The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1903-08-20
A MAGNIFICENT FARM.

! Tuesday Mr.. ]. c.. Meekins gave )
sumptuous and most bountiful Dime,
at his fine farm near Palmyra. The
dinner consisted mainly of Brunswick
stew and barbecue, and was given pri
marily to his farm laborers, but he In,
rited a nismber OF his friends from
Scotland Neck and Palmyra to spend
the day with him.
The dinner was fit for king and
was thoroughly enjoyed by all present
The Brunswick stew was co oked to the
most perfect consistency and was sea-
sonec to perfection. The barbecue
| was as sweet and succulent as the North
Carolina pig could be made. It was
as nearly perfect as an all-nfght slow
bake could make 1t.
Mr.. Meekins had employed two of
the best cooks for the occasion, Robert
wilkins and Ike Powell, and they did
their work we'll.
When dinner was announced the
long tables arranged in the large grove
under the "wide spreading beach" re-
minded one OF the sweet strains OF
virgils georges as he sang Of the beach
trees cooling shade in the long ago.
The menu tor the occasion consisted
of three barbecued shoats, one lamb,
one kid; two or three bushels of Bruins
wick stew, = great pyramid of good, old
fashion corn bread, loaf bread, tipped
off with an abundance OF the most de-
licious watermelon.
It was picture of rural independ-
ence and happiness-the lazy mules
grazing here and there all Though the
grove grateful, no doubt, for the priv
lege after "the plowing days are over :"
the fine porkers nosing about the place
with promise to pull the steel-yard
beam to the five hundred notch" just be-
FORE Christmas" and the gathering" field
folks" including the older men and
women who still remember how 1t was
"befo de war; still polite with "a bow
and courtesy ;" the young lads and
lasses in their Sunday clothes, and the
dozens of little plckaninnles gleeful as
so mar lambs. yet quiet and behave
iui.
Two tables had been arranged each IN
der oadIxsfaEsning tree and s:.imults
naonsly the dozen invited guests and
the farm laborers partook OF the boun-
teous dinner. There are something
more than one hundred and twenty
five colored persons on Mr.. Meekins'
farm, and all these, together with the
guests from Scotland Neck and Palmy-
"a, made the number that we're fed
nearly one hundred and fifty, and there
was enough left to give many "full
pailY to take to the qnarters-
Before dinner a number OF the
pnests were driven over the farm and
after dinner others, and magnificent
farm it is. Mr.. Meekins has $50 acres
in cotton which promises to yield 25O
bales, $50 acres in peanuts and 2OO
acres in corn. He cultivated the en-
tire farm with 20 mules and it is as
clean as a garden, showing masteriu'
management.
Tho Norfolk and Carolina railway
passes .41rough the sa1~ and climb
ing up the high ernbankmant for an
observatory, one gets a view of the
great sweep Of cotton, corn and peanuts
that Is positively thrilling.
Mr.. Meekins left pleasing law
practice in Greensboro, moved to bis
farm in October last and commenced
operations the first of January, and
the result OF his first eight months OF
labor there entities him to be number
ed mong the captains Of industry"
Mr.. Meekins has most interesting
family, a noble helpmeet in one OF the
fair daughters of Alabama, charming
and accomplished, and one can scarce
ly refrain from tinge of envy at the
pleasing prospect he has of rural in
dependence which so few people ever
experience.
1t was pleasant day Tor all who were
there and all cast q vote of thanks to
Mr.. and Mrs. Meeklns for their courtly
entertainment.
Those from Scotland Neck were Dr.
r. M. johnson, Mess. N. Blggs, w. A.
Dunn, r. c. Josey, G. w. Dunn, Prof.
L. w. Bagley and the editor of The
COMMONWEALTH from Palmyra Mess.
L. J. Baker, r. E. Robertson, and Mr..
and Mrs. E. Lyman.
Letter to ]. "A. Kitchin.
Dear Sir: You ask how many
en uare feet a gallon will cover. De