Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1913-11-21

can wildly picture the powdered hair of the
grown-ups the eager faces of the youngsters, the
grinning darkies in the south, CHEEKY white
help of the north
At the museum imagination is stimulated by a
sight of the very garments and jewels at
Thanksgiving dinners just about the time the
holiday received its christening a national
event. Dainty and suggestive of the beauty OF
youth is a pale blue ribbed silk empire gown
with short puffed sleeves, a cobwebby white
hand embroidered kerchief and plain fall Of
wide skirt. Near it are the ridiculously little
high-heeled white satin shoes, the gay colored
fan, immense tortoise she'll combs and gold beads
and miniature locket worn by the revolutionary
maiden.
Looking at her foCtgear smiles in remns.
cence Of the fairy tales of grandmothers who
always insist upon the sensbleness of the way
THEIR grandmotbers dressed A flaming red
cloak, with Red Riding Hood cape and beauti
full beaded hand bag completed the toilette in
which the girl probably rode many miles horse
back with her clasped tight around the
body of male relative, or, perhaps rested warm
ly inside one of the numbering road coaches
which the museum contains. From a family
long famed in history down rarely beau.
tiful gold engraved snuff box and lace wristlets
and handkerchief, which the owner was wont to
display on such occasions as that of stately
Thanksgiving In every detail of china and sill
yer the costumes there is evidenced this sug
gestion of dignity and caste.
And yet. very gay and festive must have ap
peared a gathering of well-known folk of the
late revolutionary period, when Thanksgiving
was sufficiently new national holiday to be
observed with particular enthusiasm.
A complete full dress costume of a man of
affairs Of Maryland, displayed behind glass at the
museum. reveals the dandyism prevailing The
knee breeches are of corded tan silk, with gem
encrustsd buckles; the coat OF the same mate
rial, is on the frock variety-with many plaits
at the back, selfcovered buttons and a high
turnover collar of the Robesperre style The
gloves. silken hose, three-cornered hat and
capped great coat are all delicate of texture and
in marked contrast to the somber garb now
thought appropriate for wear at Thanksgiving
dinner.
But it not all beer and skittles" then,
Amid the display Of old mahogany table, Candida
bra, cushioned dining chairs and array of costly
old china end glass used on Thanksgiving days
at Mount Vernon Is the camp outfit of George
Washington from which he partook Of SO many
frugal meals.
One distressing winter OF the struggle he ate
hts Thanksgiving dinner 'in the field" and II is
recorded that he had nothing except the reguIa-
ton soldierly provender.
His little camp chest still contains the nu-
merous pewter forks and spoons and dishes that
served him in lieu of silver and porcelain. Over
fire that could be built IN the open one pic
lures bread being toasted for him on the IRON
toaster which IS still intact. There were bottles
OF seasonfngs such as salt and pepper and few
shallow pewter plates.
II ever one needed faith In order 10 be thank
full 1t was Their, and yet he who issued the first
national proclamation of Thanksgiving came
through Ii to leave visible evidence that not all
early Thanksgiving dinners were sumutucus
feasts
Al least, though. they were e~ents-not merely
annual meals--Tegarded by the very rich OF to-
day as maudln tribute to the national spirit
and by the very poor as merciful pause in the
starvation OF winter