Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-27
KNOWN. AS THE ISLAND
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES EARLY SOUTH
WA6HINaToN.
Incidents Of ant old Time Courtship-
Mary tOnn.s Quilt
1af1e.

There is jolly old grandmother OF South,
Washington, who ieftens to the delectation
Of her numerous progeny and their friends,
| grows reminiscent OF the days when her
neighborhood was known as 'sThe Island"
| and It bore moreothe appearance Of three
| or four villages, separated by commons and
farming lands. Possessing vivid recoIlec-
ton of those days and blessed with lively
disposition and engaging conversational
powers, she has always an interested audi
ence on such occasions, and often recites
stories Of her youth when she was regarded
as one Of the island bellies.
"You remember said she to an acquaint-
ance, in the presence of a number Of her
children, that was fond Of dancing those
times and, being of German descent, was
particularly given to waltzing. But I've
never told you Of the episode at ball
which gave me away as they say in
police parlance. OF course. l had favorite
beau, but I SO acted as not to let 1t be
known that he was my special and at
dance I was always impartial.
mo. I should not say that exactly. for
except in partieipatins in the opening
him usually until was ready to go home,
for he did not dance and 1 was SO passion
ately fond Of gliding over a waxed floor
that my card was always full. William, too,
was somewhat jealous, and showed It, but
knowing that I was full of enjoyment at a
ball fear he taxed his income too much
just to please me. Indeed, I am satisfied
that he spent as much money for ball tick
cts as did any young man in Washington
though he could not dance step.
You remember the old Ugly Club and
Its balls. They were the most popular and
enjoyable functions ever attended; that is,
all excepting one They were usually given
at Island Hall.
ION the occasion when didn't enjoy my
self William and reached the hall in time,
and know that when the grand march
was struck up there was no prouder couple
than we were in the line. When 1 engaged
myself. however to dance with the most
finished gentleman dancer on the floor I
saw he did not like IT. and when at the
conclusion Of the first promised to dance
the next with the gentleman referred to I
saw the green-eyed monster in his eyes,
William walked around the room and fall
Ing to find a seat rolled an empty barrel
from under the stage. as some others had
done, and SAT- down..
William Was Uneasy.
"Well, dancing with my partner one set
after another, taking in the waltzes, could
see that William was getting uneasy.
thought II he wanted to be 'dumpy' he was
welcome to do 1t, and 1 would just keep on
enjoying myself Then I heard crash,
accompanied by cry of agony, and recog-
nized Williams voice. The music ceased,
and while the gentlemen ran toward the
stage the ladies with banched faces ran
about inqu1ring what was the matter, and
as heard Williams cries some one came
up and said: II nj
Billy broke through the barrel?"
Il don't know what said, but know that
my face showed my concern for Billy, and
that as there came from the center of the
crowd his cries Of; pain, my tears flowed
freely. Before he was. fully relieved Of the
hoops. slaves and, heading however. all
knew that even ifiI had danced every set
with one gentleman / was more interested
In William than In my partner in the waltz.
AS he was no longer presentable told him
he could take me home, and we left, amid
the laughter Of the company.
The next evening when he called on me
he wore new pair of trousers, and such
progress was made that in a few months
we called on a ministerqto make us one.
Yes, those were enjoyable times" said
Friendship Club. as well as the Ugly Club.
1t Is questionable whether the good nature
OF those days Is prevalent today. Do you
recollect how, in the latter clubs balls,
committees were appointed to select the
most homely lady and gentleman, and how
the lucky ones would be escorted to the
stage and given the prizes-a knife and
ring? rat.
The Quilt Rattle.
Then we had, too. the quilt rattle shin
digs Old - lived not far from 7th
street and Maryland avenue, and her
of being an Industrious girl. and besides
assisting her mother in the Homework.
made quilt every week, but the boys
| finally got down to It. It would be noised
around that quilt made by Mary Onn'
would be raffled Saturday night. and the
old woman would tell the boys to come
around and get 1t for a quarter chance.
When the night would arrive the rooms
back OF the little shop would be crowded.
and twenty or thirty chances would be
thrown Off with dice and Mary Onn's' quilt
would be won. Then would commence the
dance, and some time before II o'clock the
old lady would purchase it from the winner,
and announce: '''Mary Ohm" will make
another quilt next week. to be ratified next
Saturday night. Be sure and come around
and Well have time At the next rattle
would be shown quilt much like the first,
differing only in the ends, and rallied off.
The third time there would be a change in
the corners. and tie fourth another change,
and finally examination would show
that the same old quilt had been won six
or eight times during the winter"