Gloucester County Democrat., 1908-07-02
FOURTH OF JULY IN TEXAS.
Cowboys, Girls and Comancbes Trip
Light Fantastic Toe.

Texas. twas the dancing pavilion. A
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 shuff1es.
In a corner the orchestra, with a
strangely solemn face and downeast
eyes, sat on the spring seat of farm
wagon and drew from violin such
strains as might put action into cork
leg. But the star of the pavilion COM
bination was the caller. He was q
mild hammered gentleman named
Granger. whose 1exibility of voice was
equaled by his originality of express
sion. Sometimes he chanted, some
times he declaimed, and sometimes he
let his voice follow the music. He was
master of ceremonies, too, who had
learned his profession The cowboys
would sidle up and say:
Mister, can't we have little dancer
We came sixty miles for this thing"
Don't you know anybody hereY
Granger would ask.
mot liyin' soul 'cept just the boys"
they would affirm, with more or less
emphasis.
Reckon mebbe ken fix you.'' the
master would say refectively. Then
he would cross over to where the
buxom daughters of the grain farmers
were shocked up along the side of the
platform. Pretty soon he would re-
turn, and, with sCome this way" he
would lead the cowboys. one at time,
across the platform. The farmers
daughter would bow prettily and the
cowboy elaborately, with twitch at
his big white hat. Then new couple
would join those on the floor. Occa-
sionally cowboy would intrust his
hat to a friend, but this seldom hap
pened. The girls didn't mind, and hats
were worn as rule.
When the set was slow in filing the
master called out persuasiyely:
Two more couple and wen have a
little dance. Hurry up now and throw
yourself around on this stretch like a
quarter horse Let's have race"
But 1t was not often the dances
needed encouragement to fill. More
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 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.
"Circie 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
Shufie-shuf1e go the feet, and the
figure is finished. Of 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 knowi'
Then comes more intricate work.
The cowboys can't begin to get in all
OF their fancy steps. The pace is hot.
The skirts of the grain growers daugh-
ters swish through the air as the mas
ter calls:
''BaIance 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 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 their
surplus perspiration, while the girls ply
their fans and look moist and happy.
The caller gathers himself for pro-
longed effort. Second couple to right"
he calls, and then 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:
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 wheat
amt dead, by jugfulr' one Of the
dancers shouted, but without minding
Interruptions the caller goes right along
with his funmaking:
''Fan 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 1t ag In
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 it is something
with variations on this kind Of fig
Dre:
sFour 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;
Swing the corners like swinging the