Newspaper Page Text
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How folks in the tidewater section of
state that mothers presidents celebrate
during Christmas season. Some of the
spirit of Merrie England 150 years ago
' pervades that part of America today,
i. S t i - t 'j d"
}4 m '7 : "r' .i iC i t ,
Pd oe as t - - s Sgo r im It
s tho iin f ltte fthogs, bu have otamen
on ls t iy it e r.ul the inere pu tii n ard II . .
wo atoer orgiuia. at ('hog-killing tim e will 'T.. .. u
means a enrous . Ap l o frh" nthe r ou s
t s i ld l t f Irm it (umb the old ('Ilint{oIf theIr
(ee , the f cu rse , lntha tlons, h ut (' th
of gifts nd Turkey. T
Perpsbt a the first sign of Christmas sg -udt
ns l the killing of the fat hogs, which have coutaken
tened ron good, soumle ear corn. " : og- hkilling $.7time air,
means a generous supply of "freu," In other .. . .ll
lords sausage, sparerib, chine, cheese-so::, pig.s. .. : . `
Those who have spent years on a tidwater ir. ..i
means to host and hostess. All through the o -
. . . . . . • , _
generna is in such condition that all are in pretty
good shape for the holidays.
That Christmas Gobbler.
Two weeks before Christmas, the turkey gob
bler (generally one of the year's raising) is singled
out from the flock, put up in a slatted coop in the
back yard, fed on shelled corn till he is in proper
condition, killed the day before Christmas, hung
up on the north side of the porch and next day,
when cooked in the old-time kitchen by an old
time negro "kitchen queen," forms the piece-de
resistance for the big dinner. The Christmas
menu rejoices in roast turkey stuffed with oysters,
bread crumbs, etc. A sugar-cured ham (from one
to two years old), crisp celery, Irish and sweet
potatoes (the latter candled), salsify and spinach
(all grown' in the home "gyardin,") macaroni,
and, of course, cranberry sauce for the turkey.
The dessert consists of jelly (plenty of wine for
seasoning), blanc mange, both white and choco
late, meringues, fruits, such as Malaga grapes,
rosy-cheeked apples, bananas and oranges. Wine
is served at table and a toddy of whisky, sugar
and water, with a dash of nutmeg, will most likely
be taken by the gentlemen beforehand at the side
board. Roquefort cheese and coffee end the feast.
This menu is indicative of a typical plantation
dinner; others will be in proportion to the taste
and means of the diners, but it can be safely as
serted that nowhere would a guest or a stranger
sit down to a meager feast on this day, for even
the negroes have prepared most liberally for the
great occasion.
Chr;stmas Decorations.
The good old custom of decorating the houses
for Christmas still obtains, and the generous
supply of holly, running cedar and pine, growing
In the Virginia woods, is used. Mansion, farm
house and cottage are all decorated. Mantels,
halls, and even bedrooms are witnesses to the sea
son of jollity. Family portraits of ancestors, now
long laid at rest, are honored with a wreath of
green and the red berries of the holly, a Christmas
greeting from the stern canvas.
What are the social customs that emphasize this
season in Tidewater, Virginia? On Christmas
morning a glass of eggnog or toddy is taken by the t
gentlemen as they go into breakfast. After this
meal, the company will separate. It is possible i
that some of the party will go to the Colonial
church in the neighborhood for morning service. 0
The ancient brick editice will always have Ihen ti
decorated by loving hands for this season. q
Wreaths of evergreen intertwine on walls, chancel
and pulpit.
The morning service over, the congregation ox- w
change Christmas greelings outside. Some pres- f;
ents are taken to church for neighbors who live at ol
a distance; happy, inexpenlsive recollections of the c:
season, but appreciatively indicative of the mo- w"
mentous occasion. Back from church, home folks at
and guests are ready for dinner. fo
Hunting Parties. bi
The east Virgilnians have evel shown 'i penchant
for hunting, and chasing the fox behind a good sp
pack of hounds has always been a slport par ex- ke
cellence. This sport still exists in the country dis- oil
tricts, and in stite of wire fences, now latmust bh
tty universal, you will hear the haying of the hounds
and the cheering of the mounted hunters as they
pursue the crafty fox through fields and woods on
)b- a Christmas morning.
ed The Christmas dinner is more or less a formal
he function and it Is likely that the family and the
er guests will he in place when the blessing is asked
ng by the host. Even the allurements of the hunt will
y, not make the men oivelook the time-honored cus
d- tom of being in place when the stuffed gobbler is
'e- served.
