Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1911-12-22

One may view the scene in Imagination as the
moment having arrived for important act Of
ceremony Washington rises to his feet from his
place at the table, holding a glass Of Madeira in
his hand. He is very tall man, two inches
above six feet in height and large of frame. His
nose is slightly aquiline, his mouth broad, his
chin square his cheek bones high, and his COM
plexion rather fiorid. He is dressed in suit OF
costly black velvet, with knee breeches, black
silk stockings and silver buckles on his shoes L
his wrists are fine lace ruffes and his halr Is
drawn back and done up behind in queue
Gentlemen" he says, bowling right and left
81 drink to my guests!
The natural response at the instance OF the
most distinguished guest present, IS healtn
drunk to Lady Washington. This Is foloWeo
nerhans by five or ten minutes of general CONVEX
sation after which Mrs. Washington gives the
signal by pushing back her chair, and the women
rise to take their departure The General nlInSell
walks TO the door, throwing it wide open, ana
each of the ladies courteses deeply as she goes
out in response to the bows OF the most ana lne
other men. ,
If when the time comes to rejoin the ladies'
two or three of the guests find themselves haroly
in condition to do SO, they are handed over 10
the care of the African major como, who sees
+bo+ thew are put to bed Such things are bound
tn bappen occasionally, and it is not likely that
anv of the women will have the bad tact to ask
what has become of them.
There is a good long evening, which, appropri-
ately to Christmas, is given up 10 a fOmp- ouCh
old-fashioned games blind mans bun ana hunt
the slipper furnish incidental opportunities for
much incidental Irritation and love-makng Per-
haps there may even be a kissing game or Two;
and a spray Of mistletoe fastened over doorway
gives excuse for some oscillation and great deal
of merriment. 1t is all very delightful. Christ
mas gifts are exhibited, and Nellie Gusts, 1t is
likely plays bit on her harpsichord.
A negro fiddler one of the slaves on the estate,
in picturesque plantation garb, starts some merry
music while the young people choose partners
for the dance But the older ladies and gentle
shu1ing and dealing The host himself plays,
for small stakes only, gambling for money to
considerable amounts being of the vices he
most abhors AS for Mrs Washington, she talks
to a neighbor and knits. When not otherwise
busily occupied she always has knitting in her
hands having acquired the habit in camp during
the Revolution when she made stockings for des-
titute soldiers.
Fortunately the frame or setting, as 1t might
be called of the Christmas festivities here de-
scribed in such crude outline is still preserved
intact thanks to the efforts of few patriotic
women who have made this their loving task.
The United States government has never paid
one cent to keep the home of Washington from
destruction. Many years ago congress refused TO
give the money to buy it. But in the hands OF
the Mount Vernon Association the historic man
sion and its immediate surroundings are kept in
such excellent repair that Mount Vernon today
is practically as it more than century ago,
when George and his wife, Martha, kept open
house and offered generous hospitality not only
at Christmastde but at all other seasons of the
year.