Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1910-08-10
UNCLE JACK" WRITES
 OF THE BARBECUE
Tells How P. P. Byrd Entertained His Tenants on the Byrd Plantation
 With an Annual Feast.

tenants, three miles south of Pine Bluff on h:s Bayou Bartholomew place.
 If has been MT. Byrd s custom to ill- yite once year all of his tenants and treat them to royal meal CT barbecued meats, and other edi5las in the way of melons and fruits
 On such occasions, all of his ten ants attend in full force, numbering quite two hundred, large and small Quite few of Mir. Byrds white friends have joined him in making the occasion an annual outing or much repute. 1t is strictly the col ored tenants day, who engage in speech making, singing and dancing. H. B. Byrd, who has charge of all the planting interests of his father, assisted by his brother, Conlin Byrd, leaves no stone unturned that will lend pleasure and comfort to those present
  monies and promptly at eleven 0 clock he announced the program for the day. John Wright, better known as "Blind John' opened the ceremonies with forceful prayer, and asked God to be merciful to those whites who had been his friend so many years. Blind John is a typical antebellum negro, in a class of his race, of whom the better element of white people have great respect.
 The next speaker was Augustus McLenden. His theme was the early days of his life on the plantation ia Union county Although Gus" is a brown skin negro, yet he was dress ed in imaculate white linen, and for thirty minutes he held the audience with an occasional plantation story.
 The next speaker was Lewis Buy CTS, who dwelt on the duties Of his race, and their relations to church and state. In a short and forceful manner he admonished his people to obey the law, do their duty to their neighbors and pay their debts.
 IS. w. Smith made forceful argu- ment on the duties of labor to en- ployes. Smith is evidently man of close observation, as his language was couched in plain terms, and his manner bore evidence of sincerity.
 The last speaker was Adam Spann who read an essay on "A Friend in Need Below is copy of the same
 Friendship is delightful theme, Philosophers nor Poets Have caught its inspiration. While multitudes, neither philosophers nor poets, have felt it's smoothing influence, who in time of joy, has not taken pleasure in communicating his joyous emot- ions to a friend. And who in the hours of sorrow has not elevated his grief by telling his tale of sadness to friend. Thus friendship increases joy and diminisheS sorrow. What l mean by this. if l was arrested or in jail or hungry or bare of raiment to wear and called on MT. H. B. Byrd, he would come, come to my rescue.
 If I was industrious, and wished to have something, but if not, he would not adhere to my sayings. So it is best to be honest and industrious You will have friends in time of need. Without friends, what is a man? A solitary oak upon a sterile rock, symetrical indeed in it's form. Please remember to have friends in need you must be a christian gentle man, honest, straightforward and in- Adstrious,' and you will have friends from the better class of white people, as we'll as that of our own color, SC when trouble overtakes you, you will have someone to come to your res- cue.'
 After the exercises closed, a sump tuous meal was spread on the re- spective tables accommodating the whites and colored To the delight of the colored people, Mr. Byrd had two loads of watermelons, the red slices of which decorated the different tab los The meal wound up in a general frolic, face washing with melon rinds stained and torn clothing, mixed with laughter in which the young and old alike participated. Then came the dance by the co1ored people, which carried the older ones back to the happy recollections of the old days on the plantation. May. Mir. Byrd and his tenants continue to prosner o,1 be friends.
 UNCLE JACK.