The Sierra citizen., 1854-03-04

and a supply Of wine, others an abundance
of 5read and others will make their APP
pearance in the capacity of musicians.
When the necessarics are thus collected,
the servants all join hand and proceed with
their important duties They first dig a
pit four feet wide, two or three deep and
as long as they require, into which they
throw aiquantity of wood, for the purpose
Of obtaining therefrom bed of burning
Goals. This done, the more expert kitchen
negroes proceed to roast (by laying them
upon sticks across the fres) the various
animals prepared for the occasion. In the
mean time, all the other arrangements are
progressing, such as spreading the white
cloths upon the temporary board tables,
and clearing place for dancing. The
guests begin to assemble about ten o'clock
and by noon there is hardly a tree within
hailing distance of the centre OF attraction
to which a horse is not fastened. The
assembly is quite large, and white dresses
and scarlet shawls are as numerous as the
summer flowers upon the neighboring hills.
Old men are here with their wives and
daughters, in whose veins floweth the best
of aristocratic blood; young husbands with
their wives; unmarried gentlemen with a
bevy of laughing girls under their charge;
and children of every age. from the wild
and boisterous boy to little girls just old
enough to totter after buttefy. One, or
perhaps two hours, are then spent by the
multitude in playing rural games, in social
converse, in telling stories, or in discussing
the news Of the day. Finally the pigs and
lambs have all been roasted, and the feast
is ready, whereupon there followeth as
busy and satisfactory a scene as can well
he imagined After it is ended, the negroes
come into rightful possession of all the
tables and thegaiundance of good things
left over; and, having quietly invited a
number Of their friends, with their families,
they. proceed 10 enjoy their portion of the
entertainment, which is general concluded
by a regular negro frolic, with banjo and
fiddle, in a neighboripg grove. In due
time, after the more substantial feature Of
the barbecue has been enjoyed, the musi-
clans are summoned to their allotted places
and the entire party of ladies and gentlemen
proceed to trip the light fantastic toe
The exercise continues for whole hours
and white-haired men and little girls are
seen vending their way through the intri-
cate mazes to the country dance and the
Virginia reel. As the sun neares the hori-
zon, the more advanced members of the
party quietly take their departure, leaving
a cloud of dust behind them on the road
By the time the last day-f1ower has closed
its petal, the young men and maidens have
entire possession of the barbecue ground
and having wound up the last reel by the
Light of the newly risen moon, they dismiss
the musicians, gather together their hats
and shawls, and with many song and jest
return to their several homes.
4 b q u. :
/ With regard to the political barbecue, we
have to remark that it differs from the one
already described only in the following
particulars: 1t is generally gotten up by
the leaders of one of the political parties
and speaches take the place of dancing
although ladies in considerable numbers
are invaribly in attendance. Previous ,te
the appointed day for the political barbe
cue, a placard is nailed. to all the barn
doors and blacksmith shops in the county
where it occurs, to the effect that "several
distinguished speakers will be, present OF
the OCCASION" and that the people of all
parties are invited to be present. If the
entertainers on this occasion are of the
Whig party, the first speech. as a matter Of
course, is delivered by Whig orator and
it is no uncommon sight toisee this gentle
man standing literally on the stump. After
he has taken.his seat, he is usually followed
by brother orator of the Democratic party
and SO, alternately, are the principles OF
the. prevailing parties fully discussed
Generally speaking, the greatest decorum
exists, not only among the speakers but
among the listeners; and if severe remarks
are dropped in the heat of debate. they are
mot commonly considered of sufficient conse-
auence to create q breach between personal
! friends. There are times. however, when
even the political barbecue is concluded by
dance; but as the crowd is then particu-
larly miscellaneous, the hilarity which
usually prevails is apt to be little too
boisterous. Vthen given in the autumn,
new, cider usually takes the place of more
stimulating drinks $50 far as the multitude
are concerned, at any rate) and when this
is the case, it is very seldom that any
improprieties occur. But, generally speak
ing, genuine Virginia barbecue, whether
OF a political or social character, is rural
enfertainment which deserves far more
praise than censnre, and we know of none
which affords the stranger better opportu-
nifty OF studying the character Of the yeo.
manry OF the Southern States.