Columbia gazette., 1854-04-29
der their charge; and children of every
age, from the wild and boisterous bow to
little girls just old enough to totter after

"SN, AAoA euo "Aio anu DOlSterOuS boy
little girls just old enough to totter aft,
butterfly. One or perhaps two hour
are spent by the multitude in playin
games, in social converse, in telling ste
ries, Or in discussing the news of the .da,
finally the pigs and lambs have all bee
roasted, and the feast is ready, where
upon there followetL as busy and salts
factory scene as can we'll be imagined
After it is ended, the negroes come in
to rightful possession Of all the abun
dance of good things left over; and hav
ing quietly invited number of thci
friends, with their families, they proceed
to enjoy their portion of the entertain.
ment, which is generally concluded by 8
regular negro frolic, with banjo and fid.
die, in neighboring grove. In due
time, after the more substantial feature
OF The barbecue has been enjoyed, the
musicians are summoned to their allot.
ted places, and the entire party of ladies
and gentlemen proceed to trip the light
fantastic toe. The exercise continues
Tor whole hours, and white-haired men
and little girls are seen vending their
way through the intricate mazes to the
country dance and the Virginia reel
As the sun nears the horizon, the more
advanced members of the party quickly
take their departure, leaving cloud of
dust behind them on the road. By the
time the last day-fower has closed it pe-
tails, 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
dlsniss the musicians, gather together
their hats ana shswls, and with many a
song and jest, return to their several
homes.
With regard to the political barbecue,
we have to remark that it differs from the
one already described only in the follow
ing 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
are invaribly in attendance. !
previous to the appointed day for the
political barbecue, a placard is nailed to
all the barn doors and blacksmith shops
IN the country where it occurs, to the
effect that Several distinguished speak
ers will be present on the OCCASION" and
hat the people of all parties are invited
% be present. If the entertainers on
his occasion are Of the Whig party, the
lrst speech, as matter of course, is de-
ivered by a Wing orator, and it is no
uncommon sight to see this gentleman
landing literally on the stump. After
le has taken his seat, he is usually fol-
owed by a brother orator of the Demo-
ratio party, and SO, alternately, are the
r'lnclples of the prevailing parties fully
lscussed. Generally speaking, the
reatest decorum exists, not only among
he speakers but among the listeners;
nd it severe remarks are dropped in
ne heat of debate, they are not COM
ionly considered of sufficient conse-
uence to create breach between per-
'nal friends. There are times, howcy-
r, when even the political barbecue is
'nciuded by dance; but as the crowd !
then particularly miscellaneous, the
aarity which usually prevails is apt to u
, little too boisterous. When given
the autumn, new cider usually takes :
e place gilmore stimulating drinks ESQ :,
as the multitude are concerned, at q
y rate, and when this is the case. it y
very seldom that any impropricties ,
cur. But, generally speaking, a gen. ~
ne Virginia barbecue, whether of G
lltlcal or social character, is rural p
tertainment which deserves far more W
alse than .censure, and We know of W
ne which affords the stranger better g
portunlty of studying tho character of
g yeomnry Of the Southern States.
: ~..-<.-.>~ IA
Kc {on,vo.at.