Rocky Ford enterprise., 1908-05-22
onward shook the leaves IN the
branches above


Fish fries" broke up about dark,
and the grind of wheels on the gravel.
ly spots and the shouts OF the return.
Ing couples soon died away along the
road.
Barbecues were rather infrequent
AFFAIRS. sometimes occurring when Q
noted political speaker whs to make
an address, They were held usually
ut the county fair grounds. or out In
the woods somewhere. and whole
beeves, sheep and hogs were roasted,
and literally tons OF eatables con.
sumed. There was always something
to spend money over. and while the
: boys and girls seldom enthused over
the oratory. they did over the good
things to eat. Picnics were also In.
frequent happenings.
The buggy ride Is at present the
piece de resistance OF country court.
ship. II takes the couple away from
the prying eyes OF little "Bub" and
Sis" and II usually loosens the
tongue OF many bashful swain.
There is something for n boys hands
to do. and his feet are under cover.
The awkwardncss OF hanging on
to Il chair and trying to think of
something TO say is gotten rid OF. and
the motion OF the flying buggy cheers.
but does not inebriaie him.. Hs y
therefore more at an advantage. a. 70
carrying on n conversation. md many
n proposal is joited out ON u buggy.
ride which otherwise might remain
unspokcn.
The fashion mainly In our neighbor.
hood WAS for the Girls TO 80 bare.
headed on these drives. and Sunday
afternoon and eyenin. the dull reyer.
bcration Of wheels along the road
and the distant rumble over nearby
bridges. told that cupid's cohorts were
bcstiIring themselves. In the winter
time there was Of course the shifting
from bnsgics To sicishs and cutters.
and even the oid'timc bob sicdx. when
parties went out. Skating parties
were also popular. nnd at all seasons
they held III. dances.
bridge whist" needless TO say. was
unknown. Progressive cuchrc' an
unknown quantity. Receptions
there wcre none. and as for .'tca'pour.
Ing or any such lack a tiainnicai per.
fosmanccs. they were unhcard of.
Cupid depended mostly on the rcd.
wheeled busrlcn and the country
dances. and his success justified his
selections. OF course tho timc.honor.
cd institution Of sparkling was not
done away with. This intcf~stin. proc.
eas. however. 10 mostly coafncd to
Sunday nights. and may be. and usual.
iy II protfartcd until around Monday
mornins early. say close to one O'Clock
a. ~. Sunday nights the lights In
maEy a farm house shoso out oveE
the Fields. and insid, the houses thu
various couples talked over their
dances. and parties. their n-ighbor.
hood topics and matters OF local inter.
est. and scanned the family album.
and sossipcd and baaics cd one an.
other.
And here. TOO. Cupid appeared se.
hind the scenes. and. matrimoniaiiy
inclined. ~orc tho webs OF mutual
tTus, and confidence between tho
couples. and aided in unfolding tho
my st-Ty Of his divine art. Outside tho
stars CLEANED. and tho trees waved
b. z;!li fields. Inside. perhaps the
organ sounded softly. or a fiFc Eio~cd
in an oidtsshioacd fireplace OF in a
more modern stove.
Arrr the "oid folks went to bed
and there ~ss nothing TO disturb the
quiet OF indoors but the monotone Of
the tuo responding voices. Cupid be.
took himself to other times and spaces
eonfdcnt that his spell was already
progressing brasciy.
In the country papers the core
srondcn's" from the various quarters
uf the township regularly reported all
these diIcrrn, courtinE bees and
the usual jokes were lovcicd al tho
swain when the paper mad. its ap-
praEancc. Indeed. he would be some.
~ha; disappointed u he thought that
his ouminss and soinss were to pass
unrecoTied. and generally had a 70.
tort ready for the greetings which he
may be sure will follow his appear.
ance in public.
And how quickly marriage follows
on In the country, And be sure that
whoever ate invited 10 the wedding.
all the country round knows Of IL.
And the thoughtful groom. knowing
the custom Of the country. provides
himself with various boxes of cigars,
and the newly made bride cooks picn.
tifui quantities Of toothsoms viands,
and together they sit down In their
darkencd home, awaiting with pleased
expectancy the arrival of the band Of
nsIghbors intent on 'shiyaFecius"
them.
With fcarsome bias, from shot
guns. dinnerhurns. sleigh. bells, COW.
horns. dinner.belis. cov.bells. etc. and
a terrific din made by beating a sus.
pended circular saw with a siedsc.
hammer. the entertainment opens, and
the reluctant" couple are finally
driven to upcn tho doors and v,pIcome