Cheyenne record., 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, 1t 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 1t might be Susan
Lee Of Rappahannock. Such toast custom
arily drunk standing-with all the honors as the
phrase
Indeed. Christmas was great day of festiv-
ity in the Virginia Of that epoch. Breakfast was
at eight nine o'clock. unless it had been de
cded to go a-hunting in the morning-in which
case the meal was eaten by candle-light. II there
was a fox-hunt-a sport Of which Washington was
very fond-the host wore a brilliant red waist
coat trimmed with gold lace, and the ladies who
rode were beautiful in s:arlet habits. On such
occasions Mrs. Washington would 60 out in her
chariot and four" keeping close to the hunt
as the roads would permit. Not until 17s5 were
the Mount Vernon kennels abolished and the dogs
sold.
Those were days when meals were ample, but
were not multiplied. Eating, when undertaken,
mere frivolity but serious business. This
Christmas dinner at 8 80 p m.; there had
After dinner there were games-bnd mans buff,
hunt the slipper and the like-with much romping
and more or less kissing. sprig of mlstletoe
was hung up in convenient place, and II girl
happened to be kissed under 1t by a young man
she did not faint call for help. In fact, It
might be suspected that she did not seriously OBJ
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.
II they loved fercey, they proved their sincerity
by marrying early; and, when one Of them was
SO unfortunate to lose his wife, he would in
variably marry again. Marriage was considered
just about the most important duty of life, and
the love affairs of the gentlefolk were freely
confided even to the servants. Black Tom knew
that Mars James was "going after" Miss Sae
Lee, and would talk the matter over with his
young master And 1t was the same way with
the girls.
So 1t may easily be imagined that on festive
occasion such this Christmas celebration a
good deal Of incidental love-making, of It
serious enough, was accomplished But the
Master of the Revels though he himself had been
sufficiently ardent In his youth, in later life
no eager sympathzer with such follies.
Though Mr.. Washington took no part in the
romps that followed the dinner, he heartily en-
jQyed the fun. Occasionally he relished game
OF cards. and probably on this Christmas evening
he INDUCED in some such amusement, In company
with the older people, while the young folks
scampered and romped He played for money.
but the stakes were small
There were two young people at Mount Vernon
in those days-the and daughter Of Mira
Washington by her first husband. It Is easy to
imagine the part they took in the romps Christ
mas day. John and Martha, their names were,
but everybody knew them a. Jacky and Patsy.
Patsy died in 1778. when Just budding into wom-
anhood while her brother married young, and
had four children. two Of whom. George and Nell
lie Custis. were adopted BY Mr.. Washington. To
George he left the famous Arlington estate, oppo-
site the city of Washington which afterwards
fell by inheritance to the wife of Gen. Robert q.
Lee.
On Christmas eve there was q dance. to which
all the neighbors for many miles around we're,
a matter Of course invited. The party began
before eight, and over by ten o'clock.
Young ladies' beauty In those times was not
spoiled by late hours For music there was
single fiddle, played by an old slave on the place
"a white-haited negro who kept the time and
helped the tune by pounding on the floor with
his big foot.
All the young ladies wore low-necked dresses.
making a brave display Of pretty shoulders and
the men were in knee-breeches and silk stockings.
Mrs Washington's gown. cut v-shaped and filled
In with ruching. was Of French silk; but the
clothing she ordinarily wore was Of domestic
manufacture, being woven at Mount Vernon. where
no fewer than axtssa n4sro women were kept