The Ordway new era., 1918-12-20

6TAAAAO rolled up her sleeves and
stood to 1t.
In those days 1t considered matter OF
course that II lady should know how to carve.
though Gas was the with the mistress. of
Mount Vernon) she might not spell correctly
The accomplishment, like the making Of jams and
cider, was appropriate for housewife.
Christmas at Mount Vernon in those times was
an exceedingly jolly and festive OCCASION Wash
ington wns the richest man in Virginia, and the
equipments of his household We're in many re-
spects luxurious than could be found In the
houses of his welto-do neighbors. For example,
the guests at this Christmas dinner We're provided
with silver forks-a rare luxury at that period.
when gentlemen customarily ate with their
knives. because 1t out of the question to lift
peas and many other such edibles to the mouth
with the three-tined steel forks commonly in use.
1t is shock TO learn that the father of his
country with his knife, yet such is undeniably
the fact. That historian, Peter Farley, tells
a story (probably apochryphaI of an occasion
when somebody tried TO kill the immortal George
by putting poison his peas. Showing his knife
beneath II few of them and raising them to his
lips, he looked the table at his enemy, and
said, "Shall eat OF these?" Still holding the
knife suspended he again transfixed the man
with his gaze and repeated the question. So over
come was the would-be poisoner by Washington's
seeming prescience that he fled from the table
and the perllous peas remained uneaten.
AT that epoch. in Virginia, the men who waited
the table In most of the country houses wore
household servitors We're attired in n handsome
and striking livery of scarlet, white and gold,
and the butler was Il dream of gorgeousness one
man for each two guests the minimum allow
ance. Not only were there vlands to be supplied,
hut constant succession of bottles containing
wines of choice vintage for the consumption of
the male guests.
Ladies' In those days drank next to nothing at
all. To take more than sip of wine. for either
maid matron would have been regarded as
fha hap nf In,nr inty Ruf for tha oil
through this Christmas dinner the bottles
kept going around Mr.. Bryan Fairfax of Alexan-
dria would say to Mr. G. w. Lewis the
table, George, n glass of wine with you'll" with
pleasure, Cousin Bryant" the latter would reply,
he bowed and drank. Then Mr.. Fairfax would
go through the same performance with every man
at the table-and so n vent throughout the
repast.
The eatabies served AT the dinner nearly
all of them products of the Mount Vernon estate
From gastronomIc point of view, region In
the world was richer than that section of old
Virginia. There were canvasback ducks to be
shot the river in front of the house partridges
and venison plentiful, and the proprietor of
the mansion raised his own beef. pork, and NUT
ton. The only vegetables sweet potatoes.
white potatoes, and BEANS
From latter-day standpoint the repast
conducted in peculiar fashion. All the dishes.
including three kinds of meats and several of
game, put the table at once. While Mrs.
Washington carved the turkey. the gentlemen who
happened to be opposite the mutton. the venison,
etc.. expected to lend expert assistance in
the dissection Of those comestibles. The puddings
were eaten before the withdrawal of the cloth, the
removal of which left bare shiny expanse of
mahogany, upon which the fruit nuts, and de-
canters were set forth In festive array
When the cloth had been withdrawn. the host
would lift his glass, filed with choice Madeira,
and drink the health of his guests. Five minutes
of general conversation would follow, perhaps,
and then Mrs Washington would rise, giving the
signal for the departure of the ladies'. Every
body would get up the ladies' would make eab-
crate curtsy to the gentlemen. and the latter
would bow profoundly in response. With the
trement of the women the renl drinking would