.s The Country Dance.
s, In the evening all join in the old-time country
ie dance. The very name suggests quadrilles, lan
et cers, two-steps, waltzes and even, perhaps, the
1h schottish. These delightful recreatious, still ob
ii, served, come from the "mother country," and have
Y. flourished in east Virginia for three centuries.
)r Nothing is more joyous than a Christmas dance
- on a Virginia plantation, where observance of the
, season is inherited, where the servants are ne
e groes, the fiddlers are negroes and thoroughly fa
.r miliar with the dear old dance music so fondly re
Y membered by those of ante helium days. Invita
tions have brought out the countryside, whose
t. social position deserves the courtesy. The "great
a house" Is decorated with all the evergreens of the
e season. lright tires are burnin:g and tile servants
are on hand to wait on the "wilt fokes."
r The flight Is a starry one, and a rime of frost
i has settled over the landscape. Outside there is a
rumble of vehicllhs over thle slightly frozen road
leading to the luse, buggies, carriages, perhaps a
four-mnule w'agon, with its gay crowd of youtlng
people, the black jehu guiding his team and com
ing in a rapid trot. There may be one or two tll
The big front door is thrown open, a blaze of
ogenial light welcolntes the incoming guests, who
shake hands with the host andi hostess standing
within the portals. I'pstatis go tihe "g.s" to the
"ladiies' room," while the gentlenlll go to the rool
assigned them. All is hustle and happy prepaoom
tion for the comling dance.
Nine o'clock chimes front the tinlepiece on the
parlr, mantel. The lively bevy of maidens are
tr-oopidng down the lu-rad stairs. What visions of
levelins are these < li hhrd Virginia glrls!-and
tlhey clre,' the viry iitltslllelre with coquetry.
Yoag gentleieln offe'r hurrieel requests for the
dhilne, Then thile ral revlry hegins with the
ih(ddletr's c;ill of "C'hi se yo' a:lhdiahs fo' de fus'
"Turkcy in the Straw."
There is a gr:aeful swv.'p Ž ' sklirts across the
\well-waxntl tloor, a:1 el:d, f 1:,ti.iS as the couples
fall in place. The screlling of 'violins to the tune p i
of "Turkey in the Struw," and t he heal fiddler
enlIs "fllnhwll fo'." One ldale follows an er
with short interimissio, until snlpe llr Is announced
at 12' o'clock. Then the Inusicians Play a nmarchd
for the couples as they make their way to the
big dining room. Y to the
Around the lengtlhened nahogany tble is
spread a feast tit for the gods. Cold turkey, t. f
key suhl., pickled oysters, coldt ha , celery,
olives, beaten biscuit, thin wafers, framuits, celery and h
black coffee. At 1:30 dancing is resumied. There un
ds have beet quip and jest around the hospitable
ey board. Lore affalrs begun, and harmless jealousy
on can be eaily discerned. The "lancers" is the next
figure. A ceouple steals off after the set is over, a
gal secluded lounge in the hall offers opportunity for
he the "sweet nothings," or maybe true love called
ed forth by the propitious time and place.
