The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-10-25
wAsHlNc.pAY IN GERMANY.

wAsHlNG-DAY IN GERMANY.
The Traveller has extracts Of a letter.
from an American lady in Germany 10 her
mother, from which the following account
Of the German washing day, or Washing
week 10 copied:
III Is one Of the chief qlories Of the Ger
man house. wives to possess abundance Of
linen, and for the purpose OF displaying
their wealth they put off their washing ill
all used np-some three weeks, some six.
some half year, and those who are more
sfiauent have washing but once venr.
EVERY muse contains .Scrarss pasch-
kosmer,' where the dirty clothes are kept
hung up On poles or lines in the mir. When
the drawers and presses are nearly empty,
two o. three washer-wnmen are hired. who
como st two in the morning, take each a
cup Of coffee and some bread, which is re-
peated At the usual time. In the forenoon
they again have bread. with wine or cider;
dine at twelye--at three or four they have
sgain cup Of coffee with bread, and then
wash till supper at eight. What would
our working women say 10 SO many hours
incesssnt labor0 They washin very large
oval tubs, at which four or FIVE can stand a
once. So it goes on for several DAYS. ac-
eording 10 the number Of clothes. The re-
mainder Of the week is spent in ironing
sheets, pillow cases, and all the nngaihered
clothes are mangled, md towels, stockings.
children's handkerchiets, Sc. gre anl,
folded. During the whole week. 10 w"man
in the family can think Of an, thing but the
wash, and By the eni OF il some have sore
hands, (for they use l,e,) and all are out #
humor. When tell them how much less
disturbance our weeks wash makes, they
acknowledge it is a better way, but "a,
they fear people would think they had bu
two shirts apiece, if they were to wash
every week. Another answers. that If the
Americans wash every week. they can d
nothing else. for on washing week no one
can think Of ANYTHING beside. It made me
think OF the old lady who wondered how
people comb their heads every day, when
she could hardly bear to comb hers on
Thanksgiving day.
MARRIED AND SINGLE MEy-lt las been
very justly remarked, that there should he
some means Of Distinguishing single from
married men. Unmarried females are
known By the prefix Of sMiss." 10 their
names, but all men are called "Mr." How
much unnecessary trouble and snlcilade
might be spared 10 the anxious mothers 81
manageable girls could thew make this
disiinction. How very ANNOYING to .
mother and bevy of girls, after la, ing them
selves out to please some 'nice ,nnlc m ~
10 hear him acciden,lv alude I. his wife -
The subject really demands attention. md
We think the girls should suggest some plan
BY which these disappoin,ments nigh, be
obviatcd.
Wet BRIcKs.-Few people. except build
ers, are aware Of the advantages of we,,lne
brick before LAYING them. A wall twelve
inches thick. built up Of gnod mortar, With
brick soaked well, is stronger. in every.
respect, than one sixteen inches thick,
built dry. The reason Of this is that ii the
bricks are saturated with water, they will
not abstract from The mortar the moisture
on the contrary, they will unite chemical,
with the mortar, and become ms solid as
rock. On the other hand. tthe bricks are
put up DRY, they immediatel, take all the
moisture from the mariar. leaving il too
dry to harden; and the consequence is tina,
~. e q t..
down, or tumhles down o! its own accord,
the mortar falls from il like so much sand.
THE LoCoFoCo WRITERS bite Gle in
their assaults upon Old Z ,ck. the brave old
pilot at the head Of affairs. See with whit
forecast, prudence and pairin'i>In. he has
acted ~ the affair Of the stea rnship sold I"
the German Goyernmcut--in the matter
Of recognizing the independence Of the
late Republic Of Rome, and the later Re-
public Of Hungary-in the matter of provi-
ding law and order TOR California, and snc-
cor Tor the emgrants from he United States
toihat Country-in The matter of the lnd-
On outbreaks along The line Of the Rio
Grande, and also in Florida in regard
to the contemplated descent upon Cuba
and more especially in the late dismissal 1t
the French Minister, who insulied our Gov
eminent. Ever prompt, ever cool, ever
ready, the glorious Old Chief will faithful,
guard and protect the honor and interests
fihe country,i in spite Of all the on,ra geous
csIuDnies and ridicuie the Locofoco press
can heap upon him.
l am true Iaborer. | earn what eat
get what wear, owe 10 man bate, envy
no mans happiness-g'ad Of other men,
2ood-cou,ent with ny farm. and the great
est Of my pride is, 10 see my lambs snck.
Shakespeare