Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-13
\ GEORGIA CRACKER DANCE.
One of the Few Pleasures of the
Southern Poor whites

fsof W mites.
From the Boston Transcript.
Few, indeed, are the pleasurable excite
ments OF the crackers life. and yet he has
some fete days and holidays. Paramount
among these are the cane grindln' " and
sugar bilin'." Most Of them have a cane
patcn OF greater or less extent, according ID
the number of lis stock Of cattle and the
children big enough to assist and the ex-
tent 10 which he can overcome his chronic
indisposition to labor. Along in November
and December the grindings begin. and usu-
ally go in rotation. so that the linked
sweetness may be long drawn out" Every
body Is invited. and preparations are made
10 entertain all corners, for the cracker Is,
above all things, hospitable. One or more
razoToacks yield UP the ghost. plenty Of
grits and sweet potatoes are on hand and
the Iarder is ready. For some days before
cutting actually begins the cracker is busy
setting up his mill and furnace. The whole
affair Is primitive in the extreme. A pine
sapiing with just the right crook In it is
hltcfed at one end to a pony; the other ia
fastened to two small upright rollers be-
tween which the cane is crushed
While the pony steadily treads his circle
three or four sticks CT cane are fed to the
mill. The thin, greenIsh Juice runs into A
rude wooden trough. which conducts It to
barrel covered with a gunnysack when
serves as strainer. The chimney and fur
mace, into the fiat top Of which the large
iron boiler or Cauidron is set are rudely
fashioned of clay. After five or six hours
hard boiling and skimming the syrup IS
done, and for a few moments all is excite
ment as the firebTands are raked out from
the furnace and the boiler IS emptfed of it's
saccharine contents. The syrup is a clear
amber and of delicious favor, and Just q
few moments over boiling would change it
TO sugar. for which your true cracker has
little use, the syrup having a much greater
he Iii aTasa.a al
carefully put in a clean barrel, where they
soon ferment and make kind Of beer. they
call It, which with age becomes highly in
toxicating. Well the cracker works stead
lily. for him. for some days. knowing fun
well that his fun will come when once the
boiling is over for invariably they end with
candy pull and dance.
Now, truly, a cracker dance is a peculiar
institution, and one which furnishes bound
less amusement to the outsider. IL so be lie
il fortunate enough to he invited to grace
one with his presence. Young and old big
and little, attend. each one bent on getting
his fullest amount of enjoyment out of the
occasion. There are always some among
them who can play a violin, and the air
they play must be an heirloom, for il is al
ways the same and only one. 1t IS always
the same HOMOGENEOUS Jangle on a few notes
and played fast possible. but the
cracker seems TO enjoy IL. and his feet keep
time to the measure. however rapid IL may
be. AS the rooms are not large but sixteen
can udECe at OiCF, anu llltF All III one
set two couples being on each Of the four
sides.
The fun commences early and continues
late. fresh lot of dancers always being
ready to take the places of those who are
Hearied out with a good half hours rapid
dancing, for each set holds the floor at
least THAI long. All night long. above the
ung-a-tang of the violin. is heard a contin-
Ual repetition of such calls as these: Hon
or you partners; now you corners, ALA
ren-left! First couple to the right and dos
a-baIletnet. Next couple follow and swing
lady or cheati Irvine the blacksnlke in
and out, First lady TO the right, swing and
fioat!" and such floating, about airy and
graceful a careerfng mule. "All lemon
ade and hit a well sweetened with nothinf
Honor the flower basket, now the wood
boxi Big ring all aroundi Ladies to the
middle of the floor and gentlemen to they
seats" Then each gentleman makes a
frantic grab for his partner and leads her,
rosy and painting. TO the coolest spot he can
find, for seats are few and far between