Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-04-27


ty to perform. Ladies' dresses were
worn short. and the feet lightly keep
ing time to tune with varying motion,
was a very pretty sight.
First, though, the evenings usually
opened with a minuet. This was a fig
ure requiring but two persons-a slow,
stately dance, showing time well exc
cuted, and much grace If we'll done.
Then would follow six handed reels, as
many as space permitted being formed
on the floor. After these, the whole
company usually joined in a country
dance called the German Paw"
About
1.-THE wee sma' hours ayant the twal,"
they began dancing the "Strathspey-
Congo" The first figures Of this were
like those of the ninuet; not quite so
slow, but all motion, gentleness and
grace. Suddenly the music varied to
the Congo-a time resembling that of
the hornpipe; the dancers. as in the
nlinuet, but two on the floor at time,
without losing step, threw themselves
into the transition and life and agility
marked every bar. Again, another va
rance of time in the music and with
slow, almost solemn step, the dancers
walked the cadences Of the Strathspey
time. These ended, jigs began. But
two occupied the floor at time, and
when in the quick motion they had lost
their breath, two others would rise and
take their places, they glad to sit down.
At old Mr.. Wards, he was almost al
ways called on to play for these, for in
this, as in most else, it was conceded he
excelled in the neighbohood. Long be-
fore this portion Of the evenings
amusement had come, he always grew
sleepy. His bed sat in one corner Of
the hall where they danced-houses,
you must remember, in those primitive
days. not being as commodious as now.
When he got tired and drowsy, he
sought his pillow, not letting the pres
ence or jollity Of his guests interrupt
his slumbers. When aroused to play
the jigs, he would, good humoredly, rub
his eyes, set up in bed, and take the in
strument in hand, and there he sat fid-
ding merrily.
A frequent finale was for the COM
pany to call on his favorite daughter
and a young man named William Err
vim, to dance the last Jig. This young
lady, Ferebee Ward, was very pretty,
and so general favorite. she might be
called the Queen of Halifax-a beauti-
full dancer, and her form one which
might have served to inspire the sculp-
tors chisel. William Erwin was not of
Halifax. but a frequent participator of
its festals. He was esteemed, with one
consent, the handsomest man Of his
day. To use frequent expression In
regard to him by HIS old fashioned
friends. "as handsome a man as ever
walked the face Of the earth" He, too,
was uncommonly graceful in "meas-
ured tread to music" and it was really
pretty show to see Bill Erwin and
Ferebee Ward dance a jig. The old
mans bow arm seemed inspired with
new life. and faster and faster flew the
dancers toes, playing on the floor with
different steps, beating perfect time,
till dancers and musician ceased from
fair exhaustion.
Old Mr.. Ward was somewhat pecu-
liar man. Although so hospita ble-nev-
el firing of company at his own house
he die not leave home to seek society.
I cannot remember that ever saw him
in Yorkvile. He had Negro named
Arnold, in whom he resposed every con-
fidence. This slave directed the MAX
ing of the crops. saw to their gathering,
sold them, paid taxes, laid in supplies:
in fact was major-domo on the premises
his masters factotum.
Mr.. Ward owned quite large num-
Der of Negroes, and was notedly indul
gent to them. The temper Of the whole
settlement seemed for good living, and
good fellowship. not gain. They made
abundant supplies on their fine lands,
and enjoyed them on their tables.
Mr.. Wards good nature was imper-
turbable. remember an old Bailey,
neighbor, wealthy. but a miserly kind
Of creature, trying it by sending the i'm
pertinent message. "he'd thank Mr..
Ward not to send home the toll and
keep the grist." One of Mr.. Wards in.
dulged Negroes kept his mill. Mr..
Ward puffed out a blast Of smoke,
laughed at old Bailey's cool impudence,
said he expected the boy was dishonest,
and he would make some of the other
Negroes miller, and laughed at the idea
of keeping grist instead of toll, as a
good joke.
Like the snow bank this neighbor-
hood melted away and by degrees it dis
appeared The younger members Of its
society married and went out of the
settlement: the older ones moved-some
to other parts Of the district, or far
away. Old Mr. Ward, the first land
mark, sold his plantation to Mr.. Glen
denen, and spent his last years in the
home of his son, Mickey Ward Esq,
in Lancaster district.
Ferebee Ward married, first, Jack
Crockett, Esq. An early widowhood
was her portion: but she frightened a
father-in-law's home, in his declining
years, after her bereavement. After
his death, she married again, and, I
trust found the sun down Of life peace
full and clear.
Thus Halifax and it's identity have
completely passed away among the
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