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

~ q in which Kathleen Redman
IA Strange, the author, said:
~ n IF you ever have watched
" a group OF country people
engaged IN square dance,
you will readily understand why I re-
greet the passing Of these old-time IA
vorites from the floors of our present
day country dance halls.
AS recently as ten years ago these
square or group dances were an in
tegral part of our western country
life. Today the modern tendency for
jazz is crowding out the old-time
fiddler and the old-time dances. The
old-time fiddler cannot play the new
dance music, though he can play the
old irresistibly. The consequence is
that not only the folders, the callers
and the old rhymes themselves, but
also the people who know how TO
dance the figures are disappearing"
If this Canadian woman had crossed
the boundary line into this country
and visited various places in a number
Of different states she might have dis
covered that mourning over the pass
ing Of the old-time fiddler" is still
bit premature. If, for instance, she
had gone into the Catskills in New
York she might have made an interest
ing discovery, as witness the following
from the New York Sun:
Having explored the Catskills,
Mary Elizabeth Osborn has record
ed in American Speech some Of the
results Of her observations on the
square dance.
The neighbors gather In the front
parlor," the barn or, corrupting
touch for the true antiquarian, IN
the garage. The fiddler calls the
figures; he is dictator of the dance;
he has been known to stop fiddling
and scold the dancers If the figure
is not being performed quite swift
~ enough or evenly enough to meet
his approval"
Whatever the dance may be, says
this historian, there are introduc-
tory and closing steps that are al
ways the same. The opening figure
Is ordered thus:
Head couples,
Right and left,
Half promenade;
Ladies change,
Balance four,
Allemand left,
All promenade"
The closing figure Is directed IN
this fashion by the master Of festivi-
ties:
Ladies TO the right and swing,
Balance TO the next;
Gents TO the right and swing,
Balance to the next;
Allemand left,
All promenade"
In Captain Jinks," a favorite
dance, the figures are performed
with enthusiasm TO these quatrains.
the flying lady" is frequently lifted
bodily from the floor and swung in
the air with right good will:
First lady swing with Captain
links:
Now with the one that never drinks;
Now with the one that carries the
chinks,
And now with the dude of the
ballroom.
First gentleman dance with lady so
fair:
Now with the one with curls In her
hair:
Now with the one that flies in the
air,
And now with belle Of the BALL
room"
A typical dance for four couples is
expressed in these lines:
First two give right hands across,
Back with the left;
Fall back between side couples.
And forward six.
And back with the Left
Join your partner,
And balance four in line;
Swing 10 places
And promenade ALL
This is an aspect Of LIE In the
Catskills the summer boarder does
not know. Our author says that in
the villages the square dances are
falling off somewhat in popularity,
but on the farms they are as greatly
enjoyed as they were a generation
ago. Jazz leaves the guests apa-
thetic.
It was only year or so ago that the