The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-02-02
TURKEY, 5000.
The Cost of Birds and the Hardness of Life
During the War.
ID

lDhUHD LIpIeSS-l
eve had some very memorable Christmas
days in the South during the war" said Mrs.
Zebulon B. Vance, wife of the Junior United
States Senator from North Carolina. 49, That oil
1861 was different from any that had preceded
it, because we were in arms against the Federal
Government and many Of the male guests al
Southern homes that day wore Confederate
uniforms. Much Of the talk at the Christmas
dinner table was of seges and battles and
marches. But we were all full of hope and
confidence. For Southern bravery and fighting
blood there could be no such word as fail in
such o struggle, and we had not the slightest
doubt of the triumphant success of our cause
The old time prodigaity of Southern hospital
ity was at its hight that Christmas
"The negroes came up from their quarters in
the early morning for the Christmas gifts,
and as each one was literally remembered
with such tokens as the childish African nature
most delights in, every ebony face shone with
delight, and loud and characteristic were their
expressions of pleasure. Great bowls of egg
nog and punch had been prepared and were
set out in the great halls Wood hres-'just to
take the chill off'-went roaring up the wide
fireplaces, invited guests gathered about the
hearthstone, and there were feasting, music and
dancing.
Christmas, 1862 found US but poorly pre-
pared to celebrate it. Our supplies were few,
count. Wood was SIS per cord and turkeys Sll
each, but even at those prices many were still
able to enjoy them, and there were still some
toys to give the little folks. Then came the
bitter year of 1868, with the fall of Vicksburg
and the defeat at Gettysburg. With sad faces,
harmonizing we'll with their dresses of coarse
black stuff, the women of the South devoted
themselves to picking lint and spinning and
weaving for husbands fathers. brothers. and
sweethearts in the field. Christmas cheer
such as could be obtained-cost a fabulous sum.
for one bright golden dollar was then worth S2S
in Confederate money. Sugar was from 50 TO
$40 per pound, turkeys $50 apiece, and flour
$25 per BARREL
"Christmas, 1S64-the last Christmas of war
time-dawned. and what gloomy festival 1t
was for the people of the South OF manu-
featured products we had practically none.
Our hairpins were made of long, black thorns
with ball of sealing-wax on one end. We
had made into dresses every scrap OF available
material. and now our gowns consisted OF win
dow-curtans. 'home-spuD, and paper muslin
or colored cambria that had once done duty as
o lining, while our feet were incased in home
made cloth shoes. At Christmas dinner in a
typical Southern home that day the festive
board presented turkey that had cost 5000, a
ham worth $500, hominy and potatoes at corre-
spondingly high prices. and black moiasses-
as desert-at $50 per gallon. The Confederate
dollar vas then worth just two cents In gold.
Wood was 500 cord. beef S35 a pound, -four
5000 per barrel, butter $40 per pound, and
sugar $50 per pound. All was silent in the
negro quarters. There was no singing or dane
ing there as usual. The slaves having all heard
of de Emancipation poclaration,' knew that
they were free and had all scattered away.
Desoation seemed to reign over everything.
Of all the Christmas days 1 have known, that
last Christmas in the South in war time is the
one of all others that / am most certain never
to forget"