The Elbert County tribune., 1913-11-21
onz6xAAaY AxNeW MgN07 NWHnes NosT

vividly 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 a
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 pale blue ribbed silk empire gown
with short pulled sleeves, cobwebby white
hand embroidered kerchef and a plain fall Of
wide skirt. Near 1t the ridiculously little
high-heeled white satin shoes. the gay colored
fan immense tortoise shell combs and gold beads
and miniature 1ocket 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. A 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 a 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 wrstlets
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 gathering of well-known 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-with many plaits
at the back. self-covered 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 Thanksgiving
dinner
But it 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
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 ia
recorded that he had nothing except .bs regula-
tion soIdieTly 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 open one pic
lures bread being toasted for him on the iron
toaster which is still intact There were bottles
of seasonings, such salt and pepper and a few
shallow pewter plates.
If ever one needed faith In order to be thank.
full 1t was then, and yet he who issued the firut
national proclamation OF THANKSGIVING came
through 1t to leave visible evidence that not all
early Thanksgiving dinners were sumptuous
feasts.
At least, though. they were. events-not merely
annual meals-regarded by the very rich of to.
day maudln tribute to the national soirit
and by the very poor a merciful pause in the
starvation OF winter.