Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1886-12-18

What Is Christmas without = dis
per? 1t is like the plav OF Hamlet,
with the part OF Hamlet omitted, for
is not Christmas 4 festival, = feast
day, sanctioned by the csnonS OF the
church, sad the usage Of ali christian
peoples? We ask these questions.
moi irreyorently, but naturslly, tor per-
haps hot one in = thousand who sits
down to enjoy the annual feast. thinks
tor = moment that il is the accepted
anniversary OF the birth isy of the
founder ct Christianity. Ncvcrthe.
less, il i, a day Of good decd. and
good feelings, How many charities
ars voluntarily dispensed, how many
old grudgcs are forgiven or forgotten,
on this, the day OF atonerneut for
C~hristendom, But a trucs 10 morale.
ing; our object is TO discussths Christ,
mas dinner in its material and csihat-
lc sense, sud leave the moral, if indeed
there ID any, to be drawn by our read
crs II Christmas Was dinncrless
ds!, IL would be 4 dull day indeed.
There would be no weeks of snticipa.
ton, none Of those preparatory pleas.
ures which finally culminate in a great
socisl and gustatory enjoyment that
crowns the vanishing and welcomes
tie coMing yesr, The Christmas din
aGr Iissually closes TIE pc idsv seasQDl
among sll who profess the christian
religion, and ia the great elaborate
fesst Of the whole year, calling into
yecuisilion whatcver skill in cooking !
each family possesses. What an eXqui-
site bit of realistic description is Dick
Gus pen-pIcture OLA Christmas dinner,
especially the advent Of the plum-pud-
ding. borne sloit, stesmins and qnlv.
sring from The oven, the anxious CX-
pectsney OF the family at the fear OF
its being overdona or uNaerdono, or a
little soggy from imperfect cooking,
the halt triumphant look of satisi@c-
tlon when il is placed, light and flaw
!ess on the table, garnishcd, perhaps,
with sprigs Of holly, what y subject
this would be for an artist. Nov. the
plum pudding il distinctly an English
dish for christmas. Nodoubt the brt-
ter ~clasacs lave it At AL seasons, bat
not the PLUM pudding OF Christina,
day. That il q work reserved for that
day only, and is elaborated for days
with every p]recautioh taken to
render il a triumph otCulinary art. 1t
has not been n~atura,ilod in this coun.
try. at least it has not become q ma
,ional dish, for with Us, nothing can
supplant the turkey. What The eagle
is to cur flag, tho turkey is TO our
and IL emphaNcally tic non
srch of :Ae Christmas table. Like TIE
plnn.pudding, It ia eaten at
al seasons, but the Christmas turkey
must he OF extraordinary averdupois,
and ,attoned for weeks before tic or
der is given 'ol with his hend.' lie
ocrupie. g place Of honor al tie table,
Drowned, ~picthoric with fat
mud oysters, surrounded with sauces
and jrilirs, and a sentinel bottle or
two OF champagne standing guard on
side, snd effectively or estheti-
,sl.y considered, is a mode Christmas
dish. Even the goose, though u tine
bird if properly cooked, hasn't the i'm
posing AZ penraIcc Of its successful r.
val. Ii would be interesting ii some
crank siatistician would estimate the
number OF turkeys sacrificed on the Al
tar ofChristmas by American families,
for almost every family can afford tbs
comparative inexpensive luxury, at
least, once a wear. We know ri, or
nearly all the subscribrfslo,he Peacou
won!da count among them, aud We
wish them q merry Christmas, "May
good digestion wal, Oh appetite and
l..l,A IN lNNtI H