Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1904-12-30
A WASHINGTON CHRISTMAS
FEARFUL AND WONDERFUL,
BUT WORTH THE COST.
The Ubiquitous Egg. nogg and How
II Is Made--New Years Observ-
ance-New House Office Building
Begun-The Inauguration.
Especial to the Reformer.)

The great Christian holiday has
passed again, and here We are once
more tottering on the verge OF a
, new year Mighty good thing 1t Is
that we cannot know what Is ahead
Of us, either of JOY or sorrow, and l
reckon IL as one of the most amaz-
ing evidences of the Fathers loving
thoughtfulness In our behalf. Unex-
pected pleasures are the most de-
lightful and we haven't unknown sor-
rows to dread. / rather suspect how
ever, that the coming year will con-
tain about the usual experiences.
and that, as In the past, life will be
about as we make II.
Christmas In Washington is a fear
full and wonderful thing. Everybody
goes emotionally insane for the time
being, and when they awake to a
realizing sense along the first week
in January they wonder what 1t has
all been about Mutiiated relies Of
toys around the house indicate that
the children experienced their an
nual carnival, and the fiat pocket
book and lavender taste in the
mouth suggest the usual post-cele
| bration period of sack cloth and
ashes But everybody considers 1t
worth the cost, and the fortnight
holiday season is the carnival of the
year. All have a hand in 1t, and the
cosmopolitan population from Green
lands icy mountains to India's coral
strand enters freely into the spirit
Cinnamon, Japanese, Hindoos and
Turks do as the Romans do when
here.
For the past three weeks the great
department stores have been jammed
and packed with surging masses of
females with chins In the air and
eyes fixed in an icy stare on the list
Of anticipated purchases in their
minds and all mere men have kept
as far out of sight as possible and
thanked God that all they had TO do
was to pay the bills. Friday and
Saturday last the entire retail dry
goods section of the town was
boiling ocean of frantic femininity.
and not only were the stores packed |
to an extent which would seem to
absolutely forbid getting anywhere I
or reaching anything, but the side /
walks were packed TO the curb. Pur-
chases made the first of the week /
and even earlier with the promises I
of immediate delivery at the pur
chaser's residence were three, four
and five days on the way and then
some of them didn't connect with
the trade and the immense crush
precluded anything like speedy and
careful handling and delivery Of the
goods When they finally arrived
the purchasers had forgotten what
they had bought, and were glad TO
get anything whatever.
Seemingly everybody made pres
snts. and made them by the cubic
yard. Everybody on foot, in the
street cars and in private carriages,
was loaded to the muzzle with bum
Hes and packages of every possible
size, shape and dimension. Every
andy to building lot. Kitchen ,
'anges, chamber suites and square ,
pianos hustled through the streets ,
,y express delivery, and the colored ,
irivers continually lost time and !
What few senses they ever had by
rying to drive over other teams 1,
PEDESTRIANS held their lives loosely 1
n their hands and wondered If they Z
lad their card case with them for
Identification in the event of going !
o the hospital dead or insensible. !,
else happy. and suffering =
Il the tortures and fears of the :
ahmed in the effort.
Saturday evening. up to midnight 4
nd after, the entire city was given Il
yer to pandemonium. riot of i
acket. This is the manner in which a
he small boy and youth feel called Il
pom to observe the event here. Tin
orns of all bores and ranges are the a
rincipal offensive weapon. Every =
i'd and hoodlum in the city creates q
iabolical walls on a tin horn cease !,
'ssly for at least six hideous hours. :,
very loafer is a Gabriel for the .,
me being, and the din from My :
Iaryland to The Old Virginny
hore is something brutality internal.
he reason why is not considered,
Scept by the sufferers. who are 9
ware that the desire to make a dis o
ordant noise is proof of the over
helming preponderance of brutality
IT existing in many human souls.
A much more quiet observance of
lie day, and one which appeals to
e very strongly, is the family re- as
mon and Christmas dinner which r.
an unalterable social law and Gus 81
m with every old resident family "a
the city. 1t is to them what If
is to us New England ~,
s, and the program is about the ,ri
me. A goose or turkey for the ~
BILE centerpiece, thanked by every 40
cal and seasonable delicacy, and 81,
ST, last anu lDTtflOst, TIE 1HTlsl- M
as egg-nogg. 1t is the prime ne 90
ssity and is found everywhere, te.
hatever else has to be omitted. ~.
eighbors and callers expect an in ~
rchange of egg nogg, and its alb
nee anywhere, or neglect to ask
erybody up is a mortal offence.
don't know just how you -
'uld approach the egg-nogg prob Ht
n, dear reader in case it was sud- TIE
My presented to you. but I will an
We a rough draft # the recipe and to
u can infer. First. a big punch lif,
wi. Then a dozen eggs carefully on
aten and deposited in the bottom CIV
the DISH Then, quart of hot OF
ench brandy. To this add a pint pro
the best hot Jamaica rum. Some ass
tmeg, a little butter and a little
isoning or fiavoring If desired. Us
lily, however, the flavor will appeal
,st satisfactorily to nearly every =
tie, without any flavoring but the sid
owe named extracts" Serve in -,
lgs, piping hot and ad libitum. A No
lple of mugs. as a rule, are suffi- Of
mt to impart a roseate view to the tov
surroundings. Every ~
Don in town makes a speciality of -
S far-reaching beverage through 20
|, holidays. and a halcyon If not vo- u
erous period is the inevitable re-
t.
christmas greens are also every
ere in evidence, meaning ever c
ems for decoration, particularly ing
ly and mistletoe. The latter but
rms the chandelier and picture has
mes, and holly wreaths hang con- hay
cuously in the windows of every Bra
idence. These greens are sold the
rywhere. by colored lads on the nov
Gets and even the grocery stores
p a supply of them for their GUS
lers as matter of course. New