The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-15

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Being on a visit to the city of -
about ten years ago. my old friend JACK
De Battle gave me an invitation 10 y
ball, of which he was one of the ihaH7
ayers. Jack had been the companion u
my childhood, my boyhood, and my carry
manhood; and through many merry,
dance had we hoped and iaueneo 80 :
tumbled down together In the moihi''s
Of life Dancing was really. in those aaSs'
merry making business. Except 'he
minuet, which was introduced only "
teach us the graces, and the congo, whach
was only to chase away the solemni'ies
OF the minuet, 1t was all joviai, hear'-
] stirring, foot-strring amusement. we
had none of your mathematical co'i'ons,
| none of your immodest waitzes; none VI
your detestable. disgusting gaiopaaes
The waltz would have crimsoneo 'he
cheek of every young lady VINO ai'enueo
ball in my day. and had the gallopaae
been commenced in the ballroom, 1t would
have been ended in the street ! am
ha INV to saw that the waltz has met with
very little encouragement In Georgia as
yet; the gallopade with none. We falr Oh
nv native land. We daughters OF mon-
est race! blush them away from the SOIL
which your mothers honored by their ex-
| ample and consecrated with their ashes!
Born to woman's Hottest destinies, 1t i'll
becomes you to. stoop from, your high
estate to ape the indecencies of Europe $
slaves. 1t is yours TO command, not 10
obey Let vice approach you in what
F form she may-as the handmade of wit
and talents, the mistress of courts, or
| the queen of fashion-fail not to meet her
with the frown of indignant virtue and
the flush of offended modesty. There is
majesty in these which has ever COM
manded her homage There is a lowell
ness in these which, will ever command
the admiration of the world The inter
est which feel in the character of the
| fair daughters of America Is my apology
for this sober depression. -.
Though De Battle is but two months
younger than / am, he still dances occa-
sionally; and to this circumstance In part,
! but more particularly to the circum-
stance of his being married man. is
ager-the custom now being to have one
third or one-half the managers married
men This would be a great improve
ment on the management of balls in olden
time could the married men only manage
10 keen out of the card-room. Would
they take the direction of the amusement
Into their hands, their junior colleagues
would then have an opportunity OF snar-
ling the pleasures of the evening. priv
sx,tA M o
are now conducted. However, married
men are not appointed with the expecta-
ton that they will perform the duties of
the office. but to quiet the scruples OF
some half dozen or more charming
creatuTes," who, though they never fail
to attend ball. will not condescend to 90
go until they are, perfectly satisfied 1t Is
TO be conducted With the utmost gravity,
dignity; decorum and propriety. FOR
these assurances they look first to tire
face of the paper" the ball-ticket; and
III they do not find on it goodly number
of responsible names (such as, by reason
able presumption, are well broke to pet
kicoat government), they protest against
N. tell a hundred amiabe little hbs TO
conce IL the cause of their opposition. tofs
ture Two or three beaux half to death
with suspense, and finally conclude TO
go 'just to keep from giving onence.
but If the indorsers be potent. grave
and reverend seigniors," schooled as
aforesaid why, then, one difficulty IS AZ
least removed for though 1T is we'll
KNOWN that these are "endorsers without
recourse to the first instance it Is equal
hy we'll known that they may be ulti-
bnately made liable; for IL the juniors
fail to fulfill their engagements lady
has nothing to do but to walk into the
rardroom, take a senior by the nape OF
the neck, lead him into the ballroom,
present her ticket with his name upon 1t
I'm the presence of the witness there as
sembled, and she is sure OF ample salts
faction.
when De Battle and l reached the ball