Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-08-06
COL. ADAMS FOLLOWS A GOOD
 OLD SOUTHERN CUSTOM.
His Plantation Hands Feas:ed on Barhecued Meat. A Coon
 Dance.

Sii1 iioi fCSt tlOIilC iOI GStS HttS been celebrated with feasting, ,revelry and innocent sports. III the "Old South,' when the labor of cultiya- ton of the crops was completed and the corn and cotton laid by until the season for gathering should be- gin, the occasion was often made ono of publication by the negroes on the plantations, the annual feast being furnished by the master and usually taking the form of barbecue. The rayages and losses of the late war practically abolished the custom for time, but it is gradually bein1 re viyed and now forms regular fea- ture on some of the larger planta- tions of the South. Capt. k. k. Adams, of Noble Lake, one of the most enterprising and successfulcot- ton planters of this county. while strictly up to date" in all things relating to the business, is yet one of those who believes in "holding fast that which is good,' and for many years past has given his hands an annual feast and frolic a his place on Noble Lake, near this city. Yes terday morning, that being the day set for the "CoOn Dance" of ,97, about carload of Capt. Bob's' many friends Git looked like a .Jeffer- con o01nfu Ialaoofio fo o Dan,o cratic State Convention), boarded a Valley train, and in few minutes reached Noble Lake, eleven miles away. Crossing the lake few steps brought the party to beautiful, shady grove of large pecan, sweet gum and cottonwood trees, on the grassy carpet of which were erected tables and seats for the guests. From the pit" near by cool breeze waited the aDpetizing 0dors of barbecucd lambs. kids and shoats, done to a turn, while under the shade of a big sweet gum perpetual spring of ice-cold soda (Anheuser- -Busch) flowed in cooling streams, responsive to the skillful manipulation of Messrs. Eugene Fies, Lawrence Knox and Sidney Adams, who kindly yolun teered their services in the interest of their thirsty friends (we don't men tion the ''hold out'0. At one 1NSa bO 4nL xl with snowy linen and laden with many delicacies. The barbacued meat were brought on and then the charge was sounded and then-well, then the writer is going to stop trying to describe the lndescribable joys of that feast and let you imagine for yourself and feel sorry for yourself because you were not there. After the white people present had finished, the tables were again spread and all hands on the plantation, their wives and children and friends, were boun- tifully served. During the dinner a good string band diseoursed sweet lliuStNs AIlCI dIliutl tIiC " uIjC Dctb- pie retired to the shady spots to smoke, chat and enjoy themselves and the darkies took charge. 4 level space was quickly fioored and the annual ."Coon Dance" began. Those who are familiar with the plantation darkey when he has f,,H esff al ,1n T music and crowd of his own peo- pie around, need not be told that they had a big time and furnished lots Of fun.
 At o'clock, (which came all too quiekly) the company respectfully bade adieu to the best of good fel- the train for home.
 Those present were: Messrs. ]. A. Langford. Hugh Westbrook. W. T. Woodbridge, J. w. Crawford, A B. Grace, Massn Philpot, l.. F. Barber, Garland James, H. B. Mizeil, l.. E. Bloom. Alex Reeves, Gus Reeves, Si- nun Diooii' Li " " tilec i>HoAs ooe Alexander, J. F. Booten, J. F. Hut, Henry White, IT. R. c. Foster, Alex Dryhurgh, Frank Roane. Thos. M. Phillips. ". D. Vance, Alex Strauss. ". P. Eskridge, John Waters, Jas. Allen. A. H. Crom well, Eugene Fies, $. N. Cleveland, Gus Reeves jr., Ben Gird, James Fentress. E. N. McPhail, Jos. Brooks, Bryant Perry, Chas. ". Butts, Lee Wyatt, Joe Wyatt, Geo. Adams, H. fleming. Sid. F. Adams, Hunter Countg, Dr. Moore and Capt. Robert R. Adams.