The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-10-27
RURAL "REMINISCENCES.
AN OLD FASHIONED VIRGINIA.
SUGAR BOILING.
The Anti Bellum Negro fi"dier WV" '
ord-tImed virginia Reels, "o'" 'nae
p,cL- and "Bniy on the Hitf'-a" In
teresting Natural CURIOSITY.

o,,-.,.J VIRGINIA Reels, "Old tnsae
n,cL- and "Briy on the Hiii'-An In
teresting Natural Curiosity.
,cosrrsrisp From LAsr SUNDAY
The Young people, who intended iol
take part IN the boiling bad now ar
rived. and were anxious that operations
,hould begin. They were assembled 10
one large room on the first floor. eagerly
awaiting the expected signal. Sud
denly the koarse and discordant draw
of a violin caused tho din of smal! talk
and giggIing to cease, and before one
could understand how it was done, the
anonymous mass of people had CRY star
lied itself into shape. Two couples:
ladies' and gentlemen, stood on each OF
The four sides of the room, opposite eacn
other. ready TO begin the Joyous
charge. The uncanny fiddler was
provosingly long IN getting his III
strument tuned up TO the mu
seal point. And when this had been
done rs cracked and mufiied tones did
not at all commend it as a legitimate ue'
ctndant of an Amiti or Strade'erius'
An old wi,hered negro man maoipu
lated the strings and bow. Curious IL
i how invariabie seems the mutual at
traction between these two OBJECTS
animate and inanimate. A country
dance anywhere IN Virginia would ap
pear to be almost impossible unless INC
busy feet keep time TO the magic toucn
and weird pathos of "old Uncle DICK
or BILLY on the Hill.
At last the big manly voice OF
sturdy swain. who lead the dance, Ut
tered something which let loose tne
impatient jewellers. In moment the
whole house, floors, doors. aud WIN
dows. seemed suddenly startled from a
rrofonnd steep. I've eager dancers
went at once into the giddy sport WIN
all the enthusiasm aud abandon Vi
vigorous health. Not one in that whlfl-
ING mass but seemed entirely given up
10 the intoxlcation OF the moment
And so things went, until now ana
then SOME one of the male dancers, I'M
able to suppress his emotions. woulo
stattle the company by an eJfcuatio"
of DELIGHT. This would give new en-
couragement 70 the surglng mass, ana
heels flew faster. partners joined hands
and arms. and the glddy tnrong. az p>
a single impulse. suddenly changeo
the movement of the dance. and weh'
rushing madly round the heated room
The fact is these people were healthy
and strong, ard their capacities OF en-
ioymenr were pr0pOrtiOnateiy great
| me artificial restraints of a more polite
society were not here. interpcsin
shams ard pretences between hlem ana
their Innocent pleasures. They kne"
no difference between the jig and the
German. the round or the square
iarces. so they got out of the occasion
all the enjoyment it could afford. |,
louruuaccustomed ey es there was tasct
nation I'm the scenes we were witness
ing. aud when all Of a sudden hal
was called. we were only cOmfOrted by
the fact that our long fasting was at al
end. Supper being announced TIE
daucing ceased. Our gOOd-natured hos
nd not forget his stranger guests
Guided by himself in person. we iol
owed the company down into base
mlnt room. where on one long taDls
the repast was spread. The dancers
aeated b. their vigorous exercise, nae
we're now ready for business AT the les
i've board Ladies' ana gentlemen wef'
permitted to get their seats as best SUIT
ed their several tastes. We. however
we're honored by corner seat on
either side Of our host. 1t Hasan abun
dainty supplied table. Roasts of meat
fowls. eggs and sausage composed th'
-ubstautials. while potatoes, col
-iaw. sour kraut aud apple butter o
the last years making tiled M
the intervals between Coffee with
ont cream. sweetened with sugar o
doubtful quality. were served as sJof
AS we took our seats. and from tina
moment the onslaught upon the inviting
feast was iie c. and persistent. As W.
saw the TO- disappear before the sturd,
auDetltes Of these children e nature
/ .vc could but contrast their condition
with that cf the di-peptic IilettaDte %
d the cities. \ heavy. uniuyitlng biscuit
made up with lard. was the only KIN,
Of bread. but the butter was sweet ant
delicious. After the company ha1
sufficiently satisfied their appetites. th'
{ remnants OF the feast were removed, Ou
hey kept their seats. THIS was IA ana
CITATION OF the coming desert which wa.
chiefly composed OF coarse pies made o
apple butter. seasoned with lemon Of
cinnamon and the richest OF milk
Had the charming anu gifted anthores'
oi Is Behind the Blue R,age" witnessed
the repast on this occasion she would
never nave produced plum cake an'
fancy confectionery at wedding IN tii'
wilds If the Virginia mountains. Suci
s. iuxnries were as incompatible with th'
civilization Of these parts as was thu
scarle, velvet cloak with the wilderness
through which we had ridden this same
daV.
just before the de sert was finished
. and when we supposed the company
were about 10 return 10 the dancing
apartment. an old woman deposited II
the centre of the table a loaf Of brea,
or cake. the like of which we had neye
seen before. 1t was about fifteen niche
i iu diameter and eight in thickness
Every thing else had been removed from
he table. The mysterious loaf was a
black as a coal. and presented curiou
! appearance as II stood alone III the cen
ire o. the NilHt Dub 'VuiN
expanse of table-cloth. No plate
were served. but when the loa
was cut il was handed round an'
eaten from the hands of the guests
Although its exterior was so forbIdIng
~ black, the inside was as white as tn
driven snow" It was delicate an'
sweet to the taste, light and friabe i
texture. IL was our desire to knos
more Of TINS novelty in the way o
bread. but IN the talk we subsequent
. had with cur host 1t escaped our atten
non.
SALT POND MOUNTAIN.
The young people now returned t
their dancing, but We TO interview %
the old mln OF the house. Our I'll
through this then unirequented countr
had for It's end visit to what Wa
, then called the Salt Pond Mountali
now known a. Mountain Lake. w
, wanted TO find out the neares. roa
, hereto and all else about it. AZ scoI
therefore. as the reyelry began we too
) occasion TO let him know the object G
onr ride tlrouph the country tis sui