Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-12-26
ENGLISH LIFE IN TUE 18TH CENTURY

bNubioh Lire tN luE lbFh ZEN fTUh1
think there were in my time about
four or five of the richest and most fash
ionable OF our young ladies who took o
few lessons on the spinet and about as
many more who learned very little draw
ing, in very bad tasto but the parents OF
the rest Of us would have thought il not
only extravaganza, but presumption to
give such snowy and expensive accom-
plishments to girls destined for good
housewives. We all learned to dance,
however, both minuets and country
dances, and well remember that before
our grand annual exhibition at the mas
ters ball, such of US as naturehad not ia.
yored with the high forehead, then esteem.
ed as beauty, were obliged to submit to
the application ofa strip of pitch plaster
round the edges of the hair by means oi
which it was torn up by the roots.
We had other penances to undergo, un.
known to the damsels Of these happier
days. There were back-boards, iron
collars, stocks for the feet, and frightful
kind of neck swing, in which we were
suspended every morning whilst one oi
the teachers was facing our stays all
which contrivances were intended and
imagined to improve the figure and the
air Nothing was thought 80 awkward
and vulgar as anything approaching ia
stoop: "IIold up your head, miss I
IVES the constant cry. wonder any o
us kept our health we had very little
exercise OF any kind, were tight-laced il
very stiff stays, not sufficiently warmed il
winter, and both coArsely and sparely
fed.
X y Tho chief alloy Of our socia
enjoymcnts was the stiff and really bar
barous ceremonial which then accompan
led all the common actions of life. From
the retired life that they led, and the awe
and subsection in which they were kept
by their elders, damsels had then a degre,
of bashfulness, or awkwardness II yor
please, of which it is my private opinion
that the accomplished young ladies o
these days cannot even form an idca.-
Imagine, then, what it was, in the mids
OF formal dinner, after calling for beel
ond receiving it from the servant in cuy
or glass by the bye, which had previously
served half the company, to go round tht
company, crying ont with an audibl,
voice, "Mrs A., your health !; DR. b.
your good health," and so on--each per
son, as you proceeded, laying down youl
knife and fork to be ready to acknowledg,
the compliment
have often sat almost choking Will
thirst, but quite unable to summon cour
age for the operation Of drinking. re
member once seeing an awkward girl SIR
prised by the approach of health as sh,
was in the act of picking the leg of bone
of fowl with her teeth-another grace
ful practice of that day-who suddenl,
dropped both her hands, and sat quite
still with the bone across her mouth, lik,
deaths head with cross bones in tn,
border to bill Of mortality.
1t was even worse when we came to til,
wine after dinner or support was ther
not sufficient to drink healths-a young
lady would often be required in spite o
bushes and entreaties, to give as toast
either the name of a single gentlemen ol
sentiment. Perhaps some such Aa
affair as this :-"May tho single be mar
ried and the married happy.'-Mis
Lucy Aiken's Memoirs.