EARLY FORMS OF RECREATION, ENTERTAINMENT AND AMUSEMENTS

by Z.B. Smith

Pages 50-55

Settlers of early Marion County, most of whom were of Scotch-Irish ancestry from "east of the Mississippi", were never at a loss for ways of enjoying themselves and had never heard the word "boredom". These people were hard-working, but, for the most part, easygoing people who often turned their work into play. At such times as log-rolling, house-raising, corn-husking, sorghum-making and quilting bees, several families would work together, share their food, then play games and make music. This article, due to lack of space, will touch on some forms of entertainment, (some more than others) and show the entertainment and recreation that these people made for themselves. They certainly did not lack for a truly social life and a true community spirit.

Religion controlled most of the people to the extend of participation in "worldly pleasure". There were those who held to the Puritan outlook and believed they should abstain from anything even slightly "tainted" with the flesh; then there were those who held the more liberal stance of the Cavalier persuasion and believed one could enjoy many things - dancing, horse racing, and the like - and still make it to heaven. Often the Church was forced to make strenuous laws against "merry making" and would call wayward members "on the carpet", sometimes putting them out of fellowship until they repented and mended their ways. This very often, took place at camp meetings, which was in itself a part of their social life. The annual camp meeting lasted from three to five weeks, beginning after the crops were laid by and ending just before harvest.

The more staid families, realizing a need for social gatherings (or "frolics" as they were called then) for the young people, gave them opportunities to meet together and "court" with the ideal of marriage in mind. By an "unbending of their religious beliefs", these families gave "play parties" in their homes and allowed a certain type of dancing to the singing games - a stomping of their feet and clapping of their hands as accompaniment to the music. The oldest and best loved songs at these meetings were "Skip to My Lou My Darling", "Green Grows the Grass", "Green Gravel", "Going Down to the River', and many others. Some of the "more settled games" were; Cross Questions and Silly Answers, Pleased or Displeased, Truth or Consequences, etc. Sometimes taffy pulls took place and the young people were allowed to "bite the candy". The one getting the shortest piece of candy got to kiss his partner. The older people joined in the dancing games, then settled nearby to watch and listen to the rest, entering into the spirit of the party while still chaperoning the young ones. Those who were hardier and more bold, and that element of the ones who adhered to "no man's law" were in attendance each Saturday night wherever the Square Dances were held, often riding or walking miles to get there.

The fiddle, banjo and one or two guitars made up the band that played for the "hoe down". The fiddle was thought by many to be inhabited by the devil himself, as its high sweet notes and lilting music could put the most reluctant man to dancing, or patting his foot at least. Even the women who were known to be "again" such follies, going along with her man, often danced until the break of dawn to the sighing, sobbing wails of that devilish fiddle - missing church on Sunday morning and falling into disfavor because of it. Few could resist the enjoyment of being "a part of the set" of the Square Dance, tramping the floor in time to the music of "Old Joe Clark", "Cottoneyed Joe", "Chicken Reel", "Fire on the Mountain" or the "Eighth of January", and the Caller as he called the dance in his low voice, telling them to "promenade" or "do-si-do"! Many of the old calls are now on record for posterity.

The Wedding Party was another social event that involved banqueting, dancing and singing. Toasts were drunk to the happiness of the bride and groom. These toasts were choice juices ranging from pure fruit juice to real "sprits", served in small dram glasses. The charivari is one of the oldest customs of celebrating the new marriage, often unexpected by the blissful couple. In this custom, the newlyweds were serenaded by the awful noise of shotgun blasts, cow bells ringing, wash tubs and dish pans beaten with tin rods, hunting horns blowing, whistles tooting, anvils hammered, and shots of powder or dynamite while everyone was hollering and whooping to the top of his voice. The young couple had to show themselves before the clamor stopped and were often subjected to "embarrassing" tricks until they offered refreshments or money to buy treats for the riotous crowd, which had among its number those that were already well-laced with liquor and were hard to handle. But the custom was well intended and most often well received - with no harm done!

As time passed the social life of the county stemmed from three sources; the home, the church and the school. Recreation was provided by each unit for the benefit of all.

To give a "Social" became the desire of most families. Ice cream socials, barbecues and large fish fries often took place with the invitation extended to most of the community. Those who were not invited came anyway.

The Church gave ice cream socials and box suppers. This was the first practice of bartering or selling at bazaars (the early form of our present-day garage sales and auctions) to raise money for Missions and building funds. Box or pie suppers became a favorite way to get money for books, school supplies and civic needs. Booths were set up at the annual picnics, reunions of any type. These booths were the forerunner of our present-day fairs. At these booths, handiwork of all types, canned goods of all sorts, and artistic and creative displays were sold on a percentage basis. Music, dancing, orations and sermons at these bazaars were entertaining to the citizens and anyone could get on the platform and perform. The annual Decoration Day, with dinner on the ground, gave the various preachers a time to speak and the service was ended with congregational singing.

The Singing School was a yearly event and a pleasant form of recreation for old and young alike who like to sing. The teacher, with his tuning fork, was held in high esteem.

