Litchfield enquirer., 1841-09-02
AWFULLY GENTEEL.

AwFULLY GENTEEL.
We happened the other day to hear a
young woman-very pretty she is too
expressing the most profound ignorance
respecting domestic economy. Credit her
own words, and you would believe that she
does not know how potato looks before
it is cooked--or whether it grows upon
trees with a shell like walnut, or is do
nestle animal, fed OH corn, and slaughtered
! for the table. She would have her friends,
or perhaps she would say her acquaintan-
ces, suppose that she never was nearer to
kitchen than in the hall on the lower floor:
and that she has no more idea of culinary
operations than Robson Crusoe's man
Friday possessed. Yet we are ready to-
! stake our life upon the fact, that if she was
not born in kitchen, she was educated as
a scullion-and that her fingers were in her
earlier yon;h---she is young yet--much
more familiar with brasses on the area pail
ings and with the interior of the stew-pa
aud with ashes in the CRATE, than with the
pianoforte keys, or with cambria needles.
Nothing but ridiculous desire to conceal
what would be no disgrace to her, ifknown,'
could tempt her TO such ridiculous and ly-
ing affectation.
No true lady is ashamed of a knowledge
Of the details aud duties of household but
ON the contrary, would be extremely NOR
tilted at ignorance Of such essentials. tits
no matter if fortune has so blessed her that
she need not soil her fingers in domestic
occupations. A knowledge Of them is alb
solu.ely necessary to procure their perform
ance by servants. She is a wretched butt
Of kitchen malice, and a victim of wanton
waste, who cannot detect servants in their
misdoings by their own knowledge. To
command the respect and obedience Of SER
wants, a housekeeper should be so well in
formed, as to be able to answer them upon
questions sometime malicionsly put. Her
eye should never lose sight of tho don,es-
tic establishment and she should be quail
fled to oversee uuderstandingly also else
might man rich as Crnsus be beggared
by his kitchen, and still no fare none the
better for it.--N. Y. Idttlcr.
GRATEFUL M1NsTREH.-A minstrel cal
led Blondel, who owed his fortune TO Rich
ard Occur de Lion, animated with tender
ness towards his illustrious master, (who
on his return fragn eehFqp @asl fesdrVeta
TO 60 over the world, until he had discov-
cred the destiny Of this princes IIe had
already traversed Europe, and was return
ing through Germany, when at Lite, in
Austria, he learned that there was near
that city, at the entrance of the forest, e
strong and ancient castle, in which there
was prisoner Who was guarded with great
care. A secret impulse persuaded Blen-
del that this prisoner was Richard; he'
went Immediately to the castle, this sight
Of which made him trembe he got ac~'
quainted with a peasant who often went
there to carry provisions, and questioned
him but the man was ignorant Of the
name and quality of the prisoner. He
could only inform him, that he was watch
ed with the most exact attention, and was
SUITE, cd 10 have no communication with
any one but the keeper Of the castle and
his servants. He told him that this castle
was horrid abode that the staircase and
the apartments were black with age and
so dark, that at noon-day it was necessary
to have lighted fambeaux to find the way
along them. He added, that the prisoner
had no other amusement than looking over
the country through small grated window
which served also for the light tina, glim-
mered into his apartments.
Blended listened with eager attention.
and Meditatsd several ways of coming at
the prisoner; but all in vain. At last
when he found that from the height and
narrowness of the window he could not
get sight Of his dear master, for so he
firmly believed him to be, he recollected a
French song, the last couplet Of which had
been composed by Richard and the first by
himself After he had sung With loud
and harmonious voice the first part, he
suddenly stopped, and heard voice which
came from tho castle window continue, and
finish the song. Transported with joy,
he was now assured it was the king, his
master. who was confined in this dismal
castle. The chronicle adds, that one Of
the keepers servants falling sick, Blondel
got himself hired in his place; and thus at
last obtained personal access to Richard.
Tho nobility of England were informed
with all expedition Of the situation Of their
monarch, and he was released from his
confinement Ivy the payment Of a large
ransom though, but for the extraordinary
perseverance Of the grateful Blondel, no
might have wasted out his days in tho
prison, to which he had been treacherously
consigned. -
WHITE DRRssEs.-It is mentioned in the
Philadelphia North American that pure
,Chits 10 more fashionable among the ladies
of that city this season than formerly. II
is only proofof the good taste of the Qua
ker girls. There is no dress so becoming
nc a r.lain white We vu0pdar n 10 nof