The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-07-24
CORAHILLING DINNER
Mr.. George A. Wilson's Annual Treat TO
the lahorers Upon His Farms.
ABOUT TWO HUNDRED WHITE GUESTS
Ana Three Hundred and Fifty OF the
Hands Enjoyed I'm Their Respec.
OF An Ancient Custom and n Brief
DIsquisition Upon she Same.

It Is as pleasing. as 1T Is rare. in
these practical, material days, to I'M
earth in Its isolation the Observance
OF some ancient and time-honored GUS
tom. which was clung to with loving te-
nacity by the generations which have
passed away. This Is why the annual
cornhilling dinner given yesterday by
Mr.. George A. Wilson, ex-county trea-
surer. to his laboring men. was. as has
invariably been for many years, such an
immense success from human and
convivial standpoint.
Just where the custom originated and
how, are probably questions that even
MIR. Wilson cannot answer. Perhaps
no one really knows exactly. Years and
years agone, in Merrie Old England
was instituted the Harvest Home which
became almost as generally observed In
rural districts as Christmas itself It
was great. occasion when the prettiest
maiden rode in from the field on
the last load of golden grain, and
was made the belle of the smok-
ing, appetiZing feast that followed
an object of even more admiring glances
from the younger poution of the mascu-
line contingent, that the roast pig with
the green apple in his mouth.
Something of the good old custom was
waited over to this side of the pond, and
took root in Colonial days. Especially
in the South, for years before the war,
~ was uSudl IlN1ily pllCeS lOf owners
OF large plantations TO give their slaves
what, In modern slang, is known as u
day of" at the end of the harvest sea-
son, when the wheat and oats had all
been gaInered safe from the clements.
Uncle" Ned or Uncle Bob" as the
case might be, would tune up his ancient
hanjo about nightfall, and make the
dining-room rafters ring with weird and
curious melody, while his patriarchal
foot kept time for the dancers. The lat
ter were allowed ito make the night
fantastic TO their hearts content and
some OF the figures they executed have
never been copied, and will not be found
In the repertoire of any regularly IL
censed dancing instructor. Sometimes
the master and mistress who had been
interested spectators, might join In for
H. single figure, and this was esteemed
VINO on ordinary Gays of the year were
satisfied to look at the white folks"
from afar off, and be advertised in the
papers as ''liltely slaves"
Then the old order passed away, and
with II the wealth and broad acres of
inc Oid Massa'' and dollars and cents
prayed FAR more important part than
formerly in labor TRANSACTIONS In the
south. and so the custom came to be
more honored in the breach than in the
observance
The Cornhilling Dinner is n case. of
where in the Old Dominion could he
round gentleman more fit for keeping
1t alive than Mr.. Wilson, who. while
retaining all .he good ;hings of ante
belium days. has adapted himself to
, .he new arrangement in Il manner that
mas proven In every way advantageous.
he Is one OF the most respected citizens
OF this section and noted for his integri
", ma business sense, and kindly
hehrt' ne mas five farms In the county.
ana employs nearly four hundred labor
eFs 10 TIL them. All these look forward
feast. annual
The dinner this year was served on,
under the grateful shade of tho g,s NJ
lrees, whichlfornu beautiful grove about
me dwelling al Mr.. Williams Hickory
HroNe fsrm. The surroundings were in
pSouiiar harmony with the spirit of the
eVeht-the open air, the Joyous SUNSHINE
M! ., songs OF birds and the gentle zephyrs
.iaL Manoered through the boughs and
'uStled the leaves of the ancient trees.
1.-Two mammoth tables were arranged
uhuer the trees. They were covered with
spoticsS linen. and the load of good
thiiiss placed upon them tested their
stdpiiity. AT one of these tables sat as
many oil the 800 of Mr.. Wilson's colored
hhhds as could be accommodated Mt one
tune. al the other Were ranged the 200
en-. PeS
There was food enough for a Thousand
hungry men. "A mammoth beef had bann
slaughtered for the occasion, five hogs
phFee sheep, to say nothing of the mn
fnerous and the thousand and one other
appurtenances to a good dinner.
a most bountiful supply of all kinds
cholce vegetables had also been proyid-
eded. and there were two Barrels of lem
onade for the thirsty.
Lac meal was served at one o'clocl,
ana the festivities continued until late
IN the afternoon. Twelve cooks and
twenty walters were required to prena re-
and serve the repast
me dinner was void of any stiff form
AMY and there We're no speeches made
everyone had been invited to enioy him,
ton. AZ ia
Alter dinner the white guests sat under
me trees and enjoyed their cigars and
pipes while many good story was told.
Meahtime the twd brass bands, compos-
co entirely of Mr.. Wilson'S hands. dis
coutseo lively music, while the chorus
composed also of his colored laborers
hymn. ''i'
An old-fashioned breakdown was
danced and some of the more athletic
played an excellent game of ball.
| Nr. .Whson'S neighbors from miles
around were there, while several of his
N0i1olk friends went down on the Nor
iolk and Southern train. They were
Col. l.. ID. Starke,s Messrs. c.. RIluns
George TAFT, Watson, Samuel 7 Thnro