Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-02-08

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ponent. "D--d if he shall have it with
out trial, roard the Colonel, for I II ride NY
horse myself" Dashing his coat and hat
to the ground, and wrapping his handker-
chief around his head, he mounted amid
the cheers and huzzas of the crowd, while
the little darkey upon the mare fairly
screamed with delight, exhibiting his
worries from one extremity of his jaw to
the other at the idea of riding a race with
the proud old Colonel A. The word was
given, and off they went, the grey leading;
which position was maintained for the first
two miles. AS they passed the judges
stand for the third and last mile, the grey
still ahead, her owner cried out, "Two to
one on the mare - ''Taken," shouted the
Colonel, as he dashed by, and touching his
horse with the spur, the gallant fellow
bounded onward like an arrow from a bow.
Despite the heavy weight he carried, the
space was soon diminished between them !;
the excitement now became intense, while
shouts for the niger and huzzas for the
Colonel rang out on every side. Now they
are Tapped, and now they go neck and neck,
SO close together that blanket could cover
them, the little negro bending forward and
urging on the mare with whip and
spur, while the old Colonel sat
stiff and rigid with brows knit,
looking as stern and unrelenting as
fate itself On they came like whirl
wind,-they neared the goal-the spectators
in breathless excitement forced themselves
when the Colonel, raising himself in his
stirrups shouted in stentorian tones, "Clear
the track for Belzebub is coming" and
striking his horse one fearful blow with his
whip, drove him ahead, like shot from
Parrot gun, winning the race by a neck
Loud and long were the shouts that greet
ed him as he dismounted, and many Il joke
was INDUCED in al his expense. He bore It
very well, comforting himself with the idea
that those might laugh who won. At
length, however, the jokes of the crow1 be-
gan to annoy him, and upon one OF them
(Who upon some occasion had shown
great want of nerve declaring for the third
or fourth time that it was the most splendid
race he had ever witnessed, the old Colonel
turned savagely upon him and remarked,
"By Cd, sir, had you seen yourself COM
ing down the steps of the Court House, last
election day, when NJ was after you, you
would have witnessed a much more magnl-
ficient race than this 1t is needless to
add that the Colonel was not twitted by
that gentleman again. AS usual, on all such
occasions, a ball at night followed as a
matter of course The Colonel was there,
and as hero of the day, opened the dance
with one Of the fairest daughters of the
Cape Fear not the fashionable walking
dances, polkas, or lascivious waltzes OF the
present day, but glorious old scamper,
requiring muscle and sinew to sustain ones
self, and giving full development to ones
agility and activity down in front, back
again, swing partners, hands around, right
and left, back to your places, and start
again, followed by the German Spa, or the
exhiirating six handed reel.
In those days the dance WAS kept up all
night, and the sun was generally high in
the heavens before the company dispersed.
| The chief musician at all these entertain
ments was an individual well known to
most of our readers, Phillip, or as he styled
himself, Phillip La Barzadie. He came
to this place from one of the West India
Islands, we believe, and upon his arrival
opened BARRIERS shop in the alley imme-
diately in rear of the Bank OF Cape Fear,
and was patronized exclusively by all the
old settlers in town, and by the gentlemen
living Oh the river /; and, in fact, was
much esteemed by every one. He was one
of the characters OF the town at that time,
and there could be no dance complete with,
out Philip and his fiddle. He was also trum-
peter to company of Horse Guards, com.
posed of the gentlemen of the place, and
no peacock could be prouder of his plumes
than he in his scarlet uniform, footing his
bugle at the head of the troop. There was
good deal of dignity about him. He
was exceedingly polite and courteous in
his manners and scrupulously neat IN his
dress, always adhering to the old style OF
wearing from three to six white cravats al
the same time. In fact, we believe it was
the fashion then to wear as many as dozen
at once, exhibiting ones throat in a com
plete plethoric condition of white cravats
any other kind being regarded as offensive
to good taste. His shop was always crowd
ed in those days, but as his old customer
died off, his business decayed and the grea'
fire of 1910 threw him PROSTATE. We re-
member sitting in his shop some years age
conversing about the olden times, when {
STRIPPING, fresh from college, stepped in
and throwing himself back in o chair, CRIED
out, "come, Philip, shave me quick" Ht
drew himself up with great dignity, and
looking the youth steadfastly in the face
exclaimed, ''yo~ call me Philip-if YOU
fader was alive sir, he make you call mt
Mr.. Philip, or Mr. BazadiGre." Poor fel
low, his latter days were cheerless-L
could not keep up with the spirit of The