Pretty Girls and Gallant Lads

Dance at Woodville: Pretty Girls and Gallant Lads. Elegant Costumes.
Professor Pounet's Music. The Repast. The party.

From the Windsor Public Ledger,
Wednesday, January 16, 1889
probably written by the Editor, Benjamin H. Swain

You are invited to attend a dance at the Academy in Woodville, NC, Tuesday, January 8, 1889: Committee: John Wood, D.B. Lewis,
A. Matthew, G. Norfleet, W. Winstead.

The foregoing invitation carried the writer to Woodville Tuesday night of last week.

After pontooning the first mile, the balance of the road from Windsor to Lewiston is comparatively safe navigation. The establishment of a public ferry from Mr. Winston's to the Bond place is much to be desired and the matter will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners at their next meeting. A large number of the relatives and friends of those who have succumbed to the dangers of that terrible coast will press the matter before the authorities at the time above named.

It is enough to say that the Windsor delegation reached Lewiston without shipwreck and quartered themselves on my host Hancock. Andrew doesn't have printed bills of fare, nor liveried servants, nor any red tapism, but he goes right straight along giving his guests sausage, steak, spare ribs, big hominy, good biscuits, butter and coffee,and what is best, making a moderate charge thereafter. The old stagers of our party did justice to the supper. The new recruits held back for the supper at the dance. To all beginners we will say that is a mistake. If you want to look your best, dance your gracefullest, talk your brilliantest at a dance which begins at 8 o'clock, then do ample justice to a square meal about 6:30 of the same night.

Eight and a half o'clock found us at the Old Academy at which more than half the> people in Bertie county before the war were educated. It has been the scene of many an intellectual contest; of many a gay dance and festival. We risk nothing in saying that it was never filled with more wit, wisdom, beauty and grace than on the night of our visit.

The gentlemen whose names were signed to the invitation welcomed each guests with beaming cordiality. Professor Pounet led the orchestra assisted by Prof. Dickson. When this fact is stated, comment on the music is superfluous.

Burges Urquhart, Esq., Dr. J.S. Griffin, Mr. Griffin, Miss Goode, Mrs. Spivey, Mrs. Harllee, and Mrs. Moxley - the names of the other ladies escape me - united in performing the duties of hostess. They made everyone feel at home, ministering alike to pleasure and comfort.

We noticed the following ladies engaging in the dance: Miss Rosa M. Kenney (who later married Judge Francis Winston), Austin, lilac satin, en train; diamonds. Miss Gertie Sessoms, Windsor, pink satin and lace; amethysts. Miss Bertie Harden, Windsor, salmon colored satin; pearls. Miss Fannie Lewis, Lewiston, brown silk; pearls. Miss Ella Lewis, Lewiston, Nile green silk; pearls. Miss Carrie W. Pugh, blue satin and lace; pearls. Miss Annie Johnson, Woodville, combination of green velvet and Nile green silk; rubies. Miss Florence Harlllee, Woodville, cream colored satin; pearls. Miss Della Hardy, Woodville, white albatross; pearls. Miss Seabree, Hamilton, garnet satin. Among the younger ladies who added to the evenings's pleasure by their graceful dancing we noticed Misses Pattie and Mamie Urquhart, Sallie and Janet Griffin, Sadie Meaken. Aileen Latham and Frances Smallwood.

Prominent among the gentlemen dancers we noticed Messrs. Winston, Cooper, George Gray, Swain, Perry and Shultlz, of Windsor; Mr. Charles Tayloe, of Ebenezer; Dr. A. Capehart, of Roxobel; Capt.Taylor, of Aulander; Jule Moore, of St. Johns; Mike Deans, of Rich Square; Messrs. Wood, Lewis, Harrell, Johnson, Dr. J.P. Smallwood, Ballance, and Meaken, of Woodville; Peebles, of Scotland Neck; Gay,of Northampton; Dr. Matthews, of Durham; Latham, of Plymouth and many others whose names we did not learn.

Miss Carrie Harllee, of Woodville; Miss Mamie Cox, of Roxobel; Miss Andrews, of Roxobel took no part in the dance, but were at all times surrounded by ardent admirers.

We noticed Messrs. James W. Hardy, Whit Smallwood, R.W. Moxley, and Alfred Spivey present. In fact most all of the good people of Bertie, Martin, Halifax, Hertford, and Northampton counties were there. To tell the truth, Bud Wood wasn't there. To tell a greater truth the writer was mightily put out because he wasn't. This remark applies also to his good lady.

Lunch was served at 12o'clock. It was a splendid dance. The program was varied. Dreamy waltzes, sparkling polkas, sedate schottisches, the new military schottisches, energetic gallops, mirthful quadrilles.
At one o'clock "Home, Sweet Home" was played.

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