The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-06-01
AN OLD DOMINION INSTITUTION
The virsinis Rarbecue-The two or
"a afeFs, aud which Won.

AN OLD DOMINION INSTITUTIONS
The virsin,a Rarbecue-The two or,
u afers, and which Won.
From the Boston Commercial Bulletin.
Every body has heard of Barbeccues'
In th,zSeuth; but livery few persons, in
then hero States have any very clear
idea ucfwhat - Barbecue really Is. The
impression generally held is, that Bar
becue is q peculiar Southern mode of as
sembling the people. and that is about all;
and we propose to give q brief descrip-
ton OF the characteristics, and the main
uses, to which the sld-iashioned Barbecue
was put, that it may be better understood
and appreciated. We speak of it in the
past tense; for we fear that wchabod' is
written upon its venerable forehead; and
and that, since the Rebellion, its true glo-
ry has departed.
Barbecues were mainly given for polit-
ical gatherings, and always in some
thickly-wooded spot. In Kentucky, Bar
becues we're held for ''coon fights "
When healthy and lively coon was
caught, q "coon fight" would sometimes
be organized for sport. These were i'm.
mensely popular; and men would travel
thirty, and even more miles, taking their
fighting dogs along, to enjoy the exciting
scenes. The coon was placed in barrel,
with one head (of the barely knocked
out. Lying on his back, with his keen
teeth, sharp claws, and indomitable pluck,
the coon was 8 match Tor the best dog
that could be induced TO attack HIM. The
owner OF the coon would bet against all
dogs that were brought; and no dog was
the victor until he had fairly brought the
coon out of the barrel; and, not unfre-
auently, the gallant coon would whip the
whole field. Of course, the owners OF
dogs, and the bystanders, bet on each
fresh round; and the heat and excite
ment that followed cannot be described.
Common "chicken" and dog fights are
tame affairs, compared with q regular,
old.iashioned, Kentucky coon-fght and
Barbecue. ss ..-., s..'..'
Barbecues were also held in the coun-
try, for special notwithstanding as
we get up fairs to aid some particular en-
terprise; but the principal meetings, at
which both parties assembled-fof there
were but two, when Barbecues were in
their glory-each represented by some ia.
vorite speaker, and thus both sides could
be fairly heard. We, Of the Northern
States. are apt to plume ourselves upon
the superiority of our means of studying
public affairs, and political questions, and
parties s%S @rr S#s iisFS
At the Barbecue both political parties
assembled in force, and in q spirit OF
neighborly courtesy and cordlality. Each
side had its chosen champion present, and
both sides of all national and state ques-
tions, therefore, were squsrely and fairly
placed before the audience. No decep-
lion, no trickery, no Justification, could
be attempted without the certainty ofex
posture. In this way the public discus
sion of political issues and party claims
became a source of vast information and
solid instruction TO the people. Compar-
ed with the honest old Barbecue. our sys-
TEN of public political discussion sinks
almost into contempt.
The modi1s opera,idi of Barbecue ar
engagements for the hospitable care of Wis
i,ors, was, substantially, rs follows: A
ST. Ut was chosen in some thickly-wooded
plsce, as centrally located rs possible
Tor the people to be invited. Seats, and
n stand for the speakers, were put up. OF
course. Trenches were dug in the ground
say two feet wide-two and hall
deep, and ten or fifteen feet long. Stones
were placed rs a sort OF paving, upon the
bottom of each trench. Fuel WAS now
piled into the trench, and huge ares tbtts
set, and kept, up until the stones and
earth were made into a we'll heated oven.
And now came the simple cookery Of the
woods. Pigs, chickens, pork, and such
other matters as were to be cooked, were
hung upon sticks laid across the trenches,
tree boughs were laid over the whole,
and as delicious roasts were the result, rs
the highest culinary skill ever produced
There were pies and the like, OF course,
and in abundance-an reserved, at the
proper time, smoking hot. 1t q little
whiskey WAS to be found, without muen
it will not DO regarded Al III
-
This description will give fair idea OF
how a Barbecue was got up and managed
1t being understood that it was "open
bouse." and all corners were welcomed.
Whoever has attended Barbecue, IN
good health, will testify to the exhilara'-
in, in flaeHees which surround It, and the
Lecn relish and rare flavor found in the
yisnds served out. Pity ifso good an m
stitution has Cons down, rs we fear 1t has
in its original simplicity, among the 9TH
er wrecks of the war.
the TWO oRAToRs-AND WHICH won.
Asa good illustration of a political
Bsrbeeoe aad how they sometimes turn
ed out We will sketch ths incidents OF
one which occurred in Goochland County,
Virginia, perhaps forty years ago, when
Democrats and Wings fought alone, In
the political 6eld. -tf
One OF the famous men Of Virginia, in
that dsy. was John Fleming. Any one
of the older residents Of Eastern Virginia,
especially those Of Richmond and the sur
rounding counties, win remember John
Fleming. He was lawyer; but . man.
also, OF varied gifts. He was eloquent
and convincing as . speaker, and won
de-ruiy interesting - q compan fon'
"a ,hal, too, be was notably eccentric,
one of his oddities being the wearing Of
stav hat in mid-winter; and another, To
set of on an irregular tramp, without
any special aim seemingly, sh, r. .
Whig, be vas no. e1celled on the stump,
by any speaker in the State Gsochhno
County was Overwhelmingly denocrst'c'
and one Leake was the isyorite and re
preventative in Congress, elected ny the
&oochisnd democracy. LeAke Va. Q
heavy, unintsresting talker; in fact What
was called - four hour man" for he wa
said to spin yarn Of that length. a
congressional election approaching. n
was resolved TO bold grand barbecue
in Goochisnd. Leake, being tho candi'
date Of the Democrats, Was necessarily
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