File:Colonial days and dames (1895) (14591998619).jpg

Identifier: colonialdaysdame00whar (find matches)
Title: Colonial days and dames
Year: 1895 (1890s)
Authors: Wharton, Anne Hollingsworth, 1845-1928
Subjects: Women
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.B. Lippincott Co.
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

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indulged in asmuch innocent rivalry over caps and gownsas over the number of hanks of flax andWool spun, for young people seemed tobe young even in New England, and quiteas tender glances of sweethearts could beexchanged over spinning-wheels as in thepauses of the dance in gayer circles. A descendant of Thomas JeffersonsBelinda writes of the Virginia lady of theolden time, Very little from books wasthought necessary for a girl. She wastrained to domestic matters, however, mustlearn the accomplishments of the day, toplay upon the harpsichord or spinet, andto work impossible dragons and roses oncanvas. Bits of embroidery still pre-served testify to the skill of olden-timeladies. Mrs. Washington was a notableneedlewoman, and paintings on velvet andsatin, and pictures executed in silk andchenille by her grand - daughter, NellieCustis, prove that she was an adept in suchgirlish accomplishments. Nor was the busyneedle applied to ornamental work alone;it was far more useful than the pen, and
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WOMEN IN THE EARLY SETTLEMENT. 95 almost as powerful as the sword, in thosedays of early home-making. Mr. ThomasNelson Page, in his charming retrospectivestudy of Virginia life, tells us how, whenher husband complained of the gate beingbroken, the industrious mistress of thehousehold promptly replied, Well, mydear, if I could sew it with my needle andthread, I would mend it for you. The olden-time girl, except in the homeof the Puritan and the Quaker, was taughtto dance as well as to use her needle, andin the Southern Colonies the former ac-complishment was considered so importanta part of the education of a young ladythat Mr. Jefferson insisted that his daugh-ter Martha should dance three days inthe week, from eleven until one. Dr.Franklin also expressed great interest inSallys dancing and playing upon theharpsichord, although he stipulated thatshe should improve her mind by readingThe Whole Duty of Man and TheYoung Ladys Library. That less in-structive literature than this sometimes

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