Them was the good old days, in Davenport, Scott County Iowa . hionable, and they usta visit Jocksto glom the new dances—sometimes takin a whirl at em,just for the fun of the thing. When the orchestra played the Streets of Cairo, thepopular selection at that time, the dancers would sing: She never saw^ the streets of Cairo, On the Midway she had never strayed, She never savyr the little country maid. That was durin the ragtime musical period, sport, whencoon songs was all the rage, and white boys and gals usta sing All Coons Look Aliketo Me, All I Want is MyBlack Baby Back,
Them was the good old days, in Davenport, Scott County Iowa . hionable, and they usta visit Jocksto glom the new dances—sometimes takin a whirl at em,just for the fun of the thing. When the orchestra played the Streets of Cairo, thepopular selection at that time, the dancers would sing: She never saw^ the streets of Cairo, On the Midway she had never strayed, She never savyr the little country maid. That was durin the ragtime musical period, sport, whencoon songs was all the rage, and white boys and gals usta sing All Coons Look Aliketo Me, All I Want is MyBlack Baby Back, I Wanta Real Coon, MistahJohnsing, Turn Me Loose,and My Coal Black Cakewalk was at theheight of its glory, LittleAnnie Rooney was hittinthe skids, and Yoo-hoowasnt even dreamed of. Cal-isthenics and the contortionskinda got tangled with foot-work, the tango, bunny-hug,and foxtrot comin to thefront later, with the gasbus and moanin saxophone. When Jocky Manwarning came to town from his farmover near Coal Valley last winter, to up-and-down the old. 172 THEM WAS THE GOOD OLD DAYS spots, he dropped into a dance hall to see the slashers andshim,my-shakers in action. Jocky rubbed his eyes like RipVanwinkle, took one good look, turned a deep scarlet, andmade a rush for the door. The doorman called to his and ast: Why the speed, Jock? Where to? Back to the farm for me, bo, said Jock, pointin to ayoung couple steppin the telephone dance. Theyre workinchildren on my old stuff—with coon music! Im done! Imtrough! Them was the good old days, sport. No free-lance med-dlers out picketin the joy-joints, and you could take the gameas it laid, or leave it alone, and no questions ast. Dinny Dawny wouldnt allow rag-chewin in his refresh-ment parlor. If a coupla windy guys got argufyin too strong,Dinny would say, Hold on there! If you boys wanta fightjoin the army or get married. This aint no prize ring Oneday a fortune-teller wanted to run a tab, and Dinny told himhe was a bum fortun
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookidthemwasgoodo, bookyear1922
