The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-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 CHEEKY white
help of the north.
At the museum Imagination is stimulated by
sight of the very garments and Jewels worn at
Thanksgiving dinners just about the time the
holiday received its christening a national
event. Dainty and suggestive of the beauty of
youth is a pale blue ribbed silk empire gown
with short pufed sleeves a cobwebby white
hand embroidered kerchef and plain fall of
wide skirt Near it the ridicuously little
highheeled 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 one 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 beauti-
full beaded hand bag completed the toilette IT
which the girl probably rode many miles horse
back with her arms clasped tight around the
body OF male relative or, perhaps rested warm
Iy inside of the numbering road coaches
which the museum contains From family
long famed in history down rarely beau.
tful gold engraved snuff box and lace wristlets
and handkerchief, which the owner was wont to
display such occasions as that of a 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 gathering OF wellknown folk of the
late revolutionary period, when Thanksgiving
was sufficiently new national holiday to be
observed with particular enthusiasm.
complete full dress costume of a man of
affairs of Maryland, displayed behind glass at the
museum, reveals the dandyism prevailing The
knee breeches of corded tan silk with gem
encrusted buckles; the coat. of the same mate
rial is the frock variety-wth many plafts
at the back, selfcovered buttons and high
turnover collar of the Robespierre style The
gloves silken hose, three-cornered hat and
capped great coat are all delicate of texture and
in marked contrast to the somber garb now,
thought appropriate for wear at a THANKSGIVING
dinner.
But it 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 so many
frugal meals
One distressing winter Of the struggle he ate
his Thanksgiving dinner '1n the field" and it is
recorded that he had nothing except the regula-
ton soldierly provender.
His little camp chest still contains the nu-
merous pewter forks and spoons and dishes that
served him 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
Of seasonings. such as salt and pepper and few
shallow pewter plates
If ever one needed faith in order to be thank.
full 1t was then, and yet he who issued the first
national proclamation of Thanksgiving came
through it to leave visible evidence that not all
early Thanksgiving dinners were sumptuous
feasts
AT least though, they were events-not merely
annual neals-regarded by the very rich of to-
day as a maudlin tribute to the national spirit
and by the very poor a mercfu pause in the
starvation of winter