Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1911-12-22

One NAV view the scene in imagination as, the
moment having arrived for important act Of
ceremony, Washington rises to MS 1eet from MS
Mace at the table holding a glass of Madeira in
bis hand He is a very tall man. two inches
above six feet in height and large of frame HIS
nose is slightly aquiline, his mouth broad MS
chin SQUARE his cheek bones high, and MS com
nlexion rather ford He is dressed IN sui VI
costly black velvet, with knee breeches' olach
eilx stockings and silver buckles on his shoes AT
his wrists are fine lace rufies, and his halr IS
drawn hack and done up behind in queue
..Centlemen," he says, bowling right and lelt'
81 drink to my guests! 4,o
The natural response, at the instance or tne
most distinguished guest present IS neal'n
drunk to Lady Washington. This IS iollo"eo
~orhans nv five or ten minutes Of general CONVEX
r+ion after which Mrs. Washington gives the
eigna1 bv pushing back her chair, and the women
rica +o take their departure. The General hinsel.
walks to the door, throwing 1t Wloe open Oh"
each of the ladies courtesies deeply as she soVs
ont in response to the bows or the most anu 'i40
other men. 49, ladies
If when the time comes to rejoin the iao1es
4a ~ three of the guests find themselves haroly
in q condition to do SO, they are hanGeu over ~
tho care of the African major domo' VINO sees
that they are put to bed. Such Things are oounu
IN hanpen occasionally, and it is not hKely Cna'
anv of the women will have the pao tact ~ "'A
what has become of them
ately to Christmas, is given up to romp' oucn
old fashioned games as blind mans buff and NUM-
the slipper furnish incidental opportunities lo'
much incidental Irritation and love-maklng' Fel'
hans there NAV even be kissing game or Two;
ond . enrav of mistletoe fastened over a doorway
oivas excuse for some oscillation and great deai
of merrment It is all very delightful christ
mas eifts are exhibited and Nellie GUSTS, II Is
,il,elv nlays bit on her harpslcnord.
negro fiddler, one of the slaves on the estate
in ncturesoue plantation garb, starts some merry
musc while the young people choose partners
for the dance But the older ladies and gentle-
men prefer cards. and sit about little tables
shutting and dealing. The host himself plays
for small stakes only, gambling for money 10
considerable amounts being one or the wees he
most abhors AS for Mrs. Washington, she talks
To peighbor and knits. When not otherwise
busilv 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 mIgnt
be called of the Christmas festivities mere 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 Oh
the Mount Vernon Association the historic man
sion and it's immediate surroundings are kept in
such excellent repair that Mount Vernon today
is practically as it was more than a century ago,
when George and his wife, Martha kept open
house and offered generous hospitality, not only
at Christmastide but at all other seasons OF the
year.