The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-04-07
OLD HON ESTEADS.
CrsTOgs OF THOSE WHO OCCtritp
THEM.
the DAYS or TIE TILLOW CAH'
DIE.
orr FATHERS Kept EARLIER HOURS
r,.,,ionsiie People of Former 1i'ne''
,h.ir Wsgkpe.-e- and Their Nrtues
Tho Latest Go.sip- Were Accep'"-
bic Ihcn-HacAs Were scarce

EEL
Tho Latest Go.sip- Were Aceep'"
bic Ihcn-nacAs Were scarce.
"a onr AS, article describing the home
.,loIs of the past and their surroundings
,ye left the picture We attempieu u sl,o
s,mcwhat incomplete. \ rev Nofus,
therefore. in regard 10 the manners anu
.nme of the customs Of those VINO o''u
nird those places would appear to be ne
ressary. We do not propose, however
m undertake here a detailed account oil
, society so different in many oil IT.
,r,mineut features from that when cA
IT,. tuoue the people o. thepiosent day.
IN do this would demand too close an cN-
animation of the causes Of these dlhe'-
an..s II mirht involve also phio,o-
ohic ianuiry not at all suited ID the
character of these articles. VI hen, now
ever. we revive in Imagination some or
tho neculiarities of the social system ol
several generations gone. the reaHet in1;
nerbaps discover for himself enough
10 appreciate the distinctive features "i
each ...s,i,,
Asa rule. the domestic lclhil'h' W '''
homo circle were carefully preserved
hv our ancestors. They had inner
lied this habit from their British pro
oenitors. who brought 10 with them 10
the new world rs part OF the tradition
and customs ot the mother county me-
di.rinline Of The hresidc was arm, Dul
tolerant and gentle The training Oh
children was more by example tnah ny
preepnt. although Of course me laltei
,ros moi neglected For this reason they
uuconsciously adopted the manners ana
imbibed the principles and opinions OF
those ,n ahOm they looked with respect
and confidence. These latter bad them
elves been trained in the same way by
their own parents. habit oil OoeulenOo
and subordinatiOn generally perVaueu
the entire household The acknowledged
head OF the family exercised hls
prerogatiye as such, so that from the
HIGHEST 10 tie most humble was pre-
served regard FOR authority. 1t
must not be inferred, however that this
wholesome and necessary restraint i00f
the form OF arbitrary rule unless under
exceptional cases Ii WAS rather
suG OF public sentiment within
the limits of each household by
which each and every member OF
was instinctiyely controlled. or course
there were occasions when disoncdi
cncc WAS met by summary punishment
and when even breach OF decolum Wa-
visited hy temporary disgrace Inc con
duct of The master towards the scIfanl-
on his premises, who were generally IBIS
slaves. was exaciing, but humane
They were members Of lis house
hold-wora the immediate associ'
atcs OF h.. fam ly--Whlle his children
became attached TO them as companions
and guardians They often descended
rom generation 20 generation together.
niaintaiaing the family traditions viii
the same pride that stirred the hearts Of
their yhite owners. Some of u8nON llYin-
can perhaps recall the tender relations
that LONG existed between our old nurses
and ourselves. OF can look back 10 inc
time when We delighted 10 romp aud
wrestleand run old harcs with the nesio
boys OF our own aye We remember
how on such occasions, although ireaifi
%, iniimaies, they never presumed upon
their priv .lcgc as such, although man
tanning al the same time their hoNisn
prefoemiye. We may remember zoo.
how We stood In awe OF the stern Gus
.odian of the garden when in pursuit G..
forbidden fruit or how fond we were OF
the carriage driver who granted Us the
privilege of mounting the box with him
AS he drove proudly up TO the front door
upon the order Of his mistress.
After The daily routine OF business TIE /
family assembled, either in The dining /
room on drawing-r0Om, az what was then /
called "candle-light" 10 was The hour
lust after twilight. There Was NO gas ID /
those DAYS. Candles OF the puresi sperm /
aceti and lamps filed with whale OIL sup /
Piled the requisite light Tho former /
were placed on cenlrc-table and pro /
tecied from the haTing effects OF The /
wind by tall glass shades The lamps 0r
coudelabrums al WAYS adorned the man /
tle-piece, and when occasion required
afforded ADDITIONALLY soon alter the I
candles were Tic tea was served. no /
such meal As supper was known, unless /
upon some special occasion, when u was |
served al a much later hour. The ten /
was drawn and handed round by the I
dining room servant on waiter upon /
which was also generally sliced bread, /
already buitered, or toast with some ap' /
propliate relish. II company had been |
Invited 20 tea. An extra waiter borne by !
an assistant, was necessary. Upon tM- /
were several kinds of bread, soaked /
crackers. homemade cake, waters, /
Clipped broiled yenison, or some /
other ike relish Each one OF the /
company vas expected 10 take care OF /
his or her plate without table, Whilr /
slipping the steamlng tea. This required T
no ordinary skill and care; but people /
in those days sat mp straight IN theif
chairs. not 10 DO which was considered /
as vulgar as il was uncommon. W non
only one cup OF tea was desired the lsct
was indicated by placing the teaspoon
into the cup and returned TO waiter
handed round by the servant. The
meal being finished, the rest OF the
evening was spent by the family DO
chatting, working and making music.
IL guests were present games were IN
troduced Chess was very fashionable
and often in nelghborhood champion
PLAYERS of all ages were pitted against
each other Mr.. Thomas Rutherford,
when quite an aged man, often played u
rubber of these games with bright
young lady which occupied them from
candle-light to midnight.
This custom Of assembling together al
the family hre-sidc had a most conserve
tive effect over society At that time. The
youngest children were fed and sent 10
rest early in the evening Those of ripper
age were never allowed % stray OF, no
one kuew where, ss soon as tea was over
By 8 o'clock, except upon special occa-
sions, they had already prepared their
lessons for the next days school, and
were yawning FOR rest In the classic
yernacular Of the present day, this would
be "chesnut' 10 some Of the modern
youth OF the same age
This cnstnm of heinr kent nj homo aD-