F 159 .C2 H62 Copy 1 THE OLD CARLISLE DANCING ASSEMBLY A GLIMPSE AT THE SOCIAL LIFE OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY Paper read before the Hamilton Library Association, Carlisle, Pa. — The Historical Society of Cum- berland County, Pennsylvania, November 16, 1917 BY PROFESSOR CHARLES F. HIMES HAMILTON LIBRARY ASSOCIATION 1917 y 1 THE OLD CARLISLE DANCING ASSEMBLY A GLIMPSE AT THE SOCIAL LIFE OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY Paper read before the Hamilton Library Association, Carlisle, Pa. — The Historical Society of Cum- berland County, Pennsylvania, November 16, 1917 BY PROFESSOR CHARLES F HIMES HAMILTON LIBRARY ASSOCIATION 1917 «FI J5 1918 .^ SUBSCRIPTION PAPER TO THE CARLISLE DANCING ASSEMBLY 1782 "The Old Carlisle Dancing Assembly'' A GLIMPSE AT THE SOCIAL LIFE OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY Read before the Hamilton Library Association— the Historical vSociety of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania— by Professor Charles F. Himes, November 16, 1917. I desire to remind you that the paper about to be read is a historical paper, before a historical society ; that the motive, so to speak, is purely historical, and that it is in no wise intended as a discussion, exceut in a most in- cidental way, of any other aspect of the subject. We are coming to be more and more interested in the purely social life, in what we might almost call the real life of the Olden Time, of those whose places we now fill. We sometimes cease thinking of their great achieve- ments, their courageous deeds, their sacrifices, and turn to those minor events and occupations that constitute so great a part of human life ; for their life could not have been one hard, dull, everlasting grind, thinking about us, perhaps worrying about us, planning big things and working for us, as some of the "millions of unborn pos- terity . " The question that springs into our thoughts is : When they relaxed from more serious thought and strenuous endeavor, what did they do? How did they entertain themselves? What were the amusements, the recrea- tions, the pastimes that filled in their purely social life? This line of thought was suggested in reading over, and thinking over, or, perhaps, rather musing over an old document, somewhat discolored with time, but still well preserved and legible, that belonged to the life of the last decades of the 18th century . It is not gravely historical . It was written for the day . There is even no date on it . Its survival to be read and commented upon at such a meeting as this was 1 certainly not contemplated at the time or we might say "not dreamed of." It seems to have been preserved by sheer accident, with others, as a prominent historian has said, "rescued from the maw of the paper-mill" by the well-known his- torical writer and investigator, Rev. Joseph A. Murray, D . D . , long the active Secretary of this Association . It is nothing more nor less than the Subscription Paper of the Carlisle Dancing Assembly. A peculiar interest attaches to it because it is autographically sub- scribed by some of Carlisle's most distinguished citizens, and representatives of its oldest families. In its con-i sideration we will find ourselves wandering beyond, per- haps far beyond, the limits of our own old town, among other communities ; for the whole human family is very closely akin in its desire, almost an instinct, for recrea- tive amusements . That there is no date on the document is not a grave defect ; as the historic essence is all there, and the omis- sion of the date only shows how purely incidental it was, as far as use or pleasure is concerned . But whilst the precise date can not be fixed, the document contains with- in itself clews that will furnish an approximation, that will answer all historic demands if not fully satisfy curi- osity . The paper reads as follows: "The Subscribers agree to pay each twenty-five shill- ings for defraying the expence of a Dancing Assembly on the following conditions : "That there shall be three Assemblys during the Winter to be held at such Times and Places as the man- agers shall direct. "That the Expence of each Evening shall be so calcu- lated as not to exceed the one third Part of the whole sum that may be subscribed . "That tickets for the season be sent to such ladies as the Managers may think proper . " At this point, the following words, originally pro- 2 posed in the document restricting the Managers, were crossed over, viz : "but that no lady be invited under years of age." The number designating the years was so effectually crossed out that it is undecipherable . We may assume that there was some discussion of this vexed question, as to the age of admission of ladies, and that it was decisively left to the Managers; as the restricting clause was not only stricken out, but "as the Managers think proper" re-written above it. The document continues : "That each subscriber pay one third Part of his sub- scription each evening on entering the Dancing Room . "That No Gentlemen (Subscribers excepted) be ad- mitted without Leave of the Managers & that Such shall pay the same as the Subscribers for the Evening. "That Colonel Postlethwaite & Mr. Hamilton be Managers for the first evening & that they shall nominate two Gentlemen to succeed them . " A name was inserted just above, and between the above two; evidently as a proposed third manager; but the name was effectually crossed out, leaving but two managers . The subscribers' names are in two columns. The well known signature of Robert Magaw heads the right hand column . This alone would fix the decade, at least, within which it was written . It must have been after his exchange as a Prisoner of War, in 1780, and before his decease in 1790 . During that decade he was not only prominent pro- fessionally, but equally so in social life, and public enter- prizes of all kinds . He had given up a large practice as a lawyer, by far the largest at the Carlisle bar, with such competitors as Wilson, subsequently one of the "Signers," and Stephenson, to go, as Major of the "First Battalion of Pennsylvania Riflemen," under Col . William Thomp- son, to Boston in 1775 . He was subsequently entrusted, by Washington, with the defense of Fort Washington, the most important post on the Hudson, the last retained by 3 Washington on New York Island, after his movement in- to the Jerseys. After a heroic defense, and his mem- orable reply of defiance to the British summons to sur- render, accompanied with threat of being put to the sword, in case of resistance . He was finally obliged to surrender to overwhelming numbers, that swarmed over his earthworks. He was held as prisoner of war, on parole, on Long Island, and there became intimate in the prominent old Knickerbocker family of Van Brunt, and as a result, on his exchange, in 1780, he brought with him to Carlisle as his wife, the highly educated and accomp- lished daughter, Marretje (Marietta), a brilliant conver- sationalist, and said to be one of the handsomest women on Long Island. He not only resumed the practice