The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1908-07-03
FOURTH OF 3ut4-tN TEXAS.
covsbsys, Girls and comaneHes Trip
Light Fantastic Toe.

4 S0W04ySY 0iFfS auo @OBldnCFSS Trip
Light Fantastic Toe.
The hottest and funniest place on
the grounds, says a correspondent of
the st Louis Globe-Democrat, describ-
ing a Fourth of July celebration in
Texas, was the dancing pavilion. A
canvas cover was stretched just over
head When some tall cowboy, in the
exces of his patriotism. put an extra
inch on his spring, his hat scraped the
owe The floor, which was of rough
boards in the morning. was polished
before Don by. a thousand shuf1es-
In a corner the orchestra. with a
strangely solemn face and downcast
eyes, sat on the spring seat of a farm
wagon and drew from a violin such
strains as might put action into a cor
leg. But the star of the pavilion com
bination was the caller. He was a
mild hammered gentleman named
Granger. whose %fexibility of voice was
equaled by his originality of express
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
Mould SluIt ~ ALI say
Mister, can't we have a little dance?
We came sixty miles for this thing"
Don't you know anybody hereY'
Granger would ask.
mo a Twin soul 'cept just the boys"
they would affirm, with more or less
emphasis.
master would say ref1ectively. Then
ho r0y1II .n- nynr %o r-Lnro fhA
buxom daughters of the grain farmers
were shocked up along the side of the
platform. Pretty soon he would re-
turn, and. with a Come this way" he
would lead the cowboys. one at Il time,
across the platform. The farmers
daughter would bow prettily and the
cowboy deliberately, with a twitch at
his big white hat. Then a new couple
would join those on the floor Occa-
sionaIly a cowboy would intrust his
hat TO a friend, but this seldom hap
pened. The girls didn't mind. and hats
were worn as a rule.
When the set was slow in filling the
master called out persuasively:
1.-TWO more couple and We'll have a
little dance. Hurry up now and throw
yourself around on his stretch like a
quarter horse. Let's have a race"
But it was not often the dances
needed encouragement to fill. More
frequently the master was obliged 70
argue:
"Stan' back and give us a little room,
people; we've got a wildcat spring
here"
The crowd in the eagerness to see
the dancing gave scant room for the
measures.
"Hoe down on her" said the master.
The violin started, and so did the
shutting.
+"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"
Shu ft1e-shuffie go the feet, and the
figure is finished. Off starts the caller
again:
First couple right: ladies' swing out;
Gents swing in, swing out and prone
made.
Do, do, gents, slow:
Do. ce. ladies. don't you know!"
Then comes more intricate work
The cowboys can't begin to get in all
of their fancy steps The pac is hot.
The skirts of the grain growers daugh-
ters 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 it ag'in;
Gents swing out and go 1t ag1n;
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 their
surplus perspiration, while the girls ply
their fans and look moist and happy.
The caller gathers himself for a pro-
longed effort. Second couple to right,
he calls, M hen he goes it, without a
break for five minutes, like this;
Ladies swing out; gents swing in;
Three hands up and go it ag in;
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. Wheat's all dead,
And you've got corn bread, / guess"
Not in the Wichita valley the wheat
amt dead, by a jugfulI" one of the
dancers shouted. but without minding
interruptions LIE CATER goes I1Sul diOuE
with his funmaking:
Fall and balance: swing and run;
Four to two and two come down;
Lady in center and five hands round:
Ladies swing out and gents swing in;
Five up and go it agin-
Swing out; run away with the swing;
Hold and balance; all balance;
Now, partners, run away with the hall
Everybody dance, everybody dance"
And the next time 1t is something
with variations on this kind of a fig
ure:
-Four hands up; half round the world;
Gents turn a sunmerset; ladies jest SO;
Ladies round the gents; gents don't go;
Round up fours; everybody swing;
Swing the corners like swinging the
wing;
Swing, ladies. seaside fashion,;
Pretty little partner; round UP fours."
And thus it e on with endles:
variety in the language and measures
but the same shuffiing, the same bux
ON girls and the same frolicsome cow
BOYS, Until the sun went down behinl
the Comanches' tepees- Old men look
ed on and said, "Them's the sam,