Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-12-14

| q woman who does not u!ssemUle ner real leel
ings is monster of impudence. Now, there
fore, it so happens Gas Mr.. Canning would say
that truth is very offensive to the ears of lady
when to those of gentleman Cher husband fol
instance) it would be not at all so.
To illustrate, Mrs. r., of B., my
brothers widow, was beyond all comparison the
incest and best housewife | ever saw. Not one
drop of water was ever suffered to stand upon
her sdeboard except what was in the pitcher
the house from cellar to garrett, and in every
part. as clean as hands could make it, and every
thing as it should be to suit even my fastidious
taste. lived there after my brothers death,
from 1896 to 1910 inclusive, and never did
see or smell anything to offend my senses or my
imagination, but once. Except in Autumn
would DEFY to find leaf or feather in the
yard No poultry were permitted to come
| into it, and we had no dirty children, white or
negro, to make litter or Nth. strong enclo-
sure of sawn plank, eight feet high, fenced in
the kitchen, slpoke-house, ice house, meat house
and wood house, in which the wood for the use
of the house was stacked away under lock and
kew. The turkey and hen houses were in the
same enclosure which had two doors, one next
the dwelling house for the use of the mistress
and house servants, aid one large enough to ad-
wagon on the back or north side, beyond
which was well built quarter with two brick
chimneys, and two rooms with fire places, and
four rooms without for servants. There was
also (what had forgot) spinning and weav-
ing house. :,
At night the door of the enclosure was locked
up-not servant being allowed to sleep within
| it, although every one of them was within sound
of the lady's bell.
On one unhappy day, in very hot and damp
spell of weather, of long continuance piece OF
cold lamb was brought to the table that was
spoiled-the first and last in nearly fifteen years,
OF the slightest neglect in household economy
ordered the servant to take it away, it being
spoiled Mrs. r. resented this and fatty con-
tradicted me, and although the lamb absolutely
stunk, she ate part of it to prove her words
true, and was affronted with me almost past
forgiveness dare say if had noticed the
lamb she might have given hint to the servant
to take it away; but the honest naked truth was
not to be borne. We had no company but ID.
and her younger son, three school boys and an
Englishman named Knowles, who acted as over.
seer or steward, and dined with us until he took
to drink. Mrs. r. stoutly denied that the lamb
could be spoiled, because it had been boiled on
" the day before, and had been in the ice house
looic. which was truly ac0man's. maintain
cd that the highest evidence was that Of the
senses; that We must reason from facts when
we could get at them, and it was only when we
could not. that it was fair to argue from proba.
bilities; that the lamb Stun6, and therefore was
not sound This she denied, and to prove her
words, actually made a shift to swallow half
mouthful which under other circumstances she
would not have done for q thousand dolais.
So much for the ladies, charming creatures.
the salt Of the earth, whom, like uncle Toby and
all other old bachelors, never could thorough
" understand for want of the key of matrimo
nv. which alone can unlock their secrets and
make plain Gas many husband can telD all the
apparent contradictions in their character Yes,
SO much for the fairer aud better part OF crea-
ton, las from my soul believe them to beO but
who as the Waverly man says of Kings are klt-
tie cattle to shoe behind. And so it ought 10 be,
for it is their poor and almost only privilege to
lick, while we roam where we will, and they
must sit still until they are asked. | therefore
am for upholding them in all their own proper
privileges, as long as they don't encroach upon
those Of men. A wonlin who unsexes herself
deserves to 10 treated aud will be treated as
man.
AS to the honesty of servants, | have always
thought mine indifferent honest" as Hamlet
says, and yet should have been very sorry that
the boy that bears this letter should lind my
knife or either of the two little urchins that You
see here about the yard.
81 didn't Mke 10 master" Gor a uegro nerer
steals "didn't take it, sir, find Qoupd) tt
What virtue in terms Corporal Nym, high
professor and practitioner in the art Of taxing,
says, the wise call it CONVEY" In Shakespeare,
never knew but three mulattoes whom BE-
lieyed to be honest; and out of near 800, have
not dozen slaves that will not stake" or ''con-
oey" =,
John is as honest as you and are. So is old
Hetty knOw, and several OF the children BE-
iece. Queen is very honest, she is too lazy to
steal Juba is $3.50 but not strictly honest he
is q finder sometimes and can be trusted with
anything but money with which he will buy
whiskey.
My regards to Mrs. NJ Truly yours,
JOHN RANDOLPH, of Roanoke.