Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-08-12
A WOMAN OF FASHION,

A great deal has been said of late about the
uncommon and ever-increasing extrayagance
Of u woman of fashion. 1t is indeed very try
ing for hard working man to see his little
savings squandered by an extravagant wife
but he may ind some consolation in the reiec-
ton that the practice has now become historical
and well established by immemorial usage. The
following is letter written by Lady Campton
to her husband, in the beginning of the seven
teenth century. In il she gives a list Of what
she suppOses necessary for woman of her posi-
ton. Whether these things are considered
necessaries in legal point of view does not
appear. In justice to Lady Campton, however,
it should be said that she brought her husband
large fortune:
My Street Life: Now, that / have declared
to you my mind for the settling of your estate,
L supposed it were best for me to bethink or
consider with myself what allowance we're
meetest for me; for, considering what care
have had of your estate, and how respectfully
l deal with those which, both by the laws of
God, 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 600 per annum, quarterly to be paid
Also, would besides that allowance for my
appareD have $500 added yearly Quarterly to
be paid for the performance Of ofcharitable works:
and those things 1 would not, neither will be,
accountable for.
Also, L will have three horses for my own
saddle, that none shall dare to lend or borrow ;
none lend but j, none borrow but you
Also, would have two gentlewOmen, lest one
should be sick or have some other lett al
believe that it is an indecent thing for a gen.
tlewoman to stand humping alone, when God
has blessed her lord and lady with a good
estate.
Also, when ride hunting or hawking, or
travel from one house to another, will have
them attending, SO, for either Of those said
women, l must and 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 Tor 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. --T
Also, will have two coachmen; one for my
own coach, the other for my women.
Also, at any time when travel will be
allowed not only coaches and spare horses for
me and my women, but will have such car
riages as shall be fitting for all, orderly, not
pestering my things with my women's, nor
theirs with chambermaids', nor theirs with
washmaids' -.
Also, for laundresses, when travel, will
have them sent away before with the carriages
10 see all safe and the chambermaids L will
have 20 before with the greens, that the cham
Der may be ready, swept, and clean.
Also, for that it is indecent TO crowd up my
self with my gentleman usher in my coach,
will have him TO have q convenient horse, to
attend me either in city or in country. And l
must have two footmen. And my desire that
you dsfray all the charges for me.
And for myself, besides my yearly allow ance,
would have twenty gowns Of apparel six of
them excsllent good ones, eight of them for the
country, and six other Of them very excellent
good ones. 'tt IN = fE[A 7
Also would have to put in my purse &C, 900
sna' EDO, and SO for you to pay my debts. !