of each weapon was considered a test of high breeding the man was in danger of being tripped up by his sword getting between his legs the fan held looked more of a burden than an a of jane ment while in the hands of an it could be made to speak a language of its own it was not every one who felt qualified to make this public exhibition and i have been told that those ladies who intended to dance used to distinguish themselves from others by wearing a particular kind of on their head dress i have heard also of another curious proof of the respect in which this dance was held gloves clean were considered requisite for its due performance while gloves a little soiled were thought good enough for a country dance and accordingly some prudent ladies provided themselves with two pairs for their several purposes the expired with the last century but long after it had ceased to be danced publicly it was taught to boys and girls in order to give them a graceful carriage and were occasionally danced but the chief occupation of the evening was the interminable country dance in which all could join this dance presented a great show of enjoyment but it was not without its peculiar troubles the ladies and gentlemen were ranged apart from each other in opposite rows so that the for or interesting intercourse were not so great as might have been desired by see spectator no on the fan exercise old gentlemen who had survived the fashion of wearing swords were known to regret the of that it an end to one way of those who had from those who had not been used to good society to wear the sword easily was an art which like swimming and required to be learned in youth children could practise it early with their toy swords adapted to their size a of jane both parties much heart burning and discontent sometimes arose as to who should stand above whom and especially as to who was entitled to the high privilege of calling and leading off the first dance and no little indignation was felt at the lower end of the room when any of the leading couples retired from their duties and did not condescend to dance up and down the whole set we may rejoice that these causes of irritation no longer exist and that if such feelings as jealousy and discontent ever touch celestial in the modem ball room they must arise from different and more sources i am tempted to add a little about the difference of personal habits it may be asserted as a general truth that less was left to the charge and discretion of servants and more was done or by the masters and with regard to the it is i believe generally understood that at the time to which i refer a hundred years ago they took a personal part in the higher branches of as well as in the of home made and of for domestic which are nearly allied to the same art ladies did not disdain to spin the thread of which the household linen was woven some ladies liked to wash with their own hands their choice china after breakfast or tea in one of my earliest child s books a little girl the daughter of a gentleman is taught by her mother to make her own bed before leaving her chamber it was not so much that they had not servants to do all these things for them as that they took an a of jane interest in such occupations and it must be borne in mind how many sources of interest enjoyed by this generation were then closed or very opened to ladies a very small of them cared much for literature or science music was not a very common and drawing was a still accomplishment in some form or other was their chief employment but i doubt whether the rising generation are equally aware how much gentlemen also did for themselves in those times and whether some things that i can mention will not be a surprise to them two homely were held in higher estimation in my early days than they are now the master s eye makes the horse fat and if you would be well served serve yourself some gentlemen took pleasure in being their own performing all the scientific and some of the manual work themselves well dressed young men of my acquaintance who had their coat from a london tailor would always brush their evening suit themselves rather than it to the carelessness of a rough servant and to the risks of dirt and in the kitchen for in those days servants halls were not common in the houses of the clergy and the smaller country gentry it was quite natural that should have contrasted the magnificence of the at abbey with the few in her father s a young man who expected to have his things packed or for him by a servant when he travelled would have been a of jane thought fine or lazy when my uncle undertook to teach me to shoot his first lesson was how to clean my own gun it was thought on the evening of a hunting day to turn out after dinner lantern in hand and visit the stable to ascertain that the horse had been well cared for this was of the more importance because previous to the introduction of about the year it was a difficult and tedious work to make a long hunter dry and comfortable and was often very imperfectly done of course such things were not practised by those who had and and plenty of well trained servants but they were practised by many who were gentlemen and whose occupying the same position in life may perhaps be astonished at being told that 