Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-06-19
The STA qoaro'!.

he Sian
1CortspoDdence of the Boston Post.
LETTER FROM MISSISSIPPI
YAzoo RIVER, Mss, May 10, 1868. 8.
Iwonder Il that distinguished and deceased po-
tentate, who was anxious to obtain new pleas
ure, and was willing TO pay such very handsome
price for it bad ever eaten the artichoke that grows
30 abundantly ct the south : If not. and ne were
alive at this present time of writing. snoatd sog
cest it to him and claim the promised reward in's
delicious vegetable, which should rank WIN Tue
most delicate fruit is something for which, did re-
side upon Mount Olympus, would iorego my GUS
tomary ambroeia Do not coniound the articnoKe
sneak of with small brown vegetable that looks
like a potato, and that you frequently see az the
north, That is the Jerusalem artchoke, which does
not come from Jerusalem, by the way, out from
South America, and is so called from resemblance
to sound between that word and its Spanish name.
The artichoke allude to and esteem highly, and
which came originally from the shores Of the Med.
iterranean, looks something like large pine cone,
and is green in color. 1t is boiled for an hour and
half-served hot, Immediately after dinner ana De-
fore desert-eaten with melted butter, salt and q
slight suspicion of vnegar,-and is morsel OF most
exquisite delcacy. :.
While am on a vegetable subject, let me ask if
YOU are aware to what different and distant countries
we are indebted for most of our vegetables? Did
you know that peas came from Syria--beans from
Persia-leeks from observation-disclosures from
Cyprus-spinach from western Asia-endive from
Jspan-radishes from China-onions from some
where in the east and rhubarb from Tartary!
was ignorant upon these points until reae capt.
tai article on gardening in Household Words few
days SINCE and if the facts are not new to you they
NAV be to some one of the countless mutitudes who
peruse the agreeable and instructive columns of
your journal, to whom beg leave respectfully to
present them.
I wish l had the power of description, and I
might then convey to you correct idea of we'd
ding and grand bali attended fortnight ago this
evening, but the thing is impossible. The parties
concerned we're ladies and gentlemen of the African
persuasion. Every Saturday evening the inspriting
sounds of the tamborine and fiddle are heard, and
they have dance, but on several occasions during
the year, the negroes have grand froic, and this
was one of Them It was given by their proprietor
on account of their having finished cotton planting,
and it had been postponed for a week at their
quest, in order that the marriage Of couple, who
intended committing matrmony, and who were not
quite ready, might take place at the same time
Two large rooms decorated for the occasion in
the house in which the family who own them lived
before their one was completed, and the ladies
spent the greater part of the day in gathering flow
ers and making wreaths and bouquets for them;
presents were given the bride and bridegroom, and
the most liberal provision was made for hot sup
per. At ten o'clock in the evening Qor they are ve
~ fashionable in their hours) word was brought
that the company were assembled, and they waited
but our presence to have the rites begin. We found
side of the room arranged with chairs for their
masters family and the strangers that were within
their gates and as soon as We were comfortably
seated Benedict led Beatrice to the centre of the
floor, the ceremony was performed that made the
colored swain sable 1.-THE tamborne and fid-
de whose Impotence had been until that moment
with difficulty restrained, struck up in the most
Ham EInnr and tho hal hnnon in
good, though by no means sober, earnest Such un-
mitigateC merriment fun and enjoyment l have rare
" witnessed. It was decidedly better than any
thing have ever seen at any professional Ethiopian
entertainment Old Bob, the fiddler, who thought
the position of volinist to such an assemblage was
that admitted of nothing that resembled levty,
sawed away at the catgut from the moment the ball
opened until daybreak the next morning. with face
like Dutch clock, that WAS infinitely more ludi-
crous than any attempt he could have made to be
comical. 1t was greater assumption of eminent
gravity, and affectation of se!fimportance, than
have ever seen beyond the limits of Boston, and
only within them, in the case of some little
men. Ben, the butler, with surname like that of
the Father of his Country, most energeticaly play
ed the tamboriDe with his hands, elbows, knees feet
and head, and called the figures. They danced
quadriles, contra dances, jigs and the polka. with
an enthusiasm bad never seen exhibited, and even
those who were not engaged in the dance going on
ct under the enlvening strains and start up and do
little dancing on their private account Occasion
ally some celebrated double shufler would be called
out for solo in the middle Of the floor but before
he had been under way for two minutes others
would join in and it would seem as if every darkey
in the room had the St. Vitus's dance to most
alarming extent: This went on until one o'clock,
when Ambo the coachman, as fine specimen of his
race, and as skiful in his profession as any one I
know determined the question as to the existence of
any Bourbon among them by drawing forth several
bottles which he rendered first to the gentle partners
OF the dance with grace orthy Of your most popu.
lar dancing MASTER and then poured out a cup full
for each Of the conflicting sex" each one of whom
was led to the middle of the floor by the immortal
Ben, who, with great humor, introduced him to the
assembled multitude expatated on the distinction he
had arrived at in his particular department. and
made him give toast. Some of them were very Or
ginial and very funny. After this ceremony was
concluded supper was announced. It had been serv-
ed upon long table running diagonally from corner
to corner Of large room adjoining and consisted of
hot stews of all kinds, and tubs Of hot coffee: and
every dish was repenished as fast as was empted
until they could eat and drink no more They re.
turned then to the dancing room, where soon "the
dance the double shuttle on his and her own account
and as If their very existence depended upon it; and
they ceased not til the rising of the sum-
They felt highly honored by the presence of their
masters family and friends, and were delighted at
the pleasure we seemed to derive from their preform.
ances One Of the house servants told her Missis"
the next day that de servants all thought it was de
best party dey had cher had-dey neber had hab 80
much company before-dey were berry sorry dat de
m'sseses went off SO early, but were glad some oh de
massas stayed to see the n-dey neber did see an,
one enjoy anything like the northern massas-dey
tmk be would kill hisselfa larin" thought 60 too.
for never, at comedy or farce, did laugh 50 hearth
~. -
presume It would not be prudent, polite or pro-
the West Indies, and visiting many Of the islands
which did some years SINCE and after passing five
months at the south, which have just done. and
having bad many opportunities for ohseruatinn h