Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-02-11
NOTHING TO DO
The Life of a New York M~lIionalre's
Daughter.

Noh AVIh NOIs Iullhuelpnlh llmeh.l
No matter how rich the sensible
mother of a society family may be, she
will not allow her daughters to grow
up in idleness, though Of this fact but
few outside Of these households are
aware, and hence but little credit is
given. The experience of one daugh-
ter of such a mother is only a model
Of dozens we know, and may prove
interesting to those who would like to
learn how young ladies of fashion
keep from dying of ennui.
Why don't you come and see us?n
asked one of the drones of a worker,
the daughter of a millionaire "you
have nothing to do"
Nothing to do p was the reply,
why, child, there is scarcely an hour
in the day | can call my own"
Now tell me what you do?" asked
the doubter.
Well, | will commence with Mon
day morning. We breakfast every
morning at half-past seven o'clock, for
papa likes early hours. | rise at six.
to give me nearly an hour for practic-
ing music and singing before / eat.
and during the day, if possible, two
hours more are given to such practice.
At nine O'Clock, two mornings in the
week, Monday and Thursday, my
master in instrumental music comes
to give me lessons of an hour each
two days my singing teacher requires
an hour then | am learning how to
make the various laces now so fash
ionable, and also have instructions in
the new art of needlework. have also
learned how to make wax and artificial
flowers very nicely, and | spend some
time each day in drawing, painting
and decorating pottery these accomp-
lishments may not be very useful, but
mamma says to be happy one must
create habits of industry, and besides.
We don't know how the wheel of for
tune may turn, and then if | know
we'll how to do these things | will be
able to teach, and then such knewl-
edge will be of great advantage. On
Saturday morning, at least once a
month, mamma requires me to 90 into
the kitchen with her to learn how to
make bread, cake and pastry, which
she says all girls ought to know how
to do for the comfort of their fam
lilies in the future, and then
sometimes she gives me a little
plain sewing and dressmaking, only
for the practice, for she thinks while
| should be proficient in all such mat
ters that if one is able to put out sew
ing, it by all means must be given to
those who have no other way of earn
ing a living. So, often, while we put
out u own work, | practice on the
garments given out to be made by
charitable societies. Besides | 90 to
dancing-school during the winter, and,
as | belong to the church choir, one
evening in the week must be spent in
practicing for Sundays singing; hence,
on Sunday, | must be prompt at
church, morning and evening, and as
| have a class in Sunday-schoo an
other hour is required Of me on that
day. There are, of course, incidental
employments, such as preparing for
church festivals and fairs, and, as in
duty bound, | have to receive and re-
turn calls, and must join my friends
in the various amusements of the sea-
son. So you may see, my dear, | have
but little spare time to hang heavily
on my hands"
And this is the experience of at
least a dozen young society ladies we
have recently questioned in regard to
their manner of passing the time-the
only trouble seems to be that there is
too little time for their various pleas
ant duties, for all seem fond of them
work.
Now the woman who labors for her
bread or pay has generally one mode
Of employment, for which she receives
stated wages and works a certain num-
Der of hours. After and before her
business hours her time is her own,
and she need take no thought of the
calls or claims of society, which is
very e%xacting in the observance of its
general rules. Therefore | have come
to the conclusion that the woman who
works for bread has, in nine cases out
of ten, a much easier time than the
society lady who labors for love.