Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-12-20
How Washington
Celebrated Christmas

| Vt is interesting to look back upon a
4 Christmas day at Mount Vernon,
with the Father of His Country as
| host and his charming wife as hostess.
Christmas at Mount Vernon in the
peaceful days which followed the Revo-
luton was always exceedingly merry.
The VirginianS Of those days, being
cavaliers, made the most of the holi-
day, which the grim Puritans of New
England practically ignored, says the
Philadelphia Press.
Though generally serious, Washing
ton could unbend considerably on such
an occasion. Mount Vernon was always
crowded at this period, and the cele-
bratiOn was of q luxurious character.
| The Christmas dinner was served at
three o'clock in the banquet hail."
and probably no fewer than 80 per-
sons sat down to the repast.
For this special occasion the hostess
always got out her handsome service Of
pure silver, most of which had belonged
to her when as the widow GUSTS. she
had married Mr.. Washington, and there
was also big display Of cut glass.
An oddly, as nowadays it would be
considered, was the arrangement Of the
table, upon which all the dishes to be
served, including even the buildings and
pies, were placed at once. No wonder
that in such days the festive board
was said to "groan" beneath the
weight of viandS.
| Ac of ~
mas dinner, as we'll as all other occa-
siOns, the table was waited upon by
slaves, who did duty as house servants.
Two were allotted to each guest, so
that quite a number were required. All
of the eatables had to be conveyed a
considerable distance, the kitchen be-
ing detached from the mansion, with
which it was connected by covered
way.
At the houses Of the great Virginia
| families at that period it was custom
airy for the slaves to wait on the table
| in the ordinary plantation garb. But
at Mount Vernon many things were on
scale of exceptional luxury, and the
negroes who performed such service
were clad in Washington's own livery
of red, white and gold, which was
handsome and striking.
The necessity Of supper was removed
by a great prolongation of the dinner,
| at which each person was expected to
eat all that he or she possibly could.
In fact, it was the duty Of the hostess
gently to persuade her guests to gorge
! themselves to repletiOn, while the host
made it his business to press wine and
other drinkables upon the men to an
extent which in these times would be
/ considered most imprudent.
At a certain period Of the meal it
was WashingtOn's custom to rise from
his chair, holding a glass of Madeira
in his hand and bowling right and left,
to say, Gentlemen, | drink to my
guests" The natural response at the
| instance Of the most distinguished
guest present was health drink to
Lady Washington.
Following the dinner a good long
evening was INDUCED in with pastimes
appropriate to Christmas. Blind mans
buff and hunt the slipper were not suf-
fciently undignified in the eyes Of
Washington to be INDUCED in. The
Washington family Christmas gifts
were exhibited, and Nellie GUSTS was
always called upon to play on her harp
sichord.
A colored fiddler, one Of the slaves
on the plantation, in picturesque plan
tation garb would be called in at a
certain period, and when he would
start some merry music the young peo-
pie chose partners for the dance. But
| the older ladies and gentlemen pre-
! ferred cards. Small stakes were usu-
ally played for, but gambling for money
to a considerable amount was always
most Objectionable to Washington. AS
/ for Mrs. Washington, she would inva-
riably enter into none of the general
! festivities, but would be the host to
such part of her guests who would not
care to indulge in either dancing or
cards.
1t was at q late hour on the morning
| following Christmas that the guests
would take their departure and the
Washington household would quiet
down to its ordinary routine.