Henshall, James Alexander; Camping and Cruising in Florida; Robert Clarke & Company, Cincinnati, 1884; p. 179
The town referred to in this paragraph is Key West, Florida. The year is 1879.
“But there is a large and popular dance house at the west end of town, which we “took in” for the Skipper’s benefit, where the harmonizing influences of the place are again exemplified, and where white, yellow, brown, and black meet on a common level, male and female, and ” chase the glowing hours with flying feet,” to the inspiring strains of a cracked violin, and a piano which seems to possess a thousand wires and all loosely hung. And if the test of enjoyment is the energy displayed, they certainly enjoyed themselves to the top of their bent.”
Square Dancing in the 1800s 