The Friday Literary Society of the school entertained the students and patrons with plays, recitations, spelling bees, ciphering matches, debates and match games, and for the sports lovers - horse racing, boating, swimming, etc.

As money became more plentiful and tastes became more sophisticated, the people began bringing in the summer Chautauqua - (according to Webster's Dictionary) "an assembly for educational purposes, combining lectures, entertainment, and out-of-door life." The music at these assemblies was classical and done with small bells and xylophones. The songs were very romantic and nostalgic that set a poetic mood. The songs became household favorites for gatherings around the organ or piano in the parlor. Harmonizing to "Love's Old Song", "In the Gloaming", "Down by the Old Mill Stream", and "Threads Among the Gold" often reminded the listeners that love, begun when they were a "couple of kids", had lasted through the years. They were still together, though age had lined their faces and their families were grown and gone from home. The memories were like pieces of fabric woven of unions that had lasted a lifetime and brought to mind the lines of another old song, "I loved you then, I love you now". Soon the cylinder victrola came into the homes and neighbors gathered to waltz and fox trot to its music. Later came the radio and now television takes up the time of the household.

Probably the most enjoyed form of all recreation, early and later, practiced by our people was family reading. The family would gather each evening to listen as one member of the family would read the Bible, a novel or something chosen by one of the listeners.

Except for the County Fair and the Turkey Trot, all of these forms of recreation have faded into the past and now recreation is a family affair or small limited groups of friends. Memorial Day or Decoration Day, is a family affair and no longer is lunch served and fellowship enjoyed. Movies and other forms of entertainment have taken the children out of the homes and divided the old from the young. Seldom do people come together because each age group finds its separate form of recreation, except for an occasional family reunion or church affair that brings them together again. The automobile has changed our way of life and "the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence", so traveling is the thing to do today for pastime. Everyone is on the move and the old ways are gone forever.

One of the earliest forms of recreation for the women of Marion County was quilt-making which was learned from childhood. The art forms of the quilt showed the creative fulfillment of the designer. Quilt-making was a necessity and intricate patterns came from loving memories as the designer sat by the fireside, using the bright pieces of scrap material gleaned from friends and relatives. Some of the traditional designs handed down from generation to generation that showed the practical use of every scrap, no matter how small, are; The Double Wedding Ring, The Flower Garden, The Log Cabin, Dove at the Window, The Courthouse Square, Arkansas Star, and Drunken Trail. The Album Quilt was a collection of favorite patters of patchwork set together in creative fashion. The Crazy Quilt, made from odd shaped pieces of brocades, satins and velvets, was embroidered with bright threads in the "briar stitch" or "herringbone stitch" to be used as a spread over a dust ruffle. The Memory Quilt was one pieced by friends with their names embroidered in the center space. This became an heirloom in many of the families. One of the most beautiful quilts, an appliquéd masterpiece, was the Bride's Quilt. This was lovingly designed with the motifs of flowers, leaves, birds, fruits, or butterflies on a white block of material with exquisite stitches and quilted in the delicate feather design.

Quilt-making consumed many hours, often in solitude, and the idea of a Quilting Bee was born, thus giving company to the added incentive for accomplishment. Invitations were sent to neighboring women to attend a Quilting Bee. This entailed refreshments and certain preparations as for a social gathering, so often the husbands and children were invited also. In this case each family contributed to the refreshment by bringing a covered dish of food, a pie or a cake. While the women quilted, the men visited while they chopped wood, did blacksmith work, cleaned the barn, or whatever chore the host had need of help in seasonal work. The children played the old games. When they tired of these, they created games of their own.

The Quilting Bee was begun by bring out the quilttop to be placed in the quilting frames. These frames consisted of four strips of wood - two side strips 108 inches long and two end strips that were 90 inches long. On each of these stripes of wood a folded strip of heavy cloth was tacked. To this, the edges of the quit were pinned, after the side frames were placed on top of the end frames and secured at each corner by a long nail placed in the drilled holes of the frames. The quilt frame was hung from the ceiling - or placed on wooden horses - and rolled as it was quilted. Putting the quilt on the frame was not an easy task. The lining of the quilt had to be tightly tacked on the frames, the cotton batting was placed on the lining evenly, and the quilt top was then secured to the lining by pinning at intervals along the edges. Next, the quilting design was marked and the quilting began. A woman had "status" in the community if she was a neat quilter. The smaller she made her stitches, the more praise she received. The common "Nine Patch" quilts were done in the simple shell stitch design, while the more elaborate quilts had stitch designs that were more complicated.

As a superstition, it was thought that whatever one dreamed the first time one slept under a new quilt would come true. It was also a custom, when the quilt was finished and taken from the frames, to "shake the cat" in it. The women stood in a circle. When the cat jumped out of the quilt, the nearest single person was, supposedly, the next one to wed. Often, the quilt was named or "christened" by putting it over some young couple who the women thought - or hoped - would marry.

Besides the social hours together, exchanging news, remedies, recipes, and garden lore was enjoyable and the pioneer women had the feeling of having helped create something beautiful as well as useful. Quilting Bees are still practiced to a lesser degree in this area.