The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-02-14

, of Regents Street and Pail Mall, who con.
stiiuted The visiting list of Albany Street
Mrs. Copper atemp, to wean her daughter
from her rustic "reminiscences. The gaye-
ties of the winter were beginning; for wine
ter IS still the gay season OF a class over
whose circles fox-huntng and Parliamenl
exercised no social influence. The tra-
dug GLASSES of London still venture to be
merry at Christmas, and generous oil New
Years Day; TO Feast on turkeys aud mince
pies, dance in the New Year, draw King
and Queen on Twelfh-Day, and enjoy
= Romeo and Juliet" oil the more for being
followed by "a pantomime. Christmas is as
much their season as june that Of their GUS
toners. 1t is then they display To their RI
walls Of the counter their fine clothes and
fine furniture their boards Of plate and
china of books ia ine bindings aud pic-
lures IN fine frames. Lucky those who
are free from the pretension of exhibiting
at the same time the fine manners which
they copy from the finest Of their custom
ers; lucky those who, like Harriet Cooper,
content themselves with the frank sinplici-
~ adorning all stations Of life, but peculiar
~ bcconlhp III hef own. u
OF all gradaiions of female education,
the worst and most injurious is that of Sec
ond-rate ccomplishincnts--ihe cheap boar
ding school system, where girls are taught
TO execute, in aa inferior way, what at the
best is superficial aud of small account.
Such, unfortunately, is the line chiefly pur-
sued by the shopkcepers Of London. Un-
able to bring up their daughters at home,
they dispatch them to schools In the sab
urbs, where, instead of lenrning 10 wrile a
good hand, keep their fathers books, and
superintend the domestic economy of the
house, they nre taught 10 jabber of Shake,
speare aud the musical glasses in bad Eu-
glish aud worse French TO squall, out OF
tune, brasurus 10 which Mallbran alone
could render justice and pain, groups Of
Camcllias, IN golden vases, which might
pass for punches Of bachelors button in u
brass skillet. la This the French show
themselves far wiser than ourselves. The
education bestowed in France upon yeuug
girls Of the middle classes, is Of more
practical kind aud the wife Of IA French
,radesn,nn, consequently, exercises twice
the influence ia her family Obtained by tho
vulgar Gne ladies' Of the back shops Of Bond
Street. II is tn his wife or daughter a
French TndesDan invariably looks for The
regulation Of his books, and settlements
with his work or slIopmcn. His wife or
daughter superinends the business Of the
market and Kitchen, without degenerating
into the coarsneess into which the good
housewives Of our own country nre apt to
fall Far ..l.
lady, when converted into a Mrs. Notable
makes up ia scolding and vociferation for
her igDorence in the condnct Of an estab-
lishment while the French girl, who has
been taught To make a bed, cut out linen,
aud arrange a pof-au-tcu, or family soup,
performs or oyerlooks these duties without
effon or omcry. Graceful 10 their man
ners, and rational IN their conversation,
the moment they lay inside the little silk N
prom and appear 10 society, Frcnchwomen
of the class ia question, are the most COM
paDIonable as well rs The best m6nsgeres in
the world. II is their pride und glory to
understand the conduct of family. fil'
But Harriet Cooper, ignorant Ms she was
of the practical duties of life, was not more
deficient than those with whom she associs-
ted. Like herself the Miss Sarsnets and
the Miss Dimiiies dnubcd landscapes and
played" symponics," thougl, with so much
less eeiat that Mrs. Cooper was almost JUS.
tilted IN her expectations that her daughter
would eclipse them al, and carry of, be-
fore the end Of The season. the hand and
heart Of a certain Mr.. Carat, through whose
tempting pla,e-gIass windows ip PiccadilIy,
diamond necklaces and services of gilt plate
shone rcsplendent. In the midst of these
projects, her son John arrived To pass a
non.I, will, his family in town, previous ia
the signature Of his articles will, an eminent
surveyor Mt Lewes. Though Mrs. Cooper
was fond of her son, his right-down mau-
ners d;sgusted her artificial sense Of pro-
priety. She had very little patience either
with the plain English or plain dealing of
his country ways; and Harriet was iucom-
parabIy her favorite child.
$50 yoY haven't picked up husband
for Haity yeti" was his insulting apos,ro-
pbe to Mrs. Cooper. Better have let her
pass the winter with Aunt Mary. They
would have faught her something down at
The farm. "Tis q sin aud shame To sec a
grown girl Of her years so heIpIess.''
Mamma looked disdsinful, and remained
ineffably silent. She did not ihink il nee
essary to communicate her plans to a lad
pf eighteen, unconversant " it'll the ways Of
The world il had had been her Happiness to
live in. But when, few days afterwards,
,hc heard her son bantering his sister on
he attentions Of n certain young fruiterer ,
n.,n.d RowlaoI ~ In reeid..I In their uet oh- A
borbood, she begged " such rubbish" might
never again bc mentioned in her herring.
Harriet blushed, and hooked reproachfuIIy ,
It her brother; for Harriet happened 10
bink Henry Rowland any thing bu, rub
,isb. Mrs. Cooper had become acquainted
with him as a sb"pman Of the considerable
,ouse Of business dealt with by the Rsnds- I,