Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-05-02

selyes: and on such occasions the sound Of laugh.
ter is often heard to issue from among them
But the fate Of the more digni6ed Personages, who
are left in the other room, is extremely dismal
The gentlemen spit, talk Of elections and the price
Of produce, and spit again. The ladies look at
each others dresses till they know every pin by
heart; talk of Parson Somebody's last sermon on
| the day Of judgment, or Dr.. T'otherbody's new
pills for dyspepsia, till the "tea" Is announced,
when they all console themselves together tor
whatever they ma have suffered in keeping
awake, by taking fn.re tea, coffee. hot cake and
custard; hoe cake, jenny cake, waffle cake, and
dodser cake, picked peaches, and preserved
cucumbers, ham, turkey. hung beef, apple
sauce, and picked oysters, than ever were pre-
pared in any other country ofthe known world.
After this massive meal is over, they return to
the drawing. room. and it always appeared to
me that they remained together as long as they
could bear il, and then they rise en- nsasse-cloak,
bonnet, shawl, and exir.'-p 81.
Among other instances OF that species OF mo-
desty so often seen 10 America, and SO unknown
to US, frequently witnessed one, which, while
it evinced the deIicacy of the ladies', gave oppor-
tunity Tor many lively saiies from the gentle
men. saw the same sort OF ,hiDg repeated on
different occasions at least dozen times;e g. a
young lady is employed in making shirt, (Which
it would be symptom of absolute depravity to
name,) a gentleman enters. and presently begins
the sprishtly dialogue, with, "What are you ma
king, Miss Clarissas''
."Only frock for my sisters's doll, SIR"
ga frock? not possible. Don't see that is
not frocki Come. Miss Clarissa, what is it,"
$" Tis just an apron for one of our negroes,
Mr.. Smith"
'"How can you, Miss Ciarissa? why is not
the two sides joined together: expect you were
better tell me- what it is. -
."My! why then Mr.. Smith, it is just pill
low
s..Now that passes, Miss CIa-issa! IT'S
pillow.case for giant then. sha; guess Mlss."
Quit, Mr.. Smith; behave yourself, or III
certainly be affroned."
Before the conversation arrives at tAis point,
both gentleman and lady are in commissions of
laughter. / once saw "a young lady so hard dri-
ven BY wit, that, to prove she was making
bag, aud nothing but bag, she sewed up the ends
before his eyes, showing It triumphantly, and ex-
claiming, - There now! what can you say to
that! vol H. p. %.
In America, with the exception Of dancing.
which is almGst wholly confined to he unmarried
of both sexes, all the enjoyments OF the men are
founi in the absence OF the women. They dine,
they play cards, they may have musical meet
ings, they have suppers, all 10 large parties, but
all without women. Were it not that such is
the custom, it is impossible but that they would
have ingenuity enough to find some eXpedient for
sparing the wives and daughters Of the opulent
the sordid Offices of household drudgery, which
they almost all perform in their families. Even
in the slave states, though they may not clear
starch and iron, mix buildings and cakes one
half of the day. and watch them baking thelother
half; stih the very highest occupy themselves IN
their household concerns, in a manner that pre-
cudes the possibility of their becominc elegant
aud enlightened companions In s'ltimore,
Philadelphia, and New York, met with some
exceptions to this; but speaking of the country
generally, it is unquestionably true
One paragraph more, descriptive Of a ball and
supper, and we have done with this point.
The arrangements for the supper were very
singular, but eminently characteristic Of the
country. The gentlemen had splendid enter
tainment spread for them in another large room
of the hotel, while the poor ladies had each
plate put into their hands, as they penslvely pro-
inenaded the baliroo during their absence; and
shortly afterwards servants appeared, bearing
trays of sweetmeats, cakes and creams. The
fair creatures then sat down on a row of chairs
placed round the walls, and each maknga table
of her knees, began eating her sweet, but sad and
suIky repast. The effect was extremely comic;
their gala dresses and the decorated room, form
ing a contrast the most unacc0untabe With their
uncomfortable and fnrlorn condition.
This arrangement was owing neither to eco
nomy nor want of room large enough to accom-
modate the whole party, but purely because the
gentlemen liked it better. This was the answer
given me, when my curiosity tempted me to ask
Why the ladies and gentlemen did not sup TO-
ge,her; and this was the answer repeated to me
afterwards BY variety of people to whom put
the same question. vol. ii. p. 2ls