The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-12-19

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In those DAYS # was considered II matter OF
course that a lady should know how to carve.
though Gas was the case with the mistress Oh
Mount Vermont she might not spell CORRECTLY
The accomplishment, like the making OF Jams anu
cider was appropriate for housewife
Christmas at Mount Vernon in those times was
an exceedingly Jolly and festive occasion. was"
tngton was the richest man In virginia, ana thc
equipments of his household were in many re-
spects more luxurious than could be found IN the
houses Of his weto-do neghbors For example,
the guests at this Christmas dinner were provided
with silver forks--a rare luxury at that PERIOD
when gentlemen cuStOmarily ate Win tne.r
knives because il out of the question 10 Hlt
peas and many other such edibles to the NOUN
with The three-tned steel forks commonly IN use
II is shock to learn that the father or ms
country ute with his knife, yet such is uhdenabIy
the fact. That sage historian, Peter Farley tens
{. story prohahly apochryphaD of an occasion
when somebody tried 10 kin the immortal George
by putting poison on his peas. Showing his knlfe
hcneath few of thcm ana raising them 10 ms
Ips he looked across the table at his enemy, ana
said "Sha | eat Of these| Stlll holding the
knife suspended, he again transhXed lie man
with his gaze ana repeated the question So over
come was the would-be poisoner by Washingtons
seeming prescencc that he fled from the table
and the pcrilous peas remained uneaten.
At that epoch in Virginia, the men who waited
Oh the fable in most of the country houses wore
plantation garb. At Mount Vernon however the
household seryitors were attircd IN a handsome
and even striking livery of scarlet, white and gold,
and the butler was a dream Of gOrgeousness, one
man for each two guests was the minimum allow
aucc. Not only there yiands to be supplied,
80" % constant succession Of bottles containing
wines Of choice vintage for the consumption of
the male guests
Ladies in those days drank next to nothing Mt
nlI. To take more than sip Of wine for either
maid or matron. would have been regarded IA
the height Of improperly But for the men-all
through this Christmas dinner the bottles were
kept going around. Mr. Bryan Fairfax Of AleXan-
dra would say to Mr. g. w. Lewis across the
table George glass of wine with you" with
pleasure, Cousin Bryan" the latter would reply,
as he bowed and drank Then Mr. Fairfax would
20 through the same performance with every man
AT the table-and so it went throughout the
rcrast
The eatables served AT the dinner were nearly
all of them products Of the Mount Vernon estate.
From "a gastrouomc point of view, no region in
the world richer than that section of old
Virginia There were canyasback ducks to be
shot ON the river in front of the house pnrtrdges
and vonISon were 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 latlcrday standpoint the rcpast was
conducted In a peculiar fashion. All the dishes.
including three kinds Of meats aud several of
game were put on The table at once. While Mrs.
Washington carved the turkey, the gentlemen who
happened 10 be opposite the mutton, the venison.
Htr., were expected TO lend expert assistance IN
che dissection Of those comestibes The buildings
were eaten before the withdrawal Of the CLOTH the
removal Of which left bare n shiny eXpanse Of
nahogany upon which the fruit, nuts and de-
canterS were set forth I'm festive array.
When the cloth had been withdrawn, The host
would lit his glass filled 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 nm elab-
Orate curtsy to the gentlemen, and the latter
would bow profoundly IN response, with the re-
tirplncnt Of the women the real drinking would