The Arvada enterprise., 1918-12-19


begin. and might be kept up almost Indefinitely
though for his part, Washington never went be-
yond second glass of wine, and 1t was his usual
custom to leave the table within a few minutes
after his wife had gone.
TOasts, In those days, were never drunk until
after the ladies' had left the table and beautys
health was ever pledged in this fashion while she
was present. But when the men found them
selves Alone 1t was the proper thing for young
gentleman to get upon his feet-which. It is to
be hoped. were still steady-and to say. II give
you Betty LOmax, the most beautiful girl In West
mOreland county," Or perhaps It might be Susas
Lee Of RappahannOck. Such toast was custom
phrase was.
Indeed, Christmas was q great day Of festiv-
ity In the Virginia Of that epoch Breakfast was
at eight or nine o'clock. unless It had been de-
cided to 60 a-hunting In the mOrning-in which
case the meal was eaten by candlelight. II there
was q fox.hunt-a sport Of which Washington was
very fOnd-the host wore . brilliant red waist.
coat trimmed with gold lace. and the ladies who
rode were beautiful In sArlet habits. On such
occasions Mrs. Warrington would 20 out In her
"chariot and four" keeping close to the hunt
as the roads would permit Not until 1885 were
the Mount Vernon kennels abolished and the dogs
sold.
Those were days when meals were ample. but
were not multiplied. Eating. when undertaken.
was no mere frivolity. but serious business This
Christmas dinner was at $50 p. M: there had
been no lunch. and there was no supper to come
After dinner there were Rames-blind mans buff,
hunt the slipper. and the like-with much romping
and more or less kissing. A sprig Of mistlet0e
was hung up In q convenient place. and II n girl
happened to be kissed under It by . young man
she did not faint or call for help. In fact. II
might be suspected that she did not seriousiy Oh
ject.
Never. and nowhere. in this world were there
more capable and expert makers Of love than the
young men Of Washington's day In old Virginia.
Nobody ever saw jollier fellows than they were.
II they loved nercely. they proved their sincerity
BY mnrrying early: and when one Of them was
no unfortunate - to lose his wife. he would In.
vartably marry again. Marriage was considered
Just about the most important duty Of life. and
the love affairs Of the gentlefOlk were freely
cOnhded even to the servants. Black Tom knew
that Mars James was "gOing after Miss Salle
Lev. and would talk the matter over with his
young master And II was the same way with
the girls.
10 II mny easily be imagined that on q festive
ocrnsion surh az this Christmas celebration q
good deal Of incidental lOvsinaking, some Of II
serious enough. was accomplished. Hut the
Muster Of the Revels though he himself had been
sufhcientiy ardent In his youth. In later life
no eager Sympathser with such folliss.
Though Mr. Washington took no part In the
roinps that followed the dinner. he heartily On.
joyed the fun. Occaslonally he rsIished q game
Of cards. and probably on this Christmas evening
he INDUCED 10 nome such amusement In company
with the older people, while the young folks
scampered and romped. He played for money
hut the stakes were small.
There were two young people At Mount Vernon
in those dsys-the and daughter Of Mn,
Warrington by her FIRST husband II IL easy 70
Imagine the part they took In the rompN on Christ.
mas day John and Martha. their names were,
hut everybody knew them - Jacky and Patsy.
Patsy died In l77s. when Just budding into WON.
anhoOd. while her brother married young, and
had four children, two Of whom George and Mel.
lie Custix. were adopted by Mr. Washington To
George hs left the famous Arlington estate oppo.
xite the city Of Washington. which Afterwards
fell by Inheritance to the wife Of Gen. Robert r.
Lee.
On Christmas eve there was 4 dance 10 which
all the neghbors for many miles around were,
. matter Of c0ursS. invited. Tho party bsran
before eight. and was over by ton o'clock.
Young ladies' beauty In those times was not
Spoiled by lnte hours. For music there was Q
single Middle. played by an old slave on the place
- whitshsired negro who kept tho time and
helped on the tune by pounding % the floor With
bis big foot
All the young ladies wore ow-nsck~d dressss
making brave display Of pretty shoulders. and
the men wers In knes.brsech4s and silk stockings.
Mrs washnKton's gown cut v-~hmped and nlIsd
In with ruchlnx. was Of Frsnch siik hut the
clothing she ordinarily w0rs waa 0f domestic
manufacture being woven At Mount Vernon. whsrs
no fewer than axtsea aAgyO WeOSo wses keoe