Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-05-01
NOME LIFE ABROAD.
MT. NfchoIsOn's Lecture Before the
Unity Club.

| At Unitarian Church last night week
X Nicholson spoke upon the oontrssteG
phases Of home life in this country, Esq
land, aud the continent OF Europe.
He said Charles Dickens never re
GREETED anything more in bis life than the
writing of his American notes. most
remarkable degree of Ignorance preysils
among Englishmen as regards the most
ordinary conditions existing here. The
American girl i5 held to combine tlippancy
aud valgsrity.
The class distinctions were osrefu lily
defined, showing the strong lines between
the nobility, gentry, trades people and
lsborers. In America money gives posi-
tion, not 30 in England. The average
American girl would be very sorry to ex-
chanbe her social position here with
what would be an equivalent in England.
In that country social laws are brought
to bear heavily upon the opposite sex.
They are restricted and hsdged in with
what would be considered here un.
necessarily rigorous exaotness, The barrier
here is somewhat relaxed. In France,
the young lady often doss uot see her
husband alone till the marriage day.
English people, Of the better CLASSES, 20
to bed late and do not get up early. The
hostess, in England, takes advantage as
each new visitor appears during the day
to join in hospitable glass OF wine 30
that by the time night arrives the amount
of wine, beer and spirits the Euglish
woman has imbibsd is something almost
Incredible. Parental respect is condi
tion that exists in England to more ad-
vantage than in America. The boy Of l3
is never seen smoking nor doea he swear.
He considered that really there Is less
difference in the condition OF the Ameri-
can aud English workingusu than is
claimed. The latter is poorer bscauss he
spends so much on bser. 1t Ia a common
saSiug that tue church OF England floats
upon beer 1t undoubtedly gains great
support from the brewers. The upper
GLASSES are strict Sabbatarians, not 80 the
working cl ,sses, especially Of London.
The railway stations on sunday are filed
with gunners and anglers on pleasu ure bent.
The Englishman joyiully tramps the
three miles on Sunday necessary to make
him a traveller that he msy enjoy his
coveted pot OF beer. 1t is an amazing
sight to find town of so, 600 inhabitants
such as Wilmington, without pawn
brokers' shop. There is startling
dessth OF respectable public resorts OF
amusement in Englsnd-the music hall
covers everything,
The lecturer oontrssted the English
love Of seclusion and oonoeslment OF
houses behind shrubbsry with the
general American and French opepress
The lecturer then spoke upon some of
the salient characteristics OF French home
lite. The average French peasant is re-
thrifty. The average French
family lives upon what the American
housewife throws away. Women do half
the manual labor in France. There is
more social restriction placed upon
the French woman than on the Eng
lish and still more on the Belgian.
In a population OF 100000, Belgium
unde' protection has 800, 200 psupers,
The people, however, are light-hearted |
and contented. Hospitality and close
family ties of the Italians are their |
cardinal virtues; the latter has begotten |
the vendette," the avengers OF the
blood of the family. Germans make good |
citizens, because, though they love their
native country, the severe military re-
luirements let them leave without great |
regret, and they are of home-loving, |
peaceful disposition.
At the close DR.. Wilson announced |
that the next lecture would be on the |
coming Wednesday, upon the subject of
food in relation to health and character.