Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-12

f1r as the preparation Of all substantial
food is cOnCen!ned
On a grassy lawn az the place where the
party was 10 assemble, under the shade Of
the forest trees a table was prepared in
size sufficient to seat the expected COM
pany. II was covered with a clean linen
table-cloth, and fitted up with substantial
tableware. Polite colored walters ar
ranged the various viands properly upon
the table. When dinner was announced.
In an orderly manner the guests sat down
90 their appropriate seats. Al. what
feast was before them! IL makes my lips
smack together now at the memory OF II!
DINNER FIT FOR THE GODS.
At the head Of the table there would
be placed bowl OF Brunswick stew,
Nowadays bOns Vivants extol terrapin
stew as a great delicacy. II can't conf
pare, I'm richness OF flavor, In delicious
ness Of taste 10 the Brunswick stew, "a
IT was concocted in Virginia in the days
OF aud lang sync. II was made by mix
ing together squirrels. chickens green
corn. butterheans, tomatoes and other
vegetables. seasoned with butter, sherry
wine French brandy Worcester sauce.
tomato sauce, the yOiy OF egf-s, salt black
and cayenne pepper. The OLD cooks seem
TO know, as II ~ intuition, the exact pro
portion OF each ingredient 10 be put IN IL
II was put IN an iron pot. when was
hung over a hlckOry-woOd fire, and boiled
for five or SIX hours. All the bones OF
the squirrels and chickens were taken out
OF the mixture. and when IL was done,
and ready for the table, IL presented a
rich. yellow appearance; was thick
combination OF the inherent essences OF
all its ingredients, delicious to the taste,
palatabe in the highest degree, ana q
dish M for the gods. Then, along down
the table. would be various dishes OF Cd
Virginia ham, mutton, lamb, Fenlson,
beef. shoat veal duck, goose, nsn, ana
ain The vegetables which the country af-
foried and along on the table about
three feet apart. there would be dccanter3
OF French brandy and whiskey bottles or
wine. and pitchers OF cider win pots OF
strong coffee. cOlored with an infusion or
rich. pure cream. and swcetened with
genuine old-fashiOned cut-lOaf sugar. Lei
my readers imagine such a party OF gem
tlemen as ! have mentioned seated az
such a dinner on a Fourth cay Of Julyi
on the buOyancy OF spirits and the spark
ling wit, the patriotic toasts, and brilliant
speeches the general mlrth and fun which
prevailed among them! II YOU'D REQUIRE
another Christopher North in new
edition Of Noctes AmbrosianOe, Adequately
70 describe the scene | shall not under
take the task. OF course, ! do not mean
10 say that all OF the Fourth-of-July cele-
brations were furnished with such elabo-
rate dinners. They were generally pre-
pared at the assemblies OF the club, which
/ have referred TO. and others where
there was not large number OF persons
present But at all OF them when there
were hundreds or thousands present, good,
substantial fare was always afforded the
people.
WAS A GALA DAY.
The Fourth of July was a gala day The
PEOPLE were happy. Dull care and sorrow
sat not upon their countenances. Fun,
frolir and mirth sparkled in the eyes OF
all the youths and young maidens, who
mad come from the adjacent country TO
add a charm TO the occasion. They talked
sociablv with each other-the.r minds
were inrpres sed with the feeling OF liberty,
their Inns uttered words of patriotism. and
the love OF old Virginia and the Union had
a deep foundation In their hearts They
tanner and Yankee Doodle" They
chattcd and firted and courted; and there
IS now IA Virginia many a gentleman who
can revert I'm memory 10 one OF these as
semblies as the time and place where his
ewes first behed the lovely form OF some
fascinating young lady. who afferward
hasaIne the sharer OF his happiness. the