Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-13
THE OLD-T|NE WAY
A Houseful of Guests for the
Holiday.
GOOD THINGS FOR ALL
CHRISTMAS ON THE OLD PLANTA-
TON YEARS AGO.
Excitement High From Great House to
Cabin, From Missus to
Pickaninny.
GOOD THINGS FOR ALL
written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
A Christmas house party! The very
words have ring of merriment and hearty
good cheer. Possibilities Of fun and jolly
good time loom up in pleasant anticipation
before the fortunate guest hidden to sucn
function. The hostess Of an affair OF TINS
kind has nothing to fear concerning the
success Of her Christmas entertaining IL
she is mistress not necessarily OF man
sion, but of pleasant home in the coun-
try. The outdoor sports possible In the
country add much to the pleasure OF the
occasion. particularly if the elements are
in league with her and provide snow ana
ice for sleighing and skating. For Indoor
amusements there are always the popular
ping-pong, drive whist, euchre and dane
ing. If anything of a more ambitious
nature should be attempted, the new adap-
tation of Mrs. Gaskelis story OF Gran
ford" made especially for parlor repre-
sentation. makes a quaint and pretty series
of pictures to have ones guests oeplct.
But the selection Of guests Is most I'M
portant consideration. as one person WITH
out Christmas in his bones can mar the
happiness of the whole party. Emerson
says 1.-The ornaments of a house are the
friends who frequent it," consequently the
human bric-a-brac which ornaments
house party should be pieces of superior
quality and should harmonize perfectly
chaos reigns. When the house Is trimmed
with Christmas greens. the guest rooms
made attractive with every comfort ana
the cuisine appetizingly planned, the most
ess may contentedly sit In the cleaning
before the bright log fire and await the
coming of her party. which, If happily
timed. will arrive at about o'clock when
tea will be served. At this informal tea
drinking introductions may be made. and
at 6 the hostess will take the ladies of the
party to their rooms. Then the serious
operation of dressing for dinner begins. The
affair is now successfully launched, with
every prospect of good time.
"Befo' de Wah."
A few suggestions for Christmas enter
tanning may be gathered from the old-time
celebrations of Christmas on the southern
plantations ''befo' de wah." These were
certainly ideal gatherings and were looked
forward to from one year to another by
the families of the neighboring plantations
which in many instances were so far apart
that this annual visit was the only one pos
sible. For weeks before the holidays the
"mammies" were busy in the Kitchens
making all sorts Of good things. The fine
old home-cured hams were boiled, covered
on top with bread crumbs. sprinkled with
sugar and cloves and put back In the oven
to bake. 1t makes ones mouth water to
think how nice they were, with their cham
payne sauce. Another "star" piece was the
enormous round Of spiced beef garnished
with beets and turnips cut in the form of
roses and adorned with paper caps. The
fruit cake, iced to perfection, was to be
made. The plum pudding, having been
prepared the previous year, was all ready
for the brandy. which was ignited when
brought to the table. The crisp ginger and
sugar cakes were made by the bushel In
the house servants were busy arranging
the guest rooms and polishing to the last
degree the claw-legged furniture and brass
firedogs. They helped 'old miss to sort
the blankets and linsey-woolsey gowns
which later on would be sent out to the
quarters as Christmas presents.
Excitement Runs High.
The day before Christmas excitement ran
high on the plantation. The pickaninnies
for weeks had been securing the woods for
crowfoot and greens. The sound of ham
mering rang out all over the house, while
laughing girls hung mistletoe. holly and
green's. the Yule log blazing merry &C
compartment to the work. On Christmas
eve the guests began to arrive, laden with
mysterious packages, which later on were
hung upon the tree. Everybody had
stocking filled with a peppermint cane, a
horn and any funny tri1e appropriate to
their peculiaritieS or habits. In the even
Ing. the Christmas tree being dressed all
gathered round it in circle. while a toast
was drunk to old Santa Claus in tumblers
of eggnog and apple toddy few hours
of sleep followed. and at break of day was
nedTO Cne singing OF carols by the QarkleS
assembled In front Of the house. and often
the less musical sound of firecrackers.
Up the center and down the middle went
the merry couples to the strains of the ''Vir-
ginia Reel and odd Dan Tucker" these
tunes giving way to the stately Roger de
Coverly music until the light fantastic
could no longer be tripped. The tired but
happy company retired with hearty good
nights and thanks to their host and hostess
for a charming Christmas.
The Spirit is There.
1t has been long time since the days of
those southern merrymakings, but the
spirit still lives and materializes each year
in the revival Of some of the old customs
and dainties. A few of the recipes used on
these occasions will prove timely for the
modern hostess who would like. perhaps.
to prepare some of the toothsome viands
and vary the regulation menu
After the English fashion. peacock was
often served. To prepare the peacock for
the table was a task entailing no little
trouble. The skin was first stripped on
with the plumage adhering. The bird was
then roasted. and when done and partially
cooled 1t was sewed up again in its feath-
ers. The beak was gilded. and the bird was
sent to the table In this fashion. Some
times the whole body was covered with gold
leaf and piece Of cotton saturated with
spirits was placed In its beak. to be lighted
before the carver began his operations.
was also stuffed with spices and sweet
herbs. basted with the yolk of an egg and
served with plenty Of gravy.
Serving of the Bird.
A great deal of ceremony attended the
serving of this noble bird. 1t was not al
lowed to be brought in by common hands,
that privilege being reserved for the two
lady guests most distinguished for beauty
and wit. who carried it into the dining
room to the sound of music the rest of the
ladies following. This was quaint and
novel feature of the dinner, and one may
well imagine the rivalry over the selection
of the bearers. The hostess of today would
do well to use the ballot when choosing her
maids of honor to avoid feeling of favorit-
ism.
Eggnog is another southern speciality
which often has to blush for the guise in
which 1t is made to appear. The following
directions will be found authentic, and the
quantities here given wills make gallon of
the beverage: Beat the whites and yolks of
eighteen fresh eggs separately until both
are as light as possible. While beating the
yolks stir in and beat with them eighteen
tablespoonfuls of pulverized sugar Mix
fifteen wineglassfu1s of best French brandy
and six of old Jamaica spirits in pitcher.
stirring well. Then add two quarts of
cream until the whole Is well dissolved,
Pour this into the eggnog bowl and add