The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-12-24
Leads all North Carolina Daies i'm News and Cireulado
where there is house q u,,

where there is house ~ y
neys, they are such narrow
ones that the most credulous inre..-
can easily see that the old myth
would never be able to get a single leg
down. So romance has taken wing
and flown far afield to alight &heIe
we might least expect to find it. 1t is
now the romance of Rockefeller's bill
lions. of the rise and progress of
Japanese civilization, of the wonders
of electricity, of the possibilities of
life insurance.
And all this to show that we keep
Christmas in the mountains just as
you do in Wakei 1t is a cosmopolitan
age, and a Baltimore drummer is
not to be distinguished from any 9TH
er citizen on the Raleigh streets
There is a uniformity, and sombreness
these days that is-not romantic.
Christmas dance in Lenoir will be just
like one is in Kinston. Some years
ago it was recorded that there were
thirteen dress suits in Gastonia. Un-
less additions have been made to that
number, Lenoir will surpass Caste
MIA in the quantity of dress suits dis
played at the Christmas dances.
In the good old days before the
War-I am told-things were different
in the mountains and there was some
was conviviality and good cheer as
much as in these days, but of another
kind Everybody kept open house,
a week or more was devoted to fes-
tivity, there were hunting parties,
horse races, the young people and
some not so ~young, trooped from
house to house and danced night al
ter night, and there was much good
fellowship. There were trials OF
craftsmanship, when the best shots in
the community tested their skill in
shooting at the bulls eye, the best
shot taking the choice of beef dress
ed for the occasion and divided into
five parts And there were athletic
games, primitive, wholesome sports,
conducive to health and to the build
ing UP of a brave and hardy yeo-
many.
In 1890 I interviewed old man Sol
oman Keller, born in 1900, about the
social customs prevailing in Caldwell
during his boyhood. Among other
things he described a Christmas we'd
ding as follows:
In the first place no man could get
q license to marry until he had given
a bond, with sufficient security, of
thousand dollars. 1t had to be given
The groom and his friends, the license
being procured, all proudly attired
and CALAMITY mounted upon spirited
steeds, started off for the home OF
the bride They were met some dis
lance from their destination by par
ty of her friends, as bravely dressed
and we'll mounted as the guests they
came to meet A stop was made, a
warm welcome given, jokes passed
and repassed," likewise the bottle all
around, and then the merry calVaCade
rode on At the brides house all
was stir and hustle, and the good
housewife and her helps were busy
in the kitchen preparing generous
feast The bride and her lady friends
were of course in her power all
excitement over the coming event.
The "old gentleman and the boys
however, greeted cordially the men
folks" of the groom's paNy and the
decanter on the side-board was emp
tied and refilled several times while
they awaited the coming of the par
son or squire.
After the marrying came the sup
per and then the merry making ana
the dancing, which wound up with the
old Virginia Reel Next day the whole
crowd, both parties. started on morse
back for the groOm's house, to attend
the 'infare" which generally consist
ed Of two or three days of gayety,
hunting and nOfSe-fdclnS III lle udy
time and dancing at night. Before
reaching the groom's houSe, when
a mile or so away, most of the men
started off on a race TO ride Tor
the bottle" that hung up in the hall.
The first man got it won the bottle.
What did he do with the bottle?"
The groom and his friends, the license
we asked, Drank the brandy out of
it, naively responded Mr.. Kellar.
w. w. SCOTT.
Lenoir, n. c.. Dec. "a.