Evening star., 1938-12-25

able to Mrs. Washington. They
quickly established themselves in
Robert Morris house on High street.
There the Christmas of 1870 was
celebrated by brilliant levee, Of
which the following account was
written by the gay and lovely Sally
Mexican, just about to be married
to the elegant Don Carlos de Yrujo:
You never could have seen such
a drawing room. it was brilliant be-
yond anything you can imagine, and
though there was a great deal Of
extravaganza, there was so much
of Philadelphia taste in everything
that it must have been confessed
the most delightful occasion of the
kind ever known in this country
If there were any Christmas fes-
tlvitles observed on the old joyous
plan which had prevailed at Mount
Vernon, the accounts of them were
not included in the diaries at pres
ent available. What may have been
recorded in the group of lost ones
is matter of conjecture. Thus for
the holidays of 1891 1892. 1893, and
1894 there is but little to be found.
President Washington's time was in
constant demand with the adminis-
tration of his office.
On Christmas 1895, the President
gave dinner to the Vice President
and Senators and delegates from
Massachusetts,, a group of 20 In all.
For the description of this banquet,
thanks are due to Theophilus Brad
bury, delegate from Massachusetts
and guest, who sent the details to
his daughter, Mrs. Hooper:
In the center of the table was
placed piece of table furniture
about feet long and feet wide.
rounded at the ends either Of wood
gilded or polished metal, raised only
about an inch, with a silver rim
round it like a tea board. In the
center was pedestal of plaster of
| paris with images on it and on each
end figures. male and female. Of
the same. 1t is very elegant and is
used for ornament"
The dishes were placed all around
| it, and there was an elegant variety
of roast beef. veal turkeys, ducks,
fowls. hams, etc. Puddings, jellies,
oranges. apples, nuts. almonds, figs,
raisins, and variety of wines and
| punch. We took our leave at g.,
more than an hour after candles
were introduced. No lady but Mrs.
Washington dined with U.S. We were
waited on by four or five servants
In livery. "
For Christmas, 1896, there is no
record of any special celebration.
Among the notable guests during
1918 were Due d'Orleans. later
Louis Philippe; his brothers. Mont
pensier and Beaujolais; C.. Volney,
Benjamin Latrobe, Amariah Frost,
Niemcewits, companion of Kosciuszo,
besides the throng of Lewises, DAN
bridges and Washingtons, nieces,
nephews and cousins (all of the
generals brothers and his sister
Betty had been claimed by death
and he, the eldest. was left alone
| Va lliS ldlIlllyt. Vii 4IS -,
found Mount Vernon snowbound.
Winter had set in by November l
and there was scarcely a moderate
day. The roads were impossible
and navigation was entirely stopped.
Never did Mount Vernon have
such brilliant year as that of
1899. That Christmas, the last one
of the generals life, was one of
great enjoyment. A congenial group
of young people aided Nellie and
her fiance celebrate in true Vir-
ginia Christmas fashion. But it is
not the story of the gayeties OF
the young people that has come
down to us to give the charming
picture of the last of George Wash
ington's 66 Christmas days. 1t is
the story of the enjoyment of the
older guests whose coming and
staying gave such mutual and salts.
flying pleasure. The generals diary
gives the following terse facts
December "a, 1798-Dr. Craik came
to dinner and Judge Cushing ano
lady in afternoon, as did Mr.
DunSmoor. agent in Cherokee
County on way to Philadelphia.
However, Mrs. Gushing, the wife
of Judge Gushing, was impelled te
write of this Christmas party a few
weeks later under date of Febru.
ary, 1899:
1--WE reached Mount Vernon the
evening before Christmas, and il
anything could have added to oul
enjoyment it was the arrival OF
Gen. and Mrs. Pinckney the next
day while we were dining. You
may be sure it was a joyful meet.
ing and at the very place my
wishes had pointed out. To be ir
the company of so many esteemed
friends, to hear our good Genera
Washington converse on politica
subjects without reserve and Il
hear Gen. and Mrs. Pinckney re.
late what they heard and saw II
France was truly feast to me
Thus the moments glided away fol
two days. when our reason pointed
out the propriety of our departing
and improving the good roads, a.
the snow and frost had made then
better than they are in summer.
Eleven days before another Christ
mas dawned the spirit of Gen
, George had taken its flight, hi
commanding figure laid in the tont