The Hazlehurst signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1883-1885, 1885-11-26

for the account book, and from that
we begun to talk Of expenses. until
Venice and its people drifted away into
u misty distance to give place to butter.
eggs and so forth. Now. all these prac-
teal matters can be attended to ut
other times, and do not wish to have
my evenings spoiled in that way. 1t
really seems II good many of you Ia
dies have such craze OF late for max.
ing fancy things that you feel as II your
hands must be busy every moment and
you have given mp many more import
ant occupations, Your reading and your
music. for instance, to take all these
stitches. and make these pretty tn ngs."
"You recall talk Of Miss Lyman's
years ago when was at Vassar," 10.
Joined his wife. 1--WE girls were in the
habit of doing all sorts Of fancy work
between dinner and dessert, as 1t took
some tine to remove the plates for the
company Of four hundred or more who
sat nj tables. Some OF us would take
out our crochciing. others made tatting.
others embroidered, and rs think OF
| il now it was ridiculous way for us to
do Miss Lyman, who was lady princi.
pal then. said nothing for q few weeks.
but one day in the chapel she gave us
practical talk on conversation and
table manners. She said she pew.
or wanted TO see any more fancy
work or handiwork OF any kind
done at tho dinner table in that
college. She believed in industry,
and knew that much could be accom-.
plshcd in many ways by improving odd
aud spare moments of time. But she
thought it just rs necessary that young
ladies should learn how TO fold their
hands quietly. to DO composed. and
learn to converse. and dinner table
was one of the places where converse
ton should be carried on. and in q
bright, entertaining way. Instead o!
picking mp your fancy work to take to
the table with YOU when the dinner-bell
rings, carry along some interesting bit
OF news. or an anecdotc, or an Incl
dent, something agreeable to relate.
she said, and let us have conversation
at our tables from our intellectual
young ladies, instead of u company OF
kn tiers and tatting Makers And
then in her most digniiied manner she
added: 1t is great accompl shmcnt,
young ladies, to be able to converse.
and n good opportunity is here af.
fordcd for you to learn that rare art. y"
81 wonder you remember her words
so WELL" said Mr.. James "Shc certain.
" was sensible woman"
Indeed she was" replied his wife;
'but yet that was different matter
from doing fancy work in the evening
Many of her good talks come to nue. now
and are help to me, and II had only
acted upon them all should be quite a
perfect character. suppose. She was a
wonderful woman. rs every one among
those first classes at Vassar will test ~.
Her talks 10 the scholars on great
variety of subjects were invaluable"
ii wonder how she would like to see
some of her old pupils now with books
and conversation neglected. sitting down
az their crazy quilts in the morning aud
their drawn work at evening. while
servants. with many of them, form the
chief subject of conversations" inquired
Mr. James.
she would give US one of her good
talks. know. and show us how We
could manage all our affairs easily and
still find time to carry on some intel.
lectual pursuits" replied his wife.
well. we'll just imagine we have
one of those talks tonight from Miss
LYMAN in addition to m ne. and we'll
act upon it from this time henceforth. "
replied Mr.. James.
|. Now, really, you wouldn't have me
sit and fold my hands al the evening""
said his wife. THAT seems almost as
absurd as II WAS for US TO do our fancy
work at table"
Then have something that does not
absorb your attention." rejoined her
husband. "Now you know when YOU
are interested in making all those holes
and sewing them up, and weaving in
all that elaborate work. you don't hear
what I'm reading or care anything
about it, Now. be honest, what were
you thinking about when Twas reading
Gladstone's speech. Do you know what
he was talking about?"
Mrs. James laughed outright, and.
with aquizzical look on her face, 10.
piled: "You ask too close questions,
Will"
"Be honest now." said Mr. James,
"what was it?"
WELL" said Mrs. James, slowly,
"a WIS wondering IL this piece Of work
was rs handsome as Mrs Andrews.
and II this pattern was as wide as hers.
and / was also thinking that l mus.
look after my pickles in the morning.
and make grape jelly. and was plan.
ming some work for Bridget" and she
laughed again. Then she added; ut
is hard for me to listen when my hands
are engaged, and II I can not school
myself to 1t will give 1t up. for you are
right about the reading. and We must
have a regular time for It."
The result of the talk was that they
did rs Mr.. James suggested. Mrs.
James put away all practical work at
five o'clock, her orders for breakfast