When Pocomoke Was Young- A continuing weekly feature.

 

(Chapter flow:)

ITS ORIGIN AND TOWN LIMITS

TOWN LIMITS

GROWTH, CHANGE OF NAME, ETC.

MERCANTILE ASPECT

MANUFACTURING

TRADES ETC.

SHIPPING INTERESTS

EASTERN SHORE STEAMBOAT CO.

SHIP BUILDING ETC.

HOTELS, LIVERY STABLES, ETC.

PHYSICIANS

LAWYERS

POST OFFICE

PRINTING OFFICES

SOCIAL ASPECT, ETC.

MORAL ASPECT

TEMPERANCE CAUSE

SCHOOLS

CHURCHES

Note:  In duplicating this material for publishing on The Pocomoke Public Eye we have made minor adjustments to correct some of the spelling, punctuation, etc. We believe the errors were not in Rev. Murray's original writing but occurred in the process of formatting the material to a digital format for viewing online.

SOCIAL ASPECT (CONTINUED.) 

Again, the dance was a favorite source of social enter- 
tainment in the early history of New Town. There were 
three classes of characters, which I shall describe, partici- 
pating in this amusement. First, the first citizens of the 
town engaged in it. Sometimes it was the result of a 
wedding, a cotton picking, quilting, or it may have been a 
special dancing party. I am not now describing the balls 
held at hotels where a gentleman and lady could enter by 
paying the entrance fee, but social dances held at private 
houses for amusement. The host and hostess would pro- 
vide such things as wines, liquors, candies, cake and 
tropical fruit to make the entertainment as enjoyable as 
possible. The invited guests would assemble after candle 
light. They were composed chiefly of single persons, but 
sometimes there would be a small sprinkling of married 
ones also. An expert fiddler would be engaged. All 
things being ready and the parties on the floor, the fiddler 
having his fiddle well tuned, would draw his bow at full 
length, when a feeling of exhilaration would go through 
the room like electricity. The parties now engaged in a 
four or eight-handed reel. Oh! what a fine time there 
was. The cotillions, waltzing, capering, parties passing 
each other on the floor, crossing and around the room, 
cutting the pigeon wing, etc. After that reel was over the 
hat would be passed around to take a collection for the 
fiddler, for that was the way he was paid for his services. 
Then another party would be made up and after the dance 
the hat was passed around again, and so the night was 
spent till or near the break of day. When they would get 
weary and faint they would keep their spirits up by  
pouring spirits down. At such places of hilarity many a young 
lady's heart and hand has been wooed in marriage. 

Secondly. The lower class of society in the country, 
both of men and women, would attend the holidays in 
New Town. On those occasions they assembled at the 
hotels and engaged in the dance, and some of the same 
order of men in New Town would participate with them. 
It would be a novel sight at the present day to see such a 
gathering of men and women at a hotel engaged in a 
regular hoe down, such as was practiced then. 

Thirdly. This class would be the colored people. They 
would assemble in town from all the surrounding country. 
They would construct booths on the hill or public square, 
in which they would have for sale cakes, candies, cider, 
beer and tropical fruits. They would have all sorts of 
jollity, boxing, wrestling, pitching quoits, dancing after the 
riddle and pattywhack. This word pattywhack of itself 
is unmeaning, hence I shall be under the necessity of 
explaining the process of the dance in this way. The 
company would be in the open air on the hill. The leader 
in this amusement would pat with his hands and stamp 
with his foot while the rest would dance. The leader 
would use some outlandish expression in song, such as the 
following : 

"Juber up and Juber down, 
Juber all around de town." 

And when they would reach the climax, he would sing- 
out with an extended voice: 

" Jump over double trouble Juber." 

Then such antics and gymnastics as the dancers would 
perform with their hands and feet, keeping time with the 
leader, as would be truly diverting to the reader could he 
behold such a performance now. Another song which 
they would sing in their dances was: 

"Possum up de gum bush, 

Raccoon in de holler. 
Saddle on de gray marc, 

Martingil and collar." 

I have endeavored to spell their words as they would 
pronounce them. Late in the afternoon, they would be 
seen with their little bundle of cakes, getting ready to start 
for home. Thus the day closed with them. The social 
aspect of New Town, now Pocomoke City, has undergone 
a change for the better. Whereas in the description 
already given of social life, in the early history of New 
Town, as contributing to the pleasures and passions of the 
animal, now it is seen in the improvement of the intellec- 
tual and religious part of man. Sociability seems to have 
left the lower walks of our fallen nature and is aspiring to 
a higher sphere of our manhood, as may be seen in the 
following instances, namely: in the formation of literary 
and beneficial societies, in the mingling together in the 
pursuit of knowledge. Indeed, the free public school 
system, in the Pocomoke City High School, has contri- 
buted largely to, and has acted a very important part in 
the social status of Pocomoke City. Here mind is pre- 
eminent, and the scholars who possess superior intellect 
are honored for their talent, and their society is appreciated 
whether they be rich or poor. 

Again, the various picnics and festivals gotten up for 
the promotion of education, churches, sabbath schools 
missionary and other benevolent societies, in which all have 
an interest, and all mingle. Although the different 
churches may in one sense be considered distinct commu- 
nities, yet when contemplated in their great work of doing 
good they are one grand whole, emulating each other in 
elevating society and promoting the social and religious 
bearing of Pocomoke City. Again the improvement of 
the musical talent, by the young folks, has contributed 
largely to social life in Pocomoke City. Whereas instead 
of listening to the old timey songs, in the days of yore, by 
uncultivated voices, now it is simply fascinating to listen 
to the select pieces of music as sung either in the choir, 
at concerts, or in social gatherings by those who have 
cultivated voices, and who are well educated in the science 
of music. The query may be agitated, what has produced 
such a change in the social condition? Answer. It may 
be the increase of the population, a higher grade of 
schooling and the influence of the churches. 

CONTINUES NEXT SATURDAY HERE AT THE POCOMOKE PUBLIC EYE.