December, 1921
Worcester Democrat
December, 1921
Worcester Democrat
Footnote: Just a few months away (April 22, 1922) was the most devastating fire in Pocomoke City's history destroying much of the business section and homes in the downtown area.
January, 1889
Peninsula Enterprise
Circa 1940
Excerpt- Social entertainment in New Town (now Pocomoke City) in the early to mid 1800's
...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 ot 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 tine 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 laint 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 ol 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. 7 '
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 mare,
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.
PPE Footnote: "The Hill" (i.e. Public Square) was a high mound at the foot of Market Street.
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