of law, but took part in the social life of the town, in which his wife, as tradition has it, was the life of that coterie of women which made the town's society so delightful . At the head of the other column was the signature of James Hamilton, then a prominent lawyer, who had not long before come to Carlisle, and who was subse- quently the able and honored judge of the " district of which Cumberland County formed a part for thirteen years ; until his decease in 1819 . Among the other names, many will be recognized as representatives of well loiown old Carlisle famalies: Sam'l A . McCoskry, was an eminent physician, who married a daughter — Alison — of Doctor Nisbet, Presi- dent of the College, and whose son became Episcopal Bishop of Michigan . George Kline, doubtless the well known printer, whose name is familiar on Carlisle imprints, and who was one of the founders of the "Carlisle Gazette and The Western Repository of Knowledge," 1785. In this the "art preservative" has done its best work for the preser- vation of the data of our early local history, as it was not only the first newspaper published in Carlisle, but per- haps west of the Susquehanna. It may save some trouble to investigators to know that reference is made to it sometimes by its last title, by which it is not cataloged ; as it is generally known as "Klines' Gazette." It may be of some interest too, to this local audience, to know that his printing-house was at one time, at least, on the south side of West Main street, nearly opposite the old Denny cabin, and that it was entered by a porch with side steps, nine in number. Thomas Duncan became a leading lawyer in the State, and an able Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylva- nia. Joseph Thornburg was one of the early iron- masters . But passing over many facts that have more than a genealogical interest, we simply give the other names on the document, namely : Nath'l Smith, Jno. Miller, Robert Miller, jr., William Alexander, George UenniaOTt, Hugh Wilson, Sam'l Montgomery, James Armstrong, Joseph Postlethwaite, Wm. McCoskry, James Blaine, Robert Blain, Richard t^Qjitlin , and two others not clearly deciph- erable . ^0u44(Mr^ The paper seems to relate in great part to financial matters, but it allows much to be read between the lines, with assistance from other sources, especially from the recently published complete account, or as complete as it can be made, of the Philadelphia assemblies, *by that ac- complished historian, Thomas Willing Balch, Vice-Presi- dent of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania . Whilst the Philadelphia Assembly dates back to 1748, long before any other Assembly of the kind in the country, and when there was as yet no town of Carlisle, that of Carlisle is far enough back to connect with that of Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Assembly intermitted at times, more especially during the Revolutionary War ; and it was about the date of the revival of that Assembly, possibly a little earlier, that the date of the Carlisle As- sembly, possibly a little earlier, that the date of the Car- lisle Assembly may be fixed . *The Philadelphia Assemblies, by Thomas Willing Balch, of Phila- delphia, Allen, Lane and Scott, 1916. It seems pertinent, just here, to call attention, too, to the fact, that Carlisle at that time had a character of its own . It had long been an important military out- post ; but it was more than a frontier town at which expe- ditions were fitted out for the west. It was recognized as the centre of an intelligent and progressive commu- nity. It had had a marked influence on the political ac- tion of the Colony, leading to the Revolution . There were able lawyers at its bar. Three of the "Signers of the Declaration" had been practitioners there, including James Wilson, who resided there. The movement about that time to establish a new college there, the sec- ond in the State, was encouraged by the character of its inhabitants ; and it was promoted largely by prominent citizens of Philadelphia. The distance then of Carlisle socially from Philadelphia, was not as great as might be inferred from the length of the journey between them, and the absence of regular stage coaches . The word "Assembly," now socially almost confined to Dancing Assemblies, may at first seem strange in this connection, as it has no necessary connection with Danc- ing. Words grow obsolete, or change their meaning, or may become much broader or more restricted in usage. At that time the term "Assembly" had a much wider ap- plication, to political, religious, and other meetings, as well as social ones. It has its survivals to-day. We vote for members of the "Assembly," as the lower house of our State Legislature continues to be called ; the Pres- byterians go to their "General Assembly;" the French still have their Constituent Assembly ; today it is applied socially to a rather select, subscription, dancing organi- zation . But after more than a hundred years, with its changes, it is allowable to inquire, in how far the word represents the same thing. Or, to put the question more broadly than could well be done in regard to the Carlisle Assembly : In how far does the Philadelphia Assembly, which has survived, with almost unbroken succession. more than a century and a half, to day resemble, in many of its features, the Assembly of 1748, or even that of one hundred years ago? Now the term "Dancing" itself is a very broad term in general usage. It is so well understood, with all that it implies, that it calls for no definition or explanation. It runs back as far as the memory of man runs; it is con- fined to no age or nationality, or even stage of human de- velopment . Sometimes it is a ceremonial ; at times a re- ligious rite ; at others an incitement to battle ; but to day it is a purely social incident, with no other motive than pleasure . Whilst the far reach, from the Pyrrhic mar- tial dance of cultured Greece to the War-Dance of our ab- origines, is filled in with most entertaining history, we are concerned at present only with dancing as a purely social feature of comparatively modern life, as related to our day. It is pertinent here, just at the start, to inquire : What as a purely historic fact, was the attitude, at the time, of this community toward dancing? This ques- tion resolves itself into one ; of the attitude of the church toward that amusement; and that again more especially to one of the attitude of that denomination, preponderant in numbers in our Valley, to the high intellectual and pro- gressive character of whose membership, and to its firm- ness of conviction and purpose so much of the making of our Valley has been ascribed . It maybe assumed that, as a rule, dancing was not favored ; that it was in fact denounced by many, on ac- count of alleged immoral, or at least irreligious tenden- cies. In a I'ecently discovered letter, rather confidential, to a friend, by Doctor Nisbet, the distinguished President of the College, and one of the pastors of the Old Stone Church, on the Square, he more than intimates that the