The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1907-04-30
IN LOG ROLLING DAYS.
SCENES ON THE OLD PLANTA-
TlONS OF THE SOUTH.

Fame Of the Corn Shuokers-lnteres
In These Events Of the Ante-Bellur
Days Akin to That Attaching to
Modern Athletic Contests.
Everybody knows the meaning OF
"log-rollng" in political parlance,
writes the correspondent of the Phil
adelphia Record from Lynchburg. Va.
In plain language, IL means, you
tickle me and ri tickle you or you
vote for my bill and I'll vote for
yours The original meaning may
not be so well known to city readers.
The word came from the plantation.
II is now almost obsolete in this part
of Virginia. because the thing it rep
resents has passed away. The mem
DRY OF the writer runs back 60 years.
when a log-rolling was an annual af-
fair on every Big plantation. The
practice then was to- clear new ground
every year for tobacco. Telling the
forest trees and preparing the ground
for cultivation was no small undertake
ing. First the underground was
cleared away, and then the big trees
were attacked by the ax-brigade, con-
oA6llilI Ol our pan AdAlOl vi ANA VI
twelve men. / well remember the
scene. IL impressed me in my boy
hood, as real work, and it was hard
work A dozen axes, welded by
strong arms, rang continue Wy, and
ever and anon great tree,
the growth of a century, fell to the
earth with a tremendous crash. The
new ground was about twenty acres
in extent, or, as 1t was usually spoken
of by planters, a hundred thousand
tobacco hills, allowing 5000 hills to
the acre. When the trees were felled
the work was not half done. The
branches had to be cut off and pre-
pared for fuel, and the great trunks
had to be cut into manageable lengths.
The log-rOlling was invested with
all the interest that attaches to an
athletic game and festival as well. A
big dinner was prepared for the occa-
sion and plenty of whisky was pro-
vided. The latter was seldom slight
ed by any OF the men. The hands
from the adjoining plantations were
invited, ard there was always friend
ly rivalry between the crews of the
men on the same plantation. The big
logs furnished excellent means of
testing the manhood of the contestants
in trial which taxed their muscular
powers. Hand-sticks were placed UNI
der the log, and as many man were
assigned to the log as its weight re-
CURED. Couples were chosen nearly
equal in strength. Then if man
oJtlifted his fellow at the other end
OF the stick and brought him to his
knees. or as the phrase was, pulled
him down." he was proclaimed victor
If, then, the same man pulled down
all other contestants in succession, he
carried off the penant so to speak, for
that occasion, and if equally success
full at other log-rollings that season,
was declared the champion strong
man of the neighborhood. The con-
test was carried on with perfect good
humor, and sometimes with great
hilarity, many exchanges of wit and
sharp repartee.
1t was a much-coveted honor to
come out victor in a log-rolling con.
test. After the work of the day a
by followed at night and the merry
making continued into the small hours
of the morning The incidents of the
day furnished themes for discussion
and conversation for months.
Another great event on the planta-
ton was the constructing The af-
fair is called in the North a "hIsking
bee. but in this part of the world it
is a "COrn-shucking. Here the enve-
lope of the ear is called the. shuck.
and the cob the husk If you should
send a negro to bring you some husks.
he would bring you cobs The corn
was hauled and thrown out in long
pile, containing from 500 to 1000 or
more bushels of corn. Then a bright
moonlight night is selected and the
hands of the neighboring plantations
arc invited. They are not slow to
respond Soon big crowd is on the
ground, and work and fun begin. A
leader is chosen who has a loud voice
and some skill i'm music He takes
his place on top OF and runs from
end to end OF the pile. singing a coup
let and all the assembly responds
with another couplet or joins i'm the
refrain. The music Is wild and weird.
but the effect is pleasing. especially
at little distance. The leader does
not shuck much corn. but he is the
most important and most valuable
man in the party, because ne onlivens
the crowd and keeps all awake and
In good humor The work continues
tin midnight and sometimes later. II
it followed by the big supper and the
Inevitable dance.