Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1913-12-21
Postal Day In Dixie
 A Carnival of Cheer

OMEHOW there is charm about
 Christmas down in Dixie pc 0 culiarly fascinating. It savors
 more of the old English holiday when the wassail bowl was filled to the brim, when the Yule log glowed and the boar's head was borne into the banquet It was in the good old days south observed this joyous season with prodigality more lavish and hospitality more extensive than were dreamed of even in the annals of Bracebridge Hall.
 Then came the true carnival of mer- riment. The old manor was ablaze with life and beauty. From the sur rounding country all the belles and the beaus had gathered. Morning brought a meet at daybreak for the fox hunt. and nighttime called for "Old Uncle Ephraim," the plantation fiddler, whose reels were famous throughout the whole country. Feast followed feast. and the spirit of celebration extended from the master down to the field hands, each of whom received jug filled with good whisky when he called for his Christmas rations.
 But these are the days that have gone, and with their going departed many characteristics which made the Christmas time down south so distinc- tive. While the fate of war and chang ed conditions have curtailed the prodi- gality of former days, most of the an cient customs remain, and in many in- stances Christmas in the villages and the country is but mild repetition of antebellum observances.
 A few of the large country homes still have some of the old servants who were with the family in slavery days. If these old family darkies have been away during the year they always re- appear with the approach of the Christi mas holidays and assume duties about the household. The old nanny" al' though her services have been engaged elsewhere during the rest of the year. reports to make the fruit cake for Christmas dinner.
 She alone knows the culinary tradt- tions of the family kitchen. The in- gradients of this wonderful cake have been handed down from generation to generation, and the spice and the brandy and the citron and all such things are compounded according to the proportions laid down years and years agone.
 These fruit cakes bear the family name, and some time, through the cour- tesy of the season and the exchange of compliments of the day, slice of Grantland cake is on the same plate with slice of Dubignon cake. Not infrequently these cakes are cooked a year in advance, by which time they are fully seasoned and settled. although the cracks in the icing and its yellow tint mar the beauty somewhat. It's cooking can be intrusted to no hands except those of the antebellum family cook or her descendants.
 Not alone this old cook, but all branches of the service in vogue dur ing the days of slavery are usually represented about Christmas time. The son of your fathers and your grand fathers coachman comes. and on rare days the old man himself hobbies to the house and spins out marvellous tales of the past
 These old darkies are all presented with gifts, and for each of their chil- dren a present of some sort has been prepared This feature generally comes in the southern home before the rest of the family has been attended to. In the meantime the children have been keeping eager watch at the door of the room where Santa Claus has made his visit No one is allowed to enter this sacred precinct until the paterfamilias gives the signal, but be' fore this signal isr given every member - - 171lIln5