condemnation extended to the innocent instrument, that usually furnished the music. He was in a rather pessi- mistic mood at the time, in regard to the perpetuity of our Republican institutions, by reason of the "Whiskey Rebellion," through which he and his family had been placed in considerable danger. He writes: "It is a re- proach to our church that all these miscreants, who are concerned in this Insurrection, call themselves Presbyter- ians * * * * and it is impossible to believe that this Insur- rection could have been raised without their (the minist- ters of that church) countenance or connivance, and ex- cept in the case of Mr . Clark alone, it has never been heard of that they gave any discouragement to the late riots, although I heard that one of them had excommuni- cated a young woman for hearing a man playing on a fiddle, and the man for having played it in her hearing." Whilst there may not be among the names appended to the paper, including representatives of many promi- nent and influential families, many members of the church, there were some who were certainly regarded as such, or at least as affliated with the old Stone Church. It must be remembered, too, that the subscribers did not include all who participated in the dances, as provision was made, as was seen, for the admission of others to the floor. There may have been many of these. Whilst, therefore, many persons may have refrained from taking part in this amusement, by reason of religious, convic- tions, on the other hand, there is ground for belief, that there was not as much defiance of public opinion at the time, on the part of the dancers as might be thought by some ; as the attitude of that church, at least in Carlisle, was not as rigid in discipline, as at a later period. This inference is fully borne out by the most authen- tic history of the Old Stone Church. After Mr. Steel's pastorate there were several years of rather unsettled pastorates, until the entrance of Dr. Davidson upon his long term of twenty seven years. Part of the time he was a professor in the college, and part of the time had Doctor Nisbet as co-pastor. He was regarded as an able preacher, but he was even more the influential man in setting great and serious dissensions, that then af- flicted that church. He is spoken of as a man of un- 8 common prudence , and sound discretion . He died in 1812 . On his tombstone was inscribed by com- mon consent: "A Blessed Peacemaker." Under the pas- torate of this man of mild expedients, some deplored, "the evil effect of an irregular and lax management of discipline of the church"; and under his successor. Dr. Duffield, rules were introduced that were "strict and un- usual, and sometimes enforced with severity." Each one was pledged to renounce "the attendance at balls, and dancing, &c . , "and a few families more attached to their amusements, and especially to public and promiscuous dancing, than to their church, ultimately withdrew to an other congregation . " In this respect conditions were not very different in Philadelphia. There was not there complete unanmity in regard to dancing among persons in high social position. Leaving now this aspect of the subject, we turn to its purely social aspect, as an amusement, recreation, pastime, or whatever it may be called ; as it entered into the life of old Carlisle and of that period. There is not much positive information on a great many points that excite our curiosity . But there is enough to assure us that those, whom we know only his- torically, were as intensely human as we are; that they had their times of relaxation from the cares of life ; when they forgot for awhile posterity, and thought only of themselves, and enjoyed themselves dancing in their own way; which might not have been exactly our way. How then were these Assemblies, or balls if you please, conducted? How did the dances themselves of that day compare with those of our day? When we speak of dancing by those who preceded us, in how far does the word convey a correct impression? We know that the dances of today have their fashions, some might say their freaks; changing almost as rapidly as fashions in dress. We know, well that the fashions of dress today are widely different from those of a hundred years ago . The fine, well preserved suit, in the collection of the Assocaition 9 illustrates this better than words can tell ; and it is the suit of a gentleman . * Whilst the Philadelphia Assembly is far the oldest, and may be taken as the type ; in the later colonial period and afterward these so-called Assemblies became more general; but whilst all are on the same general plan, there are variations in details, occasioned by locality, or other circumstances, some of which may be noted. First then, these^ Assemblies were Subscription Balls,, and so designated. The subscription was for the season, and privileges were limited to subscribers, or guests under the rules . The subscribers were doubtless, at least, solicited for the Carlisle Assembly, by a sort of common consent, so that it could hardly have been re- garded as a promiscuous ball. The number does not seem to have been limited ; but Assemblies varied in this respect in different places; in one it was 50; and an ac- count of an early Philadelphia Assembly, states, that "it consisted of eighty Ladies and as many Gentlemen, one half appearing every Assembly night . " So the number of Assemblies in the season varied from three in Car- lisle,! to an Assembly every two weeks during the season elsewhere . But special assemblies were given, at times . Some were called "Birth-Night" balls, in honor of Washing- ton's birthday . The notice read : "the subscribers to the City Dancing Assembly are informed that there will be a ball at Cellar's Hotel on Saturday, the 22nd inst., it be- ing the birth night of the President of the United States." Another time the invitation reads: "Military Birth Night Ball in celebration of the birth of Washing- ton, on the evening of the 23rd instant." The price of subscription varied, also, with the place, and the number of balls during the season, from twenty five shillings at Carlisle to forty at Philadelphia; but it *This elegantly embroidered coat and vest, presented to the Library by Miss Enimeline Knox Parker, belonged to John Brown, Esq., of Philadelphia, whose correspondence in regard to the Assembly will be given later. fAccording to a letter, which appears later, in 1803 the subscription was for "8 nights for 8 dollars." to varied greatly with the period, and has soared far above the early price in Philadelphia. But there was one very marked and important dif- ference between those early and the present day Assem- blies . Ladies were not expected, or rather permitted to be subscribers. In the regulations of one Assembly it is put very explicitly : "Subscribers consisting of Gentle- men." Of course the Ladies were not to be left out. In Carlisle they were delicately invited by having season tickets sent them by the Managers. In some other assemblies each subscriber was given one ticket for a lady, and in some cases two . Today