Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1913-11-21

can wildly picture the powdered hair of the
grown-ups. the eager faces of the youngsters, the
grinnins sarkies In the south. or. 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 as a national
event. Dainty and suggestive of the beauty OF
youth is pale blue ribbed silk empire gown
with short pulled sleeves a cobwebby white
hand embroidered kerchef and a plain fall of
wide skirt. Near it are the ridiculous1y little
highheeled white satin shoes, the gay colored
FAM immense tortoise shell combs and gold beads
and miniature locket worn by the revolutionary
maiden
Looking at her foctgear one smiles in reminis.
cence of the fairy tales of grandmothers who
always insist upon the sensibleness of the way
THEIR grandmotkers 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 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 rarely beau.
tiful gold engraved snuff box and lace wristlets
and handkerchief, which the owner was wont to
display such occasions as that of stately
thanksgiving In every detail of china and sill.
yer the costumes there is evidenced this sus
gestion of dignity and caste
peared a gathering of well-known folk of the
late revolutionary period when Thanksgiving
was sufficiently new a 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 are of corded tan silk with gem
encrustsd buckles the coat of the same mate
rial, is on the frock variety-with many nlaits
at the back, selfcovered buttons and a 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 II was not all beer and skittlesn thent
Amid the display of old mahogany table, Candida
bra, cushioned dining chairs and array of costly
ola china end glass used on THANKSGIVING DAYS
az 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 'In the field and 1t ia
recorded that he had nothing except the regula-
ton sodierly 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
a IRE that could be built IN the open one mic.
lures bread being toasted for him on the IRON
toaster which Is still intact There were hotties
OF seasonings such as salt and penper and a few
shallow pewter plates
II ever one needed faith In order to be thank.
1ul II was then, and yet he who issued the first
national proclamation Of Thanksgiving came
through it to leave visible evidence that not ali
early Thanksgiving dinners were sumptuous
feasts
AT least, though, they were events-not merely
annual meals-regarded by the very rich of to-
gay as q maudlin tribute to the national spirit
ana ~ the very poor as a merciful pause in the
starvation OF winter