The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1908-07-04
FOURTH OF JULY in TEXAS.
Cowboys, Girls and comanohes Trip
Light Fantastic Toe.

Light Fantastic Toe.
The hottest and funniest place on
the grounds, says correspondent of
the st. Louis Globe-Democrat. describ
ing Fourth of July celebration In
Texas. was the dancing pavilion.
canvas cover was stretched just over.
head When some tall cowboy, in the
excess of his patriotism. put an extra
inch on his spring. his hat scraped the
cover. The floor. which was of rough
boards In the morning. was polished
before noon by thousand shutlles
In corner the orchestra, with nI
strangely solemn face and downcast
eyes. sat on the spring seat of farm
wagon and dew from a violin such
strains as rlic.n ut action into cork
leg But the star r the pavilion corn
bination was the caller He was u
mild hammered gentleman named
Granger. whose tiexihility of voice was
equaled by his originality Of expires
sion. Sometimes he chanted. some
times he detained. and sometimes he
let his voice follow the music. He was
a master of ceremonies. too, who had
learned his profession The cowboys
would sidle up and say:
"Mister, can't we have little dancef
We came sixty miles for this thing
Don't you know anybody here?'
Granger would ask.
"Nota Twin soul 'cept just the boys"
they would affirm. with more or less
emphasis.
Reckon mebhe I ken fix you" the
master would say reHectively Then
he would cross over to where the
buxom daughters OF the grain farmers
were shocked up nlong the side of the
platform. Pretty soon he would re-
turn. and. with a Come this way" he
would lead the cowboys. one nj a time.
across the platform. The farmers
daughter would bow rre,tlly ard tho
cowboy deliberately. with n twi:ch al
his big white hat. Then n new couple
would Join those on the Nrc- Occn
sionally n cowboy would in'rust his
hat to friend. but this seldom hap
pened.. The girls didn't mind. and hats
were worn as rule.
When the set was slow In filling tie
| master called out persuasively:
"Two more couple and wen have u
little dance. Hurry up now and throw
| yourself around on this stretch like II
quarter horse Let's have race"
| But 1t was not often the dances
needed encouragement to Gil Mere
/ frequently the master was obliged to
argue:
"Stan' back and give us little room
people: we've got wildcat spring
| here"
| The crowd in the cagerness to sce
the dancing gave scant room for the
measures. N
"HOe down on her" said the master
The violin started. and so did the
shuffiing.
"Circle to the left and gents trail home
Let the ladies' row In front"
So he called. and. dropping his voice
an octave. he sang:
Everybody dance; corners swing
Good style; pretty little partner:
That's the thing"
Shuffle-shuffle go the feet, and thu
figure is finished. or starts the caller
again:
First couple right: ladies' swing out;
Gents swing In. swing out and prone
/ made.
Do. do, gents. slow: .,5
DO. ce. ladies. don't you known
Then comes more intricate work
The cowboys can't begin to get in nj
Of their fancy steps. The pace Is hot
The skirts Of the grain growers daugh
tiers swish through the air as the mas
ter calls:
balance the next; three hands round:
Ladies' swing out; gents swing in;
Three hands out and go 1t agin;
Gents swing out and go Il ag'in:
Seven hands up and ladies' swing out;
Four and balance: now partners: prom
enade ALL
The master permits thirty seconds
breathing spell. during which the COW
boys try to get rid Of some Of thei
surplus perspiration. while the girls pl.
their. fans and look moist and happy
The caller gathers himself for pro
longed effort. Second couple TO right
he. calls. and then be goes 1t. without
break for five minutes, like this:
Ladies swing out; gents swing in;
iii Three hands up and go II agin;
Balance again. ladies' to center: =
Fall In the corner; promenade home;
Six to two and two come down;
Ladies In center and seven hands round
Fall In the corners Now partners all.
Go south. Wheats all dead.
And you've got corn bread | guess
"Not In the Wichita valley the whea
amt dead, by jugful.' one of tn
dancers shouted. but without mindin
Interruptions the caller goes right alOn
with his funmaking:
III Fall and balance; swing and run;
Four to two and two come down:
Lady in centerhand Ave hands round:
Ladies swing u and gents swing in:
Five up and go II ag'in.
Swing out; run away with the swing;
Hold and balance; all balance:
Now. partners. run away with the hal
Everybody dance. everybody dance
And the next time 1t Is somethin
with variations on this kind Of fl
ure:
"Tour hands up; half round the world
Gents turn a summerset; ladies Jest So
Ladies round the gents; gents don't go
Round up fours everybody swing.