The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1913-11-20

can vtvidy picture the powdered hair Of the
grown-ups the eager faces Of the youngsters the
grinnng darkies in the south, or CHEEKY white
help of the north.
At the museum Imagination 10 stimulated by .
sight of the very garments and jewels worn at
Thanksgiving dinners Just about the time the
holiday received its christening Is q national
event. Dainty and suggestive of the beauty of
youth Is q pale blue ribbed silk empire gown
with short pulled sleeves. cobwebby white
hand embroidered kerchief and a plain fall Of
wide skirt. Near 1t are the ridicuiousy little
high-heeled white satin shoes, the gay colored
fan immense tortoise shell combs ahd gold beads
and miniature locket worn by the revolutionary
maiden.
Looking at her footgear one smiles in remins-
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 beauti-
full beaded hand bag completed the toilette In
which tbe girl probably rode many miles horse
back with her arms clasped tight around the
body of a 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 snufY box and lace wristlets
and handkerchief which the owner was wont to
display on such occasions as that of stately
Thanksgiving. In every detail of china and sill
yer the costumes there is evidenced this suR.
gestion of dignity and caste.
And yet very gay and festive must have Nd
peared a gathering of well.known folk of the
late revolutionary period. when THANKSGIVING
was sufficiently new national holiday to be
observed with particular enthusiasm
A complete full dress costume of a 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 plata
at the back. selfcovered buttons and high
turnover collar of the Tk,.
gloves. silken hose. threecornered hat and
capped great coat are all delicate of texture and
in marked contrast to the somber earb now
thought appropriate for wear at a Thanksgiving
dinner.
But 1t 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 Thanksgiving days
at Mount Vernon is the camp outfit of George
Washington from which he partook of 30 manv
frugal meals
One distressing winter of the struggle be at.
his Thanksgiving dinner ''in the field" and It fs
recorded that he had nothing except +he resula
tion soldie7ly provender.
His little camp chest still contains the mn.
merous pewter forks and spoons and dishes that
served him in lieu of silver and porcelain Over
fire that could be built in the omen one n;r,
lures bread being toasted for him on the iron
toaster which IL still intact. There were hottie.
of seasonings. such a. salt and pepper and a few
shallow pewter plates
If ever one needed faith in order to be thanh.
fu 1t was then and yet he who issued the nrst
national proclamation of Thanksgivins came
through 1t to leave visible evidence that not all
early Thanksgiving dinners were sumptuons
feasts.
At least, though they were events-not merely
annual meals-resarded by the very rich Of TO-
and by the very poor a. . merciful pause in the
starvation OF winter.