New-York tribune., 1907-12-01

What of Maids Matrons of High Social
in Those Early

There is in existence. as most people know.
an exclusive society called the Colonial Danes
Of America The members admitted are only
such as can count among their ancestors q num-
her of founders Of colonies else Governors
or other high dignitaries of state prior TO the
Revolutionary period. Among the names one
finds such as Van Rensselaer,. Gardiner WIN
fhrop King Fairfax. De Peyster and score or
more appeliations that were borne by those by
whom history was made in the early days ot
the New world The women that bear these
honorable names are conservative to a degree
and still respect many OF the traditions that
have come down 10 them along with the old
brocaaed frocks. the exquisite bits Of enoroid-
cry and handmade laces and. last but not
least the samplers. From these traditions anu
from old letters much that is interesting may
be learned about the home life Of those early
esvs For one thing il is evident that the daugh-
ter wss ever close by the mothers side. There was
no banisnment to converts or finishing schools
and no ostentatious debuts with coming out teas
ana II may also be mentioned incidentally that
there were no wall flowers once maid Old at
tend the gayeties the times afforded As became
the constant companions Of loving mothers
these little girls were treated with respect AT
the age of six they were called Miss with all
gravity, and when there were callers. or upon
.sdining days." when guests arrived to stay
from early morn to evening, they made thelr
manners" as became the daughters of gentle
men and sat upon high stiff backed chairs
throughout the stated time. The social customs
of the day enforced habits Of rigorous polite
iness and self-control and the little maid per-
Inisted herself anxious glances TO the outer
world and spoke not word unless she was ad-
dressed When these visits Of state were re-
turned or the drive taken to church her upright
little figure was prominently perched upon the
front seat of the family chariot clad In SILK
coat and mittens. capuchin and muffatee-
NONE WERE IDLE
weekday duties were shared by the children
rrith their elders and little hands were lent 10
sclap r1luslins" on clear starching days when
the kerchiefs lace steenkirks and ruffled bosoms
were dore mp and crlmped into preecrloeo
shapes Never was lounging or idieness per-
,n,tted: the chairs prohibited the former and the
bringing up the latter
The desire to learn grew with the growth OF
these Colonial rnaideBs. and in their early teens
.hev were fitted sor the matriInony they sofre-
nuently entered before the girl of to-day THINKS
Of such a thing. Their manners. by reason oh
their always having been present az hollle 60 So
erings Of their elders, were unconsciouslE
formed and a touch Of youthful coquettlshness,
combined with the stately and almost suitTo
etiquette Of the time. made them irreslstiple. IN
any journal or annual of the times We're any OF
the women or girls found to be plain2 No; each
a hpaufv whom po9llS Oh praise NSAc
-. O q - 5.,r.,,r ree,,e nortrait of Catharine
livingston at The age OF six shows h1eie lilaIo
fJ with quilted skirt. held out by hoops toucnlhs
y the floor in color CHEEKY pink A quaint iace
anrou and kerchief with lace frills in the elbow
sleeves complete the costume In her hailo Is d
blown rose and in her fair hair a bud The
rtiTdfeh e,-es leob down from the canvas with a
rathetic expression. although the lips are curved
in a smile, and one can just fancy her IeduE
for the mirue. she learned to dance Win her
cousins and little friends A few years later
found her with powdered hair with strings OF
rearis enfwined. high heeled white satin slip
rs~s and gou1, Of satin, lace frilied al square
rut reclx and elbow sleeve. with looped back
overskirt OF silver and white brocade-
NEEDIEwoRK TASKS.
AS rnatrinlory came SO early to Colonial maid
ems il beliooved them TO learn all they conld
in the shortest order, 50 as TO be fitted 10 heip
in the management OF vast estates and to Ill
their high social positions properly The first
tasks IN reedieworf were the samplers, many
Of which are preserved carefully and framed
as they were originally, and the faded soit
coIorings. with elaborate letters and OBJECTS
flowers or other fanciful designs are quaint and
aln7os. pathetic reminders of the past one sees
in imagination some healthy, active child sol
EMMY pricking her tiny fingers Tor lhe supu-
lated time allotted 10 the task. while out or
doors all nature called 10 her TO come and romp
IN the fresh sweet air and sunlight for letters
Washington, Anne Carter. Mary Wills, CANA
Tine Van Rensselaer,. Aida Schuyler, Betsy Lee
ard Martha CEStls ana oInefs Oh lliuStIlcuS pa
reutaEe 10 have been engaged at TINS TASK at the
age OF six years. One sampler at least had TO
he worked. and often more. 70: peTfectlon In
anything undertaken was derna oed with almost
puritanic2l strictness. Besides the samplers
the seams Of gowns other clothes to be al
tered were given TO children to be 'unplcked,
or as we of present times term il. ripped out
This task of picking out seams was often a pun
ishment for small act of dlsobedience
Graver offences we're visited with corporal pun
ishrnent and the evasion Of any duty was con-
sidered sufficient cause for prompt treatment
EDUCATION OF CHILDREN
There not being schools for small girls and
bows. governesses and tutors came from Eng
land 10 reside with the families of note, and
their references had IN he of the highest order
70 make them acceptable These women and
the housekeeper the most important factors
in the running of the manors. for the mis-
tress Of the house had usually peen married in
her early teens. she had no more strength than
necessary TO perform her social duties and en-
broider the christening robes for the children
ss they came But she kept up her French les
sons, and many q retired French officer or HUI
suenot exile made his living by instructing the
winsen1e young matrons in this foreign tongue.
In fact French spoken almost fuenty
as English among the young women. both mar
RED an6 unmarried at the time when Philadel-
phia was the centre of gayety in the colonies
and French bon mots Of beautiful DANES to
gallant beaus are still quoted. The governess
taught the girls only the rudiments OF history
writing and reading. and a little geography
Bible lessons were long and the reading Of pious
DOCKS stll longer Poetry composed by the
youngsters Is part of their exercises and they
also learned from the goyerness tine art Of more
advanced sewing, making nightrails and petit
coats and pantalettes. The tutor instructed the
boys, extending the lessons in Latin TO the girls
He frequently acted secretary to his en-
ployer, ard DID general overseeing when the
tate needed him. The Roverness was required
To have knowledge of music and spinet harp
sichord and harp were the fashionable instru-
Inents performance upon any OF them being
-r-rrQ far Gf,-x