Delaware City press. (Delaware City, Del.) 1913-19??, 1913-11-21

Gradually, as the free air and broadminded-
ness of this cline began. 10 Haven the witch
burning dogmas of the I.sEims &iISA f9stiSs
People cd l b solemn silence of a
meal Just about the as that served on Sun
day-on which day of The week all early Thanks
giving used to be 1bserved-and had a few
friends o, ~~iaiions in to help give proper thanks.
This necessitated elaborate preparations
and what the college-bred young man OF the
household today would term "a bigger feed"
1t would not be correct to dine in everyday
clothes when guests were present, so elaborate
costuming came into vogue for the occasion
Many guests came from long distance-maidens
sitting demurey behind men riders horse
back or else in clumsy old roadcoaches. 1t was
not hospitable to suggest that these return the
same day So started the country house party
which still fourishes wherever there is hos
tess, house in the country and fireplace
For weeks beforehand preparations fer the
great day went on Especially at place like
Mount Vernon did Thanksgiving almost outweigh
Christmas in culinary experimentation was as
1t should be since the host of Mount Vernon
signed the first official proclamation making
Thanksgiving a holiday. And always the turkey
has been its emblem-just as the eagle is of
freedom. Like the Indian it is typically Ameri-
can.
OF course with such tempting menus as turkey,
roast pig home-cured hams and mince and
pumpkin pies-to say nothing of imported plum
notwithstanding rapidly took the place of absti
hence. And 1t is remarkable that amid all the
changes of this vast country during the past
1913 years that menu has remained practically UNI
changed. Everywhere in America on this
Thanksgiving day-save in the homes of the
poor and the multimillionare-tur and cram
berry sauce will have places of Importance and
be served from the table. The high cost of liv'
ing debars the city poor from much turkey and
the ultrarich have long since determined that a
few thin un-gravied slices Of white meat sufi-
Client to Introduce amid the various cpsmOpolitan
dishes of the meal.
Back in revolutionary days such thought
troubled the mistress of the governors mansion
at Albany, the exclusive hostess Of Boston, or
the chatelaine of Virginia estate, There was
only one proper place for the huge golden
brown, savcry and beautiful turkey-and that
was the exact middle of whatever end Of the
table was designated head" No an
noyed the guests and irrtated eager juveniles
The dinner services had to be extensive ant
complete. Dinner served at midday anC
began with a soup, taken from an immense
toureen placed before the hostess She ladlet
1t out into soup plates, whose depth would
astound fastidous diner of today All over the
broad expanse of white clcth were various dshe
and plates and cruets and receptacles for needed
Heasonings.
Nor were these of thickness meant to en-
dure rather than charm the eye. Gazing upon
collection of them now at the National Museum
at Washington one marvels what magic of house
wifery skill ever prevented their breakage
Where is the bride of yesterday who can poin
today to intact afterdinner coffee set-muc
less that sufficient for dinner party? Yet thes
are displayed in all the purity of outline an
quaintness of a long gone period, bringing yer
near to the visitor the era of genuine hosp
tally.
In those revolutionary Thanksgivings Their
was no time to hastily wash certain dishes an
use them over again. Everything had to
where it was in evidence all the time And on