The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-12-15


The Arbiter, The Washington Herald
The word Christmas carries with It
such import OF good cheer that it Is a
pity this festival should not mean in
this hurrying, busting world OF ours all
that its name implies. But we have little
time for holidays in these United States,
where the popular shibboleth is Get
rich quick" They occur In the calendar.
of course, but their celebration is gem
orally perfunctory and is passed over
with as much ostentation, as much noise
and eelat. and as quickly as possible. Ieav-
ing sense of surfeit and nothing else
The worship Of trs golden calf at these
periods is more pronounced than ever
This is especially true of Christmas, when
gift giving has become so commercial
that it is time for a renaissance. a re-
turn to the habits, customs. traditions of
our fathers-not the Puritans. just Fate
forbid. but TO the Christmas of the jolly
cavaliers when there were days of feast
ing and merriment, which included both
those above and those below the salt, and
the bOar's head in its wreath OF holly.
and the giant plum pudding in its sea
OF burning rum were the real things. and
not the limitations that are set before us
nowadays In a word, let Christmas be
gay and nothing left uudOne that will go
TO make il 50. Leave the LATCH string
out, keep the bowl trimming, make the
hand clasp warm. and let it no longer be
said that the Americans are the most
melancholy feasters in the world
The (Fhr9crvo.1 l.. q. -
Il family affair. On that day OF days the
whole clan should gather at the home OF
its chief, and lest the parry, as such par
ties are apt 70 be, prove dull, let every one
so clothed in his most frolicksome mood.
his culver full Of darts. his sack of good
stories. and let him ride his Pegasus hard
for the entertainment of the company.
AT Christmas dinner there should be
no new dishes, nothing should be served
that is not a tradition in the clan. the
recipe for which originated with some
epicurean ancestor, and there should be
some dainties that are reserved for this
especially holiday and are never offered
at other times
1t was one Of the mightiest OF the New
York multi-millionaires who admitted
that he could hardly wait from one
Christmas until the next for at that
season. and at that season only. he had
certain kind of cake which his mother
bad made with her own hands from the
Time he could remember, the thought of
which brought tears OF longing to his
eyes, and he confessed that once, over
come by his craving appetite he had
wired his mother in April 10 send him one
of those famous cakes. His mother was
a Quaker, and her answer was 10 the
point and Characteristic: Thee shall
have thy cake at Christmas time" And
he waited till Christmas time for the
coveted sweet, when he enjoyed it with a
much keener appetite than if he had been
able TO obtain it at will. But no matter
what else Is served. how much or how
little, the piece de resistance Of the
CHRISTMAS dinner in every American
household. where there is money enough
10 pay for it or n ScrOoge 20 provide. is
the big gobbler, twice the size of Tiny
TIM the erstwhile conqueror of the
barnyard and a c0ndueror still. II only
of appetites, in death; and there is no
more betting grace than that of Tiny
Tins God bless us every one"
The Christmas dinner is inevitable. hut
one can choose the other entertainments
which should mark the day, and nothing is
more enjoyable TO those who ride than a
gallop across country after a fox. or fol-
lowing paper. or for any other available
excuse These Ihunts are generally ar
ranged for the morning. the start is made
from one Of the country clubs to which
those who participate return after the
brush has been secured, the paper route
followed OF the anise seed fought TO a
finish for luncheon, brave and CAV in
their pink coats and the pink cheeks that
such exercise gives. No rule can be given
for this informal meal. the whole charm
OF which lies in its LACK Of ceremony.
The big bowl of eggnogg, the burning
punch. and all Of the seasons delicacies
are served. and much boasting, much
eood-natured badinage. and much smoK-
ing are INDUCED in, and the session is
as a rule prolonged until there is barely
time 70 dress for dinner, and-here a
word-let no one doff his pink coat TO
don evening clothes. for hunters pink
adds very much TO festive occasion and
a hostess Is always grateful when her
service.
Taken all in all. however, the most
deservedly popular entertainment for
Christmas Day, and the one that fingers
longest in the memory, is a ball. for a
ball at this season is different. entirely
different. from those given at any other
time. There is less formalty, more
epOntaneity ssood will chpsr rooi ,,o,,n.,,
The air is filled with holiday spirit.
the music is more inspiring. and the toes
that dance to il are still fresh and not
worn with a seasons demands. II is i'm
possible. naturally. to give such an enter
talnment except at a large house that
includes spacious ballroom, which should
be profusely decorated with holly, mistIe
toe, and great garlands and wreaths of
crows foot. secured with flowing bows
Of red ribbon-there cannot be too much
of Natures green at such a time. and
there should be no dearth OF mistletoe
This sentimental parasite should hang
from the chandeliers. the side brackets
and in those coy corners the thoughtful
hostess arranges for her guests. The ira
dition regarding the mistletoe bough is
Older than Bayley's grewsome tale of
LADY Lovel," older than the story of
'Ginevra." and it has happily remained
associated with the pleasant, rather than
the unpleasant, things in its history
Long may it flourish. to give courage to
the bashful swain, excuse 10 the willing
maiden
The decorations for her Christmas ball
should be the first concern Of a hostess