Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-12-23
How w Wasllinlgton,
 Celebrated Christmas
TITS interesting to look hack unon a

\ 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- lution 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 luxurious character. The Christmas dinner was served at three o'clock in the "banquet hail." | and probably no fewer than 30 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 Custis, she had married Mir. Washington, and there was also big display of cut glass.
 
 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. AS matter of course, at the Christ n11 oil 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 a covered way. At the houses of the great Virginia families at that period it was custom ary for the slaves to wait on the table in the ordinary plantation garb. But at Mount Vernon many things were on a 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.
 Tie necessity of supper was removed by 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 q certain period of the meal it was Washingtons custom to rise from his chair, holding glass of Madeira in his hand and lowing right and left, to say, "Gentlemen, I drink to my guests" The natural response at the instance of the most distinguished guest present was health drink to Lady Washington. .e *
 Following the dinner good, long evening was indulged in with pastimes appropriate toiChfistmas.' Blind mans buff and hunt the slipper were not suf- ficiently undignified in the eyes of Washington to be indmIged in. The Washington family Christmas gifts were exhibited, and Nellie Custis 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 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 considerable amount was always most objectionable to Washington. As for Mrs. Washington, she would inva- riQbly 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.
 It was at late hour on the morning following Christmas that the guests would take their departure and the Washington household would quiet down tn f'1' ary rcuttna