Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-10-21

Queen BeHS al SefeHItcAs
When Eliz 4beih Was seventeen she WAS
mistress OF liberal establishment and her
education was we'll nigh flashed. From her
H ousehold B ,ok" We are let into the secret
of her expenditure. Her income was equal to
some ESQ 900 of olr money, and permitted her
TO live in state becoming her rank. Like
many persons whose lniallectus powers are well
developed, the Priucess wes gourmet, and
large portion OF her handsome allowance was
spent On good living. Wheat could be bought
10 thoss days a, 20s qasrter, yet the 0ake'
house of her Royal Hithness COST her over
e2OO. or el200 of our money. The expense OF
her kitcbsc came 10 nearly s6OO; wax and
candles are eotercd g. ESQ; Goals and wood
came to Gl00; her "ssuce" 10 comprehensive
item incr Ins vesetabl, 81 stands al e2O; beer
and wine cost ner over f300; the wages aod
iyeries of her reaners, CVef t4UO. one was
waited on by thirteen gentleDrh OF the oody,
to each of whom was presented coat "hlcn
cost 4O:; wfen We remember that money 10 t1ose
dsvs ~ reoresecsed by six times the amount at
the prescnt time, we sha find that Il izibeth
spent upon her household expenditures no less
that soma Gl5 0C0 year. Some OF the items en-
tered i'll her hou'ehold oooK ssrike US aS oui; VIZ
small compared with the sums spent upon pouIt-
ry and wax light. Her charities or the year
are put down at G. 15s, 3d. nearly 4 third OF
what she spent uyon Sauce" Inc coucI mll,
lner' Of the period must hsVe founo her hoyal
Hphness one of the shsbbiest of her customers,
for the Princess was Indifferent to the charm o
dresa and we read that the msidenly apparel
which she used in her brothers time maze tno
noblemens daughters and wives ashamed TO %
dressed and painted like peacocka: huTosnos !i,o H
who are called upon to settle the lttle oills' OF
the great miliners Of to. day, would only oe LOO
happy to find su;h a mod tlIsm IN !aelr wives
accounts IS the followin TO making D peir
of upper bodies for her Grace, la; iihlng; loli
sllk, 4t:n even multiply this expenditure oy Elk
md it can scarcely De considered alarming Tor
nrincpss of the blood. Elizabeth could, now
ever, occasionally lauDcasd forth. for We ses
that sometimes she paid 5O3 yard tor BACK 'e'-
vel, or 50 OF our present 'nonev-1'naP1e o1T'
THE OLD VIRGINIA HoME-Alt strangers
visiting Virginia Sisc, the War must have been
deeply impressed by the deserted appearance
of the old plantation homestead. How great
s the change that hiss come over this oouotEy
sioca twenty years ago. Then each landholder
held supreme control over his lands and people;
each in himself petty monarch, Whose law
was absolute, sud Thos. pj"ar WAS ua'Im'feo
u er bis cWa dom!olons.
The slaves attached to each estate all worked
wall doins Of their master. aaG, 10 soma rs-
soee:s. may be hksnsd to the ''cans' Of ec)t-
land.
But these are the scenes and events OF the
mast Master aud slave are now 40 more. Ihe
old Manor House. with its low gablet root aud
quaint old pOrioos, moss covered and gray; the
old old fashioned kitchen, witt lis vide mouth
ed ovens sud huge 6replecs, upon whose hearth
has burned the back logs of macy 0loters; the
| long rows of negro quarters bordering the lana;
the pouderous old gate, with lts huge oakeh
posts and massive iron hiGges. All are gradu-
ally falling to decay.
The old orchard, the broad terrnc,d lava.
| the shady grove, and loog hedge rjW5 h.Ve
all been turned over to the hands OF froVlaence;
| aud over them nature has assumeo her "ont1o
! sway. ,ho
| midnight song and dance. Ihe hote5 OF 'ue
hanio no longer huat upou the evening air; no
lonser do the barring hounds rally to the merry
sonod of the huntsmsn's horu. The master
never sallies forth 10 his clsch and four attend
ed by footmeD aud ivorivd grocms
| Ma the actors 10 this great drama have
nassed away forever; nothing remalns but the
Grand old stage 90 which they played theft parts.
The cruel band of war has laid waste this
beautiful lsud, q1cnclug the brightly Dufnlng
fires of prosperity, and leaving nothing but
tbs dying eubers Of bghted hopes.
But though this gloomy maotle has oeen
tbroun over the dcsr old s ate, yet there Is
melancholy grandeur surrounding these old
Southern homes that never fails to bill the
stranger With surprise and swell his bosom With
temotions that csnuot be expressed, and many
are the travellers that will. 10 years to CONS,
recall with pleasure visit to tho time honored
isbores of the Old Dominion +. A. A., JR.
| Ho!listers, Va.
| Nor TN TIE PLAY.-rns humors OF the stage