ill ThetW servants stand around the hall door
A- and watch with fascinated gaze the many couples
is as they go through the dances. Happiness fairly
gleams on, their dark faces. e
The night is waning, already the roosters have d
.y crowed for "three o'clock." From now on until "de 11
n. hrek er day" the dancing keeps up, and when the }
Ie first red streak appears on the horizon the violins 0:
b. play "Home, Sweet Home." It seems that the fid- a1
e dlers fairly excel themselves as they draw their ce
bows for this, the last waltz. The dancers swing In
e to the steady rhythm of the music. The music
e ceases. The dance is over and one more old-time w
Virginia Christmas gathering Is a memory. The host m
. and hostess speed the parting guests, and pres. th
ently the "great house" is quiet. m
The Customa Inherited. dc
B The customs inherited from English ancestors II
t will never be forgotten in this section of "Ole a
Virginny," Where the plantation owner was a very of
king, where the smaller farmers had their own t
peculiar Pleasures, and where even the negroes
(following the example of "dle wife fokes") have a
always made merry in the Yuletide season, fol-. il
lowing the time-honored customs which have e'x- I
isted so long that like the common law, "the nremu "f
ory of man runneth not to the contrary." ma
Changes hlve taken place in this favored sec.- i
tion, many of the oldest families have sold their but
ancestral homes and moved to the cities. The
numerous Well-known estates have passed into the "
hands of wealthy persons from the North and u"m
WVest, but In spite of changes, the spirit of Christ. No
nmas animates the natives of all classes and is litb
caught by the "strangers within the gates," for the
the Northern and Western folks that have settled A
and made their homes with us in nearly overy Ie
case enter Into the social life of the c'nlunmuIitiitec un
in which tjo y reside, and during the holiday sea. ' 1
soin join alls with the natives-:ll in humor for lnk
the week frolicking.
trac
P8HERMEN SAVED MOOSE. iimit
.,A hll! se was seen lately, pursued by a bear
to town of Pinedale in the state ,of
'yoming i, Two li4en, fishing in lFayette luke earlh fr
onle nior'lilog, were gre'tly astonished to see hilmn
emerge from the timber at a high rate of speed
indl rush toward the walter. A few seconds later
hto- ver, they were able to grasp the reason for
his singular conduct, as st large black bear cairm new
into view at the same11 spet, but on beholding ttt per
ien lie at once took fright and madle into thf the
woods'. After sp:ishing round in the lake for ed
mne' time the moose came out, blew the water
fromll his nostrils and stood on'y a few yards awua3 ln
from the tfelrmen, eying them serenely. He war with
of unusual size and had a magniticent set ol
horns. lIleskirted the shore of the lake at a teis. way
trely gait for about a mile and then darted int(
thie 'ootL. TI
SalKITCnEN
13 CABINET
t( ,'3 "1 !
CH ISTIP.AS CANDIES.
" ,l, i - i , :, , ,I . . .,, ,
rO ,., !' 1'1- 11-! "., 1,I
. t l . i
-o f - 'ý ,% ,r th , ,: '1 . l , 1,`
k i n t1 1.,fl
Brown Sugar Nut Candy.--ii;.. ,e n
, ';,::r1,,.:,;: ll filllll 3 2\,,,, 1,,.,1 h,,il
" 0 '1 1 ,of 1,11'1 < : ,I T I ,1' o I
":-,>. r , ,, f', , ra31, f, - till t, '[, . '.I ,1,1:1
,3, , :. : , !.1 ' . , :.! ,,.1 , , ti '. "' 1: 15
I.n
, L , r :\ , " ar 1",:mi.or'-Dr.
ni!
S.. rnes.-I ;,, , :,,,,;,f 1,, " hri. .
" , t!l" i. rua,,, % ,, l a', it ",',, l r
pu'l ;t j,10 l +i" W , "ltl f al , 1 .i
" " ,I v . 3d, t , .l i ,.' . 1 : ,' 1 t `'. i . ;.1 1
lit- l r ne' 1ntil t hlrI it r i 1 (~r i' 1w hit
"s: i31t", cod I at r r'' l,3', fr',:5l" tt,71 : . 11. 1' ,
ou l . 1 t. .('i'.t i to a hol. i ' ver The C
with a buttered pai"'r nd 3 dum'0r31aj n
loth and a llow it to stani for ar e Iarnn
'I 1'S to ripen. Then it miy le useI gna
to lip hon a l ons. for peppermint or
nmixed with 3!VIl
('c ;hoppeli 111 may n,he m e jnto a lonf,
sing colors and packinlg it in leaves; Man
S onaIl hal 5'11 of the fondant flavored ter
then ditpped in chcatolate make the
p'pular chocolate creilm.
