The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-06-12

themselves to fatigue They were, thougnt
Burnaby. vain and imperious ana entire SUI a "a
ers to that elegance of sentiment Which ~ 80
peculiarly characteristic OF refined ana poisneu
nations" He has the grace 20 admit tna. son-
eraI characters are always llaoie 10 msn5 a y,
tiOns. In Virginia J have had the piefhSms ~
know several gentlemen adorned VIII nS en11
virtues and Accomplishment 70 whom hnot ioi y
lowing description is By no means appnc"Die'
As 70 this absence Of refined:feeling, We shall
see presently. "rhe public or political cnaI-
acter Of the firsinians, be says Igbsy and
with their private one; they arc hausha 1917 az.
Jealous Of their Liberties Impatient 81 @ LII
and can scarcely bear the thought OF DeIHs So, ,,
troiied By any superior power, IN States not
connected with Great Britain otneI VIZ , ian
by having the same common hlIls on is.b ".
bound TO her with natural affection ''n w.
Perhaps this independence was not agreeable
TO the reverend rector OF GreenWlcI loy 81 III
stincts He was not 50 accurate IN ms obseIVa
fions on the private character OF the Nirglnlans
as on their political lie noted tnal lneS Lefet q.
refuse any necessary supplies for the support OF
the Government when called upon and are
generous and loyal people
THE Virginia ladies'" he proceeds. except
ing these amusements AMI now and then party
of pleasure into the woods to parake OF bar
becue Oh Is spend their time II sewing ana
taking care of their families: Ihey SELDOM
read or endeayor TO improve Their MINDS. how
ever, they are in general good housewives ana
though they have not, ! think, quite as mnch
tenderness and stnsDility As the English ladies;
yet they make as good wives ana as good
mothers a. any in the world" 18th Va hist.heg''
soil
1t is surprising that he should have passed so
general q structure on the lack OF enterprise OF
the Nrginans, for he records the famous ieat
of Washington in going alone 10 the ONO
river" with letters to the French COMMANDER;
NJ. st. Pierre, in 1753 but a lew years before, ana
he certainly did not underestimate the act
PICTURE or A COUNTRY FAMILY.
IF you would have a picture Of a country fam
lily Of that time, here is one by the Chevalier de
ChaStellux. who was majOr-general under o
chambeau in the Revolutionary army, IN MS
travels III Virginia in l7sl- y. lie has related
visit he paid 10 General Nelson's family az Oii-
ley, an unpretentlous country place IN hanover
county. He says: In the absence OF the Henerai
VINO had gone to williamsburg his mother ana
wife received us with all the pOliteness, ease
and cordially natural TO his family. But as III
America the ladies' are never thought suihcleht
10 do the honOrs of the house, nve or SIX Nelson's
were assembled to receive Us, among others Sec
rotary Nelson. uncle to the Genera-hls TWO sons,
and two of the Ieneral's brothers. these young
men were married. and several OF them were ac-
compared by their wives and chllureh, anu ''a,
tinguis I'd only by their CHRISTIAN names, so
that during the two days whIc b spent IN thls
truly patriarchal house II was possible Tor m, ne
TO find out their degrees OF relationship. Inc
conn any assembled either IN the parlor or saS
loon. especially the men, from the hour OF
brC akfast 10 that Of bed time; but the converse
ton WAS always agreeable and well supported
II Won we're DESTROYS of dlverSlfyng the scene
there were some good French and English au-
thOrs at hand. An excellent breakfast az
O'Clock a sumptuous dinner at 2, tea punch III
the afternoon and an elegant little supper
divided he day most happily for those whose
stomachs were never unprepared. III Is worth
observing that OH this occasion, where htteen
or twenty people four of whom were strangers
10 the family and the country, were assempleu
together. and by bad weather forced 10 stay
often in doors. not syllable was SAID about play
How many parties Of tractrac. whist and lotto
would with us have been the consequence OF
such obstinate bad weather"
yIRGINIANs IN THEIR HOMES.
We have seen the Virginia mansions and the
Virginians' outward mode of life. Let us take
glance az them IN their homes. Colonel BYRD:
with his inmitable drollery, furnishes Us DTS OF
description from which we get pictures OF
almost every rank Of Virginia life in his time in
1872 Journey TO the Mines He shows MS the
scoding oyerseer's wife; h widow expectant
of a lover with an air becoming 10 Weeu
the spinster "bewailing her virglnlty and et-
pending her affections upon her dog, the Wlfe
pushing on against all iemonstrance through
weather and mud 10 join her husband IN
the new settlement in Goochland; the family
group at Tuckahoe listening TO the Beggars
Opera read aloud; we get the traglcal story of
the young gentlewOman.s marriage with ner
unces oVerseer." with the colonels reflection
that had she run away with gentleman or
pretty fellow there might have been some ex-
cnse for her, though he we're of inferior for
tune, but 10 stoop TO dirty pleblan without
any kind CT merit is the lowest PROSTITUTION;
at Germana, surrounded by its garden and ter
raced walks the tame deer coming into the house
MASKING the pier glass, knocking over the
iea-tabie and committing havoc With the CHINA,
and giving Mrs. SpOtswood the opportunity 10
show her beautiful temper; the gentlemen
walking in the garden discussing iron manu-
facture and Politics; the ladies' taking the VS.
itor to see their small animals; the rides
about the woods; the fine appetltes and capital
cheer. 1t is a pleasant picture
As we come down the century the prospect
simply wdens; the gentry live upon their great
estates working their tobacco managing their
slaves and affairs of the colony; breeding their
fine horses and racing them IN good old
English stvle asserting and maintaining
their privileges; dispensing q lavish
and lOrdly hospitality; visiting and
receiving visits; marrying and giving IN
marriage; their wives rolling about III their
coaches and four, dressed in satins and bro
cades brought IN their own ships from London:
their daughters IN fine raiment often made by
their own fair hands journal Of Young Lady OF
Virginia. dancing reading and marrying; dying
with their husbands ana lovers IN patriotism;
sealing up their tea and giving mp silk from
England except for hats and bOnnets Tesolu-
ton at Raleigh Tavern; their sons going 10
William and Mary or across 10 Oxford or Cam
bridge. growing up like their sires, gay. pleas
ure-loving, winning and losing carriers on
wsgers jealous of privilege, proud, assertlye OF
of their rights, ready TO night and stake all on
point of principle and forming that society
which was the yirile soil from which sprang
this nation.
CHANGED CONDITIONS.
After the close of the Revolution there came
period in which the conditions were somewhat
changed. The rights for which the colonies
had contended had been recognized indepen-
dence had been obtained, success full and salts
nown ha / been won. All that had been fought
for had been secured. Meantime the Govern
ment of the States had been formed and esiab-
hshed on basis which satisfied the thoughtful
ness and hiQhmlndedueSS OF the cOnstPlchors