The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 52, July 1948 - April, 1949 Page: 62
512 p. : ill., maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Southwestern Historical Quarterly
that she was developing some skills in doing housework but
deplored the fact that there was so little mental stimulation.
Since the weekdays were so quiet, Sunday with its pleasant social
affairs-if the weather permitted-was anticipated with joy. One
listened for hoofbeats announcing the coming of visitors or went
off to fish fries and picnics. The latter events often ended with
games or dancing on the prairie grass. The stars served as chan-
deliers or a fire of cedar logs furnished plenty of light. She
thought nothing of riding horseback fourteen and even seventeen
miles to the meeting of the Prairie Blume, which according to
her report was organized to bring some poetry into the otherwise
prosaic life and to give the young people an opportunity to fur-
nish in writing something taken from the field of fantasy.
That the young men also welcomed eagerly such entertain-
ment as the Prairie Blume offered is plainly seen in an account,
evidently written by a young man, about forms of amusement
open to them. He, too, mentions that everyday life could be
"desperately" monotonous. When they were boys, they could go
swimming on Sundays or engage in horse racing, the latter not
approved of by the parents, for such racing was not always bene-
ficial to the horses. In the adolescent age, life was "frightfully"
monotonous. They were not interested in children's games any
more, and they shied away from association with the girls grow-
ing up into young ladies, for it became necessary to use the
formal "Sie" when addressing them. Physical exercises, such as
contests in running and jumping, were popular at this age. Then
he mentions hunting for ducks and geese, which came in large
numbers in winter. Even a cold and wet norther could not
dampen the enthusiasm of an ardent hunter.
Later they took part in round games, of which some were
interesting because they were "intellectual." Most entertaining
were charades, which usually left the whole house in disorder.
Fortunately dancing became popular. He, too, mentions that
dancing was engaged in at picnics. When dancing outdoors, a
young man sometimes stumbled and fell, but no one paid much
attention to such a mishap. Perhaps such dancing was not as
difficult as may appear on first thought, for, the dances mentioned
in the Prarie Blume are the schottische, polonaise, and the slow
waltz (Laendler).
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 52, July 1948 - April, 1949, periodical, 1949; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101121/m1/68/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.