Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1918-12-19

stood to carve it.
In those days it was considered q matter OF
course that a lady should know how to carve
Though Gas 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 was the richest in Virginia, and the
equipments of his household were in many
spects more luxurious than could be found in the
houses of his welltodo neighbors. For example,
the guests at this Christmas dinner provided
with silver forks-a rare luxury at that period,
when gentlemen customarily with their
knives because it out of the question to lift
peas and many other such edibles to the mouth
with the three-tned steel forks commonly in use.
1t is a shock to learn that the father Of his
country ate with his knife, yet such is undeniably
the fact. That sage historian, Peter Farley, tells
a story (probably apochryphaD Of an occasion
when somebody tried to kill the immortal George
by putting poison on his peas. Showing his knife
beneath a few of them, and raising them to his
lips. he looked across the table at his enemy, and
said. Shall eat of these?" Still holding the
knife suspended, he again transfixed tile man
with his gaze and repeated the question So
come was the would-be poisoner by Washington's
seeming precedence that he fled from the table
ana the per1louS peas remained uneaten.
at that epoch, in Virginia, the who waited
on the table in most Of the country houses wore
plantation garb. At Mount Vernon, however, the
household servitors were attired in a handsome
and even striking livery of scarlet white and gold
and the butler was dream of gorgeousness. One
man FOR each two guests was the minimum allow
ahce. Not only were there vands to be supplied
nut 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
cir ofx
maid or matron; would have been regarded as
tne helght OF improperly. But for the men-all
tnrougn this Christmas dinner the bottles were
Kept going around. Mr.. Bryan Fairfax of Alexan-
drta would say to Mr.. G. W. Lewis across the
taDie, George. glass of wine with you'll" with
pleasure, Cousin Bryant" the latter would reply
as ne bowed and drank. Then Mr.. Fairfax would
30 through the same performance with every man
at the table-and so it went throughout the
repast
The eatables served at the dinner were nearly
al OF them products of the Mount Vernon estate
From a gastronomic point Of view, no region in
the world was richer than that section of old
virginia. There were canvasback ducks 10 he
shot on the river in front of the house partrdges
ana venlson We're plentiful and the proprietor Of
the mansion raised his beef pork, and NUT
ton. The only vegetables were sweet potatoes,
wnlte potatoes and beans.
1 From latter-day standpoint the repast was
conducted in peculiar fashion. All the dishes,
including three kinds of meats and several of
game, 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 of those comestibles. The buildings
We're eaten before the withdrawal of the CLOTH the
removal of which left bare a shiny expanse Of
mahogany upon which the fruit, nuts, and de-
tcanters 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
or 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 an elah
crate curtsy to the gentlemen, and the latter
would bow profoundly in response. With the re-
tirement of the women the real drinking would