The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1913-11-20

can wildly picture the powdered hair OF the
grown-ups the eager faces OF the youngsters, the
grinning darkies in the south or CHEEKY white
help" of the north.
At the museum imagination is stimulated by a
sight of the very garments and Jewels worn at
Thanksgiving dinners just about the time the
holiday received it's christening as a national
event. Dainty and suggestive Of the beauty of
youth is a pale blue ribbed silk empire gown
with short pulled sleeves. cobwebby white
hand embroidered kerchief and a plain fall Of
wide skirt. Near it the rdiculously little
hgh-heeed 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 footgear smiles in reminis-
cence of the fairy tales of grandmothers who
always insist upon the sensibleness OF the way
THEIR grandmothers dressed flaming red
cloak, with Red Riding Hood cape and a 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 a family
long famed in history comes down a rarely beau
tiful gold engraved snuff box and lace wristlets
and handkerchief, which the owner was wont to
display 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 weknown folk of the
late revolutionary period. when Thanksgiving
was sufficiently a national holiday to be
observed with particular enthusiasm.
complete full dress costume of 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
encrusted buckles; the coat of the same mate
rial, is the frock variety-with many plaits
at the back, self-covered 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 skttles" then!
Amid the display of old mahogany table Candida
bra, cushioned dining chairs and array OF costly
old china and glass used 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
his Thanksgiving dinner Gin the field" and it is
recorded that he had nothing except the regula
ton sodery provender.
His little camp chest still contains the M
merous pewter forks and spoons and dishes that
served MIN 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
VI StdbOHihkS, bucn as SAT- ana pepper and a few
shallow pewter plates.
II ever one needed faith In order to be thank
full IL was then, 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 sumptuous
feasts
AT least, though, they we're events-not merely
annual meals-regarded by the very rich OF to-
day as maudln tribute to the national spirit
and by the very poor as a merciful pause In the
starvation Of winter