Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-11-07
M ISC Ell l. A NY
Fashionable Girls.

Mrs. Swsshelm, of the Pdtsburg SATURDAY. Vis.
tor, one OF the pleasantest and most original wri-
!ers oil ne age, gives The following matter-of fact
information in one of her admirable 'letters to coun
try girls:'
"Ihere are hundreds of girls in every large CITY
VINO parade The streets in feathers, flowers silks
and faces, whose hands as soft and white as se
lessness can make them, whose mothers keen hoard
ers TO make living for their idle daughters These
mothers will cook, sweep, wait on tables. carry
loads OF marketing, do the most mental druduerv
toll late and early with very little more clothi6o
than would be allowed TO a Southern slave. while
Their hopeful daughersspbn their mornings lounp-
ing IN bee, reading some silly hook taking lessons
IN music and French, fixing finery and the like
The evenings are devoted to dressing. displayino.
their charms and accomplishments To the best adj.
vantage, Tor the wonderment and admiration az
knights OF the yard-stlck and young aspirants for
professional honors-dociors without patients law
yers without clients, who are as braialess and soul
less as themselves. After while the piano sound
ing slmp'eion captivates tape-measurng, law-ex-
pounding. or pl'-makng simpleton The two min
MES spend every cent that can he raised by hook or
crook-get all that can be got on credit in broad
cio'h, satn flowers. lace, carriage attendants &C.
hang their empty pockets on somebody's chair.
lay their empty heads somebody's pillow. and
commence their empty life with no other prospect
than living at somebody's expense-with no high
er purpose than living genteey and spitnc the
neighOorS. This is SYNOPSIS OF the lives of thou
sands oil street and ball room bellies perhaps of some
whose SHINING costume you have envied from n
passing glance. Thousands of women in cities dress
elegantly on The streets, who have not suliiciepcy
OF wholesome food acomfortable bed or fire ENOUGH
10 warm thor rooms. once boarded in 'snenteeI
boarding house" in Louisville. There were two
young ladies' and piano in the house; hall and par
lors handsomely furnished. The eldest youno la
dy. inc belle, wore bonnet al ten dollars: a silk
and blond concern that could no, last more than two
or three months silk and satin dressc at two three
and four dollars per yard, and FIVE dollars piece
Tor making them, and the entire family. women.
boys and babies, nine in all, slept il onesmal room
WIN two dirty bags of pine shavings two straw
holsters, and three dirty quilts for bedding: no
sheets, no slips, and there on the wall hung the pea
green and white satin, the rich silk and lawn dress
es These ladies did not work, but PLAYED the nj
ano, accordion and cards. and nearly broke their
hearts the week before We were there because ano
ther, who presume lived just as they did. called
on them with great, clumsy gold chain on her
neck, None of them had one, and Miss Iabainda.
me oee, could eat no supper, and had bad fit of
the sulks to console her for the want of chain
But, dear me had 10 notion of running away off
here was just thinking how busy YOU country
girls are apt to be in the fall, and this led me to
think what blessing it is that You have sometime
to do and tina; you think it disgrace to live idly
1t is great blessing TO live in the country where
1t is credit 10 work, for ideness is the pa7ent of
vice and misery. So do not get weary or think
your lot hard one when putting up pickles OF pre-
serves, apple butter sausages and sauces, for future
use.