Omaha daily bee., 1915-11-22
PIONEERS DANCE
GOOD OLD STEPS
Two Hundred of Them in Typical
0ld-Fashioned Social" at
Court House.
HONOR TO THOSE WHO ARE GONE

over 200 white-haired pioneer
men and women and their descend
ants-some of the latter barely past
the babe-in-arms period--enjoyed a
merry reunion at the court house
Saturday night. 1t was the first Of a
series of monthly socials to be given
this season by the Douglas County
Association of Nebraska Pioneers,
and the old folks and children Joined
in lively dances and happy rem
iniscences OF the old days.
After an interesting program and
plenty OF typical old fashioned re-
freshments. the real hilarity began.
for in spite of their wrinkled faces
and bent forms, the sturdy pioneers
demonstrated that they still possess
the vim and energy that character
lied them in the early days and
helped them make Omaha the great
city it is today.
Dances of OIden Times.
Clearing the floor and striking up tho
old time tunes, they chose their partners
for a uuadrille, and for five minutes the
bald headed. white whiskered men and
gray-hsired women produced scene of
gaiety and merriment uneaualled on any
modern dance floor. And not content
With that they then plunged into the
intricacies of Virginia reel and a grace
full schottische and the other brisk
dances of the days OF their youth. when
Omaha was little more than a frontier
trading post. Tango and MaXixe were
unknown. but there was some" dan
cling. nevertheless.
In the first quadrlle were Mrs. Gus
Lockner Mrs. Louise Fissette. Mrs.
Stevenson, Mrs. Alvin Metzler, Mrs Guy
Solomon, Dan B. Hines, George r. ARM
strong, and a number OF other pioneers,
who have passed the time when they
were modest about telling their age. and
now proudly admit that they lived in
Omaha during its earlier history.
sixteen Have Passed Away
The reunion was an unqualified success
from every angle and the big crowd at
tending will look forward to the next
one with happy expectancy. However.
last nights gathering was not without a
tinge Of sadness. for within the last year
sixteen of the old-timers have passed on
to their permanent rest. Included in the
group of merry old faces that formerly
used to brighten the pioneer reunions
those OF Uncle Joe" Redman. Martin
Durham and others who have died re-
Gently were greatly missed
A reminiscent talk by James Walsh of
Benson was the principal feature OF the
program. 1t recalled many memories OF
the early days, and alternately gladdened
and saddened the hearts of the crowd
with mention of their pioneer expert
ences. Humorous monologues by j. Nc
henna added pleasure to the evening,
and an original poem by ]. r. Bixby,
"omaha-Before and After" was 10y
ously received.
Bouquet from HummeI.
City Commissioner Joseph b. Hummel
presented a large and handsome bouquet
of his beautiful Hanscom park chrysan-
themums to the gathering and made a
speech. Afterward the nuns" were
taken home as souvenirs by the older
pioneers.
William ]. Kiedstead, Rome Miller and
Ralph II. Hall were on hand and pro-
vided huge supplies of coffee, apples.
doughnuts, candies and other goodies that
tickled the paIates of the crowd and re-
ceived a vote of thanks for their inn
portant part in the entertainment"
Music was furnished by Mr.. and Mrs.
c. j. Springborg for the dancing AID by
James Winship. Lewis Bauer and Ferris
B. Steward on mandolins. President
Jonathan Edwards OF the association
opened the meeting and Moses p. O'Brieu
presided. The entertainment committee
included Mrs. Mary Cormack, Mrs. Louise
Fissette Alvin MetzIer and Georpe w