the sexes are on a perfect equality in the Philadelphia Assembly in this respect. Women are permitted, perhaps it should be put, expected to be subscribers . There is another question, that might arise here, suggested by the Carlisle paper : Was there an age limit for participants at the balls? We have noticed, that whilst they were able to cross out, in that paper, as origi- nally drawn, a suggestion to fix a limit, below which tickets might not be sent to ladies, and whilst they suc- ceeded, in rendering the number suggested undecipher- able, they were not able to obliterate the fact, that a proposition to fix an age limit had been made, and that the whole matter was finally left to the Managers. What is left of the number crossed out faintly suggests seven- teen years as the limit proposed. It is an interesting fact that, Marretje Van Brunt became the wife of Col. Magaw at 17, and probably danced before. But in some assemblies an age limit of 18 was fixed for ladies, and 20 for gentlemen . Perhaps there was no age limit, at the place from which a young gentleman wrote, that he was almost tired of the assembly, "because the Girls were so little." The Managers, or Directors, who were elected by the subscribers, or named in the subscription paper, were the all important persons, almost unlimited in discretion, and abtolute in power in carrying out the rules, and di- 11 reeling the dances . They varied in number ; in some cases there were as many as six, or even more. In the Carlisle subscription paper two were proposed, by name, and the addition of a third name, written above the other two, was crossed out . In the Carlisle assembly they de- termined the times and places of the meetings, and as we have seen, as well the ladies that were proper to be in- vited by having season tickets sent to them. But as a historical fact, it must be noted that the early Philadelphia Assemblies were not exclusively danc- ing Assemblies, but were of more general social char- acter. One of the rules required the Directors "to order anything necessary for the entertainment of the company as well as those inclined to dance, as well as those who are disposed to play cards. For the accommodation of the latter rooms are to be provided, and furnished with Fire, Candles, Tables, Chairs, Cards, &c." This provision for those who did not dance, which has, with time, become obsolete, was however, still a fea- ture of the social life of the city as late as 1780, as shown by the account given by the Marquis de Chastellux, a Ma- jor General in the French Army, at the time in service in America, under Rochambeau. In his highly enter- taining and authentic journal of several trips through the country, in 1780, 1781, and 1782, he makes the fol- lowing note: "The assembly, or subscription ball, of which I must give an account, may here be properly intro- duced. At Philadelphia as at London, Bath, Spa &c., there are places appropriated for the young people to dance in, and where those whom that amusement does not suit, play at different games of cards ; but at Philadel- phia games of commerce are alone allowed." These games were simple, miscellaneous, less strenuous than the games of today . But the main interest for us, naturally centers in .the Dances themselves, and the conduct of the ball . In these respects, probably, the difference between now and then is most pronounced . Most of the dances of today 12 would certainly have had no place in the balls of that period, or even much later. The Waltz, or so-called Round Dances were not altogether unknown, but at the time, and for years after this date, popular sentiment was decidedly against them . Byron in his bitter satire on the "Imperial Waltz imported from the Rhine," hard- ly more than gives expression to popular opinion, which finds an echo in Tom Moore's characterization of it as: "The waltz that rake from foreign lands." This feeling against these dances gave way very slowly . The later day writers of fiction do not lose sight of it in portraying the life of any period. Thus to quote from "Hard Cash," by Charles Reade: "The band struck up again, Ah, said Julia, I promised you the dance, but it is a waltz, and my guardian angel objects to the waltz a deux temps . " This scene belonged to about 1820. The young man addressed admitted that he ought to be able to waltz properly as he had given his whole soul to it in Germany . This may contain an intimation that the waltz was not at the time thoroughly naturalized, and was perhaps awkwardly danced. So Dickens in Bleak House, makes George Roncesvalles see "images awful all the evening in their floating muslins waltzing after the German manner." That the waltz did not come into fashionable society in Philadelphia until late, and then gradually, might be inferred from an incidental passage in Mr. Balch's history. In closing, an account of a very fashionable private ball , he remarks, omitting names, "As the dance was closing, a young lady who is still living, in coming down stairs, saw Mr . — and Mrs. — waltzing in the parlor." The writer of this paper recalls, that as a very young man, he had frequent- ly seen some few of both sexes, who had received their dance culture during a residence in Germany, waltzing in the intervals of the dance, and that without giving of- fence to any one. These are simply given as historic facts, that seem pertinent to our subject. It can be readily understood that such a decidedly 13 foreign innovation over the dances long in vogue, would have encountered national sentiment and prejudice, that would alone have caused its slow reception, even in the fashionable circles of the day. But there may have been, at the same time, some intrinsic features of these dances themselves, that may have evoked opposition to them, especially if awkwardly danced, as they might have been at their introduction . Something of this ap- pears in the satire of Byron, before alluded to . But there is also much to be found in support of this view in the criticism of a more purely technical char- acter, by the author, of high character, of a "Grammar of the Art of Dancing", published in Boston, 1905 . In treating of Dancing as a Fine Art ; as he contends it was regarded by the Greeks, he remarks of the Waltz in his classification of dances : "It is to be regretted that the round dances, such as the Waltz, the Gallop and Polka are generally preferred to most others, for they do not merit the distinction from the standpoint of either are or science." "Impartially considered, the so-called Waltz- position is wholly objectionable, as it places the lady ab- solutely within the power of her partner. Such an at- titude would never be tolerated beyond the duration of the music of the dance." Let us turn now to the dances in vogue about the date we are considering . The so-called Country Dances almost naturally come first; represented today by the Virginia Reel, Money Musk, and we might add Roger de Coverly, They were particularly English dances, and susceptible of endless variations, and new ones were brought out frequently. An old small pocket almanac of 1797, with inter- leaved blank leaves, well filled with memoranda by an eminent lawyer, has two printed pages given to a list of new country dances, twenty five in number, under as many different names, with the figures given under each. We append it in part : 14 "NEW COUNTRY DANCES." "First of August.