The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-04-03

Kansas City Star chronicled the fact
that ten old-time fddlers, five from
north Missouri and an equal number
from the southern section of the
state, will saw it out December 80 at
Jefferson City for the state champion
ship. The winner will receive large
loving cup. The contest is expected
(Mo.) Herald reported that ''the
Ozarks have radio and free rural mail
delivery; they have automobiles and
roads but refuse to abandon the old
square dance where the fiddler plays
the Arkansas Traveller and Turkey
in the Straw and at the same time
calls the dance figures in verse. These
old-time callers each have a different
rhyme and there is great competition.
Here is the call used by an old fiddler
at a recent dance pulled Of in Rolla:
"'Four hands up, and round you go,
Four hands up, and do-see-do.
Hole in the sock and hole in the shoe.
You'll never get to heaven lest you
hep right through.
Swing your ma and then your pa,
And then go back to Arkansas
It was not so long ago that the New
Orleans Times-Picayune carried the
following dispatch:
Forest, Miss-The old familiar
tunes, the kind that make your very
soul crinkle, these are the tunes the
Mississippi fddlers play.
In the courthouse at Forest, Miss,
Scott county, the other night hun
dreds of men, women and children
gathered for an old-fashioned i'd
dlers' contest, sort of harvest fes-
tival. From miles the fddlers came,
some on horseback and some behind
long, rangy mules.
Long before dark they began to
arrive, and before seven o'clock the
courtroom echoed to the notes of
protesting fiddles as the men
tuned up.
First came the contest for folders
over fifty and white-haired men
played the old familiar tunes, and
Ball." fddled by W. L. Norton of
Scott county, was followed by the
Fiddle and the Bow" and Prairie
Girl and Hog Eye"
Mr.. Norton's good right foot pat
ted so loudly that II almost drowned
the violin notes. His blue wooden
shirt and his galluses swayed back
and forth. Standing with his back
to the judges seat and facing the
audience. he played, ard all through
the house one could hear the pat,
pat, pat of feet.
Somewhere In the back Of the
room a man began to dance.
Bring him up 'front.'" yelled the
crowd-but the amateur auckland
wing artist took his seat
Negroes watching the fun from
outside grew holder and, lured by
the sound Of the iddlers, peered in
the door, patting time and rolling
their white eyes at the fiddlers.
Listen TO dat white man" ex-
claimed one in ecstasy.
LCNeC"OOO pay the
same four selections and again the
feet of the audience kept time.
Soon came viii Myers, veteran
fiddler, who began to play, seated
decorously in a chair, but before
long bounded to his feet and exc
cuted Jig step while he played. and
the feet of the audience kept time.
Other fddlers followed. Boss
Farmer, who keeps the hotel, iddled
"Get By and other favorites. Mr..
Hedgewood played "Blue Hawk"
but was interrupted by cries of
Chicken in the Bread Tray" evil
IDENTIFY another favorite. Turning to
the open fireplace the old man held
his violin toward the blaze to warm
her up" and then played a jig tune.
Then came ]. c. Ober, the favorite
Of a farmer sitting near the fire.
place. Mr.. Hannah introduced Mr..
Ober. saying that he had played the
fiddle when he was two years old.