The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1902-01-03
MATTERS
NOTES OF PAST AND CURRENT EVENTS.
BY KATE MARKHAM POWER.
By KATE MARKHAM POWER.
exes sevAess 90 exey

or, sad to tell, a fanatic decoration OF
paper or rags, with which to adorn
themselves in honor of the day. At IL
o'clock the doors are thrown open and
the safe" patients who have been al
lowed to help the attendants arrange
the tables, beam as gracefully and
speak as cordially to the long line of
entering diners, as though they were
the most approved reception committee
on duty at some great function. And is
1t not great function? Has not a
4 great State provided for it? Have not
master minds, after arduous training
planned it successfully? Have not
| willing hands worked ceaselessly for
weeks that it might be worthy the day
and last OF all, was it not the bright
est day in long, weary year, to a
thousand men and women of feeble
bodies and of beclouded brains? Yes.
it was great function-no one could
doubt it, after one glance down the
long, snowily draped tables, with their
great clusters Of flowers, their superb
pyramids of fruit, dishes of jelly. pre-
serves, pickles, candy, etc.
At each plate was an individual pile
OF fruit apples, oranges and bananas,
with grapes, raisins, nuts and candy, to
be carried to the rooms for private con-
sumption. On the table was served
just such a Christmas dinner as was
eaten in the best homes in Mississippi
few hours later. There were oysters
by the thousand, great, juicy Drowned
turkeys (nearly sou pounds OF turkey,
cranberry sauce (made by barrelsfuD,
every available vegetable, besides other
and delicious meats. Plum pudding,
fresh fruits, gelatines and cakes of
every description ended the menu. Of
this dinner, one thing may be said
without fear of dispute, and that is,
that no finer baking was done in any
private kitchen then was done in the
great ovens Of the hospital Five hun
dred splendid loaf cakes-fruit,
pound, plain and layers of all recipes
were made, and not one failure. One
barrel of mincemeat was made into
pies for dinner and not crumb was
left! At least 800 oysters were needed,
and coffee by the hogshead. On ordi-
nary days the inmates of the asylum
consume three barrels (and more) of
flour, and one of meal, but we did not
ask for the amount used Christmas.
Suffice it that these unfortunates are
fortunate in their surroundings, re-
ceiving the best of care and the most |
scientific treatment. Most of them are
happy, remarkably large per cent.
show perfect contentment, and all seem
to know that if it were possible their
kindly protectors would make every
day as bright and brief and full of joy
as Christmas is, to them.
1t is always genuine pleasure to
print in these columns anything con-
corning the welfare or advancement of
the young men and women Of Missis-
sipi, whether at home or abroad. The
from the Army and Macy
Journal speaks well of a Rankin coun-
ty boy who has numerous relatives
the State: Reports from
the Island of Tutuila, Samoa, state
that the natives held impressive me-
mortal services at Page Pago In honor
Of the late President Mckinley. Nearly
all the white population attended, in
GLIDING most Of the officers and fifty
members of the crew OF the United
States ship Abarenda, Lieutenant J. l..
Jayne, U. S. N, commanding. He re-
ports that on his visit to the Island
If Manua he learned that memorial
services had been held there on re-
,eipt of the news Of the Presidents
ieath. The natives generally seemed
yery much impressed with the event.
they wore mourning badges at the me-
norial service. One Of the high chiefs
Expressed the desire Of the people OF
lis country to hold "tagi," which is
he Samoan way of celebrating the
leath of a high chief. 1t consists OF
casting, carousing and idleness for
N extended period. Lieutenant Jayne
uggested that instead of this method
he people do something for their own
,ood, and advised them to build me-
norial road. The chief, after consult
ng with his people, informed Lieuten-
mt Jayne that they would do as he de- [
ired. Lieutenant Jayne reports that {
he native guard of Manua is well !
rilled, but in order to bring it up to 9
higher degree of discipline, he left
ergeant Jones. of the Abarenda's ma