The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-10-31
English and American LIfe

i -
ded In well.to.do EnRlish families, ant
therefore haVeno idea how exceedingly
superior the living Is In them TO tina
among similar classes in this country. VIZ
speak now Of houses where the income
ranges from fifteen to 1ny thousand dol
lars o year IN England, the gentry Will
such fortunes live Ia the same style every
day, and can not be taken by surprise H
several guests Unexpectedly drop In
Breakfast In the house OF q country gem
tleman with twenty thousand dollars q
year viii consist Of two or three hot dishes
eggs, rolls, toast, preserves, cold ham,
tongue, pic, and game; and the only diI-
ference when there are guests In the house
Is that mole Is provided. When breakfasi
Is hallway through, fresh relays Of tost ar.
rive, and hot water or splrit.lampS keen
the vlands warm for corners.
Luncheon Is an infinitely superior meal
to most American dinneFs-a couple oil
excellent hot dishes, pastry buildings, cold
meats, cherry, claret, and beer.
Dinner, tho solemn prandial event Of
the day, is admirably comfortable. The
white waiStcoated and craVatted butler
throws open the door. and announces It.
The footmen in well.ftting, handsome
llveries, stand 10 the hall, like guardsmen
on parade, while the family passes into
tho diningroom. From beginning 10 end
all runs like well.oiled wheel, II The lain.
test crash of plate or china be heard, the
trown Of the butler makes his myrmidous
tremble, The host and hostess, utterly
free from care about the failure ofsoup or
OntreS, arc as thoroughly at ease as the
merriest Of their guests, and are able to
give their attention to conversation, I'M
disturbed by any narrowing apprehen-
sion.
The dinner consists always Of soup and
fish, entrees from one to four, according
to tho number present, roast, boiled pieces
do TeSIStdnce, from two 10 four sweet dishes,
game, cheese Of two kinds, dessert, and
and coffee. Tea with dry toast, cake, &c,
Is served IN the drawing'room about two
hours after dinner. Usually asmall table
Is placed In corner Of tho room, covered
with white cloth, and the beautiful tea
service, often well worth a study by those
curious in old plate, Is placed thereon. In
how many American household, with
even hundred TO hundred and fifty
thousand dollars year does this thoroug b
comfort and completeness reign? The
furniture Is usually ten times finer, the Ia.
dies spend thrice as much on their dress,
but is the result as good? Does such ex-
penditure tend as much to make a man
love his home, and long, as nlnety-fve
Englishnen out OF q hundred do, 10 get
back TO itg.. The domestic details we have
described are almost entirely carried out
by the lady who, in British phrase, "rules
the roast" Even down to the stables, she
very often controls all domestic concerns,
and thus gives her lord and master, gem
orally though not apparently her willing
slave, time for his parliamentary, magis-
terial, or professional duty. Only she Is
generally wise enough, to consult him
and, il he differs, can usually contrive, by
a little gentle Neutrality-suspicious. rarely
answers with the British benedict got
her own way. Many ladies are bored with
domestic details, and would gladly avoid
them, but they are brought up to regard
them as duties OF woman, to be done,
whether disagreeable or otherwise, Just
as the lawyer or the doctor must do his
work.
Here the feeling Of duty does not often
obtain to the same degree, and half the Ia.
dies in New York never dream Of troub-
ling themselves that their husbands din
ner may have variety and palAtableness.
You may dine at dozens Of our million
aires houses, and you will find, unless
there be set banquet, a dinner which
would be thought miserable in q comfor-
table English reCtory. Often neither fish
nor soup. a huge joint, perhaps some
fowls, indifferent pastry, and pudding
you gulp down, because you rashly took
some, and don't like your hostess to see
that you leave it. The servants bang and
crash, and anoint your shoulder with
sauce and gravy. Dine there week con-
secutively, and you'll havethe same dish
es nearly every day. POliteness prevents
foreigners, who see this style OF thing,
saying much, put, like the cabman, whose
fare gave him sixpence, "they thinks q
deal" and whether French, German, or
English, they agree that, in this country,
great though 1t be in all respects, you can
not, apparently, no matter how rich, be
comfortable; and, If 1t be the poor mans
paradise. "ItIs not place for a gentle
man tolive in" They begin, in fact, very
well to comprehend how it's that there
arc sixty thousand Americans living
abroad. A change for the better, in these
respects, lies in the hands OF the ladies',
who, iithey would but devote one half the
time they now give to tho consideration
OF dress and morning visits to domestic
concerns, might effect a delightful rovo-
luton. The recommencement of life In
town oilers 9 good oppottunity.-App!s
TONS Journal.