The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1911-12-23

ono NAV y.ew the scene in Imagination as the
moment having arrived for important act OF
ceremony, Washington rises to his feet from his
Mace at the table holding a glass OF Madeira in
bis hand He is Il very tall man two inches
above six feet in height and large OF frame ltls
nose is slightly aqune, his mouth broad, MS
chin square his check bones high, and ms com
nIavion rather ford. He is dressed IN a suit OF
rostlv black velvet with knee hreeChes, black
snk stockings and silver buckles on his shoes. Al
bts wrists are fine lace ruIles and his hair ID
drawn back and done up behind in queue
Gentlemen he says. bo"lhS ''s"' anu ''''
"T drink to my guests,'
,,.' tot,ra1 response at the instance Of the
most distinguished guest present Is a he"'li'
drunk TO Lady Washington. TINS Is loi'o"eu'
.orbare hv i've or ten minutes of general conFef-
cation after which Mrs. Washington gives the
t,ra1 nv nushing back her chair. and the women
rise to take their departure The General hlinseit
walks to the door, throwing II "'ue "lt"' ""u
h NJ the ladies courtesies deeply as she goes
c,+ IN resuonse to the bows of the host ana the
other men :, ., Iaatas
II when the time comes to rejotn the LADIES'
two or three of the guests find themselves haroly
IN a condition to do so, they are handed over 10
tba care of the African major domo VINO sees
that thew are put to bed Such things are bonnd
e.. bannen occasionally and It Is not likely that
anv ~ the women will have the bad tact to ask
what has become Of them
There is a good long evening. which. approprt-
atev to Christmas Is given up to romp 9"ch
old fashioned games as blind mans BUN ana huht
the slipper furnish incidental opportunities Tor
much Incidental Irritation and Ioye-making fer-
hans there may even be kissing game or two;
and spray Of mistletoe fastened over a doorway
gives excuse for some osculation and great deal
of nerrimcnt It is all very delightful Christ
mas gifts are exhibited. and Nellie Cusus II Is
likely plays a bit on her harpsichoTd
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
men prefer cards and sit about little tables.
shur'jng 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 knts. When not otherwise
busily occupied she always has knitting In her
hands wing acquired the habit In camp during
the Revolution when she made stockings for des-
ttute soldiers.
Fortunately the frame. setting. as It might
he 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 buy it But in the hands OF
the Mount Vernon Association the historic
sion and its immediate surroundings are kept In
such excellent repair that Mount Vernon today
Is practically as it more than a century
when George and his wife, Martha, kept open
house and offered generous hospitality not only
at Christina slide but at all other seasons OF the
year