— The three ladies lead around the three gentlemen, the three gentlemen do the same, led down the middle, up again and cast off hands six quite round. "The Grand Sultan . —Change sides and back again, lead down the middle and up again, allemande with your partner; hands six round. "HYMEN'S Garden.— Call off two couple and up again, change sides and back again, lead down the middle, up again ; right and left at top . "Blanford Assembly.— Cast off two couples, up again ; cast off ; hands six round . "Seymour's Fancy.— Hey contrary side, same on your own side; hands six round; lead through third couple and cast up; ditto through second and cast off. Others by name are: "Highland Wedding;" "The Cabinet of Love;" "Venus' Girdle;" "Nymph of the Grot-" "The Soldier's Glory;" "Bangor Rout;" "Cupids Arrows;" "Little Peggy's Love;" "West's Hornpipe," etc. It may have been the "tender words adown the middle" that gave the Country Dance some of its hold against the French "Couquette Quadrille." But the Minuet,— the "Stately Minuet"— described as "replete with grace and modesty," was the Queen of the dances^ Of French origin, also, where the Menuet de la Cour, and the Menuet de la Reine were favorites, it appeared under many other names . The quadrille and the cotillion were other dances in favor. The Manager had the regulation of the balls, down to the last detail . As Chastellux says : "the Manager or Master of Ceremonies presides at these methodical amusements," and, mentioning a prominent man who held the place, he narrates that, "he exercised his office with great severity, and that it is told of him, that a young lady who was figuring in a Country Dance, having forgot her turn by talking with a friend, he came up to her, and called out aloud, "give over. Miss take care what 15 you are about ; Do you think you are here for your pleas- ure?" This, perhaps, may be regarded as only one in- stance of the rigid requirements of a day, when it was not only style, but when it was expected of every one, to dan^c through a quadi'ille, and not simply walk through it. There were many regulations that may seem strange today, but all conditioned by the dances of the time. A regular set was to consist of ten couples. There were rome rooms in which four sets could dance at once, but that was not the rule . The ladies ranked in sets . Those who arrived first formed the first set; and others were placed in sets in the order in which they came to the as- sembly. Every set of ladies drew for their places; but the Managers could place strangers and brides at the head of the Dances . The ladies who led called the dances alternately . No lady could dance out of her set without permission of the manager, or quit her place in the dance, or alter the figure; nor lady and gentleman quit their place after dancing down a country dance, or, if they danced again, to take their place at the bottom. The managers, whilst the Minuets were dancing, were to couple those disposed for Country Dances, and provide for strangers, and for odd couples, if there were four of the latter, they could form a set. There were many rules of a similar character, and it is not strange that Chastleux called them "methodical amusements," where a manager "presents to the ladies and gentlemen, danc- ers, billets folded up, each containing a number ; thus fate decides the male or female partner for the whole evening. All the dances are previously arranged, and the dancers are called in their turns . These dances like the "toasts" we drink at table, have some relation to politics ; one is called the success of the campaign, another, the defeat of Burgoyne, and a third, Clinton's retreat . From his description of a private dancing party, at another time, similar rules seemed to control. It was a wedding party. "There were nearly twenty women, 16 twelve or fourteen of whom were dancers ; each of them having her partner, as is the custom in America. Danc- ing is said to be at once the emblem of gaiety and of love ; here it seems to be the emblem of legislation and of marriage ; of legislation in as much as places are marked out, the country dances named, and every proceeding pro- vided for, calculated and submitted to regulation ; of mar- riage, as it furnishes each lady with a partner, with whom she dances the whole evening, without being allow- ed to take another. It is true that every severe law re- quires mitigation, and that it often happens that a young lady after dancing the two or three first dances with her partner may make a fresh choice, or accept of the invita- tion she has received . " The importance attached to the place of a lady in her set was the occasion of much friction at times . A young gentleman of the period, in correspondence with a friend, complains of the dullness, socially, in New York, owing to the fact that they had no assemblies there that season on account of a dispute which could not be settled ; not be- tween two men, but between their wives, as to which should "stand first couple in a country dance . " The dispute had gone so far that at a private ball, "there were high words," and one lady "retired in a rage ;" and at a later dancing party, the lady called on her husband's sup- port, and involved him in a quarrel with the officer pre- siding, that led to a formal challenge;" which, was how- ever, amicably adjusted. But to correct an impression, that may have been made from what has been said, as to the cause of the pri- macy of the "stately minuet" as a dance, some allusion must be made to an imperious and rather absurd fashion of that olden time, that would in itself put the dances of the present day absolutely out of the question . The towering head-dresses of the ladies would have permitted no other kind of dance . They were made up of paste, rolls, cushions, hair, feathers, etc . ; they defy description, but were regarded as real works of art. 17 Such a head dress could only be built up by a profession- al hair dresser of great skill and ingenuity, and we may assume of great good taste. There were not many of that character. The work of art required a great deal of time, so that the services of those regarded as the best were engaged, in turns, days, or even weeks before a ball ; and it is said that ladies, according to their turn, un- willing to risk moving their heads, except very slowly, would rest sitting up, for several nights before the dance. To illustrate the indiscribableness of it all, I will give just one extract from a letter of young lady to a friend, tell- ing of her preparations for a ball . She writes, "the dress is more ridiculous and pretty than anything I ever saw — a great quantity of different colored feathers on the head at a time, besides a thousand other things . " The ladies of Philadelphia were favored in having