Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-09-28
EARLY RecoLlgcTIoNs.
what Hon j. L. NJ. Curry Knew About
Hunting, corn-shuckinG
Horsc-Racing, &c.
tAtianta Constitutional

Horsc-Racing, &c.
tAtlanta Constitution.l
The hunting Of squirrels. rabbits, rae
coons. and 'possum was very common and
much enjoyed. The last was peculiarly
the sport Of the negroes and OF the white
vouth. A fox-chase was less frequent but
more exciting. Once or twice year my
father would invite his neighbors to
rabbit-hunt. On assembling at given
hour, they, were divided INTO TWO equal
parties. They started out with guns ana
dogs and returned about noon. After
bounteous dinner, enlivened by cheerful
talk. the hunt was resumed and continued
few hours. Returning at an appointed
signal the contest was decided by putting
the rabbits in two piles and counting
them. Fishing with hook and line was
often done, but the seine and the trap Sc
cured larger prizes. Every spring hnger-
traps" were repaired or placed anew IN
the Savannah river TO catch the shad
which annually made their wav up the
stream. At that time shsd were abundant
and sold readily for twenty, twenty-five, or
thirty cents apiece.
THE SHOCKING.
Consolidating was helpful, neighborly
amusement The ears, when pulled from
the stalk. were hauled to the crib or
house for storing the grain, and piled up
against il in huge heap. A night was APP
pointed for the "shucking." The neigh
bors came themselves and sent their negro
men or half-grown boys. Two leaders.
self-elected or chosen by consent, became
managers or captains of the two divisions.
BY rails or poles or cords, the heap was
divided, as near as might be. into two equal
parts. At o given signal the work began
and continued for several hours until the
corn was all husked. The shucks as torn
of were cast behind the tollers and the
corn was thrown into the CRIB uncovered
for tho purpose. The work was brisk, anil
mated, and exciting. At no other time,
on no other occasion, was the negro song
80 characteristics Some leader would sing
n stanza and the whole assembly would
catch ND the chorus and shout 1T out with
q spirit. q melody. never e1celled IN acad-
envy or opera. Some of the leaders had an
extraordinary talent for ready and humor-
Gus improvising. hitting of" love sentl-
ments or race characteristics ana supersti-
tons, or plantation work. or the master
or some neighbours pecullarltles or the &C.
centricities of some well-known negro,
ExHILARATIoS.
Brer rabbit and brer fox often came in as
subjects and the improvisation thrilled the
participants IN the song, so that the refrain
would be repeated with kind of intatua-
tion amounting almost to frenzy. A jug
of wbiskey. circulated freely. did not per-
NIT any tagging of enthusiasm. When
fine winning side had the victory in view
thew would stamp their feet, dance.
hurrah. Jump on the remaining corn, sing
with increasing fervor, give all the possible
demonstrations of satisfaction and trlum-
infant iov. and then volunteer to help their
defeated foes. If tho owner Of the corn
was kind master and popular, the negroes
would lift him on their shoulders and carry
him around the house and through the
yard, all following in procession and sing
ing TO some favorite tune lmprOyised verses
as to master, mistress. the children, or the
approaching meal. Then came big sup
per of bread. meat, vegetables, and conee,
which ended the amusement.
At weddings and infares (the latter were
entertainments given the day after the
marriage by the husband or his parents)
the guests amused themselves with inno-
cent plays or the country dance:
Cuttings" were a favorite mode of
bringing the young people together. n
patchwork of pieces of cloth or silk being
sewed together and framed, invited young
ladies to spend the day in quilting. About
sunset the young men came, and until tho
wee-small hours" of the next morning
the young people had a merry time IN
games and dancing. The fiddler was often
a negro man, who was proud of his accom-
plishments and of the brief authority he
exercised.
HoRsE-RAcISo.
Horse-racing was an exciting sport and
usually took place in the afternoon of pub
lie DAYS. Riding or plow-hOrses which
had some "bottom" or speed were used
and were ridden by the owners or their
friends. In 1886 or 1887 occurred IN Au-
gusta famous race between Argyle, be-
longing to Hampton, of South Carolina,
and John Bascom, belonging TO Crowell,
of Georgia. 1t was kind OF interstate
contest. resulting In victory for Georgia.
Thousands of people went to Augusta to
witness the race and thousands OF
dollars changed hands. Bascom was
subsequently taken TO Long Island,
where he ran successfully against
Post-Boy. In 1888. lying one night on the
platform at the station in Hearne. Texas.
suffering from fever and awaiting, the
train to take me to Austin, l engaged in
conversation with an old negro man who
many years previous had emigrated from
Augusta. AS / recalled names of promI-
nent citizens whom he knew in his youth
and mentioned the famous race, the old
man SAID he had witnessed the contest and
with much animation he recounted the
particulars and lived over the excitement
of his early days. His polite attentions to
me when / appreciated assistance were
won by my remembrance OF this race, and
I eholl payar oaoea IN he prataful for them.