The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-02-19
oLD-sTYLE COUNTRY DANCES.
Delights of Former Days Fast Pass
ing Away.
lFr0m the New York Tribune.)

The days of the country dance have
passed forever from the scenes OF its
pristine gayety. In the wild woods of the
Adirondacks and among the foothills Of
the Pennsylvania border an occasional re-
yivaI Of this rural festivity may occur;
but in the broad stretches Of farm lands
from the Hudson to the Niagara the merry
song of the fiddle has followed the beat Of
the fail This may not seem of much
moment to the members OF the younger
generation. Those OF the older will un-
derstand, and the fathers and mothers
into whose hair the gray has shot its
teIltale streaks may give perhaps little
sigh for memory's saks.
They were merry events, those dances.
The most typical took place in the ffties.
before the great war, IN the big farm
houses and inns along the Ridge road,
which runs from Rochester TO Niagara
on-the-Lake. through rich wheat fields
and fruitful orchards. The farmers were
prosperous and wealthy Each one We'd
viz his neighbors in hospitality. The.
MasOns were powerful in the land. and
numbered among their members nlne out
OF every ten hCuseholders IN the three
counties which form the lake tier of the
State When the winter weather had set
tied snHgIy and the snow had spread
permanent sheet of heavy white, the his
Dltdbtt QDoIS SH tElS y 44C anu -osoA 81 Na2'
the mouotonous roadways warm widths Of
rosy welcome. The Ianglfng sleighbells
cut the still reaches of the frosty nights
with noisy clamOr, the crisp snow
crunched under the keen runners. and the
vfolins droned Money Musk" and The
CampbeIls Are Comm to the tread OF
the dancers dancing in tune
The private dances were interspersed
with the big Masonic balls. which were
nh 4, yrrT-F 4
out for twenty miles around for these
social events. The guests came by twOs
and tours and scores Huge sledges
drawn by double teams Of horses car
ried their laughing noisy loads from the
villages and cities. Every Ridge Road
tavern had its ballroom, q long. barnlike
space when closed. but binding with
warmth and color when crowded with
scores OF dancing couples. In one end,
on d raised platform above the heads OF
the dancers, sat the perspiring musicians.
over the swing OF the music and the
swish Of the dance the TaucoUs voice OF
the "caller-o1'' struck in, varying terp5i-
chorean instruction with humorous in
proyisation. Under the yellow glow Of
the Gil lamps the crowded hoOr was
moving mass of color Brightly gowned
women weaved and flashed among the
black coats of the high-stocked men The
tread Of their feet, the rise and fall OF
the tune, the warmth and glow Of the
room made a scene which quickened the
beating of the heart.
AT midnight came the supper served in
the dininS-room On long tables. Turkey,
all manner Of fowl ieIlies, cabbage salad
with cream dressing, celery, cakes, and
coffee poured from pitchers or dipped from
pals. all eaten and drunk amid inces-
SAINT roar of laughter and talk The quiet
conventional promenade Of today seems
pale and bIOOdIess in the light which beams
upon it from the windows Of the country
hosiery Of fifty years ago.
But now the ballroom Is empty, save for
lumber and rubbish and spiders. The yiO-
Inns are as silent as the voice Of the
caller off" and the grandchildren Of the
merry dancers gaze with wonder on the
quaint siIken and brocaded gowns in the
misty attic chests.
And what Is the reason for the change
Al night. as twilight fades away into the
deeper darkness. one can see cleaning
pale above the trees and the fields ar the
horizons edge a misty spread OF light
II is the reflection o. the city's lamps As
that illumination grow stronger ana ste8di-
er the glow Of Old-Jime gayety in the
country grew dim and fIfuI- The city kept
calling and the country boys and girls
listened and obeye1 the summons Nova
DAYS outside Of the bigger villages, the
social life Of the farmhouses. as il was
once has become o tradition which the cid
folks tell 10 the children when they dash
home for q day at Thanksgiving or Christ
mas time