Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1908-12-23
THE GREAT DAY YEARS AGO.
The Christmas Dinner in tile Four
teenth Century.
(Fred Myron Colby in Children's
Yisitor.)

~ "oe say Sceue, tnaC great nall
where the Yule log was blazing in
the immense chimney, big enough for
whole OK to be roasted within; the
high rafters festooned with branches
of holly, holm, ivy, and laurel; the
wide portal crowned with mistletoe;
and the table, literally board of
boards, all of oak, and polished TIL
they shone, stretching the whole
length OF the room, one hundred and
sixty feet.
Twelve O'clock has just struck, and
the household is mastering in the
magnificent hall-it being Covering
time or the hour for preparing the
tables for dinner. The steward in
his gown, a most important-looking
parsonage, is standing at the upper
most part Of the hall, surrounded by
most of the chief officers. Some of
these, under the supervision of the
usher of the hall, presently cover the
table with a purple velvet cloth and
place thereon the saltcellars and
trenchers. The yeoman of the
every and pantry, conducted by the
yeoman usher, then enter the dining
chamber. AS they pass through the
door they bow reverent lly, and
they do the same upon arproaching
the table. They then lay down at
the side Of each trencher knife.
"hafted with silver" and a spoon.
No forks are laid, for these conven-
lent articles have not been invented.
Next in succession comes the yeo-
man Of the cellar, who dresses the
sideboard with fagons, drinking
cups, and such vessels as are consign-
ed to his care. The yeoman of the
buttery follows him, and arranges
the pewter pots, jugs, and so forth
on the sideboard.
The dinner time has now fully ar
rived, and the stewards command is
taken by gentleman usher who
knocks respectfully at the door of
the State chamber and summons
King Richard and his guests to din
per. In they come, dressed in their
court attire-the king and his lords
in magnificent long, green-colored
velvet TUNES, red leather boots with
very long points, and silken hosiery;
the pretty Queen, Anne of Bohemia,
and her ladies' in parti-colored kir-
ties Of white and blue, cote-bardies
edged with fur, and their hair done
up in gold fret, or caui, of network.
When the guests are assembled
and seated the King and Queen oc-
cupying dias above the others, the
trumpets sound and a band of musi-
| clans enter the hall. The. sewer fol-
lows them, bearing upon q huge gol-
den platter boar's head dressed
with sweet rosemary and bay leaves.
AS he marches up the hall he sings:
"Caput apri defero,
Reddens laudes Domino:
The boar's head in hand bring |.
With garlands gay and rosemary;
| pray you all sing merrily,
Qui estis in .convivio."
The boar's head, with a great gol-
den pippin held between his tusks Is
then placed upon the table, where it
Is served with mustard sauce, and
the Christmas dinner begins. No
napkins or forks are used, and brave
knight and noble lady wipe their
greasy hand. upon the tablecloth and
throw the discarded bones and pick
ings upon the floor rbeneath them,
which is covered with rushes. Be-
sides the famous boar's head, the
first course consists Of roasted beef
joints, pigs roasted, venison with fru-
menty, curious concoction of boiled
wheat and eggs seasoned with sugar
and spices, broth Of pork and onions,
custard, and a subtilty-the latter
being an onamented dish represent
Ing ship, castle, or human be-
ing, just as the taste of the cook die
tated The second course is intro
duced by the bringing in of a pea
cock with all Of it's gay plumage on
and its whole body covered wAh
leaf OF gold. A singular dish, is it
not? Like the subtilty, it must be
intended merely as an ornamental
dish. Not>at all; 1T Is real dish to
eat. The peacock was stuffed with
all manner of spices and sweet herbs,
thoroughly roasted, basted with yolk
OF egg, served with plenty Of gravy,
and was considered the greatest deli
cacy or the Christmas feast. 1t was
something of task, as you may i'm
agine, to prepa this bird OF Juno
for the fable 1hn ckin ,,,nn Ia