FRIDAY
Friday, we left the world behind to enjoy Drummer’s Call weekend at Colonial Williamsburg.
Even though our books were left behind, our current studies of the Ancient Romans followed us about the historic area.
No wonder, since the 18th century often looked to Ancient Greece and Rome for lessons learned.
STREET THEATER
After walking by the grazing horses and the spring gardens, we joined the street theater program for lots of rousing cheers.
CHRISTIANA CAMPBELL’S TAVERN
For dinner we splurged on one of my favorite dinners, Christiana Campbell’s Tavern!
Notably George Washington enjoyed their seafood, as do I, since it’s always fresh and plump.
The proprietress, Christiana Campbell, and her daughter Molly remembered me and my kids from the Costume Design Center sewing classes last year.
They gave us a great time, as did the musician of the evening.
Asking for requests, my son suggested The Rose Tree!
FIFING WITH THE GUITARIST
After our meal, we strolled up Duke of Gloucester Street where we found a guitarist in front of Shield’s Tavern.
Seeing that my son had a fife, the guitarist encouraged him to play a tune.
As my son played Chester, the guitarist sang along!
Then we walked up to Merchant’s Square to see the beginning of Drummer’s Call.
DRUMMER’S CALL – SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN
Although we’ve attended previous Drummer’s Calls, in 2009 and 2010, this year we arrived a day earlier, enabling us to see the Friday evening program, which was so well done and different from the other events on Saturday.
SATURDAY
THOMAS JEFFERSON – EDUCATION FOR WOMEN
Saturday morning, we attended a public audience with Thomas Jefferson.
Throughout his monologue, he referenced Greek Democracy and the Roman Republic.
At one point he started talking about slavery and asked us how it all started.
No one was answering, yet Jefferson kept prompting the audience.
Studying this repeatedly in our history studies of the ancients, I expected my son to yell out the answer.
Nudging him to do so, but with a grin, he told me to yell out the answer myself.
So, I yelled out: Spoils of war!
…to which Jefferson replied: Thank you! And that, gentlemen, is the benefit of a universal system of education for women.
Everyone started laughing! 😉
Soon his discussion led to characteristics of different religious groups in America, while talking about how our freedoms relate to religion.
When he mentioned the Quakers, he said that many fear that they would want to educate the women, and he pointed to me.
As he hammered away at his point, he again mentioned the need for education for both male and female.
When a woman from the audience cried out her support to that, Jefferson very quickly replied: But it must not be a lone voice in the wilderness…
We were all laughing!
Later when I asked him about his views on Greek democracy and the Roman republic, since he refers to them often in relation to our government, yet they both ended in dictatorship.
He basically told me that dictatorships never last long, because the will of the people will always overcome it.
MILLINER
Then we walked to the milliner shop, to enjoy all the lovely assortments for ladies while waiting for Drummer’s Call to begin down the street.
When we walked in the mantua maker was showing off the lovely new red on white gown she was sewing.
We also looked at a saque back gown, from the inside out.
When I told my kids I’m thinking of ordering this color silk for a saque back gown for myself, they voted that would be the best color for me.
SOUNDS OF DRUMMERS CALL: GRAND MARCH
Then we heard the drums strike up so we popped outside.
I loved seeing all the interpreters popping their heads out of their shops and taverns to see the fifers and drummers march by!
PATRICK HENRY – TURN TO GOD
After a wonderful afternoon watching and listening to the fife and drum corps units, we visited with Patrick Henry.
When we visited last winter, he passionately discussed the evils of Greek democracy that fell into dictatorship.
After his program I told him that since then we had studied Ancient Greek democracy and their fall into dictatorship, and more recently the Ancient Roman Republic who likewise fell into dictatorship.
He nodded in agreement.
I said that he helped to form a republic for our government but even the Roman Republic fell into dictatorship.
What are we supposed to do about that?
(Paraphrased) he exclaimed: Madame, that is why I am always talking about the need to turn to God.
Wow! That’s what I’ve been talking to the kids about when we’ve been having these discussions at home!
PICNIC AND FIREWORKS AT GOVERNOR’S PALACE
That evening we settled in front of the Governor’s Palace to await a special evening program in the refreshing cool of the evening, after the torrid humidity of the day.
First, our pre-ordered dinner boxes in the form of the Governor’s Palace were loaded with delicious and fun food.
After a 20-minute program, A Salute to the Nation, which included Patrick Henry and Gowan Pamphlet, there were fireworks!
Then the fife and drum corps units lined up to lead us with torches in the darkness of the cool evening for the tattoo, the final event of Drummer’s Call.
SUNDAY
LAFAYETTE – EQUITES
Sunday morning, we visited the Public Audience with Lafayette.
Afterwards my son’s discussion with him ranged from Roman legionaries to Julius Caesar to equites to battle tactics to hoplites to Alexander the Great. Wow!
TAILORS
Finally I had a chance to visit with the tailors!
One of my ongoing homework assignments is to perfect my buttonholes, so when I saw him working on them, I asked for a lesson! After he showed her, he showed me!
While talking about fine stitching, he showed us an example of extremely tiny, detailed hand stitching on a man’s shirt, in the shop.
Then I visited the other tailor, who was working on a man’s garment made from chintz fabric.
He had overheard my talking to the other tailor about a striped silk for a different gown, which concerns me.
I’m terrified to cut into the expensive fabric and try to match the stripes.
The tailor said: Madame, every project you have undertaken has terrified you. 😉
GENERALS: ONWARD TO YORKTOWN