most expert hair dressers. Among the French refu- gees, who had lost everything, were many of excellent families, who not only had the sympathy of the best classes, but were engaged as teachers of French and danc- ing, and some as hair-dressers, without loss of social po- sition . It would be unfair here, however, to pass over the fact that this surrender to an absurd fashion was not a purely feminine weakness or folly. Men had their wigs almost equally ridiculous, — their tee wigs, their night-cap wigs, their bob wigs, their riding wigs, and their wigs for the balls, with their gold lace and trimm- ing on which he could not put his hat, which he was obliged to carry, under his arm . There is a survival of this fashion, as a sort of convention, in the English courts of today, where the Judge sits solemnly, wearing his enormous wig, with its horse-hair curls, and the bar- risters flit about with their more practical mere sugges- tions of wigs . There is another incident in this connection, allusion to which may be pardoned on account of its purely local interest. Col. Butler, one of the famous five "fighting Butlers," whose father's home was in Carlisle, and whose IS gunsmith shop is still standing, had his queue dressed and hair powdered every morning before reveille, even on a campaign . He was a personal friend of Washing- ton's, had fought in many battles of the Revolutionary War, had especially distinguished himself at Brandywine and Monmouth ; but when Gen . Wilkinson issued his or- der that queues should be cut off, he refused to obey ; was courtmartialled twice ; was first reprimanded, the second time suspended for a year; but died before the sentence was pronounced. The incident has been embalmed in classic fiction, in Irving's Knickerbocker's History of New York, where he suggested the character of Kelder- meester . As to the music for the dances, the fiddle seems to have had the field all to itself. Bands came in at a much later date . According to Mr . Balch, even in the later fifties "the musicians were darkies:" A young gentleman, on a visit to Philadelphia about the Revolu- tionary period, in describing a fashionable sleighing and dancing party, says, the "seven sleighs, with two ladies and two men in each, preceded by fiddlers on horseback," went to a "public house a few miles from the town, where we danced, sung, and romped and eat and drank, and kicked away care from morning till night. " Another gentleman in giving an account of smaller sleighing parties, in which "planters's daughters," of Lancaster County were the ladies, remarks, "but in order to have a sleighing frolic in style, it is necessary to pro- vide a fiddler, who is placed at the head of the sleigh, and plays all the way. The occupants not only visited their friends for miles around, but alighted at every Inn and had a dance. Whilst then there were many, we might say very many, of the highest social position, who disapproved of dancing as a social amusement, and, true to their convic- tions and best judgment, refrained from it, there were also many who did not look at it from the same point of view, who chased away dull care in their enjoyment of it. 19 We can hardly think of the great Washington, the digni- fied and historic Washington, I might almost say the con- ventionalized Washington, as he appears on public docu- ments, down to postage stamps, taking part even in the "stately minuet," and yet he was not only fond of danc- ing, but according to some accounts, passionately fond of it. Whilst it is said that he would, as a young man ride ten miles from Mt. Vernon to attend a dance, it is equally well authenticated, that during the Revolution, when Commander-in-Chief of the Patriot army, he did not deem it beneath his dignity to dance, but seemed to enjoy it. In a letter of Mrs . Bache, daughter of Benjamin Franklin, to her father, Jan . 17th, 1779, she says, "I have several times been invited abroad with the General and Mrs . Washington . He always inquires after you in the most affectionate manner, and speaks of you highly . We danced at Mrs. Povv^el's your birthday, or night I should say, in company together . " " Again in a letter from Gen. Greene to Col. Wads- worth, March, 1779, he writes : "We had a little dance at my quarters a few evenings past," and then adds, what I think can hardly be accurate: "His Excellency and Mrs. Greene danced upwards of three hours without once sitt- ing down," I give this simply as it is given f and as re- peated in some creditable histories . It is doubtless not meant to be taken literally. Subsequently, 1780, in writ- ing from Headquarters, Morristown, to Joseph Reed, Gen . Greene says : "We have opened an assembly at Camp . From the apparent ease, I suppose it is thought we must be in happy circumstances;" but he explained, that their provisions were gone, they had not a ton of hay, money was extremely scarce, and worth little when they got it, etc . The subscription paper for "the promo- tion and support of a dancing assembly, to be held in Morristown this present Winter, 1780," has 35 subscrib- ers, and Washington's name heads the list. The amount *Itinerary of Gen. Washington, 1779, by William S. Baker. Penn'a Mag. of Hist. Vol. XV, No. 1, p. 41. Hist. Soc. of Penn'a, 1910. tibid, p. 46. 20 opposite each name was 400 dollars, or about eleven dol- lars in specie . This explains that money was worth little when they got it. The places where the balls were held were generally public houses or inns . Many of the Assemblies of Phil- adelphia were held at the City Tavern, a principal place of resort, where dinners, receptions and dances were given. In his paper, read before the Association, on The Taverns of Carlisle, by John Miller, Esq . , he states that every tavern had a ball-room, that could be en- larged, when desired by connecting adjoining rooms with it. Some of the most interesting documents connected with this subject are the original invitation or admission cards . They are comparatively rare, not because there were not many of them, but because after they had served their purposes, few were kept as souvenirs, but they were tossed carelessly aside, without a thought of a curious posterity having any interest in them . We are ' fortunate in having one which, if it does not run back into the 18th century, lacks less than a year of being 100 years old . It is in the- possession of J . Webster Hen derson, Esq., who has a family interest in it. It is a printed card, 2Vox3V.) inches, bearing at the top, in large letters, "Cotillion Party . " It reads : "Mr . S . Alexander is requested to attend a Cotillion Party at the house of Mathew Armor on Tuesday evening the 3rd of March." It is dated, Feb. 28, 1818. The following names are printed beneath as managers: John Duncan, Paul I. Hetich, Ephraim M . Blaine, Henry M . Campbell . The term "Cotillion", in America, covered the square dances generally, but did not include country dances ; but that does not necessarily imply that they were excluded from such a party. The name cotillion was, however, applied to a feature peculiar to German balls . It con- sisted of a variety of dances in which favors were freely used . It came near the end of the ball, after the mid- night refreshments, and at least two subsequent waltzes. 