OO" 
     
     for a very brief interlude of dancing in the Catholic parish hall. 
     
    

    
     The permission was definitely on a trial basism and was hedged about by 
     
     numerous restrictions. All dances coming into vogue at that time were 
     
     forbidden: the "bunny hug," the: "turkey trot," and several others the 
     
     names of which I have forgotten. Only certain waltzes, and one or two 
     
     old-fashioned dances were allowed, and even those had to be performed 
     
     under the view of the pastor and a committee of parish matrons to guard 
     
     against any breach of propriety. With the introduction of dancing, 
     
     limited though it was at first, the basket socials gained tremendously 
     
     in popular appeal. 
     
    

    
     They also attracted a section of society that came for the entertain- 
     
     ment, for the dancing, and in the hope of a dash of excitement not 
     
     included in the program. To add to the hilarity, they brought along a 
     
     supply of MacGregor's Best. Beyond a bit of good~nattred heckling during 
     
     the sale of the baskets, they remained reasonably quiet, but with the 
     
     start of the dancing they began to play a livelier role in the proceed- 
     
     ings. This usually included a lot of clowning, off-key singing, and 
     
     grotesque parodying of the dance being performed. As a general thing, 
     
     this sort of conduct was accepted by the more sedate guests with good 
     
     grace. However, when some young lady got bumped a little too roughly 
     
     her partner was likely to serve sharp notice on the offender to watch his 
     
     step -- or else. This was considered the equivalent of a challenge which 
     
     the culprit felt in honor bound to answer by a repetition of the 
     
     offense. | 
     
    

    
     The inevitable next step was either a haymaker to the jaw, or an 
     
     invitation to step outside. In either case, the result was. a fight which -° 
     
     was usually broken up by the older and more staid onlookers before either 
     
     contestant sustained serious damage. Sometimes, when peace-making efforts 
     
    
   
   
    
     failed and friends of the combatants took up their cause, the affair