The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1913-12-25
Festal Day In Dixie
A Carnival Of Cheer
oMEHow there is charm abou

~ OMEHOw there is charm abou,
Christmas down In Dixie pc
~ culiarly fascinating. II savors
| more of the old English holiday
4 when the wassail bowl was filed to the
brim. when the yule log glowed and
the boar's head was borne into the
banquet II was I'm the good old days
before the war that the folks of the
south observ, this joyous season with
prodigulity 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 bellies and the
beaus had gathered. Morning brought
meet at duybreak 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 Geld
hands, each of whom received a jug
filed 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 IN 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.
II these old family darkies have been
away during the year they always re-
appear with the approach Of the Christ.
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 tradi.
tions OF the family kitchen. The In
gradients OF this wonderful cake have
been handed down from generation
10 generation. and the spice and the
brandy and the citron and all such
things are compounded according 70
tho proportions laid down years and
yenrs ngone.
These fruit cakes bear tho family
name, and some time. through the cour-
tesy Of the season and the exchange
Of compliments Of the day. u slice OF
Grnntland cake is on the same plato
with a slice Of Dubignon cake Not
infrequently these cakes arc cooked
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 Its
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 arc 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 chill
dren 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 nj the door
OF the room where Santa Claus has
made his visit No one In allowed TO
enter this sacred precinct until the
paterfamilias gives the signal. but be- |
fore this signal Is given every member
OF the household must be dressed and |
ready for breakfast and the morning |
prayers must have been said.
When everything Is ready the chill |
dren are allowed 10 rush In and exam
Inc the contents OF their stockings |
Some of the largest children still have |
implicit faith In the wonderful person |
ality OF old Santa Claus. Forged notes |
from the old fellow. admonishing them |
to make their behavior according TO |
the precept Of their mother. are eagerly |
read and compared The interchange |
OF presents among the older members
OF the family usually takes place at the
breakfast table. but In most instances
they are allowed 10 mingle with the |
bounties of old Santa Claus and are
plucked from the same holly tree from
which his presents hang.
The hunt :or the holly and the mis-
tletoe. Will as exciting as the |
chase for L. iar's head. Is just as
much a fcaIu.r as that old English
custom and equally enjoyable. Sew.
eral days before Christmas eve a big
wagon. filled with straw and brimming |
full OF pretty girls and boys. too. Is
driven into the woods. where the |
search for the holly Is carried on II
requires II most agile youngster 10
scale 10 rhe height where the mistle- |