The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1860-02-29
THE DAY BOOK.
WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 20
Our Idle Beauties.


An English traveller writes thus of us:
Il can assure you that, having lived in
different castles and manor-houses of
Great Britain, and been accustomed to
the industrious habit is of Duchesses and
Countesses, was utterly astonished at
the idteness of American fine ladies! NO
English women of rank, with the excep'
ton of a few pa,venueS,) from the Queen
downwards, would remain Tor one half
hour unemployed, or sit in rocking
chair, unless seriously i'll. They almost
all with hardly an exception) copy the
letters of business Of their husbands, faith
ers, or brothers; attend infinitely to the
wants of the poor around them aud even
take part in their amusements, and SYM
pathize with their sorrows; visit and su-
perlntend the schools, work in their own
gardens; to see to their household CON-
Germs, think about their visitors; look over
the weekly accounts; not only of domes-
tic expense, but often those Of the farm
and estate, manage penny clubs in con-
junction with the working-classes, to
help them to keep themselves, and with
all these occupations, by early hours, they
keep up their acquaintance with the
Literature and politics of the day, drawing
and cultivating the accomplishments Of
music and drawing, and often acquire,
besides, some knowledge Of scientific pur-
suits.
''The late Marchioness of Lansdowne
was so well acquainted with the cottagers,
i'll her neighborhood, that she used to
visit and look at the corpses of the dead
because she found tina; her doing SO SCOTT
ed and comforted the bereaved. | have
known her shut herself up with mad
woman in her poor dwelling, who used
TO lock the door, and could not be induced
to admit any one else. Lady Landowners
only daughter used one hundred guineas
(given her by he father in-laws Lord Suf-
folk, 10 buy braceleD to build pigsties,
with his permission, at her husbands lit
tie country residence. She educates her
own children without assstance-teach-
ing the boys Latin, and the girls all the
usual branches of education. The late
Duchess of Bedford, accidentally dis
covered when on "a visit to Wobern, had
for 80 years of her marriage life, risen at
i o'clock, Summer and Winter, lit her
own fire, made some tea for the duke and
herself, and then, as he wrote his own
letters OF business, she copied them, aud
they came down to large party Of
guests at ten o'clock to dispense breakfas
with out saying one word of their mat
urinary aVOcations; so that you might
have been visitor in the house without
finding out that the duke and duchess
had transacted the necessary business of
the day--before, perhaps, you had risen.
l rather mention those that are gone 10
their reward than write of women still
among us; but you may believe me When
l SAY that am constantly among those
who live such lives ofenergy and useful
ness, but they so employ themselves
without oStentation Or any idea that they
are doing more than their simple duty"
MADAM, will you please inform me
the number of inhabitants there are in
the house?"
''Yes?"
"rhe people in this mansion. "
"Well there are eight in the room over
head"
chow many-eight?' Are they all
adults7"
"No, they are all Smiths except two
buarders.'
Smith? black OF white smiths, ma
DAM"
I'D have you know ! don't live in
house with niggars."
81 didn't allude to color only meant
their calling
go, that's it, is it; well if you had been
here last night you'd found out, for they
were calling the watch as loud rs they
could Scream"
MADAM, merely wish to know how
many people you have in this house. and
what they do for a living?'
"Yes, now l understand IG,ll, let
me see; there's the two Mullins-that's
one"
"That makes two, madam"
"Well, yon know best, 'apose .yon
eonnt 'em yourself"
at is my business to inquire"
"Well, you'd better attend to it then,
and don't bother me.
NOTICE EXTRAORDINA