The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-10-05
FAMOUS PIE suppERs.

There is no dish which occupies a
larger or more firmly secured placein
American hearts than pie. The Uni
ted States is Justly celebrated as the
foremost pie country in the world.
Pie belts of varying lengths and width
ramify throughout the Union. There
is the New England pie belt, consis-
ting chiefly of mince; the Western
pie belt, of pumpkin; the Middle At
lantic pie belt, of huckleberry, and
the Southern pie belt, of blackberry.
It would be difficult to estimate the
influence pie has had upon American
character.
Notwithstanding the hold pie has
upon the affections of the American
people as whole, there is probably
no other spot in the country where pie
has become the institution that it has
in the little village of Rosman, situa-
Ted in the purple hills of Western
North Carolina, near the beautiful
Lake Toxaway. Rosman is inhabi-
ted by sturdy people ofScotch Irish
descent, who believe In patriotism,
progress and pie. Rosman Is justly
entitled to widespread fame for its
gorgeous and unparalleled pie suppers.
The village does not confne itself to
one species of pie, but is familiar to
all known kinds, and possesses one pc
culiar to itself alone, this being the fa-
nous double-decker pie, which is not
found In its perfected state anywhere
else in the Union.
The pie supper was first given in
Rosman for the benefit of the village
chapel. It is now an old and estab-
lished institution. Pie, in the course
of years, has become intimately asso-
ciated with the social life of the viii
lage.
The great annual pie supports held
in Rosman about the second week in
December. 1t is the leading social
event of the season, not only In the
village but in the entire countryside.
Mountain swains, with their lassies,
drive in from miles around or ride in
on muleback.
The event takes place in the village
schoolhouse, and while the women
folk are preparing within, to the ac.
accompaniment of much laughter and
many giggles. the men are kept wait
ing outside. Finally the word is Civ
en- and the men pile in pell-mell
Upon long row of tables stretching
down the centre of the room, are row:
upon rows of pies, not dozens, but
hundreds of pies. Each man is sup
posed to select the pie that suits him
best. tits most difficult proceeding
There are apple pies, pear pies, mincs
pies, blackberry pies, blueberry pies
gooseberry pies. the list is exhaustive
While the men are scuf1ing over the
assortment in their efforts to make
choice, the ladies lining the walls look
on in high glee and with increased
giggles.
Perhaps man finds pie exactly
to his liking. He notes its number
and calls out, say, "Twenty-seven.
From somewhere in the tremulou:
ranks lining the walls comes the bash
full feminine voice, "Here !" Anc
forthwith blushing mountain maiC
steps out to meet the cavalier who ha
chosen her pie. Immediately thu
gallant cavalier seizes her hand ant
escorts her to the scales In the rear o
the room. She steps up, and to th'
accompaniment of more bushes ant
smiles, is thereon weighed. Perhap
she tips the beam at 100 pounds
Her cavalier then pays into the treas
ury half-cent for every pound, o
sixty cents. This ceremony over, tn