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

age, from the wild and boisterous boy to
little girls just old enough to totter after
butterfly. One or perhaps two hours,
are spent by the multitude in playing
games, in social converse, in telling sto-
ries, Or in discussing the news of the day.
fnally the pigs and lambs have all been
roasted, and the feast is ready, where
upon there followeth as busy and salts
factory scene as can well be imagined
After ii is ended, the negroes come in
to rightful possession Of all the album
dance of good things left over; and hav-
ing quietly invited a number of their
friends, with their families, they proceed
to enjoy their portion of the entertain
ment, which is generally concluded by a
regular negro frolic, with banjo and fd-
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
for 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 pc
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
disE-iss the musicians, gather together
their hats ana shawls, and with many q
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
numbers are invaribly in attendance.
previous to the appointed day for the
political barbecue, 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
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 matter Of course, is de-
llvered by a Wing orator, and it is no
uncommon sight to see this gentleman
standing literally on the stump. After
he has taken his seat, he is usually fol-
lowed by brother orator of the Demo-
cratic 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 not COM
monty considered of sufficient conse-
quence to create breach between per-
sonal friends. There are times, howcv-
er, when even the political barbecue is
concluded by a dance; but as the crowd
is then particularly miscellaneous, the
hilarity which usually prevails is apt to
be little too boisterous. When given
in the autumn, new cider usually takes
the place gilmore 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 speaking, a gen.
uine Virginia barbecue, whether of a
political or social character, is a rural
entertainment which deserves far more
praise than censure, and We know of
none which affords the stranger better
opportunity of studying the character Of
the yeomnry Of the Southern States.
~-'~-----
Be temperate.