New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-02-26
DAILY TRIBUNE SUNDAY

cars or omnibuses, the sidewalks as well rs the
streets often unpayed, the cutters dirty. and no
rubbers rain-coths. All the hours were early.
and the woman of fashion had TO get back from her
she piping before the forenoon callers made her
knocker clang. Her early dinner was hearty IN
good variety. ard well cooked; but it began with
pudding, everything was on the table at once ana
no dishes passed Desserts were becoming
fashionable but the table not cleared or them,
and soups were not in vogue. Three pronged forks
were not common, and she used her knife very
freely. and poured her tea into her saucer. She
had a great deal of sewing 10 attend TO- tor her
clothes were all home made but she had no pet
dog or bird, and there wa, no afternoon reception
or concert. and literature made few demands upon
her unframed mind, unless she was an avoTed blue
stocking II she went TO party IN the evening she
arrived by 6 or I, and found the room dinly
lighted, and with no waltzes or germans, but very
grand affair sometimes for all that although the
supper was home made without salads or ices and
IL was good form for her TO carry pece of cake in
her handkerchief Evening lectures were being IN,
tr0duced, but she could not 90 TO the theatre and
there was no music worthy of the name.
The Boston girl never. we believe, was very
strenuous for a chaperOn. And before midnight
she sought her weheated and curtaIned Ded.
Her bathing opportunities were VerJ scaht' enc
afraid of cold baths and could not get hot ones
and often had to 90 to the kitchen sink TO hnlsh her
toilet. IL does not sound like more unhealthy ne
than the present but IL was so. travellers an
speak OF the pretty faces and meagre, undeyeloped
forms of young women especially IN Boston.
They had terrible colds pale compilations, and
worst Of all, grew old very early. Blanchards re-
marks fifty years before quoted by Mrs Cneneyl
were still pretty rue: At twenty years of age the
women have already lost the freshness OF youth; at
thirty-ive forty they are wrlnkled and decrept;
| found that the great part OF those who bad
died were under fifty years Of age. There were
very few of sixty; almost none as old as seventy,
and / saw none older" There were several causes
for this The dress vas very unhealthy. Low neck
and short sleeves even in mIdwiDter no iiannes or
rnbbers, and shoes and stockings absurdly lnsuih-
cient. Then women went but little out or doors,
and the houses were badly warmed and lll-drained,
and the water was impure and it was not the Gus
tom to go away in the summer for country air or
seaside breezes. There was need OF Improvement
in other respects too, mental well as physical tor
female education was at a very low ebb. The BIB
lical view of feminine subsection had never been
fully appreciated here, and its influence grew
steadily less. The Boston girl did not agree with
Burgoyne that
Duty 10 woman's mind shonld give the law,
And make cen love obediont TO papa"
but the laws were unchanged, and much renamed
for the reformer and much, too, for that great
change brought about by the increase OF wealth and
the artistic awakening that followed the war OF the
Rebellion.