Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-10-10
HOME SKETCHES.
One of the first corners to the new
Pilot Knob was Alkaline FL. Miller, a

Ae0AA
~ gence and attainment. III
was a fine musician, havin,
). served as bandmaster in tn
u. S. navy on the frigata
.Brandywine"for V years
He built a hotel which still stands
though silent and deserted-a memen
to of the prosperous days of that town
There he catered to the public for NOR.
than twenty years, when he removed
to this place and took charge of ths
~Ironton House; but his days were mum
bered and he rendered his final account
with the world within a few months
after taking possession here. He was
a man of hearty friendships, but they
were few. Notwithstanding his call.
ing, he was reserved and unfamiliar tC
the passing throng. But those to whom
he did unbend knew the sterling worth
and grace of mind which lay behind
his self-containing and sometimes gruf
exterior. His passing was to them a
source of sincere sorrow.
o, the old days!-the days of the
Millers. of Terrier, of Rutschmann, of
Millert, of Villars, of Chauvin, and the
host of others whose places know them
nc morei Pilot Knob UGS a town then,
alive with all that gives zest to living.
Churches, stores, saloons, schools,
ps-everything-prospered. 1t was
MT what n to the manor born would
call a strictly moral town, for it was
wide open seven days in the week, and
the proceedings which animated it
were not in every instance opened with
prayer. Yet the church and the Sun
day school fourished, too. 1t is no
singular thing to note that where there
is i%nnocuous desuetude in wickedness,
righteousness also goes along in a sort
of half-hearted, halting way-as when
having no active enemy to combat an
army takes its ease in quiet quarters,
and grows weak from inactivity. But
when the Arch Enemy breaks bounds
and assaults the ramparts of the Faith
he finds them new-manned with devoted
defenders. AS nature abhors a vacu-
UNI, SO does she provide an equipoise
or balance-wheel to keep this other
wise mad world from running away
with itself.
The Miller Hotel had, of course, a
bar attachment, with all, the accesso-
RES that made the saloon s'the poor
mans club room'' in the happy days
when there was no Newberry law and
no railroad lobby. The silent walls
looked down upon many a hilarious
scene, but revelry there was never al
lowed to descend into riot and disorder.
The rule of the proprietor was too
strong and too well-known for that.
Not that, when the blood was hot and
the brain aglow, there was not an &C.
%casiOnal knock-down, but it was fol-
lowed so quickly and surely with a.
vigorous drag-out that the amusement
was generally considered as so far be-
yond reasonable cost that contention
sat down discouraged.
The balls given were frequent, en-
joyable and well attended. An excel
lent orchestra, under the direction of
the proprietor, gave an opportunity
for the development of local talent,
and its alluring strains filled the ball
room to overlooking. The ''square
dance"-that bette noir to your true
musician-was given scant space on
the programme, whose numbers en-
the seductive waltz, the mad
gallop, the leisurely ~varsoviana, the
merry polka, and the measured ma
zourka, while the sweet strains of the
Rhinelander gave energy and respon-
sive time to agile feet.
1t is a full .'hour ayont the twal";
the s'intermission for supper" is ended;
the dancers have returned refreshed to
the room; at the tap of directors baton
the music strikes up and o o the
throb of the enticing waltz-slow and
soft at first, like the soothing stroke of
caressing hand-sets two or three
couples in graceful, rhythmic turning;
then another twain, and another, and
another, until all the room is a-whirl.
The pulse of the music quickens; the
violin assumes a livelier tone, deeper
grows the bass, the blare of the cornet
takes on a brighter crimson, and the
flute is high among the octavesi The
swish of sliding feet is pointed off with
responsive tread to mark the accent of
the one-two-three, until the very build
ing thrills in unisoni Flushed is every
face, quickened every breath and heart
is upon themi / have the scene be-
fore me as 'twere yesternight-the
lights, the music, the dancers. and the |
glorious tide of life which surged in
fair and manly bosom. Alas, that the
tale of mortal should be so soon told!
For the dancers are gone, the music is
silent, the lights are out, and regret
Grapes in crepe the memory of it all.
There are those who inveigh against
dancing as idle and frivolous at best, |
and very reprehensible at its worst;
but l & am not of them, though lacking
not in the years which cool the blood
and sharpen the sight in its search for
worldly vanity and vexation of spirit.
l know that in those old days when
dances were frequent and nearly every
body 'stook them in," people were in
closer touch. and by reason OF their
brotherhood gave no offence to the pro-
prieties. But, perhaps, the ultra re-
6nement of these latter days requires
s~tricter guard than did the hearty SIM
plicity of then. / am no dancer, but
to me there is no fairer sight than the
ballroom, and, for the life of me, /
can't see the sin against a loving God
its pleasures are said by some to pos
sess. l know some of my good friends
will take exception to these reflections;
but / am also sure that their sense of
will palliate my offence, since
for every sermon in behalf of the
amusement ~saltatorial there are a hun