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Dancing Was Most Popular Form of
Amusement |
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Those who gather in the beautiful ball room of the new City Hall for the
opening dance will be reviving an ancient custom in Refugio; so much so
in fact that history may be said to be repeating itself. Among
Refugians of a quarter and half a century ago dancing was the most
prevailing mode of amusement, and remained so up until the discovery of
oil and the coming in of so many strangers to disrupt in a manner the
community life that had prevailed undisturbed for almost a century.
But the oil boom has gone, and the people it left are gradually being shaped into a homogenous mass that will cause the return of many of the old-time amusements, chief among which is dancing. For the last five years there has been no place here where public dances could be held, but the completion of the new City Hall now makes available one of the most beautiful ball rooms in Southwest Texas. Printed below is an account of a "Fancy Dress Ball" held in the Court House, the second floor of which was used for public dances. The article, taken from a copy of the old Refugio Register, dated February 8, 1896, shows that Refugians of 40 years ago knew how to enjoy themselves, and many a silver-haired matron or rapidly aging gentleman of the present day will wonder just how he or she really did look dressed as a "sailor boy" or "fairy queen." Then, too, many listed among those who took part in the fancy dress affair have passed over the river, but if from that far-away shore they are permitted to view Refugians of the present celebrate the opening of this new palace of the dance no doubt their hearts will thrill. Following is the complete account of the "Fancy Dress Ball" held February 6, 1896, at the Court House, with a list of those participating: The Fancy Dress Ball. "It was a complete success. That is the verdict of all who attended the fancy dress ball given by the young people last Thursday night. "Extensive preparations had been made for the occasion, and those who had the management of the affair are the recipients of ecomiums [encomiums] from all the guests. Dancing began about 9 o'clock, and it was in the wee sma' hours when the program was concluded with "Home, Sweet Home." At 12 o'clock an intermission was taken for the purpose of partaking of the elegant supper spread upon long tables in the lower hall of the Court House. Although the crowd was large and possessed of healthy appetites, there was an abundance for all and plenty left.
"We give below as complete a list of those present in fancy dress
as it was possible to get: GENTLEMEN. Rufus Doughty, jockey. LADIES. Miss Lillie Dean, butterfly. "The gentlemen present not in fancy costume were Messrs. Ney Baker, Shelby Burke, Orion Bell, Jim Reed, Tom Shelly, Tony Ryals, Monroe Leisering, Tony Strauch, Lott Pettus, Guy Girou, Whitney Toups, John Kay, Rufus Winsor, James Rose, Albert Warburton, James Warburton, Felix O'Donnel, Holmes Heard, W.C. Rogers, A.W. Evans, Charles E. Simpson and a number of others our reporter failed to get. |
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