The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-12-08
WIVES AND MOTHERS IN THE GREAT
MIDDLE CLASS OF ENGLAND.

Children by ExampIe-Care OF the Feet.
Mrs. ,Ia!aprop-A State Breakfast-Do-
nestle Notes and Items.
In the great middle class of England We
find the highest type of the queens woman
hood and her saving grace. In health and
physique these women models worthy the
admiration and emulation of American wo-
men. IL j. with rare exception that the tour
ist sees pale-faced, puny, sickiy looking,
spindle WASTED, pantIng, falnting EnSLsh
woman The pink and white complexion, the
clear eve the well rounded waist, the firm
tread, l.aspeak perfect bodily health. Many
Of these women take their summer outing in
long walks across the fields, that they may
view nature in all its grandeur and simplicity,
instead of rushing from shop TO dressrnaker
ani packing Saratoga trunks for days OF
weeks before taking a rest" They don q
tidy flannel walking costume, I'LL a hand
basket with a few toilet articles and start on
their walking or tricycle. tour over the charm
ing roads making detours as they fancy over
the heatls IL Is not uncommon to see a
double tricycle. with husband and wife riding
through the country for their vacation
Doubtless the good health of these women Is
due largely to their outdoor exercise In this
class will lie found the best of home makers,
the broa,Iezt minded philanthropists and re-
formers and the happiest and most useful
wives, mothers and "old maids"
The English wife in this class Is no drudge;
she commands a retinue of servants that
would appail the American husband on do
nestle pay day. The standing of family,
socially, depends somewhat upon the num-
her Of servants employed. I'VE could easily
manage our household service with one ser
want" said a model mother to me, but son
and daughter would rather economic in
other ways and keep two maids for the APP
perlrunce Of the thing The irregularity, the
timely AMI untimely lunching OF the Eng
lish household would make drudge Of the
head were it not for the number of servants
usually employed. / have been most delight
fully entertained in several charming per
f,.,tIy ordered houses of men engaged III
large manufacturing interests, and find that
the usual retinue OF servants consists OF
cook hOuIsemaid, nurse, governeSS, gardener,
groom and valet
The scarcity Of labor keeps these servants
respectful and attentive, and their char
acterT depends upon the length of time they
serve one master; this makes commanding
and serving much less annoying than with
n, in America where the help expects to
rule or ruin II the mistress or this manss
i given Ia beneVolence, As she usually Is,
she employs a woman philanthropSt To read
the bible and visit the sick, tho afflicted, or
the fallen with messages of consolation, the
loaf or the bunch of flowers, as the case may
require The zeal and magnitude of charities
carried on by this class of women in the cities
of England are beautiful to contemplate As
La ge noted the great Generalization of the
mazse, throughout the British empire it ap-
pearS to IN. that these women and their
hearty cplahnrerS their husbands, fathers and
brothers. holding up by main force the
whole structure of British society; the
women ar. usually devoted To church duties,
the church leaiing rather than following In
works Of reform and charity. L am pleased
To- nott, the absence of the religious cant in the
conversation and methods of these women.
There l. an entire absence of silly small
talk and aifectation among them which gives
place 10 genial whoe-soultd, scientific, social,
philanthropic or political subjects. These
women read books much, newspapers but
little and il i only during such am exciting
and unusual political contest as the one
through which they have just passed that
they read or discuss politics of the hour.
The, can talk with minute exactness of the
reign Of Henry or an Elizabeth, but they
will not hc able to tell the population of their
own city; they are able To point out Chan
Gerry Lane" stable Inn," and Temple Bar,
peOple,l bv the brain of Dickens but they
cannot tell you the distance from London TO
Liverpool. they can detail the excellence and
value of a painting by I.andseer Murillo, or
. Rembrandt, they read i'll Greek and
Latin ami chatter in French, but they cannot
tell the rate of taxation for the support OF
their royal government. Altogether, the
woman of the middle class of England are
charming To study and 10 know, and make an
interesting hour in the summers pastime. -
Mrs Helen NJ Cougar in Indianapolis Jour
nal