Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-12-24

stood to carve it.
In those days it was considered matter OF
course that lady should know how to carve,
though (as was the case with the mistress OF
Mount Vernon) she might not spell correctly
The accomplishment, like the making of jams ana
cider was appropriate for a housewife.
Christmas at Mount Vernon in those times was
an exceedingly jolly and festive occasion wash
lngton was the richest man in Virginia, and the
equipments of his household were in many re-
spects more luxurious than could be found IN the
houses of his well-tOdO neighbOrs. For example,
the guests at this Christmas dinner were provided
with silver forks, rare luxury at that period,
when gentlemen custOmarily with their
lnives. because il was out of the question to lift
peas and many other such edbles to the mouth
with the three-tineG steel forks commonly in use
1t is IL shock to learn that the father of his
country ate with his knife, yet such is undenfably
the fact That sage historian, Peter Farley, tells
:; story (pr0bably apOchryphaD of occasion
when somebody tried to kill the immortal George
by putting poison on his peas. Showing his knife
beneath few of them and raising them to his
lips, he looked across the table at his enemy, and
said. Shall | eat of theseF' Still holding the
knife suspended he again transixed The man
with his gaze and repeated the question. So over
come was the would-be poisoner by WashingtOns
seeming prescience that he fled from the table
and the perilOus peas remained uneaten.
At that epoch, in Virginia, the men who waited
Dl me tdDle In most or the country houses wore
plantation garb At Mount Vernon, however, the
household servitors were attired IL handsome
and even striking livery of scarlet, white and gold,
ana the butler dream of gOrgeOusness. One
IAN for each two guests was the minimum allow
4nce. Not only there vands to be supplied,
q" 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 a sip of wine, for either
maid or matrOn. would have been regarded as
TIE height of improperly. But for the men-aIl
through this Christmas dinner the bottles
Eept going around. Mr.. Bryan Fairfax of Alexan-
@ria would say to Mr.. G. w. Lewis across the
table, George. glass of wine with you" with
pleasure, Cousin Bryan I" the latter would reply
as he bowed and drank. Then Mr.. Fairfax would
20 through the same performance with every man
mt the tabe-and it went throughout the
repast.
The eatables served at the dinner were nearly
all OF them products of the Mount Vernon estate.
from a gastrOnomc point of view no region in
HE world was richer than that section of old
Virginia There canvasback ducks to be
hot on the river in front of the house cartridges
and venison were plentiful and the proprietor of
The mansion raised his beef. pork, and NUT
ton. The only vegetables were sweet potatoes,
White potatoes and beans
From latter-day standpoint the repast was
conducted in peculiar fashion. All the dishes
including three kinds of meats and several of
came, were put on the table at once. While Mrs.
washington carved the turkey, the gentlemen who
happened to be opposite the mutton, the venisOn
etc, were expected to lend expert assistance in
The dissection os those cOmestibIes. The buildings
we're eaten before the withdrawal of the CLOTH the
+enoYa 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, filled with choice Madeira,
and drink the health of his guests Five minutes
0f general conversation would follow, perhaps
nd then Mrs Washington would rise, giving the
signal for the departure of the ladies' Every
Pody would get up; the ladies' would make an elab-
crate curtsy to the gentlemen and the latter
would bow profoundly in response With the re-
tirement of the women the real drinking would