Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-07-28
A Sketch from Real Life.
BY NJ. 81. NOAH.

Alta musical soiree last winter, at the splen-
did mansion of a thriving merchant, and with
al a man of taste and liberaliiy, we were
struck with the magnifcence which met our
eve in every direction. The highly polished
mahogany doors, the ponderous and beautl-
full Egyptian marble mantle pieces, the rich
Wilton and royal carpets, highly polished
chairs and divans, deliberately carved and gilt
cotnices, pier-glasses, suspended girandoles,
satin curtains-all after the fashion OF Hen
~ w. The drawing rooms were filled with
elegantly dressed ladies and gentlemen, and
the supper and refreshments presented a scene
of richness and luxury only to be looked for
from persons Of overgrown fortunes.
How long can this last! we said to our
selves, together with reflections which press
ed upon US as TO the rapid manner we gain
and get rid of fortunes in this city-New
York. How like a rocket we ascend and de-
scend
One day last week we took ride in a light
rockaway over one of the delightful roads on
Long Island, to catch a little air and appetite
Tor dinner, and stopped to look at an Italian
cottage with green Venetian Plazettes and
p~orticos in neat taste, surrounded by a white
paling, and filled with shrubbery-a cheap,
light homestead, with some fields of corn and
potatoes, and a patch of wheat in the distance.
While gazing on the simplicity, cheerfulness,
and comfort of the premises, we were reused
by hearing some one calling out" Halo,
Stranger" and on looking, discovered it to be
our worthy host of - Place. He wore a
jacket and Manila hat.
"Come, alight and see my Improvements"
said he.
~ must go down to town to dinner-it
will be late"
mo, you don't. My dinner is just ready,
and you shall dine with me. Here, Toney,
take the gentleman's horse"
Having enjoyed his hospitality while liv-
ing in splendor, | could not refuse his bread
and salt under adverse circumstances; SO ]
alighted and walked into the parlor. What
a change! A plainly furnished cottage, cane
bottomed chairs, wooden mantle pieces and
plated candlesticks, mahogany framed look
ing glass, and eight day clock in the corner
and a map or two on the walls. Then the
dinner table-how plain! White delft plates
black handled knives and forks, tumbler:
and wine glasses blown at the New Jersey
glass works, and salt cellars dear at a six
pence. The dinner was plain but good-tht
vegetables fresh-the bread home baked
and we were waited upon by a Swapping cir
with a significant squirt. The hostess o
the late prlncely mansion looked fresh anC
ruddy in a cross-barred muslin dress and bob
bine. cap. She was cheerful and happy
We talked of numerous subjects, philesophi
zed with all d~elicacy upon the admirabl,
manner in which they bore the change il
their condition. The hostess started, ant
the host rolling out a volume of smoke from
a principe cigar, exclaiming with surprise
Why, my dear fellow, did you suppose
was observation-disclosures over the dam
Ell? o, no, no! This change you see is no
owing to any reverse of fortune-my bust
ness is as prosperous as ever. / did not wal
till bankruptcy overlook me; but consider
ing our children, our future prosperity, anC
the obligations due to society and good ex
ample, we agreed to spend $500 per annun
in the contented manner you see us, instead
of 5000 in the giddy mazes of fashion.
ride into town to attend TO my business, worl
in my garden, have plain and substantial
cheer, bake my own bread, make my owl
butter, lay my own eggs, and have good chez
for my old friends"
Here was not only a change, but an i'm
provement, a cheap augmentation of happi
ness, a true and sensible economy, promising
rich results and worthy of imitation.