The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-09-03
A Woman of Fashion.

A great deal has been said Of late about
the uncommon and ever increasing extrava
gance OF women Of fashion. 1t is indeed
very, trying for n hard working man to sec
Ills little savings squandered by an extrava.
gant wife; but he may find some consolation
III the reflection that the practice has now be-
came historical and well l.established by i'm
memorial usage. The following is letter
written by Lady Campton to her husband,
in the beginning Of the seventeeth century.
In it she gives list Of what she supposes
necessary for a woman Of her position.
Whether these things were considered ne.
cessaries in a legal point Of view does not
appear. In justice to Lady Campton, how.
ever, it should be said that she brought her
husband large fortune:
| My Sweet Life Now, that have de-
clared to you my mind for the settling Of
your estate, supposed it were best for me
to bethink or consider with myself what
allowance were meetest for me for, consid-
ering what care have had of your estate,
and how respectfully Ideal with those
which, both by the laws Of nature, and Of
civil polity, wit, religion, government and
honesty, you my dear, are bound to, pray
and beseech you to grant me, FL, 800 per
annum, quarterly to be paid
my appareD have e6O0 added yearly (quar-
tery to be paid) for the performance of char
table works and those things would not,
neither will be. accountable for.
Also, will have three horses for my own
saddle, that none shall dare TO lend or bor-
row !; none lend but l, none borrow but
you.
Also, would have two gentlewomen,
lest one should be sick or have some other
left; also believe that it is an indecent
thing for a gentlewoman to stand humping
alone, when God has blessed her Lord and
Lady with good estate.
Also, when | ride hunting or hawking,
or travel from enc house TO another, | will
have them attending, so, for either of these
said women, must aud will have for either
Of them horse.
Also, will have six or eight gentlemen
and l will have my two coaches, one lined
with velvet to myself. with four very fair
horses, and a coach for my women lined
with sweet cloth one laced with gold, the
other with scarlet, and laced with watch
lace and silver, with four good horses.
Also, | will have two coachmen, one for
my own coach, the other for my women.
AIeo, at any time when travel, will be
allowed not only coaches and spare horses
for me and my women, but will have such
carriages as shall be fitting for all, orderly,
not pes'erng my things with my wolpens
nor theirs with chamberlnaids', nor theirs
with washmaids'
Also, for laundress, when travel, I will
have them sent away before with the car,
riaQcs to see all safe; and the chamber
maids I will have 20 before with the greens,
that the chamber may be ready, sweet and
clean.
| Also. for that it isindecent to crowd up
myself with my gentleman usher in?my
coach, will have him to have CONVENIENT
horse, to attend me either in city or in coun-
try. And must have two foortmen. And
my desire is that you defraytall the: charges
| for me. FsRrsstStssEsasree ~
And for myself, besides my yearly allow
ance, I would hass twenty gowns Of ap.
parel, six Of them excelentgood ones, eight
Of them for the country, and six others of
them very excellent good ones.
Also. l would have 10 put in my purse
$4,000 and G2o0, and so for you to pay
my debts. =