The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1898-03-10
The Old Folks Dance.


The old folks dance in the Belfast
Opera House last Friday evening was
very enjoyable affair and brought out many
who had not been on the floor for several
years. While large number OF the really
old folks were present the dancers were not
confined to that class. There were the old,
the middle aged and the young, and all
seemed to enjoy every minute of the time.
There were a number of costumes of the
style worn before the war, and some of the
Colonial period. A Grandfather's clock
stood upon the stage with placard bearing
the inscription, sold Folks Time"
There were 135 couples on the floor in the
grand march, which was led by Capt. and
Mrs. David H. Libby, aged respectively 70
years and months and 70 years. But they
were not the oldest dancers on the floor,
Frank Lancaster, SO years, having that dis
tincton, with A. D. Chase, rs, next. There
were many others who pressed closely upon
these veterans, and all of them are able to
give points to the younger generations when
| it comes to dancing, and none were lighter
on their feet or more graceful in their move
ed into the spirit of the occasion with zest,
| found in conversing with lady partner
| that neither of them had danced since March
| 1862, more than generation ago. 1t was
eminently social time, and one of its best
features was the bringing together of so
many who rarely meet on such occasions
A dance ordinarily brings out certain set
| Int Il 1T
those supposed to have been laid on the
shelf years ago, and the "reminiscences
recalled in conversation on the floor and
in the galleries would fl volumes. Mighty
interesting reading il would be, too. In
| deed, so successful was the affair that it is
proi osed to make it an annual event, and it
would be one that all would look forward
to with interest.
| The music was by an orchestra of six
pieces led by Prof. j. c. Written, who play
ed and Called with all his old time skill
and vigor. If any dancer went wrong in a
Guadrille it was not the professors fault.
In one of the quadrlle sets three genera
tions of one family We're represented Mr.
A. F. Riggs, his daughter and granddaugh-
| ter
| AT internission tables were spread upon
the stage for 80 couples, and to these the
really Old folks" were invited. Other hles
were set in the hall and over 800 people
were fed in less than an hour. To feed that
number of people would be quite an under
taking for hotel with all the conveniences.
and Mr.. Pote certainly did wonders in the
limited space at his disposal, and to him and
to his untiring assistants great credit is
| due.
| A pleasant feature of the occasion was the
| presentation of handsome bouquet to Mrs
| D. II. Libby just after midnight, 1t having
been ascertained that Saturday was her
| birthday Mr.. Pote. made the presentation
in the presence of number of Mrs. Libby's
friends, and the Offering was certainly
thoughtful as well as graceful.
| The floor manager, aids, order of dances,
| etc, We're as announced last week The
dancing closed about o'clock, and most of
the dancers remained to see the finish.
| After paying expenses MIR. Pote had S34
| in hand, and this has been expended for
flour, seven barrels going to that number of
| families.