Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-23

January. At other times it adjourns on the
Goth to meet on the Sd or 18th Of January.
This adjournment is what Is known as the
holiday recess. 1t gives all the members
east Of the Mississippi an opportunity to
spend their Christmas at home.
In Boston, If Congressman O'Neil Is to be
believed, they so to the theaters. where
skirt dances have taken the place Of pam
tomimes. Formerly they shook props for
dead poultry. A prop is a sort of a shell
used in the place of dice. With the advance
of civilization, however, props have disap-
peared.
The New Jersey, New York and Pennsyl-
vania members enjoy themselves differently
from the New Englande.s. A few attend
church. Others spend Christmas eve in
rafting for turkeys. The greatest rafting
section in the United States today is said to
be Sussex county, New Jersey. Besides
rafting for turkeys, they have on Christ
mas day what they call a turkey shoot.
The turkey is placed in the snow some
seven or eight hundred yards away. where
his head alone is seen. Each man pays a
specified sum as an entrance fee, and the
performance begins. Rifles alone are used.
The gobble- is wary bird. After two or
three shots he seems to scent the situation
AS he sees the flash Of the gun, he ducks
becomes a victim to an expert marksman.
Congressman Tracey of Albany, 1t Is said,
usually spends Christmas eve coasting
down Capitol Hill. He is the only Congress
man in the House who is able to steer
| both a single and double ripper. steel-shod
and well oiled.
Different Ways of Enjoyment.
Christmas recalls to Congressman Hook
er Of the Chautauqua district visions Of
mince and pumpkin pies. with currant and
| elderberry wine in abundance. There are
plenty Of sermons and no rafting in his dis
trict. The turkeys are large and fat and
are usually stuffed with stale bread, sage
| and potatoes. Congressman who represent
| the Pennsylvania Dutch have thei: turkeys
stuffed with chestnuts and drink glee wine.
Maryland Congressmen have roast turkey.
but eat very little OF It, They reserve their
| appetite TO- terrapin stews. and the terra
pins are genuine diamond backs at $50 a
dozen.
Away out in Minnesota Christmas Is
usually a cold crisp day. The weather is
| dry, but very cold. Mems ears break of
and fall on the ground. Congressman Boen
| of that state native Norwegian. enjoys
| his Christmas in true Scandinavian style
The farmers pay long visits to their neigh
bors. half dozen families staying at one
| farm. The host and family with the guests
| start in procession Over the snow to the
| house of one of the visitors. Then to an.
| other, and so on until each has been a host
and guest to all in turn. Dancing is the
| favorite amusement, and the polsk, as they
call 1t, the favorite dance These celebra-
lions are termed yulekiks. Congressman
Boon never misses one of these yulekiks
| Each Norwegian has pipe in his mouth,
and there are spirits on the side table
Aside from this there are sprats, tongues
| slices of German sausage and cheese with a
multiplicity of names and fiavors. There
are more quadrilles than country dances
and more waltzes than quadrilles. Among
| the dances there is an interminable cotil-
| dancers N n @
and the partners being distributed at ran
dom; a card or watchword is given to two
persons of different sexes and the Norwe-
gian takes half a dozen whirls with the lady
whose card corresponds with his own. AZ
| ter this she resumes her place, while the
NCrwegians spin around in search of fresh
partners. There is what is called a halling
dance. In which the No-wegians turn somer.
| saults and at times sink SO low that thei.
| knees get nearer the ground than theil
heels. leap in the air has to be made and
some part of the wall to be touched with
the toe Boon enjoys these dances i'm
| mensely