Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1893-03-02
HIGH PRICE FOR a ruKKEy.
The Wife of senator Vance Tells ola wa,
Time Christmas Dinner

We bad some very memorable
CHRIS mas days in the south durjpp
the wal, said Mrs. Zcbulon b.
Vance, wis Of the junior United
States senator from North Carolina,
to a Buffalo Express man. That Of
1861 vas different from any thst had
preceded it, because we were il arms
against the federal government. and
many OF the male guests in southern
homes that day wore confederate
uniforms. Much of the talk at the
Christmas elmer table YVES of sieges
ara BATTLES and marches. i}ut we
"efs all full tI hope and confidence.
For 4outhcrn bravery and Sghting
biooG there coCli be no such words
as fan in such a struggle. AID We
had MT the slightest doubt oe the
Triumphant success Of our case.
Tie old Sine proGigaiity of southern
hospitality was at its height that
I Chlistma@. The negroes came tsp
| from the.E quarters IN the early
morning fG' the 'Chri='mus gif'S, ana
as each one was liberaI.Y remembered
| with such tokens as the childish
African naS'ire most Selights in.
every ebony are shonc With delipb1.
ana loud ard characteristic were
sheiF expressions of pleasure. Great
COWS of eggncs and punch. aad been
prepared and We're set out in the
great halls. Wood frcs-.just to
taae the chill ef'-went roaring nm
TIE wide tirepiaces, invited guests
g&shercd about the hearthstcne, and
there were fe&sting, music and
dancing
Christmas, 1852. found rs but
poorly prepared to celebrate il, our
supplies were few and confederate
money was at ii heavy discount.
No@d was st5 per eord and turkeys
Sill each, but even at those prices
many were still able to enjoy them.
and there was still! some toys tc. give
TO tie little folks. Then came the
bitter year OF 1863, with the fall OF
'!cEsbuFs and the defeat at Gettys-
burg. With sad faces. harmonizinp
well With their dresses Of coarse.
BLACK stuff. the women of the south
devoted themselves to picking lint
ana spinning and weaving for
husbands, father, brothers and
>"eethearts in the field. Christmas
cheer-such as could be obtained
cost fat ulouS sum, for one bright
golden dollar was then worth SIS in
confederate money. Sugar was worth
from 81 to 80 per pound turkeys $50
apiece and Hour s25 per barrel.
christmas, l84-the last Christ
mas Of war timcs-dawned, and what,
a gloomy festival it was fort peo-
pie Of the south, OF manufactured
products We had practically none.
Our hairp!ns 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 con-
sisted ofwindow curtains. 'homespun'
ana paper muslin or. colored cambria
that had once done duty as a lining,
while our fee. were inrased in home-
! spun cloth shoes. :. At Christmas
dinner in aeLypiral southern, home
1 that day. the Festive. board. presented
Il turkey that had cost. 500. ham
worth $500. liogniny. and potatoes at
CORES pondins!y high prices. and
| black laclas>eS--as desert-at $50 per
gallon. The confederate dollar was
then worth Just two cents in gold.
WOOD was 500 cord, beef s25 a
! pound. stlaur 800 per barrel, butter
saG per. pound and sugar $50 per
pound. iAll was silent in the negro
quarters. There was no singing or
dancing as usual. The slaves having
all heard of de emancipation pro-
c.anation. knew that they were free
and had all scattered away. Desc
!ation seemed to reign over every
thing. or ali the Christmas DAYS I
have ever known, that last Christmas
in the south in war time is the one of
all Others that am most certain
never TO forget"
JcH Davis Desk.