21 This Gennan Cotillion, in comparatively recent years, found considerable favor in the United States, where in a short time "cotillion" was dropped, and it passed sim- ply under the name "The German . " The party in this case v/as not a private party, as might be sugegsted by the place, the "House of Mathew Armor. " The inns of that day were frequently designated by the name of the proprietor; as Foster's Inn, or Tav- ern, or simply Foster's. I am inclined to think that the name of Mr. Armor's inn was the "Sorrel Horse." The fact that the names of the managers were printed, and not autographically subscribed, would confirm the view that it was not a private ball. The invitation was probably a complimentary one to Mr. Alexander, gener- ally known as General Alexander. All the names on this little card have considerable local interest. They had all been connected with Dick- inson College. Mr. Alexander was the son of a Revolu- tionary office. He was graduated in the class of 1812, and became one of the ablest lawyers in the State . He* married a sister of Ephraim M . Blaine, a grand-daughter of Col . Ephraim ^laine . John Duncan, the first on the list of managers, was from Carlisle, probably of the prominent family, before alluded to. He was of the class of 1814, but did not continue to graduation. Paul I. Hetrich, was from Franklin County, also of the class of 1814 ; but did not graduate, but the college conferred upon him the degree of A . M . , in 1824 . Ephraim M . Blaine, was a grandson of Col. Ephraim Blaine; was graduated in the class of 1814 ; became a physician, was a medical author of repute, and became a surgeon in U. S . A . He resided in Carlisle several years before he at- tained his M . D . Henry M . Campbell was a native of Carlisle ; was graduated in the class of 1809 ; was a cap- tain in U . S . Army ; was admitted to the bar in Carlisle, in 1817. It may be worth mentioning that James Buchanan, subsequently President of the United States, was also a graduate in the same class of 1809 . 22 But as we have already ventured so far out of the 18th century, it may be pardonable to allude to several invitations that have turned up, of more recent date, that will help to mark the transition to the present . A hand- somely engraved card, with "Baltimore Assemblies, 1849-50," reads, "The honor of Miss J. B. Alexander's company is requested at the Baltimore Assemblies." (she was a daughter of General S. Alexander, of Carlisle) . Under "managers" are engraved twenty four names. Another headed "National Celebration of Washing- ton's Birth-Night, 1851," reads: "The honor of Miss J. B . Alexander's company is requested at an Assembly, on Monday the 24th February at Carusi's Saloon . " Under "Managers," in three columns, are more than hundred names, the first being that of Hon. Henry Clay, followed by many other Honorables, including Sam. Houston, John p! Hale, Daniel Webster, Howell Cobb, and many with military titles, and many untitled distinguished cit- izens The term "managers" has evidently lost its early meaning, and the particularity to call it a "birth-night ball" in celebration of the birth day, carries it back to the early days of the Assemblies, whilst the change of date occasions no trouble . An invitation to the "Grand In- augural Ball" for President Taylor, in 1849, whilst more elaborate, has the same general character . This paper is necessarily incomplete on many pomts There are many facts and incidents connected with the subject, in regard to which there might be the most nat- ural curiosity, but if the old document has opened up a little glimpse into one phase of social life of those olden days the purpose of the paper has been in some measure carried out . ,. i j i ^- I am glad, however, to say that a copy of an old let- ter has been placed in my hands in the past few days, which gives us some information on a point of consider- able interest. Something has been told about the gen- tlemen subscribers to the Assembly, but nothing about the lady non-subscribers, who played as essential part m 23 the social enterprise . The quaint old letter from a Car- lisle boy of the time to his brother, seems almost to have been written to gratify our curiosity on this point. It is by Lieut. Erkuries Beatty, from "Quarters near Yorktown, Aug. 19, 1782." We are indebted for the privilege of using it, to Miss Helen Beatty, daughter of our well known townsman. Captain Beatty, of Civil War record, whose uncle the writer was . It is a long letter, and I must confine myself to extracts, but I know you will pardon me, if I do not make them too brief. It is but fair to call your attention to the fact that it was written in the full freedom and confidence of intimate friendship, and of course not intended for us . The young lieutenant had only been about a week in his Quarters near York . He says he was billeted on "a rigid old Quaker, of course a damn't tory ;" but he was treated well, and they got along well, as only religious questions were discussed . He writes, "I find myself very lonesome, as I dare not go to town, as I have neither money nor yarn, as the saying goes . " The word "yarn" might be fitted into present day conditions, but only in- terpretation for it here, that occurs to me, is, that maybe a hank of homespun yarn, was the equivalent of money in the purse, on going to town . In his lonesomeness "with nothing else in his thoughts, only Carlisle," he turns to write to his brother, a sort of introduction, for his use, in case he should visit Carlisle, to "the agreeable fair sex there," giving the "character of them individu- ally" to the best of his knowledge. Some of the family names on the subscription paper will be recognized among them. Beginning at the upper end of the town he mentions them in order: first; Miss Betsy Miller, pretty, much in- clined to be an old maid, not handsome, but very sensible, a great reader, and a great favorite of Jack Hughes, per- haps before this, married; Miss Sally Postle, (this is most likely Postlethwaite) a pretty young lady, possessed of a great deal of sympathy, friendship and good nature, but 2-i believe her heart is engaged to a Citizen ; the three Miss Montgomerys ; Hetty, about 4 or 5 and twenty, and mid- dling handsome, rather given to pride and backbiting, but her favorites will find her very agreeable; next is Sidney not quite as handsome, but very affable, friendly, and good-natured, and more industrious than any of that fam- ily; the other is Jenny, outvies the other two in beauty, but is puffed up with affectation, yet some think her very clever . Going down street : Miss Nancy Stevenson, about 5 or 6 and twenty, very engaging look, and ex- tremely genteel, is sensible and satirical, but very good company and kind; Miss Jenny Holmes, although her father is a tory, it makes her none the worse. She is very merry and reckoned handsome, on account of beau- tiful dimples in her cheeks, is a very agreeable part- ner at a dance, and got an elegant head of hair . Miss Bekky Miller, rather got a sourness in her looks, but is very good-natured and industrious, has had a good many suitors in her time, although possessed of no pride, and is about 19 or 20 . Her father will be able to give her a very good fortune, if he pleases, and I think she will make a good wife . Miss Nelly Ponk, by no means a pretty girl, but a good one, has good sense, industry, friendship, and I believe will soon be married to a citi- zen . Slip over to the works, where you will find the two Miss Sergeants : first, Sally, very genteel and dressy, though not very handsome, thinks herself much of a lady, and would always wish to be in genteel company ; next, Molly, is much handsomer and more sociable and genteel, but both of them have good educations and politeness, and as they formerly lived in Amboy, Jersey, till the ene- my drove them away, and I believe destroyed their for- tunes ; but they are as polite and fashionable girls as we have in town . Miss Nancy Irish, is very pretty, is deli- cate, and much on the Religious, keeps very little com- pany . A mile up the Spring, you will find Miss Jenny Blair, a minister's daughter, a wild rattling, harum scarum, young girl, yet possessed of natural wit enough, 25 and middling handsome. Her older sister is different in every way. About one mile above the town, is Miss Nancy Antes, a pretty, modest, discret, well behaved girl, very reserved, hard to become acquainted with ; she will be married soon. Four miles higher up, you will see Miss Sally Sample, middling handsome and genteel per- son. Very lively, witty, sociable, and kind. She is about 18 years old, and not possessed of a very good fortune. She dresses very genteel. Four miles across the country you may find Miss Polly Smith, her perfection is her engaging eyes, sensibility and friend- ship ; her father is veryr ich, and she has had a great many courtiers ; am informed she is a little of a Coquette, but she is thought to be a very good girl, which I believe she is. All these attend our Assemblies; besides a bux- om rich widow, two old maids, three or four young girls that have not married, with a number of married ladies of the town. I would enumerate a great many more young ones to you, between the ages of 13 and 15; but as they were never admitted into the company of those above, being too young, it is not worth while ; but some of them are very handsome and agreeable . He closes his long letter : "answer me as soon as pos- sible, and as long as you please, which will be esteemed as a particular favor by your loving and affectionate Bro. Erkuries." Allusion has been made to the close relation between Carlisle and Philadelphia in those early days, not only business and political, but social as well. It is a pleas- ure to have some direct substantiation of the statement. A young lady, a descendant of an old Carlisle family, whom you all know, Miss Emmeline K. Parker, has found in the old family record chest several letters, which have a direct bearing upon this point, which she has kindly consented to read to us with such explanation as may be necessary. It seems proper to preface the reading of the letters with a brief explanatory statement. The young man, 26 Isaac Brown Parker, most interested in the correspond- ence, was the grandfather of Miss Parker, the reader of the letters . He had been placed by his uncle, John Brown, Esq., of Philadelphia, a man of broad business relations, prominent in the Revolutionary period, as a student of law under the tuition and care of his intimate personal friend, James Hamilton, a prominent lawyer, at Carlisle, a few years afterward appointed to the bench of the district. The young man became a prominent lawyer and influential citizen . He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the College, and for many years its secretary. His son, John Brown Parker, was also a lawyer, an A . B . of the University of Pennsylvania, and LL . B . of the Law School here, and is well remembered here as a prominent citizen . As these letters, incidentally, give us a nearer view of Carlisle Society of that day, as well as of the Assemb- lies, w^e are glad to be able to give them in full, as fol- lows : Boston, Nov. 2, 1780. "Dear Sir: I have the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 16th ult, for which I retrun you many thanks, assuring you at the same time that it always makes me happy to render you any kind of friendship . This will be handed you by Mr. James Hamilton, who is lately from Ireland . He is a particular friend of mine, and as such I beg to recommend him to your particular attention and acquaintance. He means to settle some- where with you ; the particulars of which with his future plans, I will refer to himself, and advice may be of ser- vice to him, I doubt not from the regard you have for me and the assistance that he will gain from you that you will readily assist him. Pray drop me a line and let me know what has turn- ed up in consequence of Arnold's papers being examined. There is such reports here about our friend 27 M (orris) that I should be glad to know the truth of it — being "Very truly "Dr Sir "Your most Obt. & Hum, Servant "Henry Mitchel . " "To John Brown, Esq. Philadelphia . " Addressed to John Brown, Esq . , Pine street, Philadelphia. "Dear Sir, Almost all the young men of this place have subscribed to the Dancing Assembly, 8 nights for 8 Dollars, and which will be supported by the first Inhabi- tants of the place, perhaps one night in the week might be proper to divert to such an amusement, as young peo- ple if refused a reasonable gratification, will frequently seek a resource . Your nephew will not attempt to sub- scribe without your approbation. If you agree to it it should be on the condition of withdrawing early, and making up by increased diligence if possible, for portion of time so appropriated . "Truly "Dear Sir "Yr dev'd friend "James Hamilton. "Carlisle, 18 Dec. 1803." From John Brown to his nephew, I . B . Parker, Carlisle, "Phila'd, 28th Decem'r, 1803. "Dear Isaac Mr. Hamilton has proposed your joining the As- sembly this season to which I have no objection if you wish it & he approves, but hope it will not divert your mind from substantial concerns. "Yr affectionate Uncle "John Brown" 28 Addressed to "John Brown, Esq., No. 188, Chest- nut Street, Philadelphia." "Carlisle, 8th January, 1804. "Honored Sir , Having your permission and Mr. Hamilton s ap- proval I shall join the Assembly. I have generally avoided mixing in company since I came here, but as all the young gentlemen of the profession have jomed, it would not appear in a favorable light were I not to at- tend, especially as Mr. Hamilton is the chief Promoter of it, and none but the first in the place are admitted. I hope to make suitable improvement for this indul- gence, as it is the only time I shall devote to recreation during the winter. . Nothing farther recurring at present, I beg you will accept the gratitude and esteem of your dutiful nephew. Isaac B. Parker." 29