
holding her dress back between her knees
| TO keep il from burning.
| The roof of the cabin is partly demol-
! ished; a couple OF pigs Illuminating about
| on the ground floor and chickens with
dripping feathers, roosting on the timbers
over head. This is the state of affair s
when the story opens. The reader can
player rccites it.
Balance all, shouts the fiddler, when
the old banjo picker starts off with
Hello, ole man, Kin | git ter stay here
all nite-rad Oh di da di di da da da
FIRST and third couple, forward and
| back, yeiis the fiddler
Yer kin git ter de ole boy, ! guess, 1"
breaks in the banjo picker, keeping time
| with the dancers feet.
| First lady balance second gemman."
| II say, ole man, whar do dis road go to-
rad di iii da di di da da7"
Swing" yelis the fiddler, and old white
head goes on with:
Il ben a Twin here about 40 year an
it amt gone no whar yit-ra di di da di di
da da da, etc.
How far is it to de forks oh de road p
rad di di da,' ETC.
"Ef yer done KEEP on, yer done ben dar
by dis time, then again chimed in his
rad di di de di di da da da
Il say ole man, is We gwine ter let me
stay all nite?-rad di di da da."
At the next break in the music he an
swers:
Amt got muffin to eat stranger. yer
better go on ter de mex house-rad di di
da da, +" etc.
How far is it, ole man, to de mex
house FRA di di da da, etc.
A pause then ensues, when he con-
tinues:
Bout 10 miles, guess-rad di di da, :"
etc.
"ole man. dats too fur ter ride ter mite
| in de rain."
| He then paused. in order not to speak