Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-06-12
REMIN ISCENC Es.
wRIrrks ron THE xAarIssBuEe rsDErEsDEsr
BY A BERKELEY BOY.
Fourth of July in Berkeley.

FOurtn OF July In bcrkeley.
AS no chronological order was
intended TO be observed in my Re-
miniscences, they have run back
and forth along the the path
o. memory, touching here and
there as one recorded fact has led
by association to the recall of an
other. have felt like apologising
for this. But, as apologies are not
to my taste, / have not done sO.-
Let the explanation just given suf-
fee. And now I find the conven-
fence of this want of chronological
system, enabling me as it does to
take up matter suggested by the
timely, good-tempered and atten-
tion-deserving suggestion of your
correspondent &C." in late issue.
I trust there is to be celebra-
ton of the approaching National
Anniversary. And, if a sugges-
ton might be allowed from one
now an outsider, as to residence
not as to his interest in Berkeley
affairs, for though absent in the
body he is present in the spirit, in
that respect would fall in with
the Basket Picnic alternative
named by &C." in preference to
the roasted OK, or Barbecue plan.
1t has the advantage of sense of
independence, while it is more or
DERBY and sociable. IF an OK is to
be roasted, the preparation for the
roasting, as we'll as the roasting
process itself, will of necessity be
referred to the rude hands, and
ruder associations too often, of
men, whereas the filling of the pic
mic baskets will be referred to the
women. / use the term women"
advisedJy, for mere sladieso are
as efficient at filing baskets as in
efficient at filling the purses which
have to be drawn upon more or
less for such au occasion, however
apt at un-filling them.
I recall Barbecue of the olden
style, which was a fitting illustra-
ton of the unsocial, one-sided and
questionable tendency of that
mode of celebration, in its accom-
paniments and its results. 1t was
held nearly or quite forty years
ago. in a grove a little northwest
Of the old Beeson mill, previously
referred to in this series, now run
bv Mr.. Hannis, / believe, and Ell
Their on a part of the Ransom es-
tate. as the mill property was
known at the date in reference, or
of the Jaimison farm, now owned
by Sheriff Thomas, perhaps. AS
ia the intellectual feature OF the
performance, it was not only able,
but really eloquent. This, those
who ever had the pleasure OF hear
ing the late John s. Pendleton, IA
ther of Geo. III. Penjleton, whilOm
candidate for the Vice Presidency
Familiarity called "Jack Pendle-
ton,n) will have been prepared, by
the bare mention of his name as
that of one of the orators OF the
day. to appreciate what am about
to say. He was not merely eio-
auent in the usual Fourth OF July
sense, but full of wit and humor,
and of telling anecdotes. These he
noured out in seemly exhaust
i've strain. He was ably support
ed by the Hon. James Barbour,
then also in his prime. But Capt.
Whiskey was suffered to take a
hand on the occasion, and did his
usual share of mischief by way. OF
Offset to the intellectual treat.
The wives and sisters and daugh-
tiers of that period were not expect
ed to attend the Barbecue. Nor
would they have been satisfied
with the result, if they had been
present. The onslaught upon the
Inan-cooked and half-raw meal by
q crowd of rude-mannered, whis-
ky-stimulated men would have re-
PEELED them, creating only disgust.
tt would have well-served to re-
mind them of what they had read
of canibals.
OF course, there were exceptions
to this personal picture. But the
minority could do nothing to re-
strain mixed crowd OF hungry
and boorish men whom the occa-
sion had called together from the
four quarters of Berkeley, and
even from Morgan and Jefferson
unavoidabiy called together, for
there is no escape, on such an oc-
casion THAT. is, a Barbecue celebra-
ton of the Fourth of july from
an uncomfortable and exceedingly
S'mixed" crowd.
The persons making up such ga
therings, | have heretofore motto
ed, would pay very little attention
to either the reader or the orator
But they would rush upon the Ia
bles the moment the Big Ok was
--.....l1,1 rNnINnh In FIN