The hold (courtship)

[gary]

Found this in "The Colonel's Diary" by Col. Oscar Jackson. The quote is the editorializing by his younger brother who edited and published the colonel's diary at his request.

"The 'Hold' was a courting term in Western Pennsylvania and Ohio and the position it desginated was this: the chairs of the couple were placed close together, side by side but reversed, so that they faced each other and the girl lay in her beau's arms, clasped closely to his breast with her face in position for kissing ad libitum. When a young lady returned from a spelling or party with a beau, the custom was for the family to retire at bed time and leave the couple alone to 'sit up' as it was termed. Such a thing as a chaperon was not thought of. Some girls who were more reserved, and in advance of their environment, refused to permit the 'hold' position, and permitted nothing more familiar than to sit side by side with their beau and did not object to an arm around their waist and an occasional kiss. But even 'the hold' was an advance over a courting custom which commonly prevailed in the first half of the 19th Century which was called 'bundling', where the couple went to bed together but with all their clothes on."

[dawna]

Gary:

Thanks for this great read. However, I am a little confused as to how "The Hold" was considered 'more advanced' than a couple going to bed with all their clothes on. Perhaps it's time to read the next chapter of "Courting for Cowgirls!" :-)

Dawna

[gary]

Recall the scene from the Patriots where the feller was sewn in a sack (bunting).

[sockknitter]

Yes, and the stained teeth as well.