[In December 1936, Ina
Dobson, my fictionalized grandmother, sits beside her fireplace of an evening and muses over the article, “Christmas Eve by my Fireside,” from Good Housekeeping magazine.]
“The
Christmas cake, the cranberry jelly, the mince pies, the plum pudding, keep
fragrant vigil in the larder against tomorrow’s feast; and, with thoughts of it
in mind, is there any one among us who would not gladly dispense with dinner
that evening? I always choose the easy informality of a buffet supper. It is so
simple to prepare, and it serves itself, thanks to the variety of electric
table appliances now at our command. The toaster spells hot, crunchy toasted
sandwiches, which my guests usually like to toast themselves. Last Christmas
Eve there was a vote for waffles with Sylvia’s delectable creamed chicken from
the electric chafing dish. This year the buttered rolls will keep hot in my
attractive roll warmer.”
Hah!
Ina recognized the advertising here – right in the article. The writer wasn’t
promoting by manufacturer, but it was still promotion of expensive electrical
gadgets. Well, Ina had no use for these things since her home wasn’t
electrified, and she wondered if anyone really needed them. She had always warmed her rolls nicely in the “warming oven” above
the stove and she would never expect her guests to make
their own toast. Furthermore, she thought that any guest who expressed "a vote
for waffles" was rude indeed, unless said waffles were first offered by the hostess. 
“My
latchstring is always out that evening,” the article went on. “The supper table
is set on my old drop-leaf table in the living room, as I have never been
successful in getting my guests to move very far away from the firelight.” Ina
could certainly understand that. “They love to take turns in dispensing coffee
at the coffee table by the fireside. Some like to roam about, carrying their
super with them. Some enjoy it while leaning against the mantel, or settled in
a comfortable chair for a chat with an old friend or with a new one. Those who
may be feeling more than a bit sorry for themselves when confessing that they
are dreading the thought of a solitary Christmas in this great city find that
Christmas is suddenly transformed for them when some friendly soul says, ‘Do
come and have dinner with us tomorrow!’”
Ina
wondered if one could really have a successful dinner party on Christmas Eve.
Of course, she herself had done so, providing a lively celebration for several
families in the community who would otherwise be alone. Still, she found
herself a little skeptical that many people would be willing to leave their own
hearths for someone else’s on that special night. Just who were these guests anyway? One thing was certainly clear: no children. Ina believed in
hospitality through food service, and that included everyone, young and old alike.
While she might say that she included everyone, she felt a
twinge of guilt over the fact that not only was she not inviting the neighbors
this year, but she and Bertha, her sister and best friend, had agreed not to
share the Christmas Eve festivities, including the gift exchange. For her part, Ina quite selfishly wanted
to have her family to herself this Christmas. Ernest and Ethel were on the
brink of a move that might take them quite far away. She didn’t know when she
would see them again. Perhaps this would be the last Christmas she could enjoy Shirley
Jean during her growing years. And, too, Shirley and Henry planned to marry in June. The
family was changing all too quickly, and Ina wanted this precious time for
herself. KW
[The magazine pages show suggested Christmas gifts for 1936.]
7 comments:
Ina's life was more like other people than she realized. Hopefully she didn't believe the magazine stories about Christmas at the home of the woman with the perfect life. It was and is common for magazine articles to be complete fiction and passed off as true.
One of my favorite Christmas movies is "Christmas in Connecticut." It stars Barbara Stanwyck & Dennis Morgan. She writes a magazine cooking column and can't cook. She tells her readers she is married living in a lovely country house with a baby. She lives in an apartment in the city, is single and uses recipes from a restaurant chef. It's a funny movie and with a great moral. Be yourself.
You get the point. Magazines wanted to appeal to readers and wove a web of deceit with perfect characters in perfect homes with perfect friends. We're all imperfect and we are loved because of this.
I always thought that the '30s were tough for most people. Someone told me I was wrong -- that most people came through the Depression just fine. I don't know the definition of "just fine." But I would think Ina's family Christmas was more the norm than the city Christmas described.
"Christmas in Connecticut" is one of my favorites, too. Thanks for pointing out the analogy.
Hmm, I know both my mom and dad had tough times during the depression years. Mom's family really did lose everything although they had money in the bank--which disappeared when the bank closed. Dad's family had always had tough times because of the death of his father; he says he never knew the difference before, during, or after the depression--there was no money any of those years. Interesting that someone said most people did just fine. . .
Hallie, you make excellent points! I concur!
I am slowly making my way through the Ken Burns Dust Bowl documentary. The depression wasn't just fine for those folks. It's been hard to watch because those who are interviewed were young children at the time and they talk of seeing their parents worry and of their own feelings of fear. What touches me is the stories of family and neighbors giving what little they had to help one another. Triumph of the human spirit.
Ina and Jack didn't recover from the Depression. Grandpa Portfors was a different story. He did come through all right. Mother and Fairley had to leave Orofino to find work. It seems to me that the circumstances of the Depression affected everyone.
Sometimes we hear from one who was a youngster in the Depression: "We were poor but we didn't know it. Everyone was in the same boat. We didn't know any different."
Yes, the Dust Bowl stories are hard to hear, but I'm so grateful someone talked to the "children" before we lost everyone who lived through it. As you say, Hallie, it's "The triumph of the human spirit," but how can we celebrate that if we don't hear those stories. We don't wish for hard times, but I think the human spirit deepens more in hard times than in prosperity.
My Dad went to Tennessee and Oklahoma to work for the federal government work programs, and we got by. The kids just seemed to take what came without complaining, and yes, we were happy.
I appreciate your perspective on your childhood, Chuck. Thanks for the comment.
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