Mecanique

1885 · 51205 — Worcester MA: Wright Printer 1885. 16mo. 4 pp unpaginated printed on thick light sage-green card stock couple text decorations very slight dustsoiling still NF piece. First edition of this dance card listing the 10 musical pieces for the evening conducted by the Russell Orchestra and the 11 dances consisting primarily of quadrilles and 1 waltz for the evening. The United American Mechanics was originally founded as a virulent anti-Catholic America first secret society by many former and unlike other Nativist societies survived the Civil War primarily by offering it’s membership insurance benefits. They required their members to publicize and patronize “American†businesses and campaign against the hiring of cheap immigrant labor. Often these social occasions acted as fundraisers for the organization. See: History of Worcester County Massachusetts Vol. I p. 300. Wright, Printer, unknown