Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-08
PRESIDENT ENJOYS
OLD-TIME DANCES
AT TOP OF THE NOTCH
Continued from First Page.)

the dance itself, but those who were
not natives and who never viewed a
real New England country dance be-
fore, derived their fun, not from
dancing, but from looking on. 1t was
treat. Not only were the dances of
days gone by an enjoyment in them
selves, but there were the interesting
and picturesque characters frollick.
ing about the crowded room, and,
possibly most interesting of all, the
dance music and the dance calls Of the
.prompter.
Herb Moore, who is one Of the
Presidents kin in this section, was
prompter tonight He also presided
as master of ceremonies, floor man.
ager and collector Of the money
charged for the fun. Herb has served
in these capacities on such occasions
many times before, and his part Of
performance was beyond reproach.
In fact he was one of the stars of the
funmaking.
Second honors probably should go
to the music. It was just what one
would expect Of such an occasion and
was typical of the dances of the Yer
mont Hill.
Lady and Gentlemen in Orchestra.
Lew Carpenter. who drives the mail
wagon betv cen Bridgewater and the
Notch, played first violin: Mrs. Cassie
Cady, wife of Lin Cady, who is farm,
ing the old Coolidge place, presided
over the piano; Clarence Blanchard,
a cousin Of the President, handled the
clarinet, and Uncle John Wilder,
over 80, who married the Presidents
Aunt Sarah, took an occasional hand
as second violin. Uncle" John says
he is getting too old to play through
out a dance now, and besides he sings
tenor in the choir Of the church at
the Notch, and he wanted to get to
bed early tonight to be in good voice
tomorrow when the President and
Mrs Coolidge attend service.
Herb Moore made out the program
to be followed by the dancers. He
spent the greater part of yesterday
at the task, and he had every reason
to express his pride in it. Here it is
as Herb wrote 1t: Waltz. quadrille,
one step; Hulrs Victory, fox trot,
quadrille; Paul Jones, Lady Washing
ton reel, waltz Quadrille, fox trot,
morning star, Virginia reel, Portland
fancy and a waltz to the tune Of
Home, Sweet Home
Herb Keeps His Head.
AS might be expected the dancers
interpretations Of these dances were
quite varied Necessarily there was
some confusion and humping. but
Herb never lost his head once and his
prompting very readily Strengthened
things out. Many Of the hill boys.
and some Of the girls, too, insisted on
injecting something that strongly re-
sembled a "horn-pipe" every time the
quadrille or the other square dances
were in order. There were others
who displayed steps suggesting the
Irish jig and the old-time Southern
buck dance.
OF the tunes played by Notch Or
chestra Pop Goes the Weasel" and
Listen to the Mocking Bird" seemed
to be the most popular, at least these
provoked the most merriment and
energy among the happy dancers.
These two tunes were played many
times, but there was some excuse for
this apparent repetition. This orches-
ira does not get together aften and it's
repetoire is necessarily limited.
Moreover, Clarence Blanchard is new
at the clarinet and has not learned
many pieces, at least not well enough
to play at dances. At any rate the
orchestra had any amount Of volume
and endurance. And, when all is said
that's what the dancers in the hills
like most Of all. Herb Moore liked It,
too. But never once did he let the
noise drown his voice in calling the
figures of the dancers. Herb has a
really remarkably strong voice. It
is of the Mangus Johnson kind All
the while his heavy shoes beat a
perfect tattoo on the floor. When his
trumpet-like voice called out Swing
partners" there was some real swing.
ing. Frequently the girls feet left
the floor.
Although dancing has ever been a
favorite amusement hereabouts, di-