The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-03-17
Women rs they We're.

| 1ounB luuleb OF tne time OF EuWuru
". were brought up with greater strict
ness than at the present day. Mammas
in those days kept their daughters the
greater part Of the day at hard work,
exacted almost slayish Difference from
them, and even, rs an able antiquarian
states, counted on their earnings. After
they had attained certain age 1t was
the custom for the young OF both sexes
to be sent TO tho homes OF powerful
mobiles to finish their education by
learning manners, and thus anoble lady
was often surrounded by n beyy Of fair
faces, from the owners OF which she
did not scruple to receive payment for
their living.
For their occupations they some.
thing Of this wise She rises early, ut
seven or half-pasb listens to mathis and
then dresses. Breakfast follows, and
this is her costume "a silk gown, richly
embroidered with fur, open from the
neck tosthe waistfn front, and having q
turnover collar OF darker color; q
broad girdle, with a rich gold clasp (;
skirts so long as to oblige the wearer to
carry them over her arm; shoes long
and pointed; and, to crown all, the
steeple cap, with It's pendant gossamer
veil. After regalingherse! with boiled
beef and beer she will possibly, II re.
| lligiously inclined, go to the chapel, II
not TO the garden. This, enliyened by
gossip with her friends, takes her until
noon, when dinner Is served, after which
an hour or SO will be spent with the
distaff or the spinning wheel. AT six
o'clock supper is served, after which,
perhaps, follow games at cards or dice,
or possiblya dance, OF which last our
young lady is extremely fond. Later
on another meal is served called the eve
supper or banquet, after which she may
drink glass OF warmed ale or cup Of
wine and then retire for the night, while
another day in the proper season she
may go hawking, or ride on horseback,
or hunt the stag, or shoot rabbits with
bow and arrows, or some other such re.
fined amusement.
The next most striking period-in
female customs at least-is tile reign Of
Elizabeth, during which epoch extrayn-
ganco may be said to have reached Its
height. Before the Virgin Queen came
to the throne she was remarkably sim
pie in her attire, but in latter days she
changed, and historians remind us Of
her eighty wigs OF various colors, and
OF her three thousand dresses. A gaily
attired queen makes IN extravagant
Court. A Court lady Of that date wore
q low dress with q long stomacher, IN
immense ruff around her neck, a small
hat, crinoline, large fan Of ostrich
feathers with mirror attached, highly
scented gloves, and frequently velvet
mask. Her feet were shod with pumps
OF scented Spanish leather, her hair
was died red in imitation Of the royal
locks, and her face was painted and
rouged. To supply the great demand
for wigs women were sent round the
country to buy up country girls tresses,
and female thieves in London robbed
children Of their hair Or despoiled the
dead.
OF all curiositics in costume the ruff
is the most eccentric. These monstrosi-
ties were frequently made quarter OF
o yard deep; 80 that the wearer was
obliged to eat with spoon q couple Of
feet long. When these rufls first came
into fashion the Dutch merchants only
sold the lawn and cambria by ellis, yards,
half ellis and half yards, for there was
not SO much lawn and cambric to be had
in all London as now can be had in one
shop. Also, as yet, umbrellas were
not, and, when o shower did come
down, ladies suffered terribly; while
yet another difficulty was that no laun-
dress could be found who was able to
starch and stiften cambria till Elizabeth
sent over to Holland for Btarchers.
Mistress Dingen Plasse was the first
teacher OF starcling, and taught the
Court beauties for fec Of four or five
pounds, with an extra charge Of twenty
shillings for initiation into tile mys.
teries Of seething the compound.-Loa-
don Society.