I i you do not knlow anyon wth alo
It is better to offer no exnrose than I h:11
a had : ieH if at any title You shoudi nots1
happen to a all into error.-George
Washington. Then it y 1
FOR THE CHRISTMAS BOX. hing
t When cooklin is your speppermint or
there are countless foods, candies i nd 1 ng.f
sin dainty at that can be ave ro
put Into a Christmas hox
table 1111n( fill the recipient "And. t
ousy with dolight. We have Atke
er, a slippers, pin trays, hat- "let
sfor plin holders and gifts of r,,td t
then died tpphat kind to olat umake the
rest of our natural lives. oer dep
door u A gift that mc a be eaten e it
ples and enjoyed with anoth- ut for
tirly or never calls forth the keep h
a expradession of "what on earth sholl I ao has
e do with t, an lld where inhtoll I store it?orge
" Wae In these dhingts of eln. intion of the nd:
the essentials we need to study the at A
,lin of gift giving and present appropriate
fid- and plesing giefts to our friends. This ttivic 0
heIr can he done, hut it takes thought, not :emiladir
'ing IndiscrIminate buying.
usic There are so many gotod things that n
ime w e nevedr think of, that would be so S b
lost much more pleasing to our friends than er, oper
res the gifts we usually give. iDo you
make nice doughnuts? A hox of two
dozen nutty browhn doughnuts bdould
or never go lbegging in many homes. ,ueht
Ole a box may he arranged with as much
ery o f the festive air of Christans as the
rtaste of the giver desires. /
esIt Its always a good plan to hate
are shelf or drawer in the attic nh.re
ol. all boes may he keprt lthrough the
yea. yer. They are then readly for gifts
Sofr any size and In leiswre t nelents one
may cover them witl prestthy ll psptr,
c. tlmsking quit elegant boxes, thiech, i
sl s nIri lst, wouel cost quite a sum.
I if ift giving ad gl- or bpoy friend at
he larinu irg school, too for awayn to get
and Iie, don't forget the box of goh, odte.
st No one knows. unless lie has felt it.
S Ihow sluch a1 ift warns the cockles of
or the heart.
S A Ill rit pudding wrnppe4 in hti'. pi
rer ' adl tied with red ribbons. vith a
s unch morf holly or oitrgriend makes
a happye gift. Fruit enkey s mn:e be
a11 hked weeks bef uir. lntes? d in softw
roeni snllg to kvreep moist. Any at
trlc tiyver kinld of cnokies. roes. he
rIl t a y be rspenll e c'hlhr 's rch' -for
n' ates on little kes Which givs pleasa
thne Irkeen delight. .aelliesd cln lte
frit, as ickles or orawtr intar:tlt w pure, r
wiupped tastefully ind well iarket barley
are 311 roost aeceptable ('hristmans gifts.
P For the Ice cream, 31n what party
Swoull Ibe colplete Without thart, snilh
new flowe-r pots lint'd witt w3Ixcl pit
per, may he filled wih the cream andr i
the top sprinkled with c'inmeolt grat- Nof
ed over it with a smwill Ilty for the stoma
. lower. e so
Smnnll eakes frosted and decorated Grape.
wity t'e pretty candlns, childrea al . good ft
ways enjoy.
L the hmealst
Ask for and Get
THE HIGHEST QUALITY
n MACARONI
S36 PAg Re-rpe Book Free
SKINNER MFG. CO. OMAHA, U.S.A.
WAGEST MCAROTi fhmTORY IN AMERICA.
Furs, Hides, Etc.
I x h,19 paiy Iiiihet pr'e4 1.r Furs, .I,! . l,
]l ,',', r h, ,p a l r ; , a t .'-.Irs", (;Ln.erI,. Ta3 ;,w ard
3r, -Ow:, C. We lh;r " ItoV"In isf1f n ani. m 1.e
S pronmlt r' tuirn.-. Wrte fur pih'' .t and :,hip
i.:, rf" pin- t.ý,s.
Standard Hide & Fur Company
St l,." 141.143 Decatur St. New Orlesma. I.
", LADIES-GIRLS-BOYS o",u,.,
. lh,*r. nigh y I,'.,,nret pt, l:. and d!art I..uatrat. d rat
k i i + , . ,'- ~f rnv,'.t.' y u .. "" 1.1h ytlr sr'"s.
.' ; us l', Ove. y ('., I. "p'.. 1D. S. R.chmtu nd, Va.
Disease Decimated Birds.
1"',,rty-tiv,," i n, ,-: d ,h,:tl dutl-s, vb'+
,,+w nu .!m s ,,f w il 1,", ' li' ' .: .... wl r,, pielhi
' TORTURING SKIN TROUBLES
i.mr That Itch, Burn and Disfigure I-eqleld
by Cuticura. Trial Free.
,,I, Bathe with plenty of Cuticura S.'ap
:t:,,1 and hot water to cleanse and purify.
Dry lightly and a;pply Cutcura O(Jtt
wnent to soothe and heal. Tiis stops
I'ching instantly, clears away pimples,
', I;: r'r ovs da:dlruff a nd scalp irritatiws.
r'r l ha:- ., rough, sore hands.
i''roi san:m,le ealh by mail with ,ook.
ps p,,,st'ard, ('uticura, D,)pt. L,
, , . S, l.everywhere.- -Adv.
Safety First.
I',.!1 ;t,,." l,, r.:1 . , t ,I,, t \ l. i d . I'l1
BREAD WITHOUT SALT IS TASTELESS
A mod ici,' chest without Magic Ar
nica Ljiniwint is useless. Best of all
S liin;aelts for sprains, swellings,
frboniruises, rheumatism and neuralgia.
r;:ir Three sizes. ;c, 50c and $1.00.-Ady.
' is Found Valuable Coin.
tCe J-h ;A:lklr ,f;luk out of a ptato hill
Mtill n 'iittintl,., V1r.. a n i itel States sil
It a ,er c in dlli fr l 1 ,,+
,ver The Quinine That Does Not Affect The Heed
iecanse of its toni, and axative efect. Larative
-+- bri ,,.,-(Dto 'an be tatken by anyone wRthou
fe't : atmasing nervousness or ringing in the head. Ttbsr
Is only one i"arono quinine." B. W. GBOVB'S
i oil signature is on each box. ?Sc.
or - -
cini 3!VING HER HER OWN WAY
'es; Man Who Had "Married Money" De.
red termined to Do the Right Thing
the by His Wife.
m "Glad to see you looking so well. old
u nnn," said the friend of a newly made
edict. "This is the first QDo ami
n `y I have hadl of offering my congra~ -t
I :ations on your recent marriage. Front
the looks of things I guess you've mar
ried mIncey. Well, it was the right
:hing to do. That shop-walking berth
:ht f yours IImust have been awfully bor
nd :ng. Is she in? I should like to be
int roduced."
or "Oh, she's at work." said the huls
at nd. with a placid smile.
2e "At work? What do you mean?"
isked the friend.
t- "Well, you see, it was this way," re
of plied the benedicet. "She hnd a murch
be tter position than min--head of
her department, £S8 a week. Wouldn't
ive it up. So there was nothing for it
.ut for me to retire from business and
keep house, andti here I am, you see.
You have to let women have their way
,,n some things."-Lonndon Tit-Bits.
S With an Eye to the Future.
A man is hound to follow his wifis
i tdv('e once. if only for the purpose of
et emlning her of it in after years.
For renching flies on ceillings there
nns been invented a long-handled swat
0 er, operated by a spring.
'I
Childish
Craving
- -for something sweet finds
pleasant realization in the
pure, wholesome, wheat and
barley food
Grape.Nuts
No danger of upsetting the
stomach--and remember,
Grape-Nuts is a true food,
good for any meal or between
meals.
"There's a Reason"
