Delaware City press. (Delaware City, Del.) 1913-19??, 1913-11-21
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Aght OF the very garments and Jewels worn at
thanksgiving dinners Just about the time the
holiday received its christening as national
etent Dainty and suggestive of the beauty oil
y<h is pale blue ribbed silk empire gown
wwh short pulled sleeves a cobwebby white
hand embroidered kerchef and plain fall of
wide skirt. Near 1t the ridiculously little
high-heeled white satin shoes, the gay colored
fan immense tortoise shell combs and gold beads
and miniature locket worn by the revolutionary
maiden.
Looking at her iootgear one smiles in reminis-
cence of the fairy tales of grandmothers who
always insist upon the sensibleness of the way
THEIR grandmothers 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 arms 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 family
long famed in history comes down rarely beau
tiful gold engraved snuff box and lace wristlets
and handkerchief which the owner was wont to
display on such occasions 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
sufficiently new a national holiday to be
observed with particular enthusiasm
A complete full dress costume of man of
affairs of Maryland. displayed behind glass at the
museum, reveals the dandyism prevailing The
knee breaches are of corded tan silk, with gem
encrusted buckles; the coat, of the mate-
rial, is on the frock variety-with many plaits
at the back, selfcovered buttons and a high
turnover collar of the Robespierre style The
gloves, silken hose, three-cornered hat and
capped great coat all delicate of texture and
in marked contrast to the somber garb now
thought appropriate for wear at Thanksgiving
dinner
But it was not all beer and skittles" then!
Amid the display of old mahogany table, Candida
bra, cushioned dining chairs and array of costly
old china and 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 att
his Thanksgiving dinner "in the field" and it IL
recorded that he had nothing except the regula
ton soldlerly provender
His little camp chest still contains the nu
merous pewter forks and spoons and dishes tina
served him in lieu of silver and porcelain. Owe
a fire that could be built In the open one mic
lures bread being toasted for him on the irol
toaster which is still intact. There were bottle
of seasonings, such salt and pepper and a few
shallow pewter plates
II ever one needed faith In order to be thanh
full 1t was then, and yet he who issued the frs
through it to leave visible evidence that not a
early Thanksgiving dinners were SUMPTION
feasts,
AT least, though, they were events-not merel
annual meals-regarded by the very rich of Il
day as a maudlin tribute to the national spir
and by the very poor as merciful pause in tb
starvation of winter.