The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-03-28
THE nARRnCUn AGAIN.

THE BARBECUE AGAIN.
 The Manchester (N HI Union says of a question that has excited some discussion down here:
 The barbecue does not appear to have been very popular in New Eng land at any time it's history. Of course, on rare occasions as some spe- cial political event or as an adver- tisement to a fair, an OK has been roasted whole and letter has been cut in slices and served to the waiting and more or less expectant multitude. But whatever the reason, New Eng land folk have not taken to that sort people of the South and West. In- deed, 1t may be doubted if even the pioneers in the West ever really round the delight in the barbecue which the whole roast" with its accompanying festivities inspires in the South. A recent wiscussfon between two Southern newspapers would suggest that down their way they take the their Webster. The discussion arose over the derivation and original mean ing of the word Now here in New England. in such case, the first thing reverently to his Webster's dictionary as a matter of course and as end of all discussion. There he would find 1t Guiana Indians, and for him that would end the matter. But in the South they take the barbecue more seriously.
 The Union then copies what The Ad- vertiser and The Columbia State said on the subject and winds up with this further comment:
 But whether the word be derived from the idea and literal expression of from snout to tall or from frame work of cross-sticks, whether the thing ii. New Englanders will never turn to it enthusiastically. They may on rare occasions tolerate 1t at country fair: but never as a feature of their Old Home Week gatherings To many even, although perhaps wrongly. bar becue and barbarian have a sugges- ton of relationship.
 We are not at all surprised at the statement that barbecues are not com mon in New England. They have clam bakes and h-chowders and things of that sort ID there which in some degree take the place of an in stitution or custom that has long been popular down this way. As sa matter of fact, barbecues were in vogue in
  and all who know anything of the South. generally. know that such things were always popular with our people. Sometimes 1t is only a family party, or fishing party where few get together and thus cook their meats. At other times an entire com munity will unite. It may be 4th of July celebration. or a big political gathering. or something of the kind where an ordinary picnic or basket dinner will not be sufficient Then great pits are dug, green sticks laid is sometimes called, the meat is laid and slow fire kept under iti from twelve to twenty-four hours, so that the meat may cook slowly and thor oughly and not be burned.
 On these large occasions 1t IS not hogs. sheep and goats. to be cooked. and in almost every community there will be found men. both white and col pred, who are experts in this branch of the culinary art. and whose ser vices are always to be obtained It matters little where our word comes from, or how 1t was domesticated among. us; we only know that meat thus prepared cannot be excelled by any other method of cooking. and when the work Is done by an expert who mas been given his own time and methods. the smell of such food is enough to make the most confirmed vegetarian's mouth water. It is an enjoyment and a pleasure that our New England brethren may not be familiar with, but some of them should come South and gain a little personal experience. One whIfE and one taste of good barbecue would remove all inclination to speak light ly of the luxury afterwards.
 And The Unions comments remind us of the peculiarity mentioned by 1t and which we have often noted; that Is the great faith the New Englanders put in Noah Webster and his diction- ary. To them no other solution of orthography or pronunciation suggests itself but Webster. We. too, admit that he is an authority on English, but we of the Southern country do not depend entirely on him for informa- tion. There are some matters that even Noah Webster can't settle for us. and he seems to have been as much in doubt about the real derivation of the word in question as some of the rest of us may be. including the es- teemed Columbia State. All the same.