Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-20
XMAS In WAR TINES.
MRS. DAVIS DEsCr BEs DuFrIcuL-
TIES IN CELEBRATING 1T.
HOW ORPHANS WERE PROVIDED FOR.
Malseshin Toys md Patchcd-up Cor
nucopias That Made the Hearts OF
the Little Ones Gladstone Unique
Presents That Were Made.

One OF the most charming contributions
10 the Christmas No OF the New York
World was that Of Mrs jefferson Davis's
on christmas In the Confederate White
House" This article. which will be read
with interest throughout the South, and
especially in Richmond. is hereto append
ed:
While looking over the advertisements
OF the toys and everything else intended
TO make the children joyful, In the col
umns Of the great city papers. l have
been impressed with the contrast be-
tween the present time and the condition
OF the southern country thirty-one years
ago: but. notwithstanding the great ia
cilities Of the present time, have been un-
able TO decide whether to the young 1t
was not as gay then as now.
That Christmas season was ushered in
under the thickest clouds: every one felt
the cataclysm which impended. but the
rosy. expectant faces of our little children
were constant reminder that self-sacri-
fee must the personal Offering Of each
mother Of the family. How TO satisfy
the children that nothing better could be
done than the little makeshifts attain
able in the Confederacy was the prob
lem Of the older members OF each house
hold There were no clirrants, raisins.
or other ingredients to fill the old Vir-
ginia recipe for mince-pie, and the chill
dren considered that at least a slice Of
the much-coveted dainty was their right
and the price Of indigestion paid for
II was n debt of honor due from them TO
the seasons exactions. Appie-trees grew
and bore. in spite OF wars alarms. so
the foundation Of the mixture was as
sured. The many exquisite housekeepers
tn Richmond had preserved all the fruits
attainable. and these were submitted for
the tlme-honored raisins and currants
The brandy required for seasoning, at
800 bottle. was Forthcoming: the cider
was obtained, the suet. at 81 a pound. was
ordered and the pies seemed a blessed
certainty; but the eggnog-how were the
eggs and liquors TO be procured. without
which Christmas would be a failure to
the negroes?
EGGNOG FOR THE NEGROES.
"Ef it's only little wineglass." said
enc little dusty-looking negro rubber IN
the stables. who brought in the back log
Jour substitute for the yule Logo. Il
dunno how We gwine sit along without
no eggnog." So. after redoubled efforts,
the eggs and other ingredients were Sc
cured in advance. The little jackets.
pieced together out of the cloth remain
ing when uniforms We're turned out by
the tailors. were issued to the children
of the soldiers. amid the remonstrances
hot -laa of ba,
wasn't worth cent"
Rice, flour. molasses. and tiny pieces
Of meat. most OF them sent to the
Presidents wife. anonymously to be dis
pensed to the poor had all been weighed
and issued. and the playtime of the
family began, but like a clap Of thunder
out Of a clear sky came the nforma-
ton that the orphans at the Episcopalian
Home had been promised q Christmas
tree and the toys. candy. and cakes
must be provided as well as one pretty
prize for the most orderly girl among
the orphans. The kind-hearted confec-
TONER was interviewed by our Commit
tee of Managers. and he promised
certain amount of his simpler KINDS OF
candy, which die sold easily at $50 a
pound but he drew the line at cornu-
copias TO hold II. as sugared fruits TO
hang on the tree. and all the other
vestiges of Christmas creations, which
had lain on his hands for years. The
ladies dispersed in anxious squads OF
toy-hunters. and each one turned over
the store OF her children's treasures for
n contribution 70 the orphans tree. my
little ones rushed over the great house
looking up their reasures-eyeless dolls.
three-legged horses, tops with the upper
neg broken off, rubber tops, monkeys
with all the squeak gone silent and all
the ruck of children's toys that gather
In nursery closet
MAKESHiFT TOYS FOR ORPHANS.
Some small feathered chickens and par
rots which nodded their heads In obedience
10 a weight beneath them were furnished
with new tail feathers lambs minus
much of their wool were supplied with
cottonwood substitute. rag dolls were
pumped out and recovered with clean
cloth and the young ladies painted their
fat faces In bright coiors and furnished
them with beads for eyes.
Rut the tug Of war was how TO get some
thing with which to decorate the
orphans tree. our man servant, RoDert
Brown. was mucn interested ana oiie.eI
10 make the prize toy. He contemplated
s.sure enough house. with four rooms.
IIis mart I'm the domestic service wa
delegated to another and he gave himself
over In silence and solitude to the labors
of an architect.
Nv sister painted rantel shelves, doc.
panels. pictures and frames for the walls
and finished with black CRATES in which
there blazed a roaring fire. which was
pronounced marvellousiy realistic. VIC
all made furniture of twigs and paste
board. and my mother made pillows. mat
tresses. sheets and pillow cases for the
two little bedrooms.
Christmas Eve a number OF young peo-
ME were invited to come and string
APPLES and popcorn for the tree; neigh
Dor. very deft In domestic arts had tiny
candle moulds MADE and furnished al
fhe candles for the tree. However. the
puzzle and triumph OF all was the con-
structlon OF large number or cornuco
Mas. At last some one suggested a conf
cal block OF wood. about which the draw
ing paper could be wound and pasted. In
"a little book-shop a number OF small.
highly -colored pictures cut out and ready
10 apply, were unearthed, and our OLD
confectioner friend, Mr. Pizzini. con-
scented. with a broad smile. 70 give "all
inc love verses the young people wanted
10 roll with the candy
A CHRISTMAS-EVE PARTY.
About twenty young men and girls gath
cred around small tables in one of the
drawing-rooms of the mansion, and The
cornucopias were begun. The men wrap
ped the squares of candy, first reading the
Sentiments printed upon them, such as