The Salmagundi Club, a bi-weekly event held at the homes of members in and around Upper Marlboro, provides a fascinating insight into the social life of that community in the mid-1890's. The Prince George's Enquirer provided regular reports of the activities at the meetings where my paternal great-grandmother, Louise Gwynn, and her sister, Effie Gwynn Bowie, were frequent attendees and often provided musical performances or recitations as part of the entertainment. Some of my Sasscer relations from my mother's side of the family were also members of this club. Clagetts, Hills, Wilsons, Bowies and Beales were frequent attendees of Salmagundi meetings. This was how people amused themselves before radio, television or the internet.
The picture below is not from Prince George's County, but I think it gives a flavor of what the gatherings would have been like.
My great-aunt, Effie Augusta Gwynn, married Richmond Irving Bowie in 1894 and settled down in Prince George's County among her paternal relatives. Her as-yet-unmarried sister, Louise Gwynn, was a frequent visitor while she was attending school at Mount Saint Agnes in Baltimore. The third sister, Mary Gwynn, visited from time to time when she also attended Mount Saint Agnes and occasionally showed up at the Salmagundi Club.
The picture below shows the three sisters. (Louise is on the right, Effie in the center, Mary on the left.)
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| The Gwynn Sisters |
Salmagundi (in case you are curious, as I was) is a dish with chopped meat, eggs, onions and spices. But secondarily, it also connotes a general mixture or a miscellaneous collection. Each meeting of the Salmagundi Club included a variety of different activities, hence the name. Here is an example from October 1897 where Aunt Effie was the hostess:
On another occasion, there was a "Geographical Assembly" where participants were encouraged to "in some way, either by arrangement or decoration of dress" suggest some familiar geographical name. I certainly wish I had pictures of that particular meeting.
The activities usually included literary readings or book reviews as well as descriptions of current events, such as the building of a wonderful new bridge from New Jersey to New York or an account of Dr. Hansen's polar expedition.
And, of course, there was food or "delightful collations," as the newspaper often described them. (Again, not an actual picture from Prince George's County, but it is suggestive of the vibe.)
Slips of paper with the word “Salmagundi" written across the top were then handed around by the hostess and ten minutes allowed in which to write out the words to be made from it. The contest was most exciting, pencils flew apace until the time was up and Mrs. C. V. A. Clagett had fifty-three words on her list and won the pretty fancy plate given as a prize. (September 1896)
In October 1896, there was an especially elaborate "Salmagundi Party."
The usual literary program was omitted and instead there was a “Salmagundi Party.” Four small tables had been placed in the room. On the first lay a pack of cards for euchre, on the second were twenty-five pictures of noted men and women cut from illustrated papers—authors. musicians, statesmen, etc. It was the object of the four players seated at this table to guess the names of these famous people and write them on sheets of paper provided for the purpose.
On table No. 3 were papers—one for each of the four players -containing the names of characters from well-known books. The names of the works from which these characters were taken were to be written on pieces of paper, with the name of the player on the back of each. On the fourth table was a spool of cotton and four small trays each containing ten needles, the one who could first get the ten needles on a thread, tying a knot after each, would be declared winner.
Little bells on bright ribbons were provided for the successful players, and as much time as it took to bring to an end the game of Euchre at table No. 1 was allotted to the others for the performance of their tasks. A bell was rung, and everyone would move either up or down the line to some table to which they had not been before.
When everyone present had played at all the tables, the prizes were given. The first, a China Pin tray, to Miss Sophie Clagett, and the Consolation Prize, a glass dish filled with roses, to Mrs. Osborn.
The refreshments were then served: coffee and sandwiches, chocolate and a “Salmagundi Cake" of four layers, one brown, one pink, one white and one yellow, with different fillings between each layer, and iced with pink icing, sprinkled with grated cocoanut. It was pronounced delicious. Several new members were admitted.
One of the surprises for me in discovering this club was the musical ability of the Gwynn sisters, a talent I had not previously realized. For example, in 1894, The Enquirer gave a detailed review of a concert featuring the Gwynn sisters:
A Musical Treat.
The guests who were present at "Norburn," the beautiful home of Mr. and Mrs. R. Irving Bowie, last Thursday evening, enjoyed a rare musical treat, and participated in one of the most enjoyable social events of the season. The musical accomplishments of the charming young hostess are well known in this community, but all were given a delightful surprise in the rich melodious voice of her sister. Miss Louisa C. Gwynn. of Spartanburg, South Carolina. After the musicale the guests were served with an elegant collation, which reflected in every appointment the taste and skill of the accomplished young hostess.
There followed a list of the program, which included
*Queen of the Night, vocal duet - Mrs. R. Irving Bowie and Miss Louisa C. Gwynn.
*Lucrezia Borgia, instrumental solo, Mrs. R. Irving Bowie.
*Piano and Banjo duet —Mrs. Win. G. Brooke and Miss Mary L. Wilson.
*Radiense. instrumental duet —Mrs. R. Irving Bowie and Miss Louise C. Gwynn.
*Kiss and lets make up, vocal solo—-Miss Louise C. Gwynn.
Personally, I am intrigued at the thought of a piano and banjo duet, a combination I don't think I have ever heard. Also it challenges my imagination to visualize my great-grandmother performing that last number.
Often the programs included original poetry, and I will conclude with a poem written specifically to celebrate Salmagundi and the new year of 1897.
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