Off to the land of the Mormons for a leap year ball in the exciting community of Roweville, a town in northern Utah so small it barely exists even now, when it has been renamed Bothwell. In 1896, it was a small farming community founded only two years before.
The ball was held on Friday, January 17, 1896, but coverage of the ball appeared in the Brigham City Bugler two weeks later, apparently submitted by a local correspondent who signed herself
The Duchess.
Roweville, Utah, Jan. 24, 1896.
I'd like to know the story behind that title!
The "Grand Ball" was proclaimed the first leap year party ever held in Roweville, which of course had not even existed four years before. It was held in the schoolhouse with "a part of the Bear River Orchestra" to provide the music for dancing under the guidance of an experienced floor manager, Mr. August Nichols, Jr., and was said to be well-attended. The dance program was not given in the article, but the company danced until one in the morning, ate supper until two, then continued dancing until five. I admire their endurance.
The main leap year elements were the familiar ones: the ladies chose their partners (first bashfully, then more confidently) and escorted them home at the end of the ball.
A bit more unexpected was the moment when
a quadrille was called, and the ladies went for their partners and were greatly surprised to see that about two thirds of the gentlemen had left the room.
Apparently, they had all gone off to the kitchen, because...
The gentlemen, or “leap year girls,” as they are now termed, served a delicious supper about 1 o’clock. This was the cause of their absence from the hall when the ladies went to dance with them and got left.
"Leap year girls" is almost as good as the "gentlemanly belles" of Carson City's ball in 1880.
While the ladies were waiting, two of them sang a song, after which the gentlemen brought in tables and crockery and began to set up the room for
a hot supper, which consisted of baked beans, roast and boiled pork, roast beef and potatoes, corn, and many other nice things. Tea and coffee were served in abundance along with pie, cake and puddings.
The men worked hard all day Friday preparing this highly appreciated supper; and received much praise for it.
This is not something I've seen before in regard to leap year balls, perhaps because men did not generally have the cooking skills or, in the case of upper-class balls, the event was catered. And even here, the women still stepped in to help:
Although they need not get all the praise, for the ladies helped them out wonderfully by baking the bread, pudding and cake. This is not admitted by the gentlemen.
Before the dancers departed, more songs were performed by the two ladies, and some of the gentleman sang and danced step dances.
A transcription of the article follows.
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Brigham City Bugler (Brigham City, Utah), Saturday, February 1, 1896, p. 1.
LEAP YEAR AT ROWEVILLE.
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Details of the Grand Ball and Man-made Supper.
A leap year ball was given at the school house by the young ladies of Roweville, Friday evening, Jan. 17, 1896. There was a large crowd in attendance. People came from far and near, this being the first leap year party ever given in Roweville. A part of the Bear River orchestra favored the ladies with their presence and also rendered delightful music for the dancers.
The ladies seemed a little bashful at first choosing, but after they had chosen a few times they overcame their bashfulness, and as soon as a dance was called they rushed for their partners the same as the other sex generally do. The dance was progressing nicely and all were enjoying themselves immensely, when a quadrille was called, and the ladies went for their partners and were greatly surprised to see that about two thirds of the gentlemen had left the room.
The gentlemen, or “leap year girls,” as they are now termed, served a delicious supper about 1 o’clock. This was the cause of their absence from the hall when the ladies went to dance with them and got left. While they were preparing the supper a song was rendered by Miss Laura House and Miss Francis Anderson. Just as the song was ended, the gentlemen brought in tables, baskets of dishes, etc. After a few more minutes had elapsed, they came in with a hot supper, which consisted of baked beans, roast and boiled pork, roast beef and potatoes, corn, and many other nice things. Tea and coffee were served in abundance along with pie, cake and puddings.
The men worked hard all day Friday preparing this highly appreciated supper; and received much praise for it. Although they need not get all the praise, for the ladies helped them out wonderfully by baking the bread, pudding and cake. This is not admitted by the gentlemen.
At 2 o’clock all present had finished their suppers, the tables moved out and dancing commenced once more. Before the dance was closed the Misses Priest and Ella Anderson sang. A few of the gentlemen favored us with songs, and step dances, after which, at 5 o’clock every one returned home rejoicing—the boys because the girls had to take them home; and the girls because they had had such a nice time. Good order was kept during the evening by the floor manager, August Nichols, Jr. Many thanks to Mr. Nichols. The hall was neatly decorated by the ladies, and the words, “A Welcome To All,” were neatly fixed with evergreens placed in one end of the hall, where all who came in could plainly see them.
The Duchess.
Roweville, Utah, Jan. 24, 1896.
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