The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-19
generations to make them thin, and big fires
,urning all night in every apartment for yentila-

generations to make them thin, and big fires
,urning all night in every apartment for yentila-
Supper would be served at 3 o'clock, perhaps
later. repast of hot fried ''smothered"
chicken, stewed oysters, four or FIVE kinds OF
cold meats wafies. hot rolls, corn bread In
divers shapes, batter-cakes wafers,-as thin as
paper. that yielded crisply to the teeth and slim
ulated, not satisfied apDetiIe.-.Iamson, melon,
peach, ounce strawberry and cherry preserves,
homemade cakes, tea, coffee and great pitchers
of milk with all the cream left on.
In spite of the luxurious abundance OF their
menus. the Vireinians of that date we're seldom
COMMANDERS. There was little talk in we'll bred
companies of eating and drinking. Sumptuous
fare was accepted as part OF their daily living.
If they fingered over their supper on this even
ing it was in enjoyment of social converse, not
OF grosser creature comforts
The plantation fiddler was in his place at the
top OF the long drawing room when the hilarious
bevy futtered back thither. The portly most
usually led off the first with tire belle of the
party and mis- wife was sometimes his vis-a-vis.
Churckly elders who had scrupIes about dane
ing in general, were coaxed into taking the floor
for this ''once a year" AS the clock struck IL
they Joined hands in a wide circle and sang,
''Aula Lang Syne"-or. quite as often-"Praise
God from Whom All Blessings Flow" They
were not ashamed to name Him TO whom all
praise belongs in those brave, simple days-that
are no more! one more Set-th0 virginia reel,
danced on Christmas night in the mother coun-
try to this time under the name of Sir Roger de
Coverley, ard the wassail bowl of egg nogg was
brought in. A toast to the health and happiness
of present and absent friends drunk, and
the girls betook themselves to the CHEEKY,
crowded chambers overhead. leaving the men to
smoke and talk politics about the drawing-room
hearth.
Before sunrise every sleeper on the plan taton
was aroused by the deafenng boom of the
rhNf. hlrc nf nF1f.UUd DO
was rammed into hollow tree and fred at day
break. Decorations of lesser force followed
from logs ridded with anger holes and stuffed
with powder; guns. pistols and pop crackers"
marster!' Christmas -eif', my mistsl' under
windows and in halls, rivaled the "baksheeshs
yes of the Bedouin
Nobody in that region and time said MERRY
Christmas" but always. christmas gift" The
strife as to who should get it ont first was, with
children and servants, q claim upon the liberal
ity of the later speaker What was undoubtedly
the primal significance of the greeting was SOL
emn and beautful--nothlng less than procama-
ton of the unspeakabe gift heralded by the
angels anthem above the plains of Bethlehem.
Breakfast was not over until 10 o'clock, dinner
was served at or in the afternoon Neither
soup fish were regarded as an essential to the
feast Roast turkey at the head OF the table was
balanced by boiled turkey with oyster sauce at
the foot. Roast goose midway between the two
mingled fragrant steam with rising incense OF
roast duck on the other side of the CASTOR chick
en-, lamb, roast beef and ''shoat"-perhaps
sucking pig baked whole-aDd the inevitable
boiled ham, were separated by vegetables. pick
les, catsups and sauces. Family silver reflected
the sunshine of happy faces; cut glass as old
answered in silvery chimes the tuneful elamor
of young voices
The courtly fashion Of taking wine together
lent individual interest to the reve The urhane
host was ever on the lookout for opportunities
to send the decanter along with: Miss A!
Mr.. Is. asks the pleasure of taking glass OF
wine with you" Then, the graceful lifting of
glasses, the exchange of bows across the board,
the complimentary phrase from one, the smile
of acknowledgment from the other-it is all old
fashioned now, but it far prettier than the
customs that have driven it out.
Ladies and gentemen!' called out dear old
Major A from the head of the table in the
hood-tide of the Christmas wassail, 81 crave
leave to offer toast"
His plantation skirted the Appomattox river,
which lies between Powhatan and Amelia coun-
ties. AT his right sat his favorite neighbor,
Powhatan L.. who was betrothed to Amelia
c., a Florida belle, not present to-day.
IA toastw repeated the host, rising, mantling
tumbler in hand, his eyes trimming with fun
and fondness. 81 give you-The Appomattoz!
May it cease to flow, that Powhatan and Amelia
may be forever united!"
All! that was the sort of thing they did in the
old Virginia DAYS, before war laid their pleasant
places waste. Peoye watched for chances to
turn phrases handsomely, studied the capaolll-
ties of language to give pleasure to their audit
ors. Elegant con versation was a popular
eomplishment. Now. it is subsidiary 10 dancing,
murdered by Irritation
have spoken of Christmas week. To limit
the festival to single day would have been
reckoned manning of their chief social rite.
From manor-house to another rolled the
gladstone party, tarrying, by appointment, day
at this, night at that, talking, dancing. driv-
ing, walking, singing, love-making-in such
innocency of delight as is possible to but
the young Now and then they danced Vir-
GINA reels, quadrilles and cotillons (also ont of
fashion nowtl on tha bare oaken floor of a barn
like parlor furnished with uncushioned chairs
and thin legged tables; as the wide, rambling
house in which they encamped for nights
frolic. unpain ted. windows and doors had
shrunk from their castings, and the blaze of the
Yue log Jared in draughts pouring in from all
quarters. Sometimes their progress was made
in rusty, Stacking chariots, lurching heavily
through red mud two feet deep, and over cordu-
roy roads that would have shaken old bones
from the sockets. Over all and above all, they
carried the brave, gay spirit that laughs at ex-
ternal discomfort; found everywhere gentle
breeding and wnoie-souled hospitality, adjoining
Christmas hospitality as the flexible sprays Of
their own runnine-cedar, the wassal bowl
ssSETTING THEM UP.
A hat Ia Said To TSa Coin Rx.k OF