The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1911-12-22

One may view tuc scene III lmdklUAJlOu, as, LOO
moment having arrived for an 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 a 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 forid. He is dressed in q suit Of
costly black velvet, with knee breeches. black
silk stockings, and silver buckles on his shoes. At
his wrists are fine lace ruf1es, and his hair Is
drawn back and done up behind in queue.
Gentlemen" he says, Dow1ng right ana ieLt'
Il drink to my guests!'
The natural response. at the instance OF the
most DISTINGUISHED guest present, is a health
drunk to Lady Washington. This Is followed,
perhaps. 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 h1msei1
walks TO the door, throwing It wide open. and
each OF the ladies courtesies deeply as she goes
ont. In response to the bows OF the host and the
other men.
If. when the time comes to rejoin the ladies',
two or three of the guests find themselves hardly
IN a condition to do SO. they are handed over to
the care of the African major domo, who sees
that they are put to bed. Such things are bound
to happen occasionally, and it is not likely that
any of the women Will have the bad tact to ask
what mas become OF them.
There is a good long evening, which, appropri-
AIoJy [ Il1ISluudo, II 6lVSA ap W " hoAf' 0NA
old-fashioned games as blind mans bun and hunt
the slipper furnish Incidental opportunities for
much incidental Irritation and love-making. Per
haps there may even be a kissing game or two;
and a spray Of mistletoe fastened over a doorway
gives excuse for some OSCILLATION and a great deal
of merriment It II all very delightful. Christ
mas gifts are exhibited, and Nellie Gusts. It IL
likely, plays a bit ON her harpsicnord.
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 donce. But the older ladies and gentle
men Greer cards, and sit about little tables.
shutting and dealing. The host himself plays,
for small stakes only, gambling for money to
considerable amounts being one 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-
tftute soldiers.
Fortunately, the frame. or setting, as It might
be called, Of the Christmas festivities here de-
scribed in such crude outline is still preserved
intact. thanks % the efforts of a few patriotic
women who have made this their loving task.
The United States government has never paid
ore 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 it's immediate surroundings are kept in
such excellent repair that Mount Vernon today
is practically as 1t was more than a century ago.
Wien George and his wife, Martha, kept open
house and offered a generous hospitality, not only
at Christmastide but at all other seasons of the
year.