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Archiver > CLARK-CHAMPAIGN > 2002-09 > 1033410846


From: Tootsie <>
Subject: [CLARK-CHAMP] "Bits & Pieces"Enon" & let's squaredance!!!!!!!!!
Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 14:34:06 -0400


To those who would like a picture of the Enon "Indian Maiden" I will
scan it when I have my hubby here to help hold Mom's book.

MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 1929
Birth Announced
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph A. JOHNSON, 1418 Maiden Lane, are announcing the
birth Saturday, of a daughter, Margaret Jeane at their home.

1924
Old Time Dances May Stage Comback; Custom Lingers Long In Enon Vicinity
By Orton G. RUST

"Balance one and balance eight; "Swing'em on the corner like you
swing'em on the gate."
CLARK COUNTY could furnish Henry Ford with material for an Old Time
Fiddlers' contest for the command: "Tune up yer fiddle an' rozin yer
bow," is no idle one yet in the purlieus of Springfield, Pitchin and
Enon still have their old fiddlers, who can tuck their instruments up
under their chins and start stomping a heel to the cadences of Old Dan
Tucker, Possum up a Gum Stump, Soap Suds Over the Fence, Turkey in the
Straw, the King's Head, Old Zip Coon, Jay Bird and scores of other tunes
that tickle the toes.
Down at Enon the custom of dancing the old dances has persisted and
lingered long after it has faded away from the memories in other
sections. Now the swing of the pedulum of time has started backward and
what milady curled her nose over as "Backwoodsy" has became increasing
interest, is dubbed quaint and charming and the old time dances and old
times fiddling may stage a resurrection equal to that of early Americana
in furniture and pottery.
Back may come the tunes and dances of our forefathers to exhilarate
the soul with their high steps and a flourishing swing with a zig and
hoe down thrown in. Healthier, cleaner, livelier than the jazz dance
from the jungles of Africa and far better fitted for high spitited
youth.
If Springfield wants to catch a glimpse of ye olde time dancing,
the Enon old time fiddlers, composed of Dan HELMAR, violin, Vic HANES,
guitar and Del ARTHUR on the base viol can reproduce that scene
described by RILEY in the old fiddler's monologue:
"My playin' only middling-
tunespicked up when a boy;
Kindo-sorta-fiddlin, that
the folks call cordaroy.
The Old Fat Gal" and "Rye-
Straw" and "My Sailor's on
the Sea"
Is the old cowtillions I "Saw"
when chice is left to me"
And so I plunk and plonk and
plink
And rosum up my bow
And play the tunes that
makes you think
The devil's? in your toe"
Yes, they still know how to do it down in Enon although they no longer
tramp across the fields through the winter snow, nor is the old bob sled
brought out to be filled up with young folks who cuddle together, "Just
to keep warm: and fill the frosty night with singing to the tune beat
out by thudding hoofs and the sweet jangle-jingle jang of strings of
bounding bells while
"The stars that sprinkle
All the heavens seem to
twinkle
With a crystalline delight."
No, "Them days is gone forever." But their echoes still come
ringing in the ears when the old time fiddlers swing into thier
rollicking cadences and to the beat of the measures summon back out of
the past the dim frigures of our grandfathers and grandmothers as the
latter came in glowing with a cosmetic bought at the churn or on the
milking stool and if their dresses were fashioned by their own hands
from wool of their own spinning here was in abundance of vigorous
womanhood to fill out the rather shapeless garments and give them form
and substance.
Only the light of the fireplace and a few tallow dips casting dim
shadows that caper and dance exaggeratedly as the booted beaus cut
pigeon wings or threw in an extra double shuffle. Over in the corner
stood the wit who was elected to "call" the dance, using some improvised
combinations of his own for the square dances such as:
"Balance one and balance
eight,
Swing em on the corner like
you swing em on the gate
Bow to your lady and then
promenade,
First couple out, to the
couple on the right,
Lady round the gent and the
gent solo,
And the lady round the gent
and the gent don't go,
Ladies do-ce-do and the
gents, you know.
Chicken in a bread pan,
pickin up the dough.
Turn em roun' and roun', as
pretty as you can
And why in the world don't
you left alaman.
Right hand to your partner
and grand right and left,
And a big, big swing and a
little hug too,
Swing your honey and she'll
swing you,
Promenade eight when you
get all straight.

First couple out to the
right--
Cage the bird, three hands
round--
Birdie hop out and crow hop
in;
Three hands roun' and go it
agin'
Alaman left, back to the part-
ner, an' grand right and
left,
Come to your partner once
and a half,
Yeller canary right and jay
bird left.
Next to your partner and all
chaw hay
You know where and I don't
care,
Seat your partner in the old
arm chair."
And when they tired of the romping reels there were plenty of games
like "London Bridge," Picking Cherries," Drop the Handkerchief," "I
want no more of your weev'ly wheat," "Chase the squirrel if you please
and catch your loves so handy" If any flapper, of the present day is
mystified as to what attraction there could be in such childish games,
there still are old farmers coming into Wilbur Tuttle's every Saturday
who will ilustrate how it was done, upon request.

Above this article is a picture of Dell ARTHUR, Dan HELMAN and Vic HAN
titled
Enon Old Time Trio Gives Radio Program
(Mom has written Dec. 11, 1924)
Under the picture:
ENON OLD TIME TRIO
Radio listeners heard real old-fashioned music last night when they
were entertained by the Enon Old Time Trio, whose melodies were broadcst
by Station WRAV, Antioch College, Yellow Springs.
Members of the trio, from left to right, are: Dell ARTHUR (with fiddle)
Dan HELMAR (with viol) and Vic HAN (with guitar). (Mom added es to HAN
so apparently